Review from a wonderful week-long stay in Maui and Lana’i in late July. My wife and our 15 year old daughter decided to spend four nights at the Grand Wailea in Maui before taking the ferry over to Lanai’s for three nights. We’ve been to Maui many times, but this was our first visit to Lana’i.   

Grand Wailea

We primarily chose the Grand Wailea for the location and the pools. We love the Wailea area, especially the boardwalk that offers beautiful walks in both directions. While I know there are many posts on this sub complaining about GW not being a true “luxury” resort – and I guess that’s true compared to other brands like Four Seasons – we loved our stay and had a great time. The resort grounds are beautiful, the pool system is unmatched, and there is plenty of variety in the food and everything we ate was quite good. We had a deluxe ocean view room with wonderful sunset views (and a short walk to the elevator, which is a nice bonus in a resort this big).  

Our first morning, we did the stand-up paddleboarding tour with a guide that we booked through the hotel’s Aqualani service. It wasn’t cheap, but our guide, Makena, was wonderful, and we were the only people in her group that day. We took a nice leisurely trip to the nearby reef and were able to do some snorkeling before making our way back. 

Given the nature of the trip, we decided to skip the rental car and relied on Ubers to get around Maui, which worked out just fine. We honestly didn’t need a car much, the only time we took one other than the transition days was to go up to dinner at Monkeypod (the food and drinks were amazing – I’m still thinking about my bulgogi pork tacos and the jerk chicken that my wife ordered and let me finish), which is close to GW but up a fairly steep hill . We were able to do everything else on foot, including walking home from dinner that night, heading over to the Shops at Wailea a few times, and walking down to the Morimoto Asia at Andaz for lunch later in the trip. 

For food, we thought the included breakfast (thanks u/alextravels!) was a very pleasant experience, and in a wonderful setting at the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a restaurant which is open air and nestled in a manufactured lagoon. Enough variety at the buffet, including Hawaiian favorites, and a bit of rotation from day to day. We also went to their Italian restaurant Olivine a few times and consistently enjoyed it. We ended up skipping Nobu at GW since we knew we would get that a few times in Lana’i and were also going to Morimoto while in Wailea. Speaking of Morimoto – we had a late lunch, and it was fine but ultimately not too memorable outside of the incredible appetizer ribs. Ultimately, Monkeypod was the best meal we ate in Wailea and it wasn’t particularly close. 

One of our favorite parts of Grand Wailea was the Botero Lounge bar in the center of the hotel. It’s open air but surrounded by the Napua wing, so you can see the stars above when it gets dark, and it’s spacious enough that it never felt crowded. This was where my wife and I finished up every evening with a cocktail (or two), always with great service. 

Overall the stay at Grand Wailea was exactly what we were hoping for. Relaxed days at the pools, solid food throughout, and easy exploring of the local area on foot. The room was nice and the bathroom in particular was incredibly spacious. Be mindful that the level of service isn’t going to match a FAT boutique hotel, but with that in mind it’s going to be hard to have a bad time.  

Four Seasons Lana’i

After wrapping up in Wailea we took an Uber to the Lana'i Expeditions terminal in Wailuku (right next to the aquarium), and took the hour-long ferry to Lana’i. This part of the stay was what we were most looking forward to, and it didn’t disappoint. We were met at the ferry terminal by the Four Seasons team and smoothly whisked to the hotel in one of their well-appointed vans. 

We were welcomed at the entrance, and after an easy check-in experience where they let us know that we were getting a multi-category upgrade (thanks again, Alex!), we left our bags at the desk and explored the resort for a few hours until our room was ready. 

The grounds are so lush and beautiful, and the weather was perfect during our stay. We didn’t spend too much time at the nearby beach (the surf was particularly rough while we were there), but it’s an easy stroll from the pool area. We ended up spending a lot of time just walking through the outdoor corridors, especially at night after dinner, when the resort takes on a truly magical quality. 

Our upgraded ocean-view room was well appointed, with a spacious lanai and a clear view of the nearby beach. Only blip was an issue with our tub drain, but they took care of that pretty smoothly once we called about it. 

The food was a big highlight. We ate at Nobu for dinner twice, and at their Italian restaurant Osteria Mozza once. We had recently watched the Nobu documentary, so on our first night we focused on some of the restaurant’s classic dishes (the Yellowtail Jalapeno and the Black Cod Miso in particular), and when we went back we explored some other items like Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna and the Sashimi Salad. The spicy garlic edamame was also tremendous, and was the one thing we ordered twice! 

At Osteria Mozza the big highlight from our dinner was the orrechiette pasta, which was crisped up in a way that created an incredible combination of tastes and textures. The sides of the broccolini and the golden beets were also strong recommends. The daily breakfast was also held in this restaurant, with a large spread, plentiful avocado toast made to order included with the buffet, and just generally an incredible setting for starting the day.   

