I was just in Switzerland and stayed at a few resorts that come up often here (and a couple that are not talked about a ton) and excited to share my experience with you all. 

First up is the Bürgenstock in Lake Lucerne. This is a property I had wanted to see for a long time, and happy we got the opportunity to check it out. Overall it was a fantastic stay, we got super lucky with the weather (given it was mid-September), and the views were on point. It was my husband and I on a couples trip, and this was the perfect place for a 3 night stay. 

I’m a mod here and a TA, I had a complimentary night and paid for the other two. A couple other reviews to look out for soon from places we stayed this trip - Chedi Andermatt, Hotel 1732 (Vals), Dolder Grand Zurich, La Reserve Zurich. I also toured MO Lucerne & Zurich and Park Hotel Vitznau again (which I have stayed at before). 

Overview and Overall Impressions

The first thing everyone will tell you about the Bürgenstock is the views, and they’re right. Views, views, VIEWS, and then more views. The resort sits on a ridge roughly 500 meters above the lake, so on a cloudy day you can find yourself sitting above the clouds even, which is one of the more surreal things I’ve experienced at a hotel (just one of the mornings). On a clear day it’s one of my favorite views so far from a room that I’ve stayed in. So stunning. It’s very possible, however, to get socked in and not have a view at all - so be careful with shoulder season. 

What I didn’t fully appreciate before arriving is how much history this place holds. Two businessmen from Kerns bought the land on the Bürgenberg in 1871 and opened the first hotel in 1873. The Park Hotel and the funicular followed in 1888, the Palace in 1903, the Hammetschwand Lift in 1905 (which is so cool!), and the golf course in 1928. The entire resort was then rebuilt over several years and reopened in 2017 under Katara Hospitality, the Qatari owners. It’s part of the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio. Throughout the property they have these “halls of history,” long corridors lined with timelines, photos and stories, and I could have easily spent an hour just reading the walls (I know, I’m a weird hotel nerd, but I think there may be a few others like me in this sub, lol).

A few highlights from those walls:

• Audrey Hepburn married Mel Ferrer in the Bürgenstock chapel in 1954. The couple went on to live in a house on the property, and their son Sean was christened in that same chapel. There’s a photo on the walls of Hepburn’s first golf swing. 
• Sean Connery and the Goldfinger cast and crew stayed at the Palace in 1964 while filming the Swiss scenes.
• Konrad Adenauer spent the summer of 1950 here following the Schuman Plan negotiations, Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Charlie Chaplin were photographed here together in 1953, and Jimmy Carter visited in 1960.
• It has also hosted major peace talks over the years, including Sudan in 2002, Cyprus in 2004, and the Ukraine peace summit in 2024.

An important note: the Bürgenstock is very much a destination for day visitors as well as hotel guests. In the summer months there are up to 2,000 non-hotel visitors a day coming up the mountain. They can take the boat from Lucerne, ride the funicular up, dine at the restaurants with a reservation, buy a day pass to the Alpine Spa, and visit the lookout. Because of that, the resort can feel much busier than the hotel itself actually is, and it was my least favorite part of the stay overall. It isn’t a dealbreaker, but if privacy and exclusivity are at the top of your list, it’s worth knowing (more on this in the comparison section below).

That said, there is so much to love here. The flower arrangements in the lobby changed almost daily and were stunning every single time, and there is truly so much to do on property that I could have stayed much longer than I did. If you’re looking for an amenity rich hotel, this one has a ton to offer. 

A Quick Hot Take

More and more hotels have started putting guardrails on influencer content, and I’m happy to see that Bürgenstock is one of them. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc did the same after multiple incidents of people showing up to a lunch reservation with a duffle bag of outfits, then changing throughout the property for photo shoots. I think we can all agree this is getting a little out of hand. 

The outdoor infinity pool at the spa here looks like it’s spilling right over the lake, and it’s the shot you’ve seen all over social media. Phones are only allowed during set hours, 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 7pm. Limiting phone hours is a step in the right direction, and I appreciate that the thought is there. But five hours a day is still a lot of time to have phones out at what should be one of the most relaxing spots on property. I’d vote for one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, personally. I’ll talk more about the spa and pool below. 

Getting There

Getting to the Bürgenstock is half the fun, and it’s super easy - much easier than I had originally thought. We took the train into Lucerne and walked to the port, where the hotel’s complimentary boat departs at :07 past every hour. There’s a first class / hotel guest section as well as an upper deck, and the ride across the lake takes about 20 minutes. 

The boat drops you at the landing, and you take the funicular up which takes about 4 minutes total. Sit on the right hand side if you’re facing forward. There’s a cost for non-hotel guests to ride up. Free if you’re staying on property. Arriving with luggage was seamless. The team took our bags the moment we stepped off the boat, and we didn’t see them again until they were waiting for us in our room. I don’t even remember giving anyone our name. It was super smooth. 

The Buildings, Rooms, and where to stay 

This is the most important section to understand before you book, because there are technically three hotels at the Bürgenstock (four if you include the residences), and they could not be more different from one another.

The Bürgenstock Hotel (the Contemporary building): 

These are the iconic modern rooms you have probably seen on social media, with floor-to-ceiling windows and freestanding bathtubs and window benches looking straight out over the lake. It is the heart of the resort and the closest to the spa and most of the amenities. If I’m going all the way to the Bürgenstock, this is where I would stay, and where our room was.

The Palace Hotel: 

The Palace opened in 1903 and is the historic building of the group. All of the rooms have been fully renovated, but it still has a much more classic, Belle Époque feel. It connects to the main hotel through a long hallway lined with the history timelines I mentioned above, which makes for a pretty special walk. The Palace was fully booked while I was there, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to see any rooms to post pictures of. It’s a nice alternative if the Contemporary rooms are sold out, just know it is a longer walk to the spa and amenities and does not have the iconic full window-views.

The Waldhotel: 

This is the lifestyle / budget-concious option. It faces the Alps rather than the lake, and while the views are still lovely, you don’t get that feeling of being above Lake Lucerne that makes this property so special. It’s about a 6 minute walk to the Bürgenstock Hotel, but it’s straight uphill, there is a shuttle running between the two and easy to call for one. I’m sharing this mainly to help people understand the difference, as I personally don’t think this is the place to stay. Interesting background: the Waldhotel originally opened as a luxury medical wellness hotel, with clinic space and doctors’ offices built in. Those spaces went vacant after Covid and have not been refilled. The team hinted that they plan to redo it, and there is a lot of space to work with, so I’m curious to see what they do with it.

We stayed in the Contemporary building in a Contemporary Lake View Bay Suite and absolutely loved it. The room was spacious and beautifully designed, with a separate seating area, a walk-in closet, a fireplace, and an incredible bathtub positioned to take in the view. 

One tip for booking: the Deluxe Rooms and the Lake View Bay Suites are the same size (452 sq ft), so the view is really what you’re paying for in the upgrade. Deluxe Rooms are going to have some obstruction in your view, albeit still a beautiful one. I personally think they should categorize these both the same (probably both should be rooms) and have the differentiator be the view - not room vs suite for the same layout and size of room with different views. 

I also have to mention the linens. The towels were some of the softest ever, a true 10/10, and the robes were just as good. It’s one of those small details that makes a big difference over a few nights.

Service

Service was warm and welcoming from start to finish, and every encounter we had with the team was lovely.

We weren’t feeling great when we arrived, and we mentioned it in passing at check-in. Within minutes, the team had sent up an entire wellness amenity, on top of the welcome amenity already in the room, with tea, fresh ginger, water, lemon, honey and dried fruit. It was such a thoughtful gesture and exactly what we needed.

