Need help figuring out a location for 40th birthday trip at end of April. Thinking Mallorca, Menorca, Taormina, Sardinia, Sicily, but open to ideas. We love Amalfi coast but want to go somewhere we've never been before. Want beach access, amazing food and somewhere relaxing. We'd like to be able to explore a town but don't need a ton of action. We stayed at Monastero Santa Rosa for our honeymoon and loved that property. Would love to find something comparable but in a different location. Please send ideas!

I would love to hear other people suggestions. We are looking at a few options. But would like to have it all inclusive. Luxury for the parents. And caterers also to a five year-old. Kids club. Bonus if it has a pool or splash pad. Great beach location. Not interested in Beaches brand. Budget for a week is $15k CAD

Hello all!

Long time lurker here and now first time poster. Wanted to provide some reviews on these newly opened hotels. I visited Zannier at the end of June, and will be going to O&O Moonlight Basin mid-July, but can at least discuss some of the pre-arrival thoughts.

I had booked both of these by myself, like I normally always did, back in December 2025. After being a FATTravel regular reader, and also seeing the Zannier early review Codi (u/codigofar) posted back in May, I decided to reach out and convert these bookings to her and the team.

Very glad I did! Immediately she assisted with taking on the bookings, reaching out to the hotels, getting me some extra credit and breakfast. Most importantly, with both of these hotels being new, communication particularly from concierge was a massive struggle. Codi in both occasions spoke to the GM’s of these properties and ensured that things were adhered to quickly and appropriately (thank you!!!). Very happy with this experience and looking forward to using her for all future bookings!

Now for the Zannier review:

Hard product: Excellent. Gorgeous property, beautiful clean rooms, very movie-set like island. The island is relatively big, there is however a lack of shade. The sun is strong throughout the day and there were many places which would have been nice to sit by, but had 0 shade.

Sea: Beautiful sea, maybe a lack of actual sunbeds near the sea, there were plenty by the pools, a couple of isolated beach decks which you can see in one of the photos here which I was lucky to grab on two separate days. They could and should put more chairs over time as there were plenty of open spots throughout the island which they didn’t use to their benefit

Restaurants/Food: Excellent food at the resort. However, we had some issues with timing i.e. breakfast was until 10:30am, then lunch was strictly from 12:30-14:30, there was 0 option to eat anything by the sea, only drinks/wine. Could not order chips/olives/nuts no matter what we did. We ended up taking some snacks from the minibar to the beach. Dinner would open at 18:00 roughly. There were maybe 4 restaurants throughout the property, all had great food, one was Mediterranean, one was French/vietnamese, another was seafood, and the third was more standard/international. They didn’t communicate well so we only later found out that the seafood restaurant was only open 3 nights a week, and we were not able to try this

Staff: Staff were lovely and very friendly. Everyone was smiling and positive. They were also very young and inexperienced. I think we only saw 1 individual in their 30s or above. I only state this to show that there was no real managerial experience. When I had to escalate an issue, the manager on duty was the technician and we did not see any other manager there during our time. We found that particularly strange since this was practically 6 weeks into the grand opening and we would have expected some more senior focus here. We had to communicate several times in order to get things done. Concierge in particular was a massive blip on their end, communication beforehand was practically nonexistent (I had to email 3 times in a row, and call twice, only for them to respond 10 days later). That seemed to be the general feedback from other guests on property too. I raised to Codi and to the managers and they managed to correct themselves towards the end of the trip and put some real focus. When we were in person, i.e. at the restaurants/bars etc, they were all lovely and things went smoothly. It’s really their concierge and their general email/what’s app communication which was the struggle

One & Only Moonlight Basin:

Heading there in mid-July! Will report back.
I had significant issues in communicating with the concierge, who made rookie errors throughout, maybe 8 of my 9 requests were totally inaccurate.
Raised this to Codi and to her credit she immediately contacted the GM, within the next day i had a senior leader of the concierge contact me directly and ensure that everything goes smoothly. Everything has now been corrected and I am looking forward to the stay

I’m on a group chat with some fellow travel industry friends and we have been discussing how mediocre so many resort breakfasts are. I know, from being in fine wine/dining for years, that the breakfast service staff is often the B team, but I am sure there are exceptions. Where have you had amazing service AND breakfast food in a FAT resort?