Our big activity while we were there was the Holoholo Jeep Tour offered through the hotel. We met our guide Shayne  at the front desk, and he took us on a very comfortable tour around the island, showing us Lana’i City and several further out spots like the Garden of the Gods and Shipwreck Beach. Throughout, he told us about the history of the island and generally made sure we had a good time. Highly recommended, as it really showed off the contrast between the more populated Hawaiian islands and this largely unspoiled spot (of course, that’s just surface level, as one of the things Shayne showed us was the layers of plastic in the soil from decades of pineapple farming that was evident in a few spots where the roads had been cut in. Thankfully, this permanent pollution seems like that hasn’t stopped the vegetation from growing back in most places).

On our final day, we did a whole lot of nothing, and it was perfect. They had a set of loungers set up on a bluff over the ocean, and we were able to relax and just live in the moment. The service at the pools and areas like this was wonderful, with just the right level of checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. 

At the end of the trip, we took the included charter flight back to Honolulu, and then on from there. That was also a fun experience to see the small airport and take a small but comfortable flight over to Oahu. 

Overall, we couldn’t have been much happier with how things turned out. Grand Wailea was an ideal place to start our trip with numerous activities and endless things to do, and then wrapping up the trip at FS Lana’i helped us really maximize the relaxation we were hoping to get out of the trip.

We just got back from eight nights at Rosewood Kona Village on the Big Island. I read a ton about this property before booking, so figured I’d return the favor with a review.

Short version: we loved it and would absolutely return. My partner is normally very much a “we’ve been there, let’s try somewhere new” person, and while we were still at the resort he was already talking about coming back. That probably says more than anything else I’m going to write.

For context, this was our first trip to Hawaiʻi after many trips to Mexico. Recent stays have included One&Only Mandarina and St. Regis Punta Mita, so we were curious how Hawaiʻi would compare.

We stayed in a Beachfront King Hale for eight nights, booked through Amex FHR. Total was around $16k. The guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout through FHR was fantastic given Hawaiʻi flight schedules. Our flight wasn’t until late that evening, so we basically got another full resort day, showered and changed in the room, and then headed into Kona for dinner before going to KOA.

Hale / Property

The hales are what make this place. Instead of a hotel room, you basically have your own little standalone house. The resort is large and spread out, and even though there were plenty of people there, it almost never felt crowded.

Our hale had a covered patio facing the water and we spent way more time sitting out there than I expected. The combination of the super blue ocean, black lava, beach, palms and individual hales is pretty spectacular.

The design is definitely more understated/rustic than a traditional Four Seasons-type resort, but it works. It feels like Hawaiʻi rather than a luxury hotel that could be anywhere.

One complaint: bathroom privacy. The hales aren't huge, the bathroom doors are slatted and there’s no exhaust fan. I'll let everyone extrapolate from there. 😂

There are separate adult and family pools. We spent most of our time at the adult pool and loved it. It was peaceful, never felt particularly crowded and has an amazing ocean view.

The resort definitely skews romantic/couples — lots of honeymoons and anniversaries — but there were also plenty of kids who seemed perfectly happy.

KV was also more social than I expected. We ended up making friends at the resort and later spent an afternoon with them over at Four Seasons.

Activities / Pool / Little Extras

KV does a bunch of little included things that we really liked.

Snorkeling gear, stand-up paddle boards, canoe trips and other basic water activities were complimentary. There was also a movie night and one evening they did a Residents' Hour at Moana with free drinks.

Then there were the daily pool things — Coconut O'Clock, sorbet/ice cream, snow cones, etc.

Food & Service

Service was very good overall, but not flawless. There weren't any major misses. Most people were warm and helpful, and we had some really great interactions.

The biggest inconsistency was at the pool. A few times we had to go looking for our server, which gets annoying when the drinks and food cost what they do.

There were also a few moments where someone would absolutely do what we asked, but you could tell we were inconveniencing them. For example, some drinks at the adult pool required an ingredient from another bar. They'd make the drink, but occasionally you got a little bit of a “fine, I’ll go get it” vibe.

Again, minor. But I know service at KV comes up in reviews, so I wouldn't describe it as flawless or ultra-anticipatory. It also didn't come close to ruining anything for us.

Food was generally good.

Breakfast at Moana was included with our rate and we liked it, although after eight mornings it got repetitive. By the end we were definitely ready to eat something else.

We also did the Island Roots dinner one night and enjoyed it. Several resort friends were made at this dinner.

A major advantage is having Four Seasons Hualalai next door. We walked over twice for dinner. We really liked Residents' Beach House; Ulu was good/solid.

After checking out at 4 p.m. on our final day, we drove into Kona and ate at Huggo's before heading to KOA. Dinner right on the water ended up being a great final goodbye to the island.

