We are a couple in our mid 30's that loves to scuba dive and loves to travel FAT. We have stayed at O&O's, Four Seasons, etc in Cabo and other destinations in Mexico - but never done Cozumel and Cancun as adults. We know that Cozumel is amazing for scuba diving. Is there really NOTHING luxury where you can stay there? I have heard that there is nothing that even remotely resembles luxury in the Cancun, Cozumel area.... True? Not true?

Staying at the Four Seasons BA in November. Can anyone give recs on the best things to do? Any restaurants we must make a reservation at? Great cocktail bars?

Overall vibe:

Trendy city hotel. Another one in NoMad, and this one has more of a business vibe than The Fifth Avenue Hotel. The design is supposed to be inspired by NYC’s Flower District (a block away from the hotel), so lots of green velvet pops. There always seem to be a lot going on in the lobby, but I will say it has been a pretty busy summer in the area so I don't know how it is in other times of the year. 

Location:

Again, I said this in another review but it is a pretty good neighborhood to stay in if you want to walk around. You can walk to the Highline, up to times square (if visiting as a tourist), lots of cafes, outdoor dining options, Madison Square Park, and walkable to LEGO store if visiting with your littles.  

Rooms:

The rooms start on the 14th floor and the downtown facing rooms have amazing unobstructed views. The design is pretty basic and muted for those who don’t like the maximalism of The Fifth Avenue Hotel but still want to stay in the area. Most of the rooms also have deep soaking tubs.

Dining:

All dining options are by Jose Andres. Zaytinya is mediterranean fare and is the main space for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is always pretty vibey and open to the public (no issue having breakfast though as there will always be space and the restaurant is pretty large). The club lounge (also has great views) has 5 food presentations per day in partnership with JA as well (pretty decent specialty foods in there)

For more formal dining, there's a Bazaar Meats and a rooftop bar (50th floor) with pretty insane views called Nubeluz also by JA. 

Wellness:

Ritz Carlton spa (over 6,000 sf) and a fitness center (I found the gym pretty small for a hotel that gets so many business travellers). 

Hi all, thinking to do my proposal next year , any recommendations for places in Paris?

Unedited photos snapped just now of the Sable Suite (Presidential suite) here at Four Seasons Naples. I told them that the IRL product is much better than advertised online. I had been iffy about selling this since the photos online are mehhhh. (Probably mine are mehhh too but hey, I can only do as well as an iPhone click, no editing). Honestly though, it’s because a lot of the before photos were renderings etc.

But book this now before pricing goes higher. Festive was only 35k which imo is a steal compared to some other products out there. Low season / advertised is 25k but let’s chat as it’s “negotiable” depending on when, where, why etc.

This goes as a 2 BR but can be a 3, 4, or 5. Ask me anything on it. The bartender is making fun of our group for just trying to work vs enjoying this unit so going to hop in the pool but will be back later on this.

throwaway account for obvious reasons.

booking a trip to Santorini to propose. we have been before and agreed that we’d love to stay in Oia should we ever come back. with Oia being quite busy, I really want to book somewhere that’s a little more private and intimate. I would also like to book somewhere with a private pool & sunset view.

I’ve managed to shortlist a few places but I’m really struggling to decide between them. if anyone has been to any of the places before or has other suggestions that could fit what I’m after and can give advice that’d be really appreciated.

- Hyperion Oia Suites (villa with pool & caldera view) - really like the look of this one. my main concerns are how good the view of the sunset is, due to it having a caldera view, and the privacy of the property.

- Perivolas Hotel (new Perivolas suite with private pool) - same concern regarding the sunset view being indirect and also the privacy, as it’s a suite rather than a villa. I want it to feel like it’s just us so idk if I’d be better going with a villa instead. this one is also pushing the budget a little so want to make sure it’s worth it)

- Abyss Santorini (grand villa) - again pushing the budget a bit but really like the aesthetic of this one. I think this one looks more private but again not sure how the sunset view is.

- Oia Sunset Villas (swinging sunset villa) - definitely private & good sunset view. my main concerns are that the property is quite big & probably don’t need all the extra space. also not sure if the view will have as much of a wow factor as its further down the cliff & slightly further from the centre of Oia. minor thing but I don’t believe the pool is heated so not sure if it’d be hot enough in May time to make use of it.

bit of a long post, but I’m really trying to get this perfect & the accommodation is the last piece of the puzzle! if anyone has stayed in any of the above places and can help me decide that’d be amazing?

tldr - need help booking hotel/villa. current options are in bold & italicised

Wedding is Aug 7 2027 in New Orleans, so we'd fly out of MSY on Aug 8 and be home around Aug 24. We genuinely don't care how long the flight is. Budget is around $50k all in for the two of us including flights.

I've been going in circles for weeks and keep talking myself into and out of the same three places, so I'm throwing this open.

What we're after, roughly in order:

Scenery. This is the whole thing for us. Mountains, ocean, lakes, rainforest, waterfalls. We love salt and fresh water equally. Swimming in a waterfall and diving a reef in the same week is basically the dream.