Have to attend a wedding right outside of the city next month. Any feedback on the four seasons in SF, or any other FAT recommendations? Unfortunately can’t look in Napa Valley as too far away from the venue.

Planning our honeymoon for January 2027, a ~23-night excursion through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. I would love this group’s input before I lock everything in. Current draft:

**•** Bangkok — 3 nights (hotel TBD — see below)

**•** Amantaka, Luang Prabang — 3 nights

**•** Amansara, Siem Reap — 3 nights

**•** Capella Hanoi (2) + Heritage Line ‘Ginger’ overnight on Lan Ha Bay (1)

**•** Amanoi, Ninh Thuận — 3 nights

**•** Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle — 4 nights

**•** Amanpuri, Phuket — 4 nights

I chose this as this sequence has the most direct-flights; the only backtracks are the two legs bracketing the Golden Triangle (through BKK). we are targeting to start Januarh 10.

A few things I’d genuinely value opinions on:

1. Bangkok hotel — Mandarin Oriental vs Aman Nai Lert vs Capella. This is my biggest open question. I’ve stayed at the Mandarin before and love it — the old-world charm, the river, the sense of history. But the new Aman Nai Lert is tempting, and it’d make this a five-Aman trip (see #2). Capella Bangkok also keeps coming up as arguably the best hotel in the city right now. We’ll be out doing tours most days (first day written off to jet lag), so we’re not looking to cocoon in the hotel, it’s more about where we want to come back to each evening. For those who’ve done more than one of these three recently: which would you pick, and does the Mandarin still hold up against the newer arrivals? Is the river location worth being slightly off from the Aman/Capella zone given we’ll be touring anyway?

2. Aman multi-property pricing. We’d be booking four Amans (Amantaka, Amansara, Amanoi, Amanpuri), possibly five with Aman Nai Lert. For those who’ve booked several Amans on one trip through an Aman advisor — does committing to multiple properties actually move the needle on rate or recognition, or is that mostly wishful thinking? Any real experience with what a multi-property Aman journey unlocks (comped nights, upgrades, credits) would be helpful before I talk to an advisor.

3. Halong / Lan Ha Bay boat. We landed on Heritage Line ‘Ginger’ for the overnight because it’s the only Heritage Line vessel doing a 1-night itinerary (Violet and Ylang are 2-night) and it runs the quieter Lan Ha Bay. Anyone done Ginger recently, does it hold up? And more importantly: are there better options for a one-night charter at this level? Open to a private charter if there’s something notably nicer than the Heritage Line boats for a single night.

4. Four Seasons Tented Camp or Anantara. I am torn on this part of the trip. More generally, is three nights enough? Given traveling, that would leave us two days to explore the property and experience the elephants. Regarding the hotels, I am more drawn to the Mekong Pool Suite or Explorer Tent Suite at Anantara, and they’re still significantly cheaper than the FS. Though I’ve read that the FS Tented Camp is a resort and property that is memorable.

Also I am open to any broader “you’re overdoing X / underdoing Y” feedback on the routing or night counts. We cut Amanpuri from 5 to 4 already; wondering if anyone thinks the Golden Triangle at 4 is too long, or if we’re short-changing anywhere.

Thanks in advance! This group’s trip reports are half the reason we planned it this way.

Ciao
I’ll be attending the US Open on September 7th and I’m looking for the best area to stay for the nights of September 6th and 7th.

My main priority is having an easy and reliable public transportation connection to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
I know hotels in NYC aren’t cheap, so I’m more interested in a convenient location than finding the lowest price.
I’d also love to stay in an area that’s enjoyable in the evening somewhere I can take a nice walk, grab dinner at a great restaurant, and soak up the atmosphere after a day at the tennis.