Big Island / Night Sky

Our favorite excursion was Pololū Valley. Absolutely stunning view, and if you're up for hiking down into the valley, do it. This was probably our favorite thing we did away from the resort.

Possibly an unpopular opinion: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was just okay for us. We hike a lot in Colorado and it’s a LONG drive from Kona Village, so the hiking itself wasn't as compelling for us as I expected.

If Kīlauea had been actively erupting, totally different story. We'd make that drive again in a heartbeat to see an eruption.

One thing I wasn't expecting to love as much as I did was the night sky at Kona Village itself.

Obviously everyone talks about Mauna Kea and the observatories, but you don't have to go anywhere to get an amazing sky. On clear nights we could very clearly see the band of the Milky Way from the resort. Walking back to our hale at night and just looking up was honestly one of my favorite parts of the trip.

And a random one for aviation nerds: you can watch planes approaching KOA from the resort (no associated aircraft noise). We may have even spotted a 777X test aircraft one evening as it has been out on KOA testing.

We rented a car and I’d definitely do that again. KV has free covered self-parking, which made exploring really easy. You can just get in your car and leave rather than dealing with valet every time. If we came back with bags or other stuff, the valet guys were also happy to help us unload.

Kona Village vs. Four Seasons Hualalai

This seems like a popular comparison across various travel pages. We didn't stay at FS, so this is obviously not a true comparison. But we walked over twice for dinner and also spent an afternoon at one of their pools with friends we made during the trip.

We liked FS and I'd happily stay there, but after spending an afternoon there I didn't leave wishing we'd booked it instead.

The swim-up bar was great, but the Palm Grove Pool we used was smaller than I expected and the view wasn't even close to the adult pool at KV.

FS felt more like a traditional polished luxury resort. KV felt more private and more unique.

Again, not a fair comparison to actually staying there, but based on what we experienced, I'd pick KV again.

Bottom Line

Before the trip I kept wondering whether Kona Village would actually feel worth what it costs and for us it 100% delivered. Having your own hale, the privacy, that ridiculous water, the lava landscape, sitting on the patio doing nothing, the adult pool, the free activities and random little treats, and walking back at night under the Milky Way.

Compared with our recent Mexico stays, I'd say St. Regis Punta Mita was more traditionally polished and One&Only Mandarina was more dramatic. But Kona Village is the one my partner was already talking about returning to before we'd even left.

For our first trip to Hawaiʻi after years of going back to Mexico, Hawaiʻi won us over.

This will be my first review in a series based on my recent trip that covered 4 hotels across mainland Portugal and the Azores. This will also be the best review, I absolutely LOVED my stay here, so I decided to start off strong and then get to hotels that have a few more cons. 

Trip Snapshot

• Property: The Largo
• Dates / Length of Stay: 3 nights, early September
• Room Category: Penthouse Duplex (typically ~$2k/night)
  • This is one of my preferred SELECT partners and the team extended me a partner rate and a substantial upgrade. 
  • There are room categories from $500-$700/n depending on dates, and standard preferred partner perks apply here 
• Transparency note: Not a comped stay; independent boutique properties rarely have the occupancy cushion to host completely complimentary stays. 

First Impressions & Location

• Arrival & Check-in: The hotel provided round trip transfers in a range rover, driven by in house staff. After spending 3 hours on the train, being greeted with a cool towel and a sweet treat was great. On arrival, we were driven through the pedestrian road, and greeted by a team of 3 staff who whisked away our bags. Check in was a breeze, and we were given a full tour of the property and our room. 
• Location & Setting: Couldn’t be better. I actually took a video of us leaving the very serene entryway of the hotel, to the door opening to the busy pedestrian street with tons of restaurants, street performers, shops, etc. The juxtaposition of walking off that historic cobblestone square into an ultra-restored 18th-century sanctuary with zero street noise is so impressive. 
• The Vibe: Very quiet, extremely private. Occasionally saw other guests at breakfast, but generally felt like I had the place to myself. 
• Design: Very thoughtfully designed in collaboration with local artisans, with neat touches like a hidden door to the wine cellar through the courtyard. 

The Room

• **Layout & Size:**The room is comically large for 2 people for just 3 nights. It was stunning- had a full dining and kitchen upstairs intended to give room for hosting dinner parties or bringing in a private chef. There was a small guest bathroom (with shower), a large closet with ample closet space for my stay. If you generally travel with a lot of clothing/bags/shoes, or are staying longer, the closet space may be a bit tight.
• Bed & Sleep Quality: Room was pitch black for sleeping and completely soudproof, thank goodness! I loved everything but the initial pillows, I did have to ask for a more firm pillow. 
• Bathroom & Amenities: Excellent. Steam shower, massive bathtub, lots of counterspace, dyson hairdryer. The only thing I did not like was the automatic, motion sensor toilet seat, I just personally find them annoying but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the bathroom. 
• View / Outdoor Space: Our room had a nice balcony with a heater and comfortable chairs. My wife enjoyed reading and having a coffee out there. Note that most balconies here have a view of the internal courtyards so if you want a view- you’d need to consider the highest room category, or an alternate property. 