The concierge team was also a highlight. When we sat down with a few questions, they spent a good 30 minutes with us helping us get the lay of the land and understand all of the activities available. They walked us through the hiking routes, told us the best times to go, which shortcuts to take, and where it was worth walking a little further on the path to find some of the lesser-known spots along the way.

My husband left a jacket at the golf course. The team found it within minutes, and it was already waiting in our room before we even made it back from asking about it.

Breakfast service was the one exception, I have more notes about the breakfast below, but to have breakfast in such an incredible location, they should bulk up the experience, service, and offerings imo. 

But overall everything was done well.

Food & Beverage

Overall, the food was good, but not incredible. Everything we had was well executed, but outside of one restaurant, nothing truly stood out. 

Breakfast was slightly disappointing, given the setting and the potential they have here. There are plenty of options, but I think they could go beyond the basics on the à la carte menu and bring in some more interesting dishes. I ended up ordering a pretty simple breakfast each morning and always felt it was a little underwhelming. It is served in Spices (by night) and a truly incredible spot to have a meal, so the food has a lot of living up to it in order to match it. 

The standout for me was Spices Kitchen & Terrace. The concept alone is fantastic. The restaurant is built around several open kitchen “bays,” each dedicated to a different Asian cuisine, with full Chinese, Indian, Thai and Japanese menus. We ended up eating here more than one night because we wanted to keep trying more of the menu. It was my favorite restaurant on property by far.

The rest of the lineup:

• Brasserie Ritzcoffier: Classic French brasserie with lake views. In the warmer months, the Palace Terrace serves sunset cocktails and small bites.
• Oak Grill & Pool Patio: Farm-to-table cooking over a wood-fired grill, with a focus on Swiss meats.
• Parisa: Persian cuisine.
• Restaurant Verbena & Bar: The healthy-living concept, built around its herb gardens.
• Osteria Alpina: Traditional Italian in an alpine setting, near the golf course.
• Taverne 1879: A historic chalet-style restaurant serving traditional Swiss dishes.
• Lakeview Bar & Cigar Lounge: Classic cocktails, afternoon tea, and, as the name suggests, beautiful lake views.
• Salon1903 Palace Lounge & Terrace: The historic bar and lounge in the Palace.

There is certainly no shortage of restaurants on property, but in my opinion, nothing beyond Spices was groundbreaking.

Amenities & Activities

This is where the Bürgenstock really shines. There is an enormous amount to do here, and you could easily fill several days without ever leaving the Alps.

The Alpine Spa is the centerpiece, and it is massive, over 100,000 sq ft with five pools. It’s beautifully designed, and it’s easily one of the biggest selling points of the resort. A few of the spaces I loved most:

• Infinity pool: The outdoor infinity pool looks like it’s spilling right over the lake. There are designated no-phone hours here (9am-12pm, 5pm-7pm), which is a nice gesture, but I’m in for a petition to reduce this as mentioned. Lol. 
• Floating baths: Probably my favorite spa amenity, and the most relaxed I’ve felt in a very long time, maybe anywhere.
• Tea room: Climb up to one of the high cubbies if you can. It’s magical, and the perfect spot to unwind between treatments.
• Infrared chair & room: Loved this.
• There are tons of other saunas, steam rooms, co-ed facilities, women’s and men’s facilities, and pretty much every little relaxation corner you can find. 

This spa won’t disappoint. I should also mention - no phones in the spa beyond the infinity pool during designated hours. 

I had both a treatment and a facial while I was there. Supria did my facial, and she is worth traveling for. She is incredible. If you have the opportunity to book with her, DO IT. You won’t regret it.

Beyond the spa:

• Hammetschwand Lift: About a 30 minute walk from the hotel along a cliffside path, which is a beautiful walk in itself. The lift opened in 1905, the first of its kind in Switzerland, and it is still the highest outdoor elevator in Europe. It runs up a 118 m steel lattice tower attached to the side of the cliff. There's a restaurant waiting at the top. I’m terrified of heights, but glad we did this. There is a ticketed cost to use the elevator. 
• Golf: The course first opened in 1928 and reopened after a redesign in 2016. It’s a 9-hole, walking-only course with some pretty unreal views for a round of golf.
• Hiking: Trails start right outside the hotel. I’d recommend sitting down with the concierge before you head out, as they’ll point you toward the best routes, shortcuts and lookouts.
• Tennis: There are indoor courts, which is such a great feature in Switzerland where the weather can change quickly. Roger Federer even filmed a campaign on these courts. 
• Cinema: A 69-seat private movie theater on property. 
• Wine Room: Great for celebrations and private dinners. 

How It Compares to competitors in Lucerne 

In my opinion, there are three hotels around Lucerne that are worth staying at: the Bürgenstock, Park Hotel Vitznau, and the Mandarin Oriental Lucerne. Each serves a very different type of traveler.

• Bürgenstock: Incredible for the views, a great fit for tennis players, and ideal for anyone who wants to walk out the door and onto a hiking trail. Because of the day visitors and spa day passes, though, it offers much less privacy and exclusivity than Vitznau. Overall more family friendly than other options in the area. 
• Park Hotel Vitznau: My favorite for staying right on the water, with incredible food and a far more intimate setting. The spa is reserved for hotel guests only, and there are only 47 suites in total. Much more exclusive, and the F&B program here outshines Burgenstock. Great food (and Focus is incredible) plus the largest wine cellar in Switzerland. The spa is smaller but packs a punch. I have an older review on my profile I can pin for easy finding. Feel free to reach out about upgrades at time of booking, as long as you aren’t expecting to go from Mountain View to Lake View. 
• Mandarin Oriental Lucerne: I love the MO, but I would only stay here for a very short stay or if walking distance to Lucerne’s city center is a priority. I personally think there is much more to do outside of the city, and being in town just makes me want to get out into the Alps, so the MO is never my first or second choice in this area, but it’s still a great property.

Final Thoughts

I loved this stay, especially for peak summer, or a good weather shoulder season stay in Lucerne when the views are at their absolute best. It’s a super fun place to get to, there is an incredible amount to do without ever leaving the property, and it’s still easy to hop on the boat and spend a day in Lucerne. If you’re booking, the Contemporary rooms are the way to go. If you’re active, love the outdoors, or want a big spa experience, this is your spot. If you’re after something quieter and more private, look at Vitznau, or split your stay between the two to get the best of both.

Please feel free to ask me anything, and reach out if you want your stay VIP’d!

Headed to Mexico City F1 Race next weekend. Staying at Casona Roma Norte (Michelin) and have Champions Club tickets for the race for Saturday and Sunday. Will be in city before and after. Any suggestions / tips on FAT Travel POV on the experience, the day, Ubers to the track, etc? This is our first F1 race and have never been to Mexico Coty before.

Interested in fine dining, private tours, etc. thank you!

I have to stay on Oahu because my son is at camp on Oahu and I want to be on the same island, otherwise Rosewood, FS Hualalai or Lana’i is my vibe. The day cabana’s at the adult pool are $900 for the day. I have Club access already, would the day cabana be a meaningful add or a waste of $$ ?

Hello! Does anyone have a tour company/tour guide they have used for Pompeii that was amazing? Would also love a recommendation for a driver for the area as well as Bologna/Milan if anyone has used a service they have loved. We have used LivTours in Rome and Florence which were wonderful, but thought I would poll the group in case there were other smaller companies that you all have enjoyed. Thank you!