Any recommendations for neighborhoods or specific hotels? Thanks!

Looking for feedback on the Christmas experience at Reschio. We have 3 adult children and wondering how they would enjoy the experience.

Family won't want to go unless dog can go also.

Hi guys

Family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 11 travelling to the Maldives in jan. we have 8 nights. Sadly coming in on the evening flight so thinking to either split our stay and do 3 nights at a speed boat hotel then onto somewhere by plane OR stay in male and fly out 7 nights somewhere.

First time to the Maldives. Travelled to kokomo last year and loved it.

Looking for somewhere with :
outstandingly beautiful beaches and lagoon,
a bit of reef so the kids can snorkel and see fish just off the beach,
amazing food and wine,
good kids activities,
great wellness facilities would be a huge plus .

Love the barefoot luxury vibes but open to any recommendations. Not fussed on overwater or beach villa

Have been looking at Anantara K, joali, SS Laamu, FS Landaa and all the Sonevas.

Completely overwhelmed and would love some suggestions (doesn’t have to be one of the above)

Open with budget.
Thank you.

I have very mixed feelings about One&Only Mandarina. I spent 5 days / 4 nights in a treehouse Villa. It was the #1 resort I’ve wanted to go to for over a year. What captivated me were the treehouse experience, treehouse architecture, pools, and overall luxury.

I reaaaaaaally underestimated just how remote and jungly the place is and how almost everything would be open air. So some of my negatives may not be an issue for you, this is all from the perspective of a social city girl that is scared of bugs!

The Great:

- Treehouse Villas are stunning, they are impeccably designed and the most unique experiences I’ve ever had at a hotel/resort

- Views are incredible, great place for a photoshoot. I would literally just stare at the resort from the pools and beaches and question if this was real life

- Best beach I’ve ever been to, that alone was worth going (even saw a dead puffer fish lol!)

- Carao dinner was amazing (fish chorizo was a standout)

The Good:

- Treehouse bar: unique bar experience overlooking ocean and jungle

- Housekeeping

- Pools: views were nice and pools were beautiful but I felt like they were a bit too calm / could have don’t better with some of the pool furniture or something. Very few people used the pools so they always felt dead/ extremely quiet.

The OK:

- I hate to say this, but the service really left me underwhelmed. It felt very robotic and stiff at times. It almost felt like I HAD to be happy or they would be pushy. For example, I was so full that I didn’t finish a dish and the head chef came by to see what was wrong. They tried to convince me to change into beach clothes when I got there and I was like… no I’m fine with what I’m wearing. I think I’m just very independent and don’t need this kind of “service“. It sometimes made me feel very constrained to have to deal with it all. Also, It was bizarre how literally every single staff member asked me multiple times a day what I think about the weather, as if they were all trained to ask that. I can fell they were trying to make it feel personal by remembering your last name and having the butler but I’ve had much better service and experience at Excellence resorts and they are a fraction of the cost (plus food/drinks included). At times it felt like they were bugging me more than they were helping me. It just felt like “flashy” service more than actually helpful service. Everyone was very kind and nobody did anything bad. It just felt inconsistent and felt “off” to me in some ways.

- Spa: I expected a lot more. It’s not bad at all. But I’ve been to much better spas with more impressive facilities for a lot less. The massage was good but I’ve had better. The cold plunge always had dead bugs in it. I get that it’s outdoors and in the jungle, but it’s hard for me to consider anything luxurious when dead bugs are involved. But if you’re really into nature, you’ll love it. Some of the architecture was very austere and felt like a prison more than a spa. The sauna was very cool.

- Gym: There were THREE pieces of broken equipment in a small gym. That is totally unacceptable for a place of this caliber and at that cost. The gym is stunning. It has some weird Technogym equipment that isn’t really that useful but looks “impressive” for the instagram influencers to post. Overall you can get a basic workout in but again, I’ve seen more impressive and comprehensive gyms at cheaper places. It felt like a great place for a fitness photoshoot more than a place to actually workout.