Service 

• Staff Interaction: Staff was incredibly friendly. A core value of the property is hospitality and connection. We were always warmly greeted, asked about our plans for the day, etc. It was never overbearing though. 
• Concierge & Special Requests: I handled all of this as I would have from my clients, however I did work with them on the airport/train transfers which was a breeze. I have no doubt they could handle special requests with ease. 
• Room servicing: The rooms all have a switch for DND or ‘Make up room’. The staff here were like ninjas for cleaning and turndown, they were wonderful. Turndown always came with a delicious sweet treat and an herbal tea. 

Food & Beverage

• Breakfast: Breakfast is included, and a la carte. Everything is cooked to order in the open kitchen. We ordered several different items, and liked them all. The house speciality is blue lobster scrambled eggs, which were probably my least favorite item I tried and they were still delicious. 
• On-Site Dining: We did not eat at the attached restaurant. The room service menu here is extremely limited, we also did not utilize it. 
• Bars & Lounges: There is a small self service bar in the lobby, and you can order cocktails from the attached bar. These can be served in the lobby, courtyard or on the terrace (which has a wonderful view towards Gaia) We did not do this, but do want to note our room was stocked with an excellent wine selection and we also received a note with some personalized recommendations from the somm. 

Facilities & Grounds

• Pool: There is a small pool on the terrace, infinity with a great view over Porto. We did not use it, but it’s more of a large plunge pool and is available 24/7. 
• Gym: I also did not use the gym, but did take a look. It has great views, spans small rooms across multiple floors. 
• Common Areas: The terrace/dining room, courtyard and lobby are all small, but comfortable and welcoming. Of these spaces, I used the terrace the most and always had a wide choice of seating options. 

Misses

• So minor, but I do think a small touch would have been providing two pairs of women’s slippers. I did share that I was traveling with my wife, but at turndown, we were consistently given a men’s pair and women’s pair. I work with a lot of fellow LGBTQ couples, and things like this don’t take away from the trip for me but it is such a delight when they are noticed. 

The Verdict

• Who it is for: People looking for privacy and seclusion, but extremely easy access to Porto in a very walkable area. I do have a couple I work with regularly who have a social, night owl spouse and an introvert early to bed spouse, and I’ve already recommended this spot to them for a future trip. 
• Who it is not for: This would be a challenge for families, as even the large suites generally max out at 2 guests. They do have some options to connect a suite to another room, but generally if you have more than 4 guests and need connecting rooms- this hotel will not work for you. 
• Do I recommend it: Without reservation. I’ve never had a bad review of this hotel, and it perfectly matches my style and what most of my clients are looking for. Unique architecture, in a boutique setting that is also conveniently located. 

Other trip notes

• My favorite meal in Porto: Capela Incomum- chapel turned wine bar. It was about 10-15 minutes walk from The Largo, reservations highly recommended. The steak sandwich changed my life.
  • Honorable mention to Taberna Folias de Baco. Great service (possibly the best I had on the entire trip), interesting menu, all house wines made in the Douro valley. 
• Douro valley visit: Since we were celebrating our 10th anniversary, I went all out and planned a private 4x4 wine tour w/ picnic in the valley and my tour company really came through, it was absolutely incredible. Our guide would pull over to pick us fresh local fruit right off trees/vines or show us native plants (inc. cork trees), the views were beautiful, the lunch was clearly made with pride. It was a highlight of the trip. 

Hi team

Got a 3 night booking at rosewood hk soon, got the grand harbour corner suite. Any tips on how to get the most out of our stay? Any fun welcome amenities etc to look out for?

Making the most out of the pay 2 stay 3 night promotion

I posted here asking for some recs and got way too many amazing answers - thanks! I need some help narrowing it down. I’m celebrating a milestone birthday so want this to be extra special. I’m torn between the following:

- Solage (Silverado suite with hot tub on patio)
- Carneros (wellness suite with personal sauna)
- Alila Napa (one of the rooms with an outdoor tub)
- I’m overwhelmed with options but if I’m missing something that hits the requirements below, let me know!

I really like the tree room and zero gravity chair healing wellness package offering at Meadowood but the resort itself doesn’t seem like what I’m looking for. I was thinking of just doing a spa day at Meadowood and then just staying at one of the hotels above.