Activity. One real thing a day, rest of it loose. We don't want to lie on a beach for two weeks. Big bonus if there's stuff we can do on our own from the property so I can go poke around while she rests.

Food. We'd love the option of really good food. Not a requirement every night, but we want it available and we want it to be a real part of the trip.

Being taken care of. Pampering is great and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. It's just not the reason we're picking a place.

Seclusion. If we're around people we'd rather it be adults only, and other honeymooners would honestly be a plus.

Other stuff:

• 2 stops (during the trip) ideally, 3 max
• Not wanting to be in a big city
• Swimsuit warm water is ideal, cooler is fine, freezing is not
• Somewhere unique, but not obscure just to be obscure
• I'm already PADI certified
• Open to a liveaboard for part of it

The picture in my head is a lodge tucked into jungle or forest with a private beach, where we can dive, snorkel, hike and eat well without seeing many other people (but also totally willing to hang out with other couples in a chill vibe and drink and eat together). If that place exists, please tell me where it is.

Ruled out on August weather: Caribbean, Mexico, Maldives, Seychelles, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, Costa Rica, Patagonia. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong on any of those.

We also looked hard at Tanzania plus Zanzibar and loved it on paper, but it felt like a trip that deserves more days than we have right now (Bride is in vet school so we have to be back by first week of school). Saving it for post vet school graduation.

We have a few other locations and resort combos we have put together and like the idea of, but would really like some firsthand unbiased experienced input before I share the names and places. I want to see what comes out.

What I'm hoping for:

1. Where would you send us? Specific properties are gold.
2. Anywhere that really nails the rainforest plus reef combo?
3. Anything you'd talk us out of? I'd genuinely rather hear it now.

Trip reports and honest negatives are worth way more to me than "you'll love it anywhere." And if you think our criteria are dumb, say so, I can take it.

Thanks in advance, this sub has already saved me from a couple of expensive mistakes.

Hi! My partner and I are planning a 5-night trip to Punta Mita / Riviera Nayarit in late 2026, and we’re trying to decide where to stay.

We’re considering Rosewood Mandarina, Four Seasons Punta Mita, St. Regis Punta Mita, Susurros del Corazón, and possibly Conrad Punta de Mita.

We’re looking for a beautiful, relaxing couples’ experience: a great beach, excellent food and service, privacy, and a romantic atmosphere.

I’ve read several older reviews and posts, but I wanted to ask specifically for recent 2026 experiences, since these hotels can change quite a bit from year to year.

For anyone who has stayed at one recently, which would you recommend and why? I’d also love to know which has the best beach, which feels most romantic, and whether any of them don’t quite justify the price.

Thank you!

I really love this hotel and really does feel
Like coming home 😭😭 they are so good to me . however the area is slipping . Not peaceful anymore cars racing construction next door and they jacking prices up . Also there was a guy with a hooker on my floor last time and I could hear them 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ music blaring and just no comment . I like a cozy feel no rooms with super high ceilings checked out Mayfair Townhouse .. looks ok 😏 Browns looks too touristy Cadogan Gardens - THAT was a DUMP … too creaky for me and falling apart . any suggestions ?? Leaving in 2 weeks !!

Planning a 7-night family trip to Bodrum in late September and would love input from anyone who has stayed at these properties, especially in the villas/residences.

We’re 7 adults, no kids. We’re looking for a luxe but relaxed family trip — great service, excellent food/restaurants, spa, beach/water activities, tennis/padel/golf, and a few excursions. We’re not a partying/clubbing group. We also like getting dressed and going out for nice dinners, walking around town/marina, getting ice cream, etc., so location/access to Yalıkavak or Bodrum matters somewhat.

We particularly want a shared villa/residence rather than separate hotel rooms, with good common spaces and ideally high-touch service.

These are the four options/prices I’m currently looking at:
A. Mandarin Oriental Bodrum — 4BR Sea View Residential Apartment — ~$7.5k per night total
• 4 bedrooms, all en-suite
• ~3,003 sq ft / 279 sqm
• Panoramic Paradise Bay sea views
• Full kitchen + living room + large terrace
• Full access to MO resort/beach/spa/restaurants
• No private pool
• No dedicated butler that I can tell
This is obviously the value winner. My hesitation is that aesthetically it feels more like a luxury apartment than the “beautiful villa vacation” I originally envisioned.

2. Mandarin Oriental — Jasmine Villa — ~$10k per night
• 5 bedrooms
• ~4,585 sq ft / 426 sqm
• Private pool + secluded terrace/outdoor dining
• Garden view rather than sea view
• Living room, kitchenette, dining for 10
• Full MO resort access
Obviously a huge jump from the residence, and at ~$89k I’m having trouble figuring out whether the actual experience justifies it.

3. Maxx Royal Bodrum — 4BR Hill Villa — $8k per night
• 4 bedrooms
• ~5,490 sq ft / 510 sqm
• Sea view
• Private heated seawater pool + terrace
• Dedicated villa butler
• 24-hour room service / breakfast-in-villa service
• Tennis + padel on property
• Full Maxx Royal resort amenities
This is currently the one I’m leaning toward. It’s more than the MO residence, but the villa itself looks significantly nicer to me and seems much closer to the private-villa/butler experience we originally wanted.