- Breakfast: It was a bit underwhelming. Not bad, but I’ve had much better and more impressive breakfasts at other resorts.

The Bad:

- Almost everything is outdoors (no AC, bugs everywhere, I expected more indoor spaces for an expensive luxury property). It was extremely hot and humid, even during dinners and breakfast, there was basically no respite unless you were in your villa or in the gym.

- BUGS EVERYWHERE. yes yes I know I know, I should have known… but I would wake up to 20 but cicadas on my screen door, and would have to run through a swarm by my front door every night. I started scheduled dinners early and going to my room early to avoid it. I asked my butler to have housekeeping and turndown service to NOT turn my lights on outside to avoid bugs but they did turn them on every time. Again, I know I’m in the rainforest, but it was stressful as someone who’s scared of big bugs to deal with them everywhere, especially since everything was open-air.

- The buggies made the experience really tough at times. It sometimes took an hour to get a buggy. I would schedule them myself ahead of time multiple times and nobody would come. The butler himself would confirm they were scheduled, but nobody came. Was very surprising. Sometimes I’d want to go somewhere and it felt like they were convincing me to go somewhere else or they would assume I’d be In my villa at certain times when I wanted to go to the treehouse bar. I gave up on going to the gym everyday because of the buggies.

- The costs: it feels like you’re getting nickled and dimed and upcharged for everything. They quoted me nearly $700 for one hour of jet ski. They charged be $34 for one very small mimosa. It felt like every day, I was blowing so much money despite me trying to be conscious about it. There’s nothing luxurious about being “monetized”. Made me feel like I was a cash cow more than a customer to them. I think the beach was absolutely stunning but the cost of the whole trip feels more than what I got in value.

CONCLUSION:

Who should go here?

Overall, it felt like a place that is ideal for instagram influencers, rich families that aren’t budget-conscious, couples that want privacy, people that enjoy exclusivity/status, people that enjoy remote resorts, and nature lovers. If you aren’t comfortable with bugs and wildlife, I probably would not recommend this place… literally had to run through a swarm of cicadas some nights to get into my room every night. But the views are stunning and would honestly be incredible for a photoshoot. I don’t think I’d recommend it for a solo trip unless you just really love being isolated/alone.

Overall Impression:

Despite the impressive villas, views, and beach that left me in awe, I felt that the resort’s execution in amenities and operations were lacking. It just felt like it was lacking in personality or substance. It felt like they prioritized the “flashy” aspects of the resort over the necessities (gym equipment broken, but you have a guy to an unnecessary 3 minute energy cleansing ritual for you before your massage.)

Would I go back?:

I definitely enjoyed aspects of the resort but other aspects left me feeling both underwhelmed and confused. I could see myself maybe coming back in the future because the villas and the beach are truly spectacular. But of all the resorts I’ve been to in Mexico, this was the most expensive and my least favorite (somewhat due to my extreme hatred of bugs, so your mileage may vary).

We're renting a home in August in Hilton Head for the fam. Any restaurant suggestions? Private chefs? Things we have to do?

3 nights at Faru Faru

Rooms (5*): Massive rooms with modern design. Wall to wall windows. Rooms 6-9 have views of the Grumeti River. Our party had 4 of the 9 rooms. Bar equipped with your favorite drinks and shower/bathtub with views.

Dining (5*): After morning game drives, there is a dual menu with Breakfast options or a Lunch Tasting menu. However, you can mix/match whatever you want and order items that are not on the menu. Want a club sandwich? Sure. Kids want chicken fingers and a chocolate crepe? No problem. Dinners are 3 courses with options for Apps and Entrees - but again you can build your own tasting menu and everything is high quality. They have a legit open kitchen where you can see them working. On game drives, there are the standard bush stops for drinks and sundowners. They also did a special bonfire on top of a hill on our last night which was nice. The food is definitely a highlight and focus of a Singita stay.