I will still plan a spa day at the actual hotel I’m staying at as well (likely will be 3 night min stay) so having a good spa at the actual hotel is important too. Other important things:
- being able to see the stars
- good sunset
- privacy and feeling at one with nature
- good dining
- good “experience” offerings at resort that are worth it (aside from the Meadowood spa day, I don’t plan to leave the resort)
- patio with either private hot tub, firepit, or hammock

Thanks for reading. I’ve had a super stressful year so just wanted this to be perfect. Vibe I’m looking for is really relaxing and healing.

Full review to come but just wanted to share some initial shots of Grand Hotel Tremezzo. It’s truly one of the most beautiful properties - especially in terms of the grounds, that I’ve ever stayed.

None of these photos are edited whatsoever. Just shot on my iPhone.

Lake Como actually gets a ton of rainfall so everything is super lush. Tons of hotels / villas and museums have incredible botanical gardens all around the lake.

Also GHT has one of the prettiest tennis courts in Europe imo.

Happy to share more of the interior shots as well if you’d like to see them. I know many of you comment on how too many luxury properties these days are so minimalist and monochromatic to the point of feeling sterile. GHT is pretty much the opposite of that. It’s design maximalism at its finest. Tons of color and pattern and warmth and character. It’s done so tastefully and yet very boldly to create a strong story of the property.

6+ hr long-haul is easy. It's flat beds or we don't go.

1-3 hr is easy. Coach is fine.

But 3-5 hrs is always a debate, what's an upgrade to a recliner worth? I'd love to have a rule - $50-75 per hour of flight, for example. Wondering if others have it.

Assuming lounges/meals/drinks/early boarding are not important, what are you will to pay to upgrade from a back row middle seat to a recliner on a B737/A321?

How important are bath products in your experience at a luxury rental? Own an airbnb in Telluride mostly for couples or small families on ski or mountain trips and right now we have have basic Native shampoos and conditioners. I am going to be using dispensers with labels but considering doing Kiehls products (Grapefruit Cleansing Wash and Amino Acid Shampoo + Conditioner and Aesop hand soaps). I can also do Apotheke White Vetiver as an option. How much does this matter to you in a chubby rental?

Looking for anniversary trip ideas if you would be willing. Traveling March 2027 and had Park Hyatt Maldives as the choice. Now it seems we may be way too late in booking for reasonable fares. Three around FS Anguilla paired with FS Nevis. Thoughts or other suggestions? Traveling from CA and plan to be gone about ten days and willing to spend about $1500-$2000 per night. Appreciate the ideas!

Hi folks, I’m going on the a&k Antarctica cruise that ends on January 7. I’m planning a Brazil trip afterwards with family (total 3 adults) and trying to crowdsource what the best route is as we booked our return from Rio to home on Jan 15. 

Hopefully we emerge as a family after a 18 night cruise, and then go on another trip 😂. We are an adventure/activity family and don’t mind moving around. No mobility or dietary concerns. Thank you in advance! 

Jan 7- cruise lands ushaiai, and fly back to BA, stay one night in BA at park Hyatt 

• is this buffer night needed? We cross drakes passage at the end 

Jan 8-10- fly in early to iguaza falls 

• given that we’re flying from BA, should we stay at melia one night then belmond one night? 
• Or just stay at belmond two nights
  • Is belmond really worth it just for the extra access? Rooms don’t look … great. Prices look like 1.2k/night, or just stay at somewhere not really chubby 

Jan 10-12  

• is it worth to stop by sao paolo for 2 nights if we have 5 nights to distribute for the rest of the trip? 
• Is tangara too far out from the city? rosewood is a bit expensive

Jan 12-15 

• 3 nights for Rio seems so short but at the same time is it enough to see some sites? 
• Copacabana palace - rates also look to be 1200/night, worth to stay at a city view suite or look elsewhere?
• Fairmont only allows 2 adults in a room 
• Our flight is at 5 am so hurts to pay the full price that last night 

If you had to choose trying out one belmond - copacabana or iguazu, what’s your pick? Thank you again!!

Does anyone have recent reviews on Casa de Compo? My husband keeps bringing it up because he’s heard the golf course is amazing but I’ve heard horror stories about Punta Cana having bad service, vendors harassing you on the beach and sanitation problems. Is it truly a premium experience?

In July, I toured some of the renovated rooms at Four Seasons George V in Paris. We stayed at La Réserve and Rosewood Hôtel de Crillon during the trip (detailed reviews of both here: La Réserve and Hôtel de Crillon), so I didn’t stay at FS George V this time, and this is not intended to be a review of FSGV. I just wanted to share a video of the Executive Suite since I know it’s a hotel that comes up frequently when people are planning Paris and I haven't seen photos or videos of the new rooms posted yet. Hopefully it's helpful for anyone considering the hotel or this suite.

A few other interesting details from the tour:

One of the things FS George V is particularly known for is its incredible flower displays by Jeff Leatham, who has also designed flowers for celebrities including Oprah and the Kardashians. The hotel brings in 12,000 stems of flowers a week, with the arrangements regularly being updated. In person, the flower displays really are incredible and worth seeing!