Recently took my parents, wife and toddler on the FS yacht. We booked through u/sarahwlee. We’re generally not cruise people, but with three generations, an itinerary we liked, and parents who specifically wanted to do a Mediterranean cruise it made a lot of sense. I saw ryan walker’s video so was definitely a bit nervous going in

We ended up having a very good trip. We didn’t experience anything like what Ryan described—maybe they’ve cleaned things up since then or maybe he just had an unusually bad experience. There was no hollandaise canister, the shower and tap water were perfectly fine, and we never saw anyone washing the balcony—housekeeping was good about taking care of things while we were at dinner or ashore so we rarely crossed paths. 

For our group I booked one of the specialty suites with three bedrooms and a large balcony. At ~$20k/night, that felt reasonable compared to booking a similar size suite or three rooms at a high-end European resort at the same time of year.

Maybe some people expected at lot more from a cruise at this price point, but relative to the 20-30 FS hotels we’ve stayed at (mostly NA), I’d put the yacht in the top quartile as far as both service and hard product. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful and eager to please. The suite itself was very nice, and the view from our deck was incredible.

We haven’t tried Ritz-Carlton or other similar yacht offerings, so I can’t compare those. Our closest comparison would be Silversea in Antarctica—obviously a very different trip and very enjoyable for different reasons, but FS was definitely a cut above that. I’ve also done a few mega cruises, and this was nothing like those (in the best way).

The service felt very personal. Our butler was excellent—extremely responsive and willing to go out of his way to accommodate pretty much anything we asked for. The kid’s area and separate teens area both had plenty to do. Our sailing was very light on kids so our toddler pretty much had the place to himself. Apparently some summer sailings have had as many as 50 kids on board

I was also impressed by how uncrowded everything felt even though the ship was fully booked. The lines, crowds and competition to reserve things are probably what I disliked most about big cruises. The embarkation, restaurant seating, getting ashore, etc were all easy. They ran two tenders back and forth and we never waited more than ~10 minutes, if at all.

There were always plenty of seating available at the restaurants, around the pool, and in the outdoor lounge areas.
I saw another Reddit review complaining about slow restaurant service, but that wasn’t our experience at all—and we were particularly sensitive to it with a fidgety toddler. We were generally in and out of meals in ~an hour, including dinner. The Japanese omakase was the exception but even that moved quickly 

The food itself was comparable to what I’d expect at a typical Four Seasons hotel. Some dishes we really liked, though there were definitely a few misses (mostly from in-room dining). Overall, nothing mind-blowing, but nothing I’d really complain about. We enjoyed Sedna the french restaurant enough to go back twice. Between the three restaurants, the places serving lighter bites, and two overnight stops where we could have dinner ashore, there was enough variety for the week (for dinner at least).

I know some people were shocked that it isn’t all-inclusive like most cruises, but that didn’t really bother us. We ended up spending ~$600 per person for food on board for a week (basically dinners + room service and other snacks/drinks), which seemed reasonable. Kids eat free. Also between the breakfast, the pastry shop, minibar snacks and daily fruit and cheese boards, there was plenty of “free” food each day. Dinner prices were probably 25% above what I’d normally expect, but I guess you’re also dining in the middle of the Mediterranean.

We toured the gym and spa, and both looked nice and new. Though between the port days and a toddler we were usually too exhausted by the evening and so never got around to using them.

My complaints were fairly minor:
- We wish they rotated or expanded the breakfast menu at the main restaurant. By day three or four, we’d tried all the breakfast entrees and it started to feel repetitive.
- A few more of the popular toys on marina day would help. The e-foils booked up quickly, although I think anyone who really wanted a turn was eventually able to get one by the end of the day.
- Internet service was fast, but we couldn’t stream anything or connect a laptop or iPhone to the TVs in the suite. I asked about an HDMI–USB-C cable, Chromecast, Roku or Apple TV, but none were available. That felt like an odd omission on such a new ship, especially when newer FS hotel TVs have streaming built in.
- Some of the FS-organized activities were also pretty absurdly priced—around 4x what they probably cost. I know that’s common with cruises and you’re paying for convenience, but with a larger group we just booked our own tours, boat charters and restaurant reservations at the various stops. It took some research and coordination, but no more than we’d do for a normal vacation.

Overall, we were happy with the experience, and I’ve recommended it to a few friends who were on the fence. The other guests we spoke with also seemed to be having a good time.

A lot depends on what you want from the trip. There aren’t endless shows and activities on board. We liked being able to relax on the yacht and then go ashore to explore smaller coastal towns that the big cruise ships wouldn’t be able to dock at. I think in all the ports it was basically just us and then the individual private yachts/charters

If you're looking for unlimited lobster tails or whatever this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re expecting the service, comfort and food of a solid Four Seasons hotel, and want to avoid all the negatives of a big cruise ship, I don’t think you’d come away disappointed

Happy to answer any questions

I have a client who absolutely adores The Beverly Hills Hotel. Every year, she and a close friend make a pilgrimage to Beverly Hills for a shopping trip, staying in connecting bungalows. She waxes poetic about the hotel, and since we tend to have very similar taste (if not quite the same bank account), I've always been curious to experience it myself.

After booking it for her and many other clients, I was a little embarrassed to admit I'd never actually stayed. So after a recent conference in LA, I spent a few nights there.

I had a lovely stay, but it was quite different from what I'd expected.

Overall impressions

I'd always imagined The Beverly Hills Hotel as a quiet, private Hollywood hideaway. It is absolutely not quiet (at least not in the public spaces). The lobby was bustling throughout my stay, the Polo Lounge was packed even midweek, and the pool was busy. There was a tremendous amount of activity everywhere I went.

What I didn't anticipate was how much the hotel feels like a private club, despite all that activity. There are people who have been coming here for decades, the staff know their regulars, and it has a very established social scene.

The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in 1912 and has 210 rooms and suites, including 23 bungalows, spread across 12 acres, and is genuinely sui generis, and the hotel makes sure you know it. Its Hollywood history is on full display, with photographs of the countless celebrities who have stayed here lining the walls. There’s a real sense that you’re staying somewhere that has been part of Los Angeles history for more than a century, and the hotel leans into that identity unapologetically.

About me

I'm a travel advisor and mom of three. I travel about 12 weeks a year and spend a lot of time visiting hotels, both personally and professionally. This was a solo stay after a conference in LA. I've booked The Beverly Hills Hotel for clients many times, but this was my first time staying myself.

One booking consideration: The Beverly Hills Hotel participates in Dorchester Diamond, which offers a guaranteed one-category upgrade at the time of booking through participating advisors (of which I am a member, along with many other TAs on this sub) along with other benefits. It's a particularly useful perk here given how different the room categories can be.

Location

The hotel sits on Sunset Boulevard, just north of the main Beverly Hills shopping district. It's very convenient for shopping, restaurants and exploring Beverly Hills, although you'll probably want a car for most outings.

If shopping is a major part of your trip, as it is for my bungalow-loving client, this is an excellent base. The hotel also offers a complimentary house car within a three-mile radius.

Rooms and bungalows

The rooms are beautifully maintained, but they're definitely traditional. Don't expect USB-C ports everywhere, automated curtains or all the technology you'd find at a newly built luxury hotel. They feel like classic Hollywood, and whether that's charming or dated will depend on your preferences.

The hotel's signature look dates largely to its 1940s transformation under architect Paul R. Williams. The famous Martinique banana-leaf wallpaper was introduced during that era by designer Don Loper.