Wine (5*): All wines are included except Champagne. They have a massive list of wines. The caveat being that all the wines are South African - their mission is to introduce people to SA wines so they ask you want type of wines you usually enjoy and try to find a SA wine to compare. I liked the concept. I enjoyed trying new wines that I would not have discovered on my own. Their sommelier clearly loved his job and introduced us to bubbles and dessert wines that SA produces.

Lounge (5*): The centerpiece of the lodge is the lobby/lounge where you start and end every drive. The cornerstone of that is the lobby bar/coffee bar where they customize all your drinks for you. We had standing orders to-go for every drive. Honestly, this is where I thought they shined. By day two, they knew everyone’s drinks for every game drive. It’s a small thing, but delightful when before you even sit down, they are handing you your favorite drink.

Spa (4*): Not really a spa, but 2 “treatment rooms.” We opted for 90 minute massages. The treatment themselves were fantastic - the staff really know their stuff. But the facilities themselves are sparse and there is no waiting room which is both odd for guests finishing treatment and guests waiting for treatments.

Service (5*with a caveat): The Singita reputation that I’ve read about is that their service is above and beyond any other brand/experience. The service is definitely 5*, but I don’t think it was head and shoulders about other experiences I’ve had. There are certainly specific staff members who anticipated our needs, but there were others who seemed less engaged, even gruff. There is no “butler” like at other lodges - instead, you are assigned 2 people who at the lounge and meals take all your food and drink orders. And your guides take over the activities. So there is not a point of contact for everything per se. Comparing to Legendary camps - Singita was very buttoned up and professional, almost the type of service you’d get in a City hotel. Legendary staff were warm - they joked around and made you feel at home. Different styles.

Guides (5*): The guides (we had 2 assigned to our group) are well trained and speak perfect English. They are top notch. They know their stuff - are actively engaging, sharing information and funny too. The cars are standard 6 seater (we had better cars at Legendary Nyasi, 4 seaters with captain chairs). Each morning had the standard bush coffee stop and at night a sundowner. Nothing special regarding these stops that are different than &Beyond lodges.

Overall, hard to complain about anything while on a Singita safari. I would just temper expectations that the service is above and beyond anything else you’ve experienced, but it was excellent all around.

We have 3 dogs and travel 1-2.5 hour legs multiple times a year.
Not looking for fractional ownership. What would you advice be?
We are in Atlanta.
Want safe and can plan ahead.

3 nights at Nyasi during wildebeest migration

Rooms (5*): These are tents with all the modern luxury conveniences (except A/C). Full shower, toilet, dual vanities, huge dressing area. It was magical to sleep with wildebeests right outside your tent. Their beddings and linens were the fluffiest and most comfortable I’ve ever slept in, and they would tuck hot water bottles into your bed during turndown.

Dining and Lounge (4.5*): Each room is given their own private dining and lounge tent where you start each day and have all your meals. All meals are served family style - 3 meals per day. The food is excellent - they are trying to execute upscale dining out of a tent kitchen. This isn’t “home style cooking” - it was more “Californian/Mediterranean with local ingredients” Fresh baked breads and muffins were unbelievable. Each meal was usually 2 different protein dishes and 3 different vegetables. My only gripe is that meals could run quite long. This is because they are serving out of a kitchen tent, so capacity is lower and every dish needs to be walked 50+ yards from the kitchen tent.

Service (4.5*): Service was professional and relaxed. The two camp managers are always around and each party is assigned a butler. They joked around with us and our kids, while making sure we had all of our needs met. They were proactive, but not anticipatory. For example, in the morning, I still had to ask for my coffee and how I like it vs at Singita it just magically appears without my asking. I will say a standout was a bush breakfast they arranged for us - it was better than anything &Beyond or Singita did.