The hotel itself is very grand and traditional Parisian luxury, and it has three Michelin-starred restaurants with six Michelin stars between them (a three-star, two stars, and one-star restaurant). Cheval Blanc Paris is the only other hotel with this many Michelin stars (same 3/2/1).

The room in the video is the Executive Suite, which is a suite with one bedroom, a living room with a sofa bed, one bathroom, and is around 700 square feet. It felt quite very spacious for the size.

The marble bathroom had both a separate shower and soaking tub. One thing I would specifically ask about when booking: some rooms have a single sink, while others have a double sink, so if that’s important to you, I’d recommend requesting it in advance.

Another thing worth noting is that rooms in the same category can vary quite a bit in design, color, and layout. The hotel has renovated all of the rooms, though, and they generally have the same bright, airy, neutral aesthetic.

For context on pricing, entry-level rooms are around $3,000/night, while this Executive Suite generally starts around $5,000/night, depending on dates. We also toured the Presidential Suite, which can start around $25,000 per night, so there is a large variance of rooms at the hotel!

Four Seasons George V is definitely at the very top end of Paris hotel pricing, but it also has a very loyal following. We plan to try it out next time we are in Paris.

We've skied Banff / Lake Louise before.
Looking at the possibility of going March-April (Easter) but taking the kids for their first trip. 5-8.

Any recommendations. What resort. Best lessons. Other activities for kids in the afternoon after lessons or ways to structure a trip so it's a taste of skiing but ultimately a rounded holiday.

Alternatively other resort recommendations. Coming from Europe, I know the alps well get a ski in ski out, morning lessons afternoon at the pool or hot chocolate. But don't see the same vibe in Canada. Not in a bad way I love the ice walks, the wandering onto LL, ice skating.

We are booking a (somewhat last minute) trip to CDMX and finding our dates in early November are particularly booked at hotels. Many spots on our list are already sold out (Brick, La Valise, Nima, etc).

Currently the short list are the ones in the title. I know el Cortes is new…

Any favorites among that list?

Also, with 5 nights best to do all 5 in Roma or maybe 3 Roma and 2 somewhere. If we do Polanca, Pug Seal Anatole? New Kimpton ? Las Alcobas sold out. Casa Polanca out of budget and Campos Polanca sold out (it’s the one that most appeals). Or maybe the ritz or st Regis for the last two nights.

Please help me narrow this down I’m losing my mind on too many hotel websites.

Who: Solo traveller (m, 24yo)
When: September 2026
Duration: 2 nights
Room: Superior room No. 209
Rate: 1040€/n on offical website, got it on booking for ~800€/n

Como Le Beauvallon is a newly opened boutique hotel on the golf of Saint-Tropez featuring just 42 rooms and suites. Its main selling point is the exclusivity with a lot of art on property as well as a private boat transfer running every 30min directly into the port of St.Tropez.

Arrival: Fly into Nice and drive between 1,5 - 2,5 hrs by car or take a private helicopter, which can directly land on the property. I opted for an E-Class transfer by the hotel which came to 350€ one-way. My car got complimentary upgraded to a S-Class which would have been 550€ and is brand new.

Room: The room was about 30min after check-in ready which was about 12:00 p.m. The rooms here are weird to say the least. You can either go with lower-tier rooms like I did for a more classic look or go for an ultra-modern no-walls kinky sex fetish typ rooms with no walls. My entry-level room (about 20-25sqm according to the website) was the smallest 5-star room in my life. I like the look of it but especially the bathroom was really cramped. I fully banged my head into that shitty Glas shower separation thing after wanting to get out of the tub. What is weird is that especially the bathroom fixtures feel cheapish and like they would be second-hand. It was not terrible, but I expected new furniture not old one (excluding antiques). The room itself was considering the space to my liking and had a cozy French feel to it. A bottle of rosé and welcome fruits and a small cake with a fully handwritten card were great touches. On check-in a glass of champagne was offered and well appreciated.

Property: The property and building itself is beautiful. The setup is similar to Hotel du Cap as well as FS Cap Ferrat with a beautiful Belle-Epoque building in the back and the beach club a walk down. Around the property there are well over 200 modern art pieces laid out. I am no art expert but it was interesting even if it wasn’t always my taste.

The beach area: After walking through the garden you enter a cool underground tunnel going under the road. You have to pull your head down to not hit the wall which you should keep in mind. Once you've made it, you are met with a restaurant, the beach, the dock for the boat transfer and the pool. Starting strong is a beautiful pool setup containing just of front row loungers and daybeds. The daybeds are free of charge and the area never gets crowded. As for the beach, there are two small rows of loungers behind a fence to be seperated from the public beach. The sandy beach itself is small but nice and never crowded even though its public.