The bungalows are the most distinctive accommodations here, and guests tend to have strong preferences about staying in one versus the main building. Bungalows are paired, so if complete privacy is important, it's worth discussing the configuration and potentially booking both adjoining accommodations.

Don't overlook the Deluxe Rooms with Balcony in the main building. These can actually be preferable to some bungalow categories because they're lighter, brighter and more spacious. There are also plenty of connecting room options, which is useful for families.

Service

This is where the hotel really excels.

The service is extraordinary, and there's a warmth and familiarity that I think comes from having so many repeat guests. The staff seem to genuinely know the people staying here, and the whole experience feels very personal without being overly formal.

It's easy to see why people come back year after year. I suspect many of the regulars would never consider staying anywhere else in Los Angeles.

One thing that surprised me was that the elevators don't require a guest key card. Given how busy the public spaces are, I did wonder about security and privacy. Management assured me that security personnel are everywhere, even if you don't see them, and that the property is extensively monitored. Still, it was unexpected at a hotel with such a reputation for discretion.

Food and beverage

The Polo Lounge is an institution, and it was packed even during the week. This is definitely a hotel where people come to see and be seen. One of my favorite moments of the stay was striking up a conversation with a woman at a neighboring table who lives in the area and has been coming to the hotel for 50 years. I think that says a lot about the property. The food at the restaurants is classic American fare with California flair. Comforting, traditional, a little bit fun. I enjoyed all my meals there. The wine list at the Polo Lounge is also incredible. Their sommelier has done a remarkable job of incorporating wonderful newer producers with classic blue chips. Brava.

Pool, Spa & Gym

The pool is iconic, surrounded by palms and the hotel's signature pink and green. It was also very busy during my visit, so I wouldn't necessarily come here expecting a quiet afternoon of reading beside an empty pool.

The hotel has a restrictive photography policy to protect guests' privacy, which makes sense given its clientele.

More than anything, I was struck by how social the entire property feels. People are constantly coming and going, dining, meeting friends and spending time in the public spaces.

I had an excellent facial at the spa and was genuinely impressed. The spa has a loyal local clientele, which I always consider a good sign, particularly in a city where people have plenty of excellent options outside their hotels. The treatment and service were both wonderful, and I'd happily return.

The gym, on the other hand, was a disappointment. It's tucked away in the basement, and I found the free-weight selection and overall equipment offering pretty underwhelming for a hotel of this caliber. Maybe everyone in LA is doing private Pilates or training for HYROX at a dedicated gym, but I expected better.

What's changing

This is an interesting time to visit because the hotel has some significant projects underway.

The team told me they're planning a room refresh targeted for late 2027. This will focus on things like carpeting, furniture and hardware rather than a complete redesign. Bathrooms aren't getting a full renovation, and don't expect the hotel to suddenly become a high-tech, contemporary property.

The more exciting project is internally called "Turn Left," a transformation of the underused space to the left of the lobby, currently concealed behind a temporary wall.

Designed by Ken Fulk, the new spaces are expected to open later this year and include a 94-seat supper club with live entertainment, a small screening room, private dining, a cocktail bar with an outdoor terrace and an indoor-outdoor lobby lounge serving coffee, tea and cocktails throughout the day.

I think this is a smart addition, particularly given how social the hotel already is. It will give guests and locals even more reasons to spend time on property.

Beverly Hills Hotel vs. Hotel Bel-Air

Having now experienced both, I like them for different reasons but personally prefer Hotel Bel-Air.

They're both Dorchester Collection properties with excellent service, but the atmosphere is very different. Hotel Bel-Air feels like a genuine retreat, quiet, discreet and tucked away in its gardens. The Beverly Hills Hotel is much more social and lively.

For someone who wants to be part of the Beverly Hills scene, I'd recommend The Beverly Hills Hotel. For someone who wants to escape it, I'd choose Hotel Bel-Air.

And for travelers who prefer more contemporary rooms and modern amenities, I really like the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

Who this is for

• Travelers who appreciate historic hotels, classic design and old Hollywood character.
• Repeat visitors who love personalized service and a familiar, clubby atmosphere.
• Anyone coming to Beverly Hills for shopping, dining and the social scene.
• Families who need connecting accommodations.
• Guests who want the distinctive experience of staying in a Beverly Hills bungalow.

Who this is not for

• Travelers who prefer contemporary rooms and the latest technology.
• Anyone expecting a particularly quiet, secluded resort experience.
• Guests who prioritize modern design over historical character.
• People who want a hotel with very limited access to its public spaces.
• Social Media Influencers

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed my stay, and I understand the loyalty this hotel inspires. The service is exceptional, the grounds are beautiful, and there's an energy here that you don't find at many luxury hotels.

But I also think it's important to understand what you're booking. This isn't a quiet, ultra-private hideaway, at least not in its public spaces, and the rooms won't appeal to everyone.

For the right person, though, I can absolutely see why The Beverly Hills Hotel becomes a tradition. My client certainly isn't going anywhere else, and now I understand why.

Book the Muir hotel in Halifax for a a mini-Thanksgiving weekend getaway through the Sarah Lee booking engine.

Went with my husband and our 2 young kids.

Booking is easy with the engine. The Muir advertises a room capacity of 3, but Sarah’s team confirmed with the hotel that we can have 4. This limited us to a 2 Queen Bed room, which was fine with us. I’m not sure if we got an upgrade, but maybe we did as we had a room with a balcony. It was a nice relatively warm (at least for an October fall day) weekend, so we were able to have drinks and coffee on the balcony, which was amazing (view in photo).

Before our trip, Sarah’s team reached out and advised that the GM comped breakfast for the kids as well, which is amazing and allowed us to have relaxing mornings ordering in room service.

When we arrived, there was a cute little spread, with some treats for all of us and little plush toys for the kids. A small, but very appreciated service/feature are all the complimentary water bottles they gave us. They were nice aluminum bottles and not plastic ones so we’ve been able to reuse them!

The robes and slippers were so comfortable, amazing bathroom, beds were very comfortable. The pool and wellness areas are also amazing, even the dedicated family hours didn’t bother us and wasn’t a limiting factor. Parking is also easy and underground. Valet doesn’t cost extra, but we opted to just self-park.

We ordered room service from Drift for the kids one night and the food was really good, but we live in smaller town, so when we go to Halifax, I personally get my sushi fix.

Overall, wonderful stay, and as always, a wonderful experience with Sarah’s team. We already have another stay booked at the Muir for the Christmas holidays to watch Disney on Ice!

Deciding between Alila and Fairmont for adults with young adult kids. Need two rooms looking lagoon or non beach side. Which would be my best bet? Why?

Assume: budget and availability is irrelevant, target is warm weather in December and/or March and flight 5 hours(ish) or less from NYC.

What would you say are the top 3(ish) spots with spectacular kids programming for younger kids (5 to 7) who are only children and so would benefit from a spectacular kids club with other kids activities available? Ideally, this resort who also be high/higher end with private terraces and ocean views, wonderful in-room dining and terrific evening babysitting also available?

(If you have the time, throw in any resort that meets the above criteria but any weather, any location - e.g. I have heard Club Med Charlevoix makes skiing genuinely fun and seamless for adults and kids.)

My husband and I are staying for 5 days at the Four Seasons CDS and on our last night, they’re sold out. We have to move hotels.

If you only had one night in Cabo, where would you stay at why? Just a couples trip. We care about ambience, food, service.

HI all.