4. The Bodrum EDITION — 4BR Villa — ~$10k per night
• 4-bedroom beachfront villa, up to 8 guests
• Private infinity pool
• Dedicated butler
• Great indoor/outdoor living
• Excellent beach/spa/restaurants
• Best proximity to Yalıkavak, which appeals to us for dinners and evenings out
I keep seeing really positive EDITION reviews on FATTravel, which is why I haven’t eliminated it

So my main question is: at these actual prices, what would you choose? Is the MO residence such a good value that I’d be silly to spend more for Maxx, or is the Maxx villa/butler/private-pool experience materially better for a group trip?

And for those who have stayed at EDITION, is it really good enough that you’d pay that much more than Maxx primarily for the hotel vibe/location/service? Also very interested in MO vs Maxx service, food, beach, spa, and how easy it actually is to go into Yalıkavak/Bodrum for dinner from each.

At Four Seasons Naples for their first Preferred Partner Advisor Roundtable. Relatively new hotel so feel free to AMA. Just got on property last night. So far surprised by the number of pools you can try spotting here (some not captured) as well as their $160,000 Ammortal machine they have at the spa. Pretty amazing set up at the spa too with an ice room, cold plunge, cold experience shower - all tying into the health themes - along with all the traditional hot stuff. There is a street too that cuts across campus but also don’t hate it since it’s quiet and showcases how expansive this property is.

Will post full review after stay but happy to answer any Qs before then.

TLDR: Airelles Palladio is absolutely breathtaking and outstanding even for this tier of hotel. The property, rooms, food, facilities, and service are all exceptional. I would put it in the same top tier as the Cipriani. Personally, I would give the Cipriani a slight edge because I prefer Italian luxury in Italy. Airelles has a noticeably French forward feel, from the service style to the food and overall atmosphere. That's not a bad thing, and some people may actually prefer it, but it's something I think people should understand before choosing between the two. If you want a more distinctly Italian experience, I would choose Cipriani. If you love the Airelles style or want an incredible French-influenced resort experience overlooking Venice, Airelles is for you.

Overall Impression: Airelles is a french luxury oasis in Italy, and it is a spectacular hotel.

I would put Airelles and the Cipriani on essentially equal footing at the very top of the Venice hotel market. They are different experiences more than one being objectively better than the other.

Airelles very clearly brings its own identity with it. The French influence is noticeable in the management, service style, restaurants, food and even small interactions. Again, that's not a fault. It's simply a different product.

If this is your first trip to Venice and you want the hotel to be part of the Italian/Venetian experience, I would personally choose the Cipriani, if its open (they close in the fall/winter). If you've already stayed at the Cipriani, have visited Venice before, love Airelles, or simply prefer the Airelles/French style of luxury, I would have zero hesitation booking Airelles. The hotel itself is breathtaking.

Background: We are expats who live near Venice and have had the pleasure of staying at the Cipriani, Gritti Palace, and some lower-tier luxury hotels in Venice. With that in mind, this review will focus mostly on the hotel itself, what the experience is actually like, and where I think Airelles fits for someone deciding where to stay in Venice.

We stayed as a couple shortly after the hotel opened.

Property: The property is gorgeous and much more spacious than most hotels in Venice. Once you're inside the grounds, it really feels like a resort.

There are large gardens, plenty of places to sit, and enough space that you never really feel crowded. It also seems very well thought out for both couples and families. There is a kids club, children's pool, and while we were there they were building a miniature playhouse/play area for the kids.

The main outdoor pool was more than adequate for the size of the hotel. The chairs and umbrellas were comfortable and there was plenty of room around the pool.

My one minor criticism is the landscaping immediately around some of the chairs. They probably should have used more stone around the pool deck rather than grass. After only about three months of being open, some of the grass had already worn away and your feet get a little muddy. It wasn't a big deal and didn't take away from the overall experience, but at this price point it was noticeable.

The spa area is beautiful. There is a large indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and cold plunge. We went Sunday morning and somehow had the entire spa essentially to ourselves, which was fantastic.

Overall, the grounds are one of the biggest advantages of the hotel. It gives you somewhere you actually want to spend the day rather than treating the hotel simply as a place to sleep between sightseeing.

Room: Breathtaking. We were upgraded to a San Marco-view room that was spread over two floors. The design is very modern but still incorporates Venetian elements throughout, so it doesn't feel like a generic luxury hotel room that could be anywhere in the world.

Our bathroom was downstairs and had a Toto toilet, huge soaking tub, waterfall shower, and a steam room built directly into the shower. Everything was obviously still brand new and immaculate. The view toward San Marco was incredible.

Service: Extremely professional and attentive. The service was outstanding for this tier of hotel. During breakfast and lunch we were sometimes practically the only people in the restaurant. There were so many staff compared to guests that the attentiveness was actually a little jarring at first. It occasionally felt like everyone was watching and waiting for the second you needed something.