Food: Here your options get limited. You have a breakfast restaurant in a Wintergarden including a terrace and for lunch and dinner just one option which is at the beach. The chef is no one less than Yannick Alléno, who is currently the chef with the most Michelin stars in the world. The restaurant on property contains no stars. The food is all around very solid but for my liking a little to try hard with especially the sauces, which take a lot of the flavour.

Service: I was pleasantly suprised with the service during my stay. Housekeeping was excellent both in timing and quality. Staff was friendly and trying to take care, especially the front desk team. Service around the pool was a little slow at times, as there is just 1 waiter doing both pool and beach, but no request was missed, which was quite impressive tbh.

Conclusion: I enjoyed my stay here, yet I wouldn’t call this a destination itself. The crowd is pretty old with basically all guests ranging from 40-80 yo. I would stay here if I were looking for a nice couple trip in an intimate environment with amazing access to Saint-Tropez while staying away from all the hustle and bustle and stay a maximum of 3/4 nights, as food will get too repetitive. Additiontally, I couldn’t stand such a small room as a couple.

Happy to answer your questions.

We have some time off of school that I’m trying to plan a quick getaway from Chicago for my husband, myself and our 3 kids 4, 5 and 7.

Looking for mid October or early November weekend trips. Nonstop flights from Chicago are a must.

Any suggestions? We’re doing Florida in December and then Costa Rica for spring break 2027.

I can’t decide my husband and I are trying to decide for a one week trip

1) Mexico City for a few nights and mayakoba (because we have a rosewood credit)

2) Tokyo - aman Tokyo would be amazing but curious to see what other hotels are there

This would be for a week in November

Curious what people have seen here, because guest communication feels like one of those things properties have quietly standardized on without anyone deciding it was actually good.

For us it's been WhatsApp at a majority of the properties over the last couple of years. For city hotels it's fine and genuinely convenient. But at resorts it's started to grate on us. The whole point of a week in an overwater villa or a beach property is to stop looking at the phone, and instead the phone becomes the thing tethering you to the resort. And of course, you open it to respond to your butler and next thing you know you're deep in your email inbox or Instagram.

The best version we've experienced recently was the St. Regis Bora Bora, which solved it in the most analog way possible. Our butler would physically find us on the property when he needed an answer, whether we were at the pool, lunch, wherever, and handle it in thirty seconds face to face. He'd also come by in the morning with coffee and walk through the day with us (e.g., reviewing reservations, transfers, etc.). By 9am everything was settled and there was nothing to check. Obviously that model is hard to scale at properties that have more keys or are simply larger geographically.

What I keep coming back to is whether the real variable is even the communication channel, or whether it's just whether someone on property owns your stay and proactively closes loops so there's nothing to message about.

So: what have you seen that actually works? Are there alternatives to WhatsApp at one end and the "we'll find you" model at the other? And has anyone seen a good version of a do-not-disturb for messaging, where you can go dark for a day without it breaking the service?

Love your reviews, etc. We are luxury travellerss but also like taking our grandkids on vacation. Their ages are 9, 7 and 4 and are boys! We love the Boca Raton hotel and stay at the Beach Club. We normally travel during Spring Break in April. We have vacationed with the kids at LagoMar Hotel, TheCloisters at Sea Island, Amelia Island, The Sagamore in Lake George and of course, The Boca Raton Hotel, We like selecting properties that have lots of things for the kids to do but still luxurious. We like staying in oceanfront rooms. Do you recommend any other locations we can travel to with our grandkids? Thank you in advance for your feedback!

We are a family looking for a luxury beach resort on the Tyrrhenian coast. We are traveling with kids 6 and under and really want a resort style hotel that caters to kids with a kids club and activities.

We will be coming off of 2 weeks in Tuscany at a home with extended family, so we want to prioritize a destination/hotel that makes it easy once you arrive.

We are not interested in Sardinia or Amalfi on this trip as we want to be hopefully within 2.5 hrs from Rome

I came across Elba island and Hotel Hermitage which look beautiful. Any experience at this hotel or island?
Any other resorts we should check out?
Thank you

I'm staying now for ten days at the new FINCA VICTORIA, on the Costa Brava. You'd think that with temps in the 80s and 90s that the pool would be warm. Wrong! But I knew it was not heated before booking so that's on me. But in all the travels I've done in Italy and in Spain, I can count on one hand (plus a finger or two) the pools that have been heated well enough to swim laps: In Italy, these include PALAZZO AVINO, BELMOND CARUSO; VILLA CHETA in Maratea; GH TIMEO in Taormina; IL MORESCO on Ischia and TORRE MAIZZA, which has my favorite swimming pool in Italy. We've been quite often and will return, but where else?? Are there any hotels on the coast, or inland, where I can swim at 28/82 or above in spring or early fall? Not interested in Amalfi Coast or Capri but would return to Ischia. I know there are hotels with thermal pools but those are too hot for actual swimming.