We are heading to the Ritz this Christmas week for our first multi-day hotel trip (4 full days, 5 nights). We don't know that much about it, but, honestly, everything else with a well-reviewed kids club was booked already.

Can anyone help out with some detail questions? (I've already called the hotel, but they couldn't confirm these details.)

1. Kids Club - is it good for a shy 4/turning 5 year old boy (who likes counselor /teachers to pay a lot of attention to him and provide structure vs passive supervision)? Do they group kids by age or might he be hanging out with 12 year-old? Would they let a parent stick around the first day to help a child settle-in? (We're hoping for some grown-up time if he'll let us drop him off...eventually.)
2. Do they have sand toys for kids readily available (or should I plan to buy some/have some shipped to the hotel)?
3. Meals: We plan to order room service for breakfast and dinner because my son cannot handle waiting for food to be delivered and I heard wait times can be long when they are busy? (We do not plan to bring a car to eat off-site.)
4. Any other tips for a great week with a child this age?

(Sidenote: we were hoping to do something like the Turks or Dominican or the Breakers, but I now know we have to book a year in advance. For next year, do folks resort to travel agents and think it is worth it to find the right fit, especially for a child (I would never have used a travel agent before, but a happy son = a happy vacation, and it's harder for me to get a feel for which hotels/resort kid programming will fit for him)?

Thank you in advance!

I just got back from Marrakech and four nights at Royal Mansour, where every room is its own private riad tucked into huge, beautiful gardens.

Who went
Me and my best friend from childhood. This was a full-price stay. I’m a travel advisor, but I paid my own way on this as it was high season.

When we went
October 7 to 11 of this year

Overall impressions
The grounds are stunning and large. The gardens!!! The hotel opened in 2010, and King Mohammed VI had it built to host state guests, so every detail was handmade by Moroccan artisans. You can tell. The location is fabulous, the food was a highlight of the trip, and the spa is one of the best I’ve ever been to. Every room is its own private riad, which is such a cool concept.

Location
Fabulous. It’s much easier for getting to the souks and the Medina than Amanjena, and transportation was better too. They drove us to the airport in a Bentley :)

The room
We were in a Superior Riad, which has three floors. The first floor has a sitting room with a fireplace, a powder room and a small kitchen area. The bedroom is on the second floor. The third floor is a terrace with another fireplace and a plunge pool. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the sheets are some of the softest ever.

I loved the concept, but honestly, we mostly only used the bedroom. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time in your room, you’ll get more out of all that space than we did.

The famous magic doors
Each floor of the riad has a door that opens onto a hallway connecting all the riads to the service areas. The idea is that you never see the staff coming and going, and things just appear. I’m still unsure how I feel about it. If they want it to feel like magic, I think they should be more like Aman and not have you sign for things, because signing every time defeats the purpose of it magically appearing. Case in point: room service delivered on the terrace-- you can order from the iPad. It could be super slick and magical to just order and then it is waiting for you at a designated time or they could WhatsApp you and let you know when to go up. Instead it was a little clunky as we did not know when it was ready up there and someone was waiting for us to sign, etc.

Service
Service was great. The only weak spot was how slowly the concierge responded on WhatsApp. Like.... really slow. Bookings include VIP Fast Track at the airport, and a Bentley for drop off . Our driver was fabulous. He walked us all the way through check-in to the fast track, and he was so fun and nice! Everyone we encountered at the hotel was really nice, warm and friendly.

Food & beverage
We loved the food here. Room service was excellent, and I’m still thinking about the nus nus coffee. We also loved Sesamo, the Italian restaurant, and Le Jardin. This was a big step up from the food at Amanjena.

Amenities & activities
The main pool is beautiful, and the cabanas have AC, which you’ll appreciate in the hotter months.

The spa is one of the best I’ve ever been to, and I highly recommend going all out. We each did the hair treatment, the hammam and a 90-minute massage. The hair treatment was personalized and left in, and then they washed it out during the hammam. The hammam was hot but so good, and it’s different from a Turkish hammam. My skin was soooo soft afterward. The 90-minute massage after was the perfect finish. The relaxation rooms are so cool too, they have little beds with duvets and curtains for privacy.

The souks, and safety as a woman
Before I went, I’d heard that Marrakech and the Medina had a bad reputation, especially for women. We never once felt unsafe. People were extremely warm, kind and helpful. Someone even helped us cross the busy and chaotic street when we were by ourselves and then pointed to where the market was in case we didn't know. When we were with our guide there was a woman who was lost and he helped her get to her hotel and everyone helped along the way... it was really heartwarming to see and reminded me of why we travel. There were a few catcalls, but far fewer than I get walking around NYC, and nothing felt unsafe or predatory. We felt so comfortable that we went back on our own the next day. Just go in knowing how to say no to people, you are not hurting anyone's feelings.

The hotel arranged our guide for the first visit, and it was about four hours. He was amazing, and I’d recommend getting one just as it is very easy to get lost in there. He also showed us the quality shops. When we went back alone the next day, you could really tell the difference: the same things, but made with less care and worse materials. Like at any market, know how to say no firmly, because nobody takes offense at a “no, thank you.” And bargain. It’s fun, and it’s part of the culture and part of the experience.

I came home with beautiful leather shoes, a tea set for my daughter, spices for my husband and a few small things. My best friend ate half a sheep’s head, which was really brave and adventurous. I am not THAT adventurous with food, lol, but it was a super cool experience and I had a good time watching her (well maybe not a good time... interesting time? ) lol. She definitely got some street cred.

Final thoughts
The gardens, the spa and the location make this an easy base for a first trip to Marrakech. It is a beautiful hotel with warm service and great food. It was a little over €4,000 a night for the base riad. If you’re super budget conscious, I’m not sure it’s totally worth that price. If you’re not, it’s a destination in itself...and a lovely spot, and I’m not sure there’s anywhere better in Marrakech, which is why they can charge what they do.

Happy to answer any questions.

Flying AF business from east coast to CDG next week with our 6 month old. First big trip with her, landing in the morning after the overnight flight.

I keep going back and forth on booking a meet & greet / fast track for arrival. I've read that babies can't use the eGates and that CDG is supposed to have family priority lanes, but I've also seen people say passport control can still take forever and that the priority lanes aren't always obvious or enforced.

Anyone done this with an infant recently? Was it actually worth it, or did family priority get you through fine?
Bonus if you know a company that does the whole thing, meet at the gate plus a driver with a proper infant car seat, so we're not juggling two bookings.

Thanks!

P.S. Any other suggestions for adding conveniences to the trip? Staying in an apartment for 10 days, so open to anything that makes life with a baby in Paris easier.

(Edit) based on everyone’s comments removing adults only from our priorities as it’s more of a limiting factor than I realized. Thank you!

I am getting married in June and I am so overwhelmed by honeymoon options! We are looking to either go shortly after our wedding (last week of June) or wait until mid September. We’d like to spend the honeymoon relaxing on the beach, just enjoying some quiet together and some good food.

Our budget is ~20k (not including flights) for a 7-10 day trip. We’re not really set on a location, but my fiancee is very safety conscious. Our biggest priorities are a resort has a beach that is accessible and we can swim in and has good food.

We live on the east coast of the US, and if we are going to spend 24+ hours traveling to a destination we want to make sure it’s top notch and I would love any recommendations you have! We’ve looked at the Maldives, Bora Bora, and the Seychelles, but I’m not sure if any of the resorts would be worth the travel for our budget.

Hi everyone! I just got back from an amazing one-week stay at the MO Hong Kong, where I stayed in the renovated Statue Square Rooms. The hotel itself is a bit old; the lobby has low ceilings, and the breakfast isn't extraordinary, but the room has an amazing view, and the service is quite good. It feels like a renovated hotel.