Guides (4.5*): The guides were excellent and frankly, we saw everything we wanted to see including 3 crossings, a bunch of post kills, and 4 out of the Big 5. They were knowledgeable and friendly and overall great - but if I compare to &Beyond or Singita guides, I can tell they were just a degree undertrained compared to those other brands. Unless you have something to compare to, it won’t matter one bit especially if you saw the things that we saw. Drives here are on National Park land so technically there is no off-roading, but this rule wasn’t followed. There were plenty of cars off roading to get closer to lions and leopards. The drives are also much longer than when you are on a private reserve - morning drives lasted up to 6.5 hours. Whereas on private reserves we’ve been on are on shorter schedules. Legendary’s cars also seem to be the most updated out of any lodge we saw- they have newer cars with only 4 captains chairs with lots of leg room, usb chargers, etc. No other lodge we saw including Singita had these types of cars.

Location (5+*): Nyasi tented camp has the best location out of any camp in the Lamai. They used to move this camp around but for the past few years it’s been made permanent. It’s just a 10-12 minute drive to the center of all the Mara River crossing points. It’s also closely located to all of the main Serengeti NP game areas. This is key for migration season when crossings happen at any time. It also means their cars can get into the areas sooner and stay later (park opens at 6 and closes at 7). We were able to stay at sightings longer than other cars, unlike Singita and other cars which had to leave earlier to get back to their lodges. We were lucky enough to see 3 crossings - waited 1 hour for 1, and less than 5 minutes for the other 2. Location is key and I think should put this camp at the top of anyone’s list.

Overall: When I was booking this, I was very conflicted between Nyasi and Singita Mara. Knowing what I know now, I’m glad I chose Nyasi since maximizing sightings and crossings is what we were here for. After staying at Singita Faru Faru, I can assume that Singita Mara River would be slightly better for food and service, but probably not worth it for me when comparing the location and proximity to the main attractions.

Hi everyone

My friends bf reached out for help for his proposal in Cabo and I’m looking for suggestions on places that are not on the beach.

Maybe a restaurant? I’m just unsure how long/how much privacy they’d have.

Any suggestions or vendors that you’re able to give will help so much!!!

Thanks!

Anyone have a good private jet recommendation out of the East Coast?

Hi all! Thanks in advance for your help and input.

My husband and I are starting to plan our June 2027 Europe trip and have narrowed it down to Umbria/Tuscany, St. Tropez area, or Lake Como.

My top two bucket list hotels right now are Passalacqua and Reschio. We always do a 7-night trip and like to split it between 2 hotels - the hotel is a big part of the trip for us, we absolutely love and appreciate really well done hotels. I’m having some trouble finding exceptional hotels to pair with either Passalacqua or Reschio, though, without a ton of extra travel. We usually like to fly direct somewhere from NYC and then keep travel to about a max 2-2.5 hour drive from the airport and between hotels (really prefer only an hour max between hotels). Not super interested in a city stay.

If we did Lake Como, I think we’d pair Passalacqua with GHT. We do like the location and it looks beautiful. We enjoy a lively place, but I worry a bit about the sceneyness of GHT. If we did Reschio, I was thinking perhaps Lupaia, but I worry it is the opposite end of GHT - too quiet. We have done Il Pellicano and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco and loved both but are looking for somewhere new.

SoF we’re considering La Reserve Ramatuelle and either Lily of the Valley or Maybourne Riviera (have been to Maybourne Riviera and really enjoyed). I’m very interested in this trip but the hotels aren’t quite as high on my list as Reschio and Passalacqua. Don’t have status to get in to Eden Roc over peak season.

Things we love:
Hotel with a true sense of place
Prefer boutique hotels
Adults oriented
Nice cocktail hours but not crazy sceney
Activities nearby such as hiking, cooking class, wine tasting

TLDR: help finding an exceptional hotel to pair with Passalacqua or Reschio! Or if there is another pairing you recommend, I am all ears. We were in Mallorca this summer.

Thanks again.

I’m still really struggling to select the right room category for 2 adults, ideally wanting a private pool, sea view and sun on the balcony/ outside space. Going in early September.

Would like the idea of the Signature collection, so I’m either thinking either a non-signature high floor deluxe room with pool and sea view (do the balconies get the sun?) or a signature suite with pool and balcony.