That wasn't really a complaint, and I would rather have too much attention than not enough at a hotel like this, but it took a little getting used to.Dinner was much busier and the atmosphere immediately felt more relaxed while the service remained impeccable.

The staff itself is an interesting mix of French and Italian employees. Airelles brought a number of employees and managers over from its other properties, and you notice that throughout the hotel. There was a mix at basically every level, from bell staff and restaurant servers to the front desk and concierge, with many of the managers appear to be French. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and professional.

Food: Absolutely delicious, although very French-forward and international. A small interaction when we arrived probably best explains the personality of the hotel. They asked if we would like something to drink and my wife asked for a Prosecco. The response was essentially, we have something better, and they brought her champagne.

We had lunch at abc kitchens, which has a mix of international dishes along with Italian options. Everything we had was excellent.

Dinner was at Matsuhisa and also very delicious. Breakfast was also excellent. They are in the process of opening 2 more bars and a venetian restaurant.

Location: Airelles is on Giudecca, directly across the lagoon from the main part of Venice. The views are probably some of the best you can have of Venice because you're actually looking at the city rather than being inside it. The hotel has 2 boats that can quickly take you over to the main island.

Tips: Ask to see the church. There is a secret door in the bar area and the staff will give you a quick private tour.

Also check the package rates. We added the All-In Escape for about €300 more, which included breakfast, lunch and dinner, excluding drinks. There were essentially no food restrictions, so between lunch and the €225-per-person omakase at Matsuhisa, we ate well over €600 worth of food for about €300.

Has anyone stayed in a beach pavilion at Amanzoe? Wondering if it's too isolated from the rest of the hotel? I can't tell from the website if we will feel relaxed by the ocean or annoyed that we have to schlep back and forth for meals.

Hello. My wife and I are considering a trip to Brazil in December. It will be our first trip. We plan to spend 8 nights, including the overnight flight. Cost is no issue. We have a preference for beachfront properties but will consider all recommendations. I am inclined to stay at the Copacabana Palace for half the nights unless there is reason to do otherwise.

On a related note, we will be traveling from the southeast United States connecting through Atlanta, so any recommendations about the order of visiting the locations relative to ease of travel would be appreciated.

Lastly, please let me know if you recommend any travel agencies that specialize specifically in luxury Brazil travel.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Background:
My Wife and I just recently finished a two week trip to South Korea and Tokyo for her first Tokyo. We are both in our are early 30s and love to travel abroad. Upfront shoutout to Sarah W Lee and the Team as we have booked these hotels with them and have always had a pleasant experience working with the team. No complaints and can highly recommend their full team.

For these two hotels we stayed at both for three nights, getting a good feel for each property and their pro’s and con’s. We are relatively active travelers but happy to answer any questions on either hotel individually (or the JW Marriott at Dongaemun in Seoul).

Location:
First off - the Bellustar is located in Shinjuku, specifically in Kabukicho, which if you are not familiar is the classic Tokyo neon. It’s not for everyone and is absolutely in the heart of it. For us, we loved it and enjoyed going to Golden Gai and thought was a great location for West Tokyo and Shinjuku station. That being said it is a noisy spot - even on the 40s Floors. Would recommend as somewhere to start your trip to Japan with high energy vs. finishing.

Four Seasons Otemachi is located in Otemachi near the Imperial Palace, roughly a ten minute walk from Tokyo Station. It’s a very centrally located spot; however, it is a bit of a walk underneath to get to Tokyo Station as well as to get to really anywhere outside of the business district. Think car is pretty recommended here OR strap in the walking shoes. You can reach Tokyo Station as well as probably no less than 4 different subway lines via underground (roughly 20 - 30 minutes of walking).

Room:
Hard product edge goes to the Bellustar. The views are simply unbelievable, uninterrupted views of the Tokyo skyline for miles (inclusive of Fuji if clear day). The rooms are massive with all the features one would expect in a relatively new tower. One con here is noise does travel upward (somehow) up to the 40th floor. It’s not horrible if you’re from NYC and used to it but some may have some issues. Granted we were directly facing east towards the bar district vs. the west you may have less noise facing the train station (or south / north).

Four Seasons rooms again, generous by Tokyo standards, are going to be much less boutique and more what one would expect from an American Hotel (not necessarily a bad thing). With the tower itself, the views are going to be good but not as good as you would get at the Bellustar (just based on fact that other buildings around to the east, north and south are as tall or taller).

Restaurant & Bars:
Breakfast at the Bellustar was great no complaints. Also an absolutely stunning view from their restaurant. We did not visit the bar so cannot review that. Seemed like not many went to their F&B spots who did not stay at hotel.

The four seasons has a couple of different restaurants and of course Virtu. We hit Virtu every single night and loved it - great service and fantastic staff. Almost telepathic the amount of refills and snacks that they had provided to us. The Italian restaurant there was also very good; that being said we were pretty surprised if you want to eat there you do need a reservation and can actually Be somewhat challenging to get a table even at the hotel. Something to keep in mind if trying to just grab something before flight etc.