In exactly a month, I need to go back to Hong Kong for another week, and before, I considered staying at the Four Seasons, but not anymore. It feels like there's nothing "legendary" there.

I need to be working in Central, but I'm arriving on the weekend and was thinking: two nights at the Rosewood to try the best hotel in the world, then 5 days at the Upper House. What do you guys think about 5 days at Upper House? Too boring? The fact that they don't have a gym and only one restaurant scares me, but since I'm trying hotels in Hong Kong and staying at the Rosewood during the week, it doesn't seem like an option; this combo looks OK.

However, I have a corporate rate at the MO, so it might be a good option to do those 2 days at the Rosewood and then move back to the MO.

What do you think? Thanks!

Does anyone have recommendations for luxury hotels in Orange County - thinking in the Laguna Beach area - and Palm Springs?

For Laguna, I was thinking The Ranch at Laguna Beach.

For Palm Springs/ Palm Dessert, please advise!!

Thanks!!

Overall vibe:
Whitewashed, faux-medieval Apulian town with some Handmaid’s Tale/King’s Landing vibes going on. There are nonnas and local artisans casually hanging around the property, hand-making pasta, cutting up vegetables, or crafting, which makes you feel like you’re inside “the castle walls.” The property is lit by candles in the evening (not sure about Puglian building codes), and it seemed like the only areas with modern electrical lighting were the guest rooms.

Location:
Borgo Egnazia is in Savelletri di Fasano, right on the Apulian coast. The grounds are huge, so you still need a five-minute car ride to get to their beach club, Cala Masciola. Vintage Fiat is optional. :-)

You can fly into Brindisi (BDS) or Bari (BRI). Both are under an hour from the property by taxi.

Building:
Opened in 2010 and designed from the ground up to look like a traditional Apulian village. The owner, Aldo Melpignano, hired set designers alongside the architect for a theatrical, narrative-led approach to the spatial planning. The entire property was constructed using hand-cut local limestone to replicate authentic Apulian architecture.

The property has three different accommodation areas:

La Corte: The main hotel, where check-in and the main guest rooms are located. This building is like a maze and everything is white and there was not one instance where I did not get lost trying to get to my room.
Il Borgo: Casette (townhouses).
Le Ville: Private residences with private pools and gardens.

There are three outdoor pools: one large enough for laps, another pretty central one for families with children, + a small spa pool.

Rooms:
Pretty spacious overall. Rooms are minimalist in color, with only off-white or oatmeal furnishings and off-white stone floors. There are little earthy touches throughout, like dried herb bundles, glass bottles used as decor, and stone-carved details.

(too many decorative pillows)

Dining:

Due Camini: One Michelin star. Traditional Mediterranean food with some contemporary dishes.
La Frasca: Traditional Apulian rural trattoria, where breakfast is served.
Il Porticato: Informal all-day restaurant with fresh catches, local veggies, and light dishes.
Cala Masciola: Beach club serving fresh local catch, raw or cooked.
Ossolungo Braceria: Fire-grilled meat restaurant serving regional specialties.
A Pizzeria: Wood-fired pizza.
La Cantina: Wine tastings.

Plus three bars casually located throughout the property.

There is also a sort of “town square” where they have outdoor dinners for guests + weddings and events.

Service:
Service was extremely high-touch and personalized. The property prioritizes buy-outs so I do believe the service can vary depending on the occupancy and season.

Wellness:
Beautiful spa with local products. They have an extensive treatment menu + Roman baths, cold plunges, a dry sauna, stone-washing experiences, and some wellness journeys and rituals. I think a wellness getaway could easily be planned with the options available.

Experiences:

• ⁠Culinary experiences
• ⁠History tours, like visiting the Apulian Trulli
• ⁠Cocktail creations
• ⁠Olive oil tastings
• ⁠Renting vintage Fiats to explore the nearby towns

They have a weekly “Festa del Borgo” in the summer, where they throw a big party, filling the resort’s piazzas with traditional food stalls, folk music, dancing, fire breathers, and the list goes on.

Additional cool stuff:
The owners are extremely well-connected in the region, so pretty much anything is possible here. In 2024, they held the 50th G7 summit at the property. They've closed the Ponte Borbonico di Lama Monachile in Polignano a Mare, for special events and private experiences, bringing in local restaurants to cater so the surrounding businesses benefit as well.

I personally really loved this property for its design language and overall uniqueness (in addition to feeling like I was in King's Landing). More and more properties are attempting to replicate it, but they did such an over-the-top job that I think it’ll be difficult to match.

*They also own Masseria San Domenico, another traditional Apulian-style building that they turned into a 40-room luxury boutique hotel.

I just got back from Marrakech, where I split my stay between Amanjena and Royal Mansour. This post covers Amanjena, and my Royal Mansour review is coming next.

Who went
Me and my best friend from childhood. This was a full-price stay. I’m a travel advisor, but I paid my own way for both hotels on this trip as it was high season and it was a personal trip.

When we went
October 4 to 7 of this year

Overall impressions
I love the architecture and design, and the lighting at night is insanely beautiful. Our Pool Pavilion was my favorite part of the hotel. Service was good, but not Aman good, and the food was mostly fine but not great which tracks for Aman. The real reason to stay here is the Aman Private Experience in the Agafay desert, which I’ll get to below.

Location
It’s peaceful, but it’s further from the souks and the Medina. Transportation also wasn’t as good as at Royal Mansour. We didn’t go into town while we were here, we adjusted to jet lag and relaxed. We split our time between our pool pavilion and the desert, and saved the Medina for Royal Mansour.

The room
We were in a Pool Pavilion, and I loved the outdoor space. It was stunning and really comfortable, and it’s where we spent most of our time. We used the main pool briefly, but we preferred being in our own private pool area.

One heads-up: the Do Not Disturb sign is the Hamsa you hang on the door. Nobody told me, so I assumed they didn’t have one, and people kept coming in. It was annoying, so now you know.

Service
Good, but not at the level I expect from Aman. The exception was the team at the desert experience, who were incredible, truly some of the best ever.

Food & beverage
We had room service breakfast every morning, room service dinner one night, and dinner at the Moroccan restaurant another night. Most of it was fine but not great. Typical Aman. The big exception was the desert experience on our last night, where the food was phenomenal. The best Moroccan food we had while on this trip. Everything was to die for and we left uncomfortably full.

Amenities & activities
The highlight of the whole stay was the Aman Private Experience in the Agafay desert, and we saved it for our last night. We left the hotel at 4:30pm and didn’t get back until around 1am, so plan for a full evening. We rode camels in the desert and then had dinner in a private tent with lanterns everywhere. The food was out of this world, the staff were incredible, and they even had a musician. We felt like queens. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and I will never, ever forget it. It was expensive and worth every penny.

Final thoughts
Amanjena is a beautiful, peaceful place to slow down, especially if you book a Pool Pavilion and spend your days in your own space. Service and food didn’t quite reach Aman level for me. If you stay here, book the Agafay experience. It was the best night of our trip.

Sorry the room pics are not so great-- I had to screen shot them from a video as I forgot to take stills.

Happy to answer any questions.

