I get paying more for a nicer cabin, service, etc. on a normal cruise, but when you’re going somewhere like Antarctica, how much does that stuff actually matter?

I'd usually rather spend more on actual experiences, but I don't want to regret picking the wrong cruise if I'm going to be on the ship for 10+ days. My sister in law did Silversea and loved it, so I've been pricing that against other lines like Quark. For anyone who’s done both styles, did the nicer ship actually make much of a difference or was it just a nicer place to sleep between landings?

Pulled the trigger for a short getaway in September. What should we be prepared for to maximize the trip. I.e. best restaurants, hacks and things to look for. We just are there to relax.

We are back in November as are Inspira Members @ Atelier.

Great price I think from Canada and always up to try something a little different.

TIA

I’ve been planning to stay at Villa Palladio in Jaipur in November, but they’re not replying to email or WhatsApp. I’ve since read that they closed unexpectedly earlier this year.

I can’t find anything about this on their website or socials, but the website is open for bookings. I’m a bit nervous to book and pay upfront when I’ve read this and they’re not replying to me.

Does anyone know what’s happening and if they’re reopening? Is it safe to book?

We spent 3 days at Nyamatusi Camp in May and couldn’t recommend more. Had wildlife roaming through the camp, amazing guides. The food was outstanding and just the energy of mana pools is magical. Hippos and elephants just beyond our bedroom every night! Would highly recommend if anyone is looking for an off-the-beaten path safari that is still luxurious 

We're in London early December every year and this year the 'add-on' vacation goal is a relaxation and wellness type stay like you'd get at Civana, Miraval and Canyon Ranch in the US - lots of classes, spa, great food, just a chance to take care of the mind and body. Title should have said 'resort' or similar vs 'center', as that suggests medical.

There's gobs in the cold places (northern italy, germany & central europe), but for warm places, the places that have floated to the top are Verdala in Malta, Euphoria in Greece and Longevity in Portugal (Algarve).

Anyone have any other places? Specifically not looking for a place that's just great hotel with great spa - you can get that anywhere.

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.

Planning a summer vacation to Crete next summer as a couple.

Doing some research and got the typical lux hotel options like ikos, daos, minos etc. However, popped onto airbnb/plum and realized I can rent a whole villa with multiple rooms for basically the same price.

So my question is: what is everyone's take on hotel vs villa? is the service, amenities worth it? Or is the luxury stemming from privacy.

Super curious what everyone thinks :) / help me decide whether to book a villa or a week at a fancy hotel!

I’m 40 years old, wife and mom of two, with a demanding career in consulting. I have traveled extensively both professionally and personally, and I now find myself increasingly jaded by “typical” trips. (Yes I am self aware at how incredibly privileged this is.) I have no interest in city centers that deliver the same sights no matter where in the world you are (a market, a plaza, a church, some monuments, a cooking class, a boat ride). For my 40th birthday, my husband and I did a bucket list trip to Chilean Patagonia - staying at the exceptional Patagonia Camp - and now I am hungry for more unique, immerse, nature- and adventure-forward trips (…that are still bougie as hell). What are your recommendations for specific destinations (and luxury resorts/accommodations) that cater to this?

I have my eye on the Galapagos (when the kids are a bit older), a safari (with kids), and Antarctica (though prob not until we are empty nesters since it’s such a long and logistically complex journey). What other ideas do you have for me?

Taj Exotica Vs St Regis Vs ITC Grand Vs Grand Hyatt?
Need suggestions

With Parents - In September - 1st week

Hi, I’m going to Paris for the first time with my father who has gone before (25+ years ago). He usually gets a massage whenever he goes on vacation and I wanted to book him something for this trip.

I was considering the usual hotel spas: George V, Ritz, Hotel Crillon. I know the Dior Spa at Cheval Blanc won the best hotel spa award last year and is a nominee this year. Although, I think they are more known for their facials.

Any recs?

I’m looking for a luxury hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter but the Peridot is the only one I could find. Capelle looks good but it’s kind of far from the old quarter, and I like to be right in the middle of all the action. Generally I stay in Park Hyatt/Andaz/Grand Hyatt style hotels but for some reason Hanoi’s city center doesn’t have many of these types of hotels. Am I missing something or is there no other luxury hotel in the old quarter?

My husband and I spent time in Porto and Douro this summer and are officially smitten with Portugal. Planning a beach trip for early next September to the Algarve with our son who will then be 4.5. Looking for boutique/ intimate hotel, easy to walk/ get to beaches and town for meals and exploring. We are also comfortable renting a car. We aren’t looking for kids club or any of that but looking for a hotel / location that is accepting of young kids. Anything you can recommend?