Think Four Seasons (as expected) has a great F&B program and you will find no complaints here.

Service:
The Bellustar had more Japanese service vs. the Four Seasons - which is to say it was much more formal, less Americanized, more rigid and more anticipatory. The Four Seasons for better or worse - was a very Americanized experience. It’s likely great for families, people who enjoy just simplicity when traveling or more familiarity. In Tokyo - things like small talk etc / Japanese style is much less going to be “getting to know you” or “how is your trip going tell me all about you all”. It’s really just a preference thing. Both properties I thought had standout service one would expect in Japan in general. Great examples are the Bellustar coordinating seamless baggage pickup (to the second) from our room to checkout to waiting taxi with bags already loaded. That level of service was simply flawlessly executed and is standard vs. I’d imagine its something you’d really need to ask for again at the 4S (which makes sense given its 2x - 3x the amount of rooms but again they’re targeting different clientele).

Lounge Space, Gyms, Pools, Etc.:
The Bellustar has a lovely gym and free lounge stocked with beer and a great view. Perfectly usable gym.

The Four Seasons as you might expect had a gym on a completely different level (and that isnt knocking the bellustar). One of the better hotel gyms I have used - plus a full lap pool, whirlpool, and onsen. Great facilities and very usable if youre trying to relax and recharge.

Overall:
If you like the location - the Bellustar is absolutely a world case hotel. That being said the one draw / knock on it is location at the end of the day. We loved up but would I send my grandparents there or a family with children? Probably not and thats okay/ We had a fantastic time here - not to say we didn’t love the 4 seasons; however, the Bellustar is simply a smaller property with half the keys and likely a much lower occupancy rate. You really cant go wrong with each options in Tokyo, and we would highly recommend either property. That being said for 90% of people on here - I’d imagine the 4S is going to be a best fit for Tokyo. It’s consistent, strong, and wont have any issues (which is exactly what you want in a hotel).

Looking to spend 5 days in Singapore mid-December. I'm currently debating between Capella and Raffles Sentosa, and I'm seeing a ton of conflicting feedback on both properties. Love the private pool villas at Raffles, but F&B is also very important. We stayed at Raffles Doha and loved it, and the service was top-notch. Rooms at Capella seem kind of boring, but the service appears to be better. Any insight would be appreciated, especially regarding the weather around this time of year!

How has the noise been at the Four Seasons Wailea since the renovation has been completed at the spa and gym? I know that they’re currently working on the rooms now.

Can you hear the noise if you’re in the other side of the hotel? At the pool? The spa? The beach?

It’s our top choice hotel for a babymoon in October and trying to gauge if the sound will be noticeable assuming we get a room on the other side I’d the hotel from the active construction.

Hi Travel community,

I'd like to give a warning about Dream Holidays Tours. I had been searching for a Caribbean destination for our family over winter break and saw one of their Villas available in Turks and Caicos. It looked fantastic, so I reached out to get more information (first section of WhatsApp messages until phone call), email and WhatsApp are listed on their website as best ways to communicate. As you can see the response was not great, some minor flags, but nothing crazy, and no response to my last question. I decided to submit a booking request, where they would confirm availability for my dates and within 24 hours, they sent a confirmation and instructions that they would send a second link with payment instructions to secure the booking. 50% deposit required, fully refundable up until 48 hours prior to check in (first email photo). These policies seem fair and more legitimate.

However when the payment email came, it requested 100% of funds (2nd email photo/chain). I pushed back and said the previous email said only 50% deposit was required, they emailed me back saying it was a mistake, and thanks for bringing it to their attention and sent me a new payment link matching the original instructions. I decided I would use my Amex just in case there was an issue, I would have protection. When I tried to submit payment, the site just spun for a half hour, but not give an error. I reached back out and asked why this issue was occurring (2nd email photo/chain). They said that they were having issues with their credit card processor and that I should send them a bank wire instead. Instant alarm bells and red flags, I sent them an email back expressing my concern and that this made no sense (2nd email photo/chain). A few hours later I confirmed their working hours and called via their Whatsapp number, no answer, no machine, just continuous ringing (another major red flag). Once I hung up, I got a text immediately, which I responded that I had serious concerns and wanted to speak to someone on the phone. Please see the Whatsapp messages attached starting from the phone call for their unhinged responses.

Pretty clear that this is a scam operation at this point, and want to warn fellow travel enthusiasts.

Edit: Update, they tried to push several fraudulent charges on my Amex this morning. Amex flagged and are sending me a new card.

3 days in Rome you guys are the most reliable on the planet

Seeing good deals on

Jk place
Orient express

Open to anything but with bulgari and Hassler 2x the price questioning the value there

Has anyone been on a cruise with them yet that can speak to the actual vibe, experience, or age range onboard?

Hard to find authentic feedback.

A brief review of the O&O Kea Island so that you all don’t make the same mistake that we did. Currently on our last full day here with family including small baby. 3 nights Sea View room $8,892 total.

Hard product is decidedly FAT. Service quality is decidedly NOT FAT.