Just wrapped up six nights at the Four Seasons Maui with my wife, the Wailea leg of a two-week trip after a few days in Kapalua. Wanted to share a full review for anyone considering it, especially with renovations still underway.
Booking & upgrade: We booked through Sarah Lee and were told to expect an upgrade. It came through exactly as promised: we were moved from a Mountain View room to a Garden View room with no chasing on our end.
Room & renovation: We were in one of the newly renovated rooms, and it was a big step up: light wood throughout and noticeably upgraded tech. We loved the Apple TV integration, and the room controls were simple and intuitive. Work is still going on in parts of the property.
Spa, gym & adult pool: All three were fantastic. At the spa, we especially enjoyed the couples area with its mix of plunge pools and saunas. The only miss was that the steam room was down during our stay. The gym was well equipped and never crowded, and the adults-only pool was our go-to for quiet afternoons.
The one con: birds at breakfast. Breakfast is open-air and the birds are bold. They'll land on tables and go after anything left unattended. Not a dealbreaker, just something to be ready for. Try to get a table that isn't near an edge.
Bottom line: We'd happily return. The renovation shouldn't scare anyone off, and the new rooms are worth asking for.
TL;DR: Six nights booked through Sarah Lee, upgrade delivered as promised, newly renovated room with great tech, and an excellent spa, gym, and adult pool. Slight elevator noise, a down steam room, and pushy breakfast birds were the only knocks.

I posted in this group a few months ago asking for suggestions to pivot from our proposed plan to go to Congo to see gorillas and thank you for the wonderful suggestion to do a combination of Chinzombo (Zambia) and Miavana (Madagascar) for our trip. We planned the trip with the wonderful help of Abbie (from Sarah’s team) and team and we had the time of our lives!

Firstly - a note on logistics, they weren’t the most straightforward and we took 6 different airlines this trip including a few helicopter rides but Abbie’s team and Time + Tide made it as seamless as possible but tbh unless you fly private (if that’s possible) you have to be prepared for some discomfort (I.e. the domestic airlines like proflight Zambia/Madagascar airlines are very basic - even if you book business class, same for Ethiopia airlines). NGL it was tiring af as I was also lugging 25kg worth of duffel bags farmer carry style and a 10kg backpack of camera equipment (partner has a bad back and can’t carry heavy loads) across various airports/tarmacs but the destinations were 120% worth it. Shout out to Abbie also for constantly reminding me to book the different flights with different airlines - we needed to get back to Paris by a certain date to make it to Celine Dion’s concert so only certain flights would work lol.

Chinzombo

Zambia as a destination was wonderful - the time we went was shoulder? season so not that many guests - we saw small groups of agents visiting from time to time but their stays were usually very short (1-2 days) but otherwise we pretty much had the property to ourselves for our stay (5 nights) and enjoyed the attention of the entire staff. The camp manager Philip and sometimes his wife, Christina would come and greet us each time we arrived at the main area whether it was before our game drive at 5am, when we came back at 10-11, during lunch time, before we went out for afternoon drives at 330 and when we came back as well as during dinner - really insane service when you consider how they probably work from 5am to 9pm or even later… we only ever saw camp managers like once a day during our stay at camps in Kenya.

Our guide, Moses, was WONDERFUL, in stark contrast to our guide from Angama Mara 2 years ago, Moses had a genuine passion and love for animals. He taught us so much about animal behaviours, constantly spotted various animals from owls to genets and also advised us to wait with a pack of lions so we could witness a kill. His energy was infectious and we enjoyed every minute spent with him - he also seemed really proud to work for Time+Tide considering their conservation contributions in Zambia and genuinely wanted to promote Zambia as a safari destination so more guests can visit, never was there any mention of tips or anything for his own personal benefit. Just to illustrate how different our previous guide at Angama Mara was, the Angama guide kept telling us how much his previous guests tipped/how a Singita would possibly be opening in Kenya and why they would be better than Angama and also how he planned to leave Angama LOL! We had so many animal sightings including lions mating, lions making a kill, wild dogs playing in the river, leopards etc. Zambia also has lower density of tourists compared to Kenya/Tanzania so there was never really any overcrowding and vehicles would automatically move off once there are more than 6 vehicles without any need for rangers to patrol to enforce those rules.

Food was great and changed everyday. They remembered our drink preferences and we really enjoyed getting to know the service staff, Raphael and Florence who were so attentive and went above and beyond for us.

Minor minor points to note - it’s in the wild so there are insects / frogs in the tent from time to time. Wasn’t a big deal for us but I also have friends who would freak at the idea of frogs so just something to keep in mind…

Overall - beautiful beautiful place and my partner who is usually super picky absolutely loved our stay and keeps saying he wants to go back (which is RARE for him haha) and try the other camps/properties in other parts of South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi.

Miavana

We took Ethiopia Airlines from Lusaka to Nosy Be and Time+Tide did a great job arranging for our airport transfers and making them as pain free as possible. As our flight to Addis Ababa was at like 2am, they also organised a stay at Ciela hotel for us to freshen up before our flight (they did book the wrong date for us as the hotel said we were supposed to check in the day after lol but we managed to sort it out with no issue). Once we reached Nosy Be, the staff also assisted us with our bags and helped us get our visas on arrival - their credit card didn’t work though so we ended up paying for our own visas which again, really wasn’t a big issue.

The helicopter ride was less scary than I thought it would be hahaha the pilot was excellent and now we are big fans of helicopter rides! Once we arrived we were greeted with cold towels and coconuts and driven for a short tour around the common areas and our villa. Everything was gorgeous, shall let the pictures (only taken on an old iPhone - nice wildlife pics from partner’s DSLR) do the talking. We had two butlers assigned to us and they did an excellent job - we had a whatsapp group we communicated in to arrange meal times/locations and be reminded of activities.

Food was good - they have a changing menu but can also accommodate any request you might have so please ask away (reasonably) and they will try their best! Again, drink preferences are always well remembered and the butlers place different snacks/refreshments in your villa each day after each excursion. Alcohol is also included but tbh the ones included in the all inclusive really wasn’t what we would normally drink so we just didn’t drink at all but obviously cocktails/spirits/wine etc (excluding reserve wines/spirits) are free flow.

Activities - only mentioning the ones we tried:
- Quad biking - highly recommend! Was such a fun experience driving across the island and visiting the lighthouse / climbing up and seeing the view - face got caked in dust as a result but 120% worth it, our butlers also prepared a nice warm bubble bath with sparkling wine for us to enjoy after so that was lovely

- Diving - a bit of a mixed bag, for context we have tried amazing dive locations such as Palau/Fiji before so our first dive I think they dropped us in the wrong location? We spent 10-15 mins finning against currents and seeing nothing (just a sandy bottom) and when we finally got to the reef wall it really wasn’t much to write home about as there aren’t that many fishes, apparently due to spearfishing (as per our guide). When we surfaced, our DM’s DSMB didn’t inflate properly and our boat didn’t see us so we spent like 10-15 minutes floating about with waves crashing over us haha - my partner’s BCD also had a leak so he had no air by the time he surfaced and had to manually inflate his BCD. My partner is a qualified divemaster so all these issues weren’t big issues for him but I can imagine it might be chaotic and distressing for less experienced divers. We cut our dive short after we got back onto the boat because our guide couldn’t fix the BCD and there wasn’t a point of him diving with a leaky BCD. On the other hand, another guest we spoke to who went diving at a different spot had a great time! Think they might want to give their gear an overhaul though as another guest we spoke to also had issues with their gear… overall I don’t think we would dive at Miavana again as it’s rather high effort low rewards compared to other places we have been to/plan to visit, maybe Kisawa (if we ever visit - high up on our list) since there’s more to see! But FYI the guides do a good job in setting up the gear and helping you put it on before you get in the water just that they should probably do better checks/overhaul the gear. They also help wash your own personal gear (if any) after the dive so in that sense it’s very fuss free!