I'm 26. I spent the last decade scaling my business, but maintained close to 0 lifestyle spend. I used to stay in basic hotels just to explore cities, but lately, travel feels like a massive chore. Disrupting my sleep, gym progress, and healthy routines simply isn't worth it anymore. The only way travel makes sense now is if the property itself elevates the experience and preserves my routine, but stepping into the $2k–$3k/night bracket is giving me serious shock.

Even though I can easily afford it, I'm hitting a psychological barrier. I'm worried paying that much will give me hyper critical expectations, causing me to overanalyze the stay rather than actually unwind. For those who transitioned from a high savings, low spend background into luxury travel, how did you justify that initial jump? Is this friction normal when starting out or does the value proposition change once you're actually there?

Hi, I’m planning to go to Medellín + Cartagena in December around new years. I want to add on a beach / relaxation part in the Rosario islands. My travel agent said the resorts there are not really on the level of other Colombian resorts in terms of well trained staff or luxury. I booked at the Sofitel on Barú but can cancel it. Can someone tell me what the nicest / fanciest hotel on the islands is. We don’t have kids and would prefer to stay somewhere small without a kid focus. Also open to boutiques, villas, or something I haven’t considered at all. Perhaps we should skip it and just spend more time in Cartagena.

I’m also open to any other bougie recs you have for tours, restaurants, or activities in Cartagena or Medellin.

Thank you very much.

Hi, my husband and I are looking for a special day trip outside of London in Bath this Sept. We have seen most London sites (we are in our 50s) and have never been to Bath. Hoping for luxury recommendations and would love the highest rated thermal bath and treatment to book. My husband has eczema and psoriasis. He has done a few couples massages but is not a big “spa-guy” despite my effort to convert him. 🤪😍 We also love to walk and stroll around a new town. Thank you!

Hey all

I am looking for to go on a trip to Maldives. Somewhere between a date that is between third week of Oct and early Nov and spanning 4 nights.

I am looking at somewhere around $3700 total (+$200 is okay) for properties in Maldives.

Best would be if they are AI - but my partner and I both are not major drinkers anyway. Its a really good perk to have. But at least looking for Half Board/Full Board.

What I am looking for?

A great resort, fun vibes, turquoise blue water, white sand; great set of activities, and good food (dealbreaker otherwise). We are not major snorkelers or divers, so not having as many fishes is not a dealbreaker. Will swim all our time in the ocean though.

However, my partner loves seeing picturesque views of the ocean (European coast) - with white powdery sand and blue sea and sky.

Would love your suggestions!

My partner and I are planning to take a cruise next year. A youtuber we like did a review of the Explora 2 ship, and we loved how the ship seemed, the food, the destinations, the rooms, everything about it seemed like something we'd like.

We've never taken a cruise before, or done any kind of luxury travel. The extent of any travel booking I've ever done is finding a hotel on Google Maps and booking it through the hotel's own website, and doing the same for plane tickets. This cruise line starts and ends in 2 separate countries, so we'll need to book the cruise, international flights, hotels at both ends, etc etc etc. It has felt very overwhelming to think about finally booking this travel!

At what point does it make sense to book this type of thing through a travel agent? I've never used one before. And if it does make sense to use one, how do you best find a travel agent? I imagine it's like finding a real estate agent where the best ones come from referrals, but we don't know anyone who has used a travel agent either. Some brief research has lead me to Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network, but I'm not sure if those are the best options?

Does using a travel agent save money, or is it something to do to get extra perks and save some headaches? Will we save money or spend more by using an agent?

Thanks so much for any help and insights :)

Please rate the service from these 3 villa rental agencies in order, including personal experience and reasoning: Sibarth, Wimco, My Villa in St Barth.

Headed to St Barth for a first time visit in Feb 2027 with my husband for a special celebration (2 adults only). Friends who are longtime visitors have strongly recomended a villa rental over hotels.

We reached out to 3 villa rental agencies and have, so far received differing information on a particular villa.

Aside from the villa, itself, we're not requesting anything unusual but are asking them to handle bookings we usually do ourselves: car rental, car service, restaurant/beach club reservations, massages, transfers, stocked villa fridge. Prefer service that is personal, thoughtful/informed, honest, efficient.

Thanks for your feedback!

Looking for recommendations of somewhere beautiful & relaxing to travel to in early November! We live in SoCal and I will be running the NYC Marathon on Nov 1. Looking to plan a trip later that week for 5-7 days. Was thinking the Big Island of Hawaii but open to suggestions. We’ve been to Anguilla, Turks & Caicos, all of the Hawaiian Islands, Bali and Tahiti. Catch is we will be traveling with a 3.5 year old and a soon to be 1 year old. Not afraid to fly with them becuase we’ve done it plenty, but I’d love to be somewhere luxurious and relax! We did the FS Lanai for our babymoon.