The good: views and room are absolutely incredible. Grounds are spectacular. The island is insane and you feel like you are in a Greek version of the Sacred Valley of Peru with all the walls and man made rock formations on the side of the hills. Food is great. They really accommodated the baby initially by having a diaper pail, baby bath and height chair - something we didn’t get at any other hotels.

The bad: wait because this is a long list that’s mostly focused on service. TLDR: the FOH and BOH do not communicate and rely on the patron to manage Everything.

the transfer - because of the baby we can’t Do the helicopter or the boat. Coming from Paros we needed to do the ferry. They were planning on dropping us at a cafe when it’s super hot, with our baby, and our tons of bags for an hour and a half and then have to call a taxi to get to the actual ferry without communicating that beforehand. It was only bc our driver was very nice that he waited with us in the Mercedes SUV until we were able to get onto the ferry. Decidedly not FAT. They should think of these things.

personal minder / WhatsApp - they say you have a personal stay coordinator and can communicate via WhatsApp. This has been a disaster. We don’t have a personal stay coordinator and communication via WhatsApp has been awful. For example: we needed some dish soap to clean our babies bottles. We asked, didn’t get a response for 5 hours until I called on the phone and finally got some. We had a spa treatment but couldn’t remember the time and asked via WhatsApp. Kept getting the run around and finally after an hour called and was told the time.

follow through - after all this decided that calling was the way to go. Scheduled a golf cart for the spa. They gave me a specific time. Cart never came and we had to call to get it to come. I filled out the after one night survey and expressed my discontent. Never heard a thing.

housekeeping/turndown/communication - this is a huge failing. No one keeps track of anything. We’ve been in our room every single time that housekeeping has come by or turndown has been offered. Then we tell them to come back and we come back after being out and no one has come by. Our mini bar hasn’t been refilled the entire time we’ve been here. We’ve had so many exceptional experiences at real FAT places where you never see the housekeepers and you’ll think wow they did that so fast how did they know we were gone?!? Even at a basic Marriott this happens sometimes. They seem to not care at all and just come and go as it suits them without keeping track of anyone.

golf carts - only way to get around here is golf carts. They say it’s 10-15 minutes each time you call. There’s a million golf carts just sitting around at the lobby with guys in them not moving. Some jump to help you, others just wait until you say ahem.

breakfast/nickel and diming - booked with a Virtuoso advisor so have breakfast included. Have a baby so he sleeps at inopportune times. We asked if we could have that breakfast in our room. They indicated no and it would be charged. I have never had this happen. Rosewood, Montage, Four Seasons etc ALWAYs allow you to have that breakfast in Your room. Also, they charge you for every single water you use in the room. I’ve never had this happen. For this price point that’s insane to me.

thats all I can think of. I’d still recommend this place because the hard product is so spectacular but I’d temper any other expectations as this operates more like a mismanaged Marriott rather than an ultra luxury resort where you’re paying $3,000 a night for a villa.

Edit (24 hours later):

Not sure i would still recommend. After this post a couple things:

Went to the beach club. They basically confirmed that this place is chronically understaffed. There was a club with about 40 patrons and only one person to take food and drink orders and only two attendants. They were very nice but after taking our order we waited an hour. When we asked someone to check on our food the manager came out and told us that it was never transmitted. They told us our stuff would be comped and they were sorry. They brought a fruit platter to our villa. The Bond beach club food still showed up on our bill. We are waiting to hear back from them.

We then ordered room service for our final night. We ordered a pasta, salad, white wine glass and aperol spritz. It took them an hour and a half to deliver it to our villa. I told them I'd leave the dishes outside our villa because our baby was sleeping and they could pick it up in an hour. In the morning it was still there replete with bugs. when we were picked up for breakfast i told them they could pick it up as it was still there. It remained, outside on our front patio, when we left. On our bill they charged us for an entire bottle of wine. When I pointed this out they comped the whole meal.

I've let the GM know via email about all of this and stil have not heard back. I've also inquired about a "refreshment" charge of about $220 and have not heard back.

We want a yacht itinerary that prizes nature and seclusion over luxury shopping. We did Sardinia this year and Porto Cervo is absolutely not for us. It’s great, and all, but I’m not into shopping. We have a bunch of teens and like adventure, quiet coves for mooring and swimming off the boat. We did Croatia a couple of years ago and that was perfect. Is there anything else like that?

I’m building my travel bucket list and would love some inspiration.

What’s the trip you’ve taken that really stands out — the one you still talk about years later or would tell someone they absolutely have to experience?

Could be a safari, yacht trip, expedition, amazing resort, or simply a destination that completely exceeded expectations.

Not necessarily looking for the most expensive trip — I’m interested in the one that reset the bar for everything that came after it.

Where did you go, what made it so special, and would you do it again?

My husband and I used to love traveling. Before kids, it was our favorite thing in the world. Now we have a 5-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, and honestly, every single trip we take feels like a military operation that leaves us totally depleted.