- Kite surfing introduction - my partner really enjoyed himself whereas I was terrified due to the winds. Definitely something to try for yourself as they have all the gear, private instructors and great winds for you to learn - your butler also prepares snacks and cold drinks/tea by the beach so it’s a delightful experience! Highly recommend - obviously if you are a pro then kite surfing itself is a no brainer as the winds are stronggg (especially during peak season as we were told).

- Helicopter excursion: we booked in a helicopter excursion to visit Daraina and Anjahankely for lemur trekking and it was AMAZING. We spent so much time with the wonderful golden crowned sifakas endemic to Daraina and also the black lemurs as well as nocturnal sportif lemurs. Really well worth the time and money. If we had more time we’d definitely do some of the other tours as well.

- Mangrove cruise - quite enjoyable and a good way to understand local geography and ecology but just a heads up the wooden canoe the locals use is very narrow and not the most comfortable - if you have mobility issues/back pain might consider asking the guides to bring a boat in… but it’s a nice way to let the locals earn some extra money so would still recommend

- Random nature walk/lemur trekking on the island - really blessed to have seen crowned lemurs on the island too and a random chameleon while exploring the island

Overall: same as Chinzombo, might have forgotten to mention but for all our activities we had private guides/vehicles without having to pay extra so it was amazing! We had to pay additional surcharges for private vehicles/guides in Kenya so this was such a pleasant surprise and also makes Zambia such an attractive destination for the value. They keep emphasising everything at your own time - because everything was private - we really had the luxury of deciding when we wanted to do our activities, how long we wanted to do it for etc. We saw less of the main camp manager there, which wasn’t a bad thing because we really just relaxed and enjoyed our peace unwinding after our safari.
Same as Chinzombo as there were also mosquitoes in our villa but that’s part and parcel of nature and we really had a great stay. Somehow they also found a way to install air conditioning in each villa so that was heavenly as you come back each afternoon to a cool bedroom 😁 Overall really no complaints other than the logistical pain to get to - which actually adds to its allure for its remoteness. My partner is already daydreaming of going back to kite surf 😆 We stayed 5 nights but could easily do another 5 more 😏

PS: Time + Tide foundation also does cool conservation stuff / uplifts local communities and as I mentioned the staff seem genuinely well treated, proud and passionate of what they do and it really makes a world of a difference.

Sorry for the long winded review - had such a wonderful time I thought it better to go into as much detail as possible. Let me know if any questions and thanks again Abbie for helping us plan such a great trip! Obviously not sponsored, really wish I could get sponsored tbh…. 🤣

Hey everyone, I'm currently planning a trip for our wedding anniversary and torn between Bawah Reserve and Soneva Jani for a trip in June.

For our honeymoon, we stayed at Soneva Fushi (in a water villa), and we still can't get over how amazing Soneva was. At the same time, Bawah Reserve looks incredible, which is making the choice so hard.

I feel like if I go to Bawah, I'll be super active—snorkeling a ton and doing all the activities. But if I go to Soneva Jani, I'd probably just chill, read books, watch movies, and take tons of photos.
I'm just so stuck and going back and forth, so I wanted to ask for your thoughts. Which one should I pick?

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are planning a 3-month stint in Asia with our 2-year-old daughter. Since we’re flying all the way from Latin America, the timezone shift is going to be brutal. To keep things seamless and avoid constantly packing/unpacking with a toddler, we’ve decided to make Singapore our home base for the entire trip and just do a few 4-7 day hops around the region.
Would love the sub's input on two fronts:

1. The SIN Base (3 Months)
We are looking for a 2-to-3 bedroom luxury serviced apartment or hotel residence. We need proper space for the toddler to run around and top-tier service. Right now, we are looking at The Club Residences at Capella (love Sentosa for the space/greenery) and the Four Seasons Apartments, but I’m wondering if we are missing any other ultra-luxe long-stay options in the city?

2. FAT Side Trips (4-7 days)
We want to use Changi as a hub for short, high-end trips. Our baseline is usually Aman/FS/Rosewood level. For these side trips, we prioritize easy direct flights, VIP fast-track airport arrivals, and great private villas. Most importantly, we need places with rock-solid nanny/babysitting services so we can actually enjoy a quiet dinner.

Right now, we are considering:

Thailand: Amanpuri or maybe Rosewood Phuket.

Indonesia: FS Jimbaran Bay or maybe Amandari. (Is Nihi Sumba too much of a logistical headache with a 2yo?)

Maldives: Soneva Fushi/Jani or Cheval Blanc Randheli since it's an easy flight from SIN.

Where else would you take a 2yo out of SIN right now? Any recent experiences with the kids' programs or nannies at these properties would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks!

As a bonus after the 3 month period we’re heading for 1 month in Japan (not planned yet) and head back home after. Any bonus recommendations will be appreciated.

My husband and I are (somewhat late to the game) planning a European ski trip for this coming Feb or early March '27. Our first choice would be Airelles Courchevel but timing and availability aren't working for us.

For context, I am an advanced skier and do a good amount of both on-piste skiing and backcountry touring, when safe/available. My husband is somewhere between beginner and intermediate. While the quality of skiing itself is important, we also enjoy the vibes: good restaurants and bars, a cute town with things to do, etc. We have no problem with a "scene" like Courchevel, I think we'd enjoy it; but we're also ok with something quieter. We have been to Zermatt (Omnia) and the Dolomites (Aman Rosa Alpina), and want to try somewhere new to us.

When it comes to the hotel itself: good service, good-to-very good F&B, and high quality, well kept hard product are most important to us. Max budget will be in the €4-5k/night range.

I haven't been able to find a recent and/or reliable review on this sub re: Les Airelles Val d'Isère, which we are currently leaning towards. Google average rating is surprisingly low (before you come for me! lol I am not new to luxury travel and Google definitely isn't my North Star; however when it comes to well-established hotels, I've found Google's amalgamate ratings are usually not far off my own opinion). It looks lovely and tbh it's Airelles so I'd hope it's not that bad?, and Val d'Isère as a ski destination sounds excellent.

Can anyone attest or share recent-ish experiences at any of these? Airelles Val d'Isère, FS Megève, Chedi Andermatt, L'Apogee Courchevel, Alpina Gstaad. Extra points for true ski-in/ski-out (but not required). TYIA!

Planning a 1 month long trip for my wife and I to Australia and New Zealand in January/February.

A bit overwhelmed and finding it difficult to suss out what we would like from all the variable things you read on the internet. Looking for recommendations on itinerary mainly. Seems it’s not the time of year to do Whitsundays or Great Barrier Reef, so thinking more like Sydney, Blue Mountains, Tasmania, Byron Bay, Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Lake Wanaka, Abel Tasman, Queenstown. What are we missing though? Want to get to as many of the “heavy hitters” as possible that are appropriate this time of year at least. Or anything I listed that we should skip?

In general, we have high end taste, prefer nature/outdoors versus just wandering around cities, and seeing unique places versus just lounging around (though we like to build in some relax days here and there to keep pace sustainable). I know experiences can vary and there’s a lot of controversial opinions on this sub, but some destination and hotels we have been and liked enough or loved were Il San Pietro in Positano, Forestis Dolomites, Sardinia (hotels were fine but nothing crazy to write home about), Finland (same), Milos (same), Patagonia (Awasi), Amalfi (Miramalfi), Anguilla (Cap Jaluca).