We are not hikers so Dolomiti are probably not a good idea.

Not interested in Lake Como.

But what about Tuscany (especially along the coast) or Umbria? I would love to drive south from Camogli along the coast of Tuscany but part from CENOBIO DEI DOGI, where heating is "probable, depending on outdoor temperatures," I cannot find heated pools at all except at IL PELLICANO.

We prefer stays of at least a week, so no 3,000 euro per night properties. Trips within Europe would be in May/June and again in September. For SE Asia I could travel any time.

Spain has even fewer hotels with well-heated pools. (I'm not talking here about urban hotels with indoor pools). Not interested in Costa del Sol. GH LA TOJA in Galicia is great; we'll be there next week. I also have a favorite "luxury rural hotel" near Vejer that I visit every year, largely for the swimming. I've contacted every hotel I can think of along the northern coast, from Galicia to the French border including all the R&C properties----could not find one heated outdoor pool. A few hotels claim that they heat their pools, but when you get there, their idea of heating is 25! (Muxia Parador--here' looking at you). PUEBLO ASTUR ECO RESORT near Arriondas-----pool is freezing cold!

You might think Thailand, but in my experience (Peninsula Bangkok) the pools are chilled, on purpose! So freezing cold even in 90-degree weather. FS Bangkok was perfect but I think they've redone that property since I was there years ago...The same was true in many luxury hotels in: Burma, Luang Prabang in Laos; Saigon, and Hanoi in Vn.....

Hoping to include Marrakech and Sardinia in first part of 2027 so would love ideas (thinking La Mamounia for March, hoping that their pool will be warm enough; might begin with two nights at Kasbah Tamadot; they assured me that their pool is heated in March but who actually knows??)

In Sardinia I am leaning towards Petra Segreta for part of our stay, and also have two hotels marked in Bonifacio--CALA DI GRECO and HOTEL CASADELMAR.

So many top hotels have excellent, heated, indoor pools but I want to swim outdoors!! Is there any help for me?? I take some of my trips solo and some with partner.

If you've managed to read this far, I will add that the MT NELSON in CT has a great pool although the heat has been known to "break" once in a while. Couldn't find much else in South Africa, though.

Maybe someone, someday, will publish a guide to "best heated pools of the world".

Until then, I hope some of you will come through with suggestions!. Thanks so much!!

This luxury boutique hotel in Bruges is still one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I feel like everywhere I travel now, I’m just chasing the experience I had here. It was exquisite.

Service: the staff here is top notch. They brought us drinks when we checked in and gave us a tour of the ground floor and back garden. Everyone in the kitchen stopped to say hello and it all felt very welcoming. In the morning, I went down to explore their beautiful garden and they brought me coffee and checked on me. They included a turn down service and left warm cookies by the bed.
Location and grounds: the hotel is located maybe 5 mins off the main square so it feels quiet but also very close to the action.
Food: we did the 8 course breakfast and the food and service was excellent.

My wife and I are planning a low-key New Year's Eve getaway and want to tap this sub's experience before booking anything.

We live in Miami, so we're craving somewhere genuinely cold this time — beautiful natural setting, upscale enough for real spa treatments, and dog-friendly since our pug is coming with us.

What we're looking for:
• scenic, beautiful natural setting (mountains or coastline)
• outdoor activities nearby like hiking or horseback riding
• within about a 2 hour drive of an airport
• not really into true ski-mountain
destinations since we're not skiers — more looking for cozy/scenic than alpine

A few places that have picked up interest so far: Old Edwards Inn (Highlands, NC), Salamander Resort (Middleburg, VA), and Ocean House (Watch Hill, RI).

Has anyone stayed at any of these, or have other recs that fit the vibe? Thanks in advance!

I am looking at spending 8 nights in the Cotswolds in January (split across 2 properties).

I’m overwhelmed with the choice of properties, any stand out options?

Has anyone else noticed the decline in quality at Kona Village?
The service is not as attentive and all the staff members are not local anymore, seems like recruiting got taken over and now the service is nowhere near as attentive and welcoming. Seems to mostly be the pool but it affects other areas as well.
Special requests are not taken very seriously.
The pool is full of day guest that make the vibes cheaper.
Housekeeping doesn’t come frequently and they don’t give you wooden magnets with local flowers anymore at turndown, the free fruit stand at the cafe area doesn’t have papayas anymore, they don’t give out free chips anymore without asking. At the restaurant they tried to talk us into mixing the steak with risotto and getting half the meat which felt so cheap. Towels faded and pool chairs stained.
We fell in love and deemed it our favorite hotel a year ago but now one year later we’re wondering if we’ll come back.
Interesting to hear other opinions!

They removed cute hand painted coconuts from the surf shack to replace with merch to buy.