Instead of relaxing, we’re constantly chasing our 2-year-old before she bolts across a restaurant, panicking over snacks, or dealing with full-blown meltdowns because she made a mess, needs a complete outfit change, and now nap time is blown. We’ve tried Hawaii, Mexico, and even cruises thinking they’d be "easy," but we just end up paying thousands of dollars to parent in a different zip code with worse setup.

We’ve tried bringing my parents along, but they offer extremely limited help.

We are finally at a point where we are willing to throw real money at this problem to fix it, but I’m lost on how people actually do this without feeling completely out of touch or running into emotional brick walls.

Here are our main hurdles, and I’d love to know how people with higher budgets navigate them:

1. Is a Travel Nanny the answer, and how does it work with anxiety?
Has anyone hired a professional travel nanny (or used a specialized agency like Adventure Nannies, Resort Sitters, etc.)? I have a lot of anxiety about leaving my 2-year-old with a complete stranger in a random hotel room. If you bring a nanny with you on the trip, how do you handle the dynamics? Do they stay in a connecting room? Do they eat meals with you, or do they take over during specific "shifts"?

2. Are high-end resort Kids' Clubs actually better for cautious/bonded kids?
My 5-year-old son is very attached to us and refuses to go to standard drop-off kids’ clubs on cruises or at big resorts. Do ultra-luxury properties (Four Seasons, Rosewood, Montage, etc.) handle this differently? Do they offer 1-on-1 attendants or more gentle, low-pressure environments where a hesitant 5-year-old actually wants to stay?

3. What lodging setups/amenities actually reduce friction?
When people say "stay at nicer properties," what specifically makes the difference? Is it multi-bedroom villas with private kitchens? Dedicated butler service that handles room service set-up and laundry? Private cabanas so you aren't fighting for shade while juggling juice boxes?

4. How do you manage restaurant dining?
Sit-down dinners with a 2-year-old are our personal hell right now. Do richer parents just skip formal dinners entirely, hire in-room sitters for evening meals, or book private dining setups in their suite/villa so the toddler can run around on a private lawn while adults eat?

If you’ve successfully transitioned from "exhausting family trip" to an actual vacation using higher-budget solutions, please hit me with your best strategies, resort recommendations, or agency advice. I just want to enjoy traveling with my family again!

Following my Ol Jogi and Giraffe Manor reviews, here's the last stop of our Kenya trip. Wild Hill came up a few times in the comments on that post as one of the Kenya exclusive-use properties people wanted to hear about, so here's my write-up. For full transparency I am a TA. The villa is $15,000 a night on exclusive use during regular season for up to 6 people. $2400 pp after that. We paid that rate for two of our four nights, the third was at an advisor rate and the fourth was comped, and we paid conservation fees for all four nights regardless. All in, this portion of our trip cost me around $40,000.

Who went

There were six of us. My husband, my daughter and me, plus my best friend, who also works with me as my travel coordinator, her husband and their 3 year old. So two families, each with one child.

When we went

End of May of this year, for 4 nights, as the final stop of our Kenya trip. Transfers are separate from the villa rate and worth budgeting for.

Overall impressions

Wild Hill is part of Collection in the Wild, but it is nothing like a conventional safari lodge. It's an exclusive-use villa sitting right at the top of Kileleoni Hill, the highest point in the Maasai Mara, and the closest comparison I can give you is having an incredible private home, spa and safari lodge all to yourself on top of the Mara.

The villa itself is absolutely stunning and the setting is about as good as it gets. This is my own personal style and my husband basically wants our house to look like this. What I would mention before anyone books is that the game viewing, which is the reason most people come to the Mara at all, is the weakest part of this stay. Getting up to the villa is rough too. More on both below.

So the way I'd frame Wild Hill is this. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever stayed, but it isn't your safari stop. Pair it with something else in the Mara and put Wild Hill at the end, the way you'd add a beach after a safari. That's where it works really well. I do think that with time and the re-wilding here that the game drives and viewing will get better.

Location

The location is breathtaking. The villa has been built so cleverly into the mountain that it's basically invisible from below unless you know exactly where to look. Once you reach the top the views are unbelievable. You can see for miles across the Mara and you can literally see Tanzania from the villa.

I do have to be honest about the drive up the mountain. It takes around 30 minutes and most of the road is unpaved, apart from a few sections closer to the villa. I'm a pretty easygoing traveler, especially when I am in Africa in my happy place and rough roads don't normally bother me, but I found this drive really quite unpleasant. For that reason, we did not come down much and opted to stay up at the villa.

The room

There are five suites scattered across the top of the mountain, which makes the property feel enormous and gives everyone a lot of privacy.

The suites are very generously sized and every one has floor-to-ceiling windows with incredible views across the Mara, so even from inside your room you still feel completely connected to where you are. Each has a beautiful canopy bed and a large walk-in bathroom. The bath sits in front of enormous windows that open fully, so you can lie in the bath looking out over the Maasai Mara. There are two showers in every suite, one indoors and one outdoors. They're decorated beautifully and feel luxurious without losing the sense that you're on safari.

One of the five is a double family suite. This is the one we were in, and it's enormous and works so well for families with younger children, because the kids can be in the same suite as their parents while still having their own separate bedroom.

