Montage Resort & Spa

Overall Impact: This site really lacks an organising design principle. It is bland, uses flash photo slideshow to achieve an impact for each page and makes weak use of typography and text. What a missed opportunity!
Branding: Considering the hotel's striking geographical position overlooking the shore, the site fails to express that unique quality. Whilst the photos are crisp, the designers fail to link that to the text on the page. Do I think this would be a wonderful romantic place to stay? The site does not make the argument. On the other hand, the site is very informative and packed full of answers for prospective visitors.
Design: This colour palette has been fashionable for the past year among the designers around the world. It does not suit this hotel and is bland and unconvincing. I really don't like the way the design uses "Times" font in both the body text and in the menus. The overall information architecture is frustrating and the individual experiences fail to stand out.
What I Would Like to See: More simple overall layout with a more subtle and refined left hand menu, with more white space and a bolder colour palette and more emphatic typography. A number of pages strike me as redundant and could be cut out without loss.

Howbeck Hotel

Overall: small, friendly site with discreet design that conveys a strong sense of the hotels style.
Branding: suits this hotel although it doesnt really stand out and lacks the finish one would hope for
Navigation: Although the home suggests simple navigation, it is interesting to see that special offers which is an important part of the hotel's marketing is hidden at the bottom of the pages rather than in the main navigation.
What is Lacking: No up to date or exact tariff which is common practice now. No online booking or secure form which are prerequisites for today's traveller so if you are expecting to stay there you can only send an insecure email. I expect to see details of vegetarian cooking or the small details which for many travellers are important details.