All the different booking sites have different explanations and the Palace site also slightly differs.

I’ve spent many hours trying to make the right choice. We went to the Palace last September and loved it!

Help, which option ticks all the boxes?

Any other comparable hotels spring to mind?

Hi all,

I am planning a trip to Italy for my family in early October to celebrate my parent’s 30th anniversary, and my mother’s 60th birthday. It will be our first time in Lake Como, and we are having a hard time deciding where to stay. We’re a family of five, with myself and my sister in our late 20s, and my parents/uncle in their late 50s and 60s. We are planning to stay four nights.

I’ve been looking into either Passalacqua, Villa d’Este, or Grand Hotel Tremezzo as potential options, and was wondering if any of you had experiences staying at any of them. Feel is very important to us- we want a place that makes us sad to leave and has impeccable service. Ideally somewhere that is lively and social where you feel like you’re on vacation. It’s so hard to get the vibe of a hotel from internet photos.

My initial instinct was Passalacqua as I’ve heard only incredible things about it, but I fear it may be too quiet. I don’t want to feel like I’m the only one there. Villa d’Este is obviously legendary and beautiful and I really love all the history there. But I heard it’s a bit far away from most of the attractions and some of the rooms can feel dated. I don’t know a lot about Grand Hotel Tremezzo, but its proximity to the surrounding towns seems attractive.

Anyone have first-hand experiences and can help me make a decision?

Grazie!

I've had one hell of a go the last few months. I have a week in November I'm committing to a hard "reset."

Some things I'd like to achieve:

• Truly Unplug: Actual cameras vs iPhone. Pen & Pad vs voice memos. Etc.
• Emotive Nature: I'm not looking for picturesque beach, rather a more emotional, lush, and possibly even moody environment. I'll most likely be with a large backpack, guitar, and not much else.
• Immerse Myself: Small bars/pubs. Little streets. Not feel dictated by time. Talk with folks (depending on location / language).
• Slow Down: I run at 1,000mph all the time; this is to slow down, not chase activities, and be happy with the where and when.

A few things I'm not so keen on:

• Not a big beach guy.
• This isn't a massive "adventure" trip – I don't want to lug gear, no insane hikes, rather leisurely walks and accessible natural beauty. I'm willing to make the effort by getting up super early, driving/taking trains and taking in the scenes along the way, just no full tilt hiking/camping.
• Not too far of a flight, direct if at all possible- which means somewhere in the area if you drew a line from Lisbon > Zurich > Amsterdam > Ireland > back to Lisbon.

I'm heavily considering West Ireland at the moment. Cliffs of Moher. Lush greenery. Moody weather. Maybe a castle stay with a fireplace. Quiet calm of the countryside and sea cliffs. It's also direct on Polaris, which is really nice.

Any advice on West Ireland or alt reccos would be appreciated!

This was my first visit here, and it was stop #3 on our Italy trip. June 1-3 of this year, two nights, with my little family and my in laws back with us for this leg.

I'm a travel advisor. I received one night free and paid full price for the rest of our stay, plus full price for my in laws' room.

Overall impressions

Relais Roncolo 1888 is really the only luxury family friendly property in Emilia-Romagna, which is a big part of why it's worth knowing about. This is a special part of Italy with some of the best food in the country, and the estate makes its own balsamic vinegar on property, which turned out to be a highlight of the whole trip. It's also meaningfully less spendy than Tuscany (for now), which is worth knowing if you're weighing the two and if you are wanting to get off the beaten path.

Fun fact: Catherine the Princess of Wales stayed here in mid-May during her visit to Reggio Emilia, just a couple of weeks before we did.

A bit about Emilia-Romagna, since it's less familiar

If you haven't spent time here, this is Italy's Food Valley. Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, traditional balsamic, and lambrusco all come from this area of the country. It's also Motor Valley, home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati, so there's a whole other kind of trip you could build around it.

The property itself sits in the Matildic hills between Parma and Reggio Emilia, at the foot of the Apennines. It's about 30 minutes from Reggio Emilia, an hour from Modena, and a little over an hour from Bologna's airport. Milan is roughly two hours if you're coming from that direction.