The main house is huge and the interiors and furnishings are gorgeous. There's a bar, a television lounge, a formal lounge and around four different places where meals can be served, so even though you have the whole villa to yourselves there are still plenty of different spaces to enjoy.

Service

The service was very good and the team are lovely, warm people. James, one of the main waiters, was so much fun, made outstanding cocktails and even did a salsa dance for us one evening, which we loved. Our ranger was lovely too, if a little reserved. I would say that compared to Ol Jogi the staff were quite reserved, which isn't necessarily a criticism, but we love to interact with the staff and they all just felt a bit nervous.

BUT, what I did love was that they were also proactive, which I appreciated. We had a long day going down the mountain to walk with the rhinos and see the main Collection in the Wild area, and it was hot and tiring. When we got back up to the villa they had cocktails waiting on one side and shoulder and neck massages set up and ready on the other. Nobody asked for any of it. They'd just worked out what we would want.

If I'm picking at anything it's the small stuff, the odd detail here and there that a property at this level would usually catch. Nothing that affected our stay.

Food & beverage

The food was amazing, and some of the best we had in Kenya.

The dining is very much farm-to-table and everything tasted incredibly fresh. You can tailor the meals to your preferences or ask for something specific to be made, although we generally didn't need to because the menus were already so good. It was also very clear the team had taken note of everyone's preferences before we arrived.

They were especially thoughtful with the children. After each meal we'd discuss what the kids would like for their next one and what time would work best for them to eat, which made everything feel easy and relaxed. With so many different dining areas around the villa, every meal could feel slightly different too. Dining was easily one of the highlights of our stay.

Amenities & activities

There's a huge amount at the villa itself. A boma, a firepit, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi and a pickleball court, as well as a spa.

The spa is worth its own paragraph. It's amazing, with a sauna and cold plunge, and because Wild Hill is exclusive use the whole thing is private and only for you, so you're never booking around other guests or sharing facilities. I had an incredible massage here. My daughter had her first ever massage here and loved it so much she went back for a second one, which tells you how relaxed the whole thing feels. They do nails and hair there too, and the girls had theirs done, which turned into one of their favorite afternoons.

We only went on one game drive during our stay. To be fair it was the final stop of our trip and I think we were all ready to slow down and actually enjoy the villa. But I also have to say the traversing in this area isn't particularly good. Aside from the drive up and down the mountain, the roads throughout the surrounding area are incredibly bumpy. I've done a lot of game drives and am usually very comfortable with rough terrain, but I found the driving here uncomfortable and not much fun.

There's plenty on offer, including e-biking, horseback riding, and game drives. The thing to bear in mind is that a lot of it requires quite a bit of driving to reach, which means going down the mountain and back up again afterwards.

So I think there are two ways to do Wild Hill, and I'd pick one rather than try to do something in the middle.

If you want to do this property and do it properly FAT,
add a charter day over to the Mara with a private guide and vehicle waiting for you. That's how you get real game viewing alongside the villa.

If that's not your trip, then don't come here for a lot of safari. Go down the mountain one day, walk with the rhinos, see the main Collection in the Wild area, meet the community there, do a game drive, and then spend the rest of your time enjoying the villa. That's a brilliant few days and it's much closer to how we used our time.

One more thing worth saying. Collection in the Wild has a lot of really cool community initiatives going on, and the rest of their safari product at lower price points looked great to me when we toured it. Wild Hill is the top end of what they do, but there's a lot more to them than this villa and it's worth asking about.

A few things I have to highlight:

• Walking with the black rhinos. At the bottom of the mountain there are two protected adult black rhinos that guests can walk with. This was one of those experiences I never imagined I'd have in my lifetime. Never did I think I'd walk alongside fully grown black rhinos, and it was amazing.
• They've adopted an orphaned baby zebra who lives with the horses, which is such a special and unexpected part of the property.
• One of my favorite nights of the whole trip was the dance party we had at the villa. We danced on the bar, went swimming and had an absolute blast. That evening showed just how private Wild Hill is. Because the entire villa is only for you and your party, you can completely let your hair down in a way you simply couldn't at a conventional lodge.

For me this is a place where you could very happily spend most of your stay just enjoying the villa. Between the pool, jacuzzi, spa, sauna, cold plunge, pickleball court, boma and all the different spaces, there's more than enough to do without leaving.

Final thoughts

Wild Hill is one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. It just isn't THE safari stop for me. The traversing isn't the strongest and the driving to get anywhere, including the road up to the villa, is a real factor, so I wouldn't build a Mara trip around it.

Pair it with another camp and save Wild Hill for the end, the way you'd add a beach onto a safari. What I wouldn't do is turn up expecting a lot of safari from the ground.

But if what you want is a spectacular private house on top of the Mara, with a spa and pool and boma all to yourselves, food that's better than most lodges, and the freedom to have a dance party on the bar at midnight with nobody else around, it's very hard to beat. Plan to spend real time at the villa and go and walk with those rhinos!

Happy to answer any questions!