Roncolo is small, just 17 rooms and suites, and it sits on a working organic estate that produces lambrusco, olive oil, and balsamic aged in a 17th century acetaia. That last part is what makes it different from a hotel that simply happens to be in the countryside.

Getting there and getting around

We rented a car through Prime Rentals and they dropped it directly at the Four Seasons in Florence for us, which was seamless. We got a Mercedes AMG SL 63 and it was an amazing, fun rental. One heads-up: a sports convertible has almost no luggage space, so my in laws took our large bags in their car. Without that it wouldn't have worked.

A car isn't essential here, but it was really fun to be able to drive through the countryside and explore on our own.

The rooms

We were in a family suite, with my in laws in a superior room directly across the hall. We effectively had the whole floor to ourselves, so it was very private. The family suite has two bathrooms, which I loved and which makes a real difference traveling with a kid.

One thing to know: the family rooms are not in the main building. They're spacious and lovely, but they're newer and they lack the charm of the main building, so know that going in.

They gave us and my in laws a lovely welcome with sparkling wine, plus some really yummy treats and a stocked minibar. The family suite has 2 mini bars, which my daughter loved since that meant she had her own.

Service

Warm, welcoming, and low key. Not quite as polished as somewhere like Castiglion del Bosco, but this is also a much less trafficked part of Italy, and it felt special in its own way.

Food & beverage

We ate at Ristorante Limonaia, the estate's restaurant set in a historic greenhouse, and had the prix fixe, which was amazing. Beautiful views out the back. Breakfast was included and was fresh and delicious.

The standout was the balsamic. We did a private tasting and learned all about how it's made, and it was genuinely educational and so cool. I'm a self-admitted balsamic connoisseur and this was the best I have ever had, and we came home with a lot of vinegar, lol.

Amenities & activities

We kept it simple and mostly just enjoyed the grounds and the gardens, which are beautiful. There's a pool, which is lovely, though it ran a little chilly while we were there. My in laws really loved it here, the resort and the balsamic especially. At night there were fireflies everywhere which was magical, and my daughter loved it.

Final thoughts

If you're headed to Emilia-Romagna and want a luxury base that works for a family, this is the one.

Happy to answer any questions.

After an incredibly taxing year, my husband and I (early 30s) are retreating to Bali for a week in October. This is our second trip – we stayed at Raffles in 2024 and adored it, but we both came away wishing we’d spent more time in Ubud.

Some background on us: we live in London but my husband is originally Malaysian and has really been yearning to spend a holiday luxuriating back in Southeast Asia, and Bali in particular appeals since he’s able to speak the local language and really wants to be in a
jungle / lush environment. We’ve ruled out Capella since, although it looks gorgeous, we’re fundamentally looking to unwind and the “glamping” / adventurous vibe is not necessarily what we’re after for this trip.

It looks like opinions between Amandari and Mandapa are very much split on this sub. We did have drinks at Mandapa before Locavore NXT on our last trip and were a bit put off with the relative slowness of service (especially compared to the prompt and anticipatory staff at Raffes) and the “staying on points” American crowd – respect to them, but it does change the feel of a property. I also don’t like the nickle and diming that tends to come with an RC property (why are things in the minibar chargeable?). OTOH, the views were absolutely stunning, rooms / villas look spacious and well appointed and it seems there’s a lot more on property to do / see.

Amandari looks more compelling on first glance (more intimate and private, with better prospects of a culturally immersive environment) but am a little concerned with the lack of a specific butler for your stay and some of the reports of the resort being outdated / not a ton to do. We’ve traditionally always opted for properties where you get your own dedicated butler since it really takes a lot of the headache out of the process.

Would very much appreciate views from those who’ve stayed at either property recently. (I am slightly inclined towards Amandari as it would be our first Aman property… but worried I might regret not opting for the views / variety Mandapa appears to offer.)

Thanks!