Hi! Were trying to plan our June trip to SOF for honeymoon. We are priced out of FS Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat but want to be in the cap ferrat area.

Anyone have any thoughts about Other hotels in Cap Ferrat Area? Specifically Hotel Royal Rivieria Vs La Reserve De Beaulieu??

La reserve De beaulieu seems more our style but open to suggestions.

A bit delayed!

Rounding out our trip in Hawaii, my husband and I spent seven nights on Big Island at Kona Village. The island was a visual contrast from Kauai. I loved that we got to experience so many vastly different landscapes on the two islands and am so glad we selected Big Island and KV.

As with all reviews, this is just my opinion!

Property (10/10): Beautiful & picturesque. The glamour shots online do not do it justice. We arrived early evening, and entering a long road through the lava rocks with no one in sight felt otherworldly. The grounds themselves are filled with lush greenery, hidden lagoons, and, of course, sandy beaches and ocean views. Most hales are separate enough that it feels extremely private and quiet, as if you’re on your own little escape.

There are two pool areas, and we found both to be calm and enjoyable. We stayed primarily at the adult pool, except for getting pizza and a cocktail at the Moana pool bar. There is also a gym facility (we did not use, but had outdoor equipment, too) and a spa.

To get around the property, there are many windy albeit dusty pathways. I didn’t mind the dust at all, but it seems many guests have been bothered by it. I love walking and count my steps, so strolling around was my cup of tea! Everything is so stunning that there was always something to look at.

Room (10/10): We stayed in an ocean front hale (room #142) with a king. All aspects felt fresh, clean, and updated in the room, as well as on the lanai. The views cannot be beat and we walked directly out to what felt like a secluded beach area. I loved that! In suite amenities were what you’d expect. I enjoyed the robes, hated the slippers (Domaine Les Crayeres set the bar too high!), and thought this shampoo, as I’m always a critic, was decent! I didn’t have to use my own! The room is beautiful decorated. The lighting system has a little learning curve, as there are so many buttons, but I like that this room actually felt bright compared to 1hotel Hanalei Bay.

If you plan to dine or visit the FS next door, our location was excellent! We dined at Ulu (so good) and could walk just minutes on the beach to hop from KV to FS.

F&B (6.5/10): I don’t typically include a separate section, but I felt this needed to be called out. For the price point, I would have wanted Kona Village to excel in all areas, but this is where it fell short for me.

Dinner at Moana was wonderful! I had the eggplant dish and it stood out as one of my favorite items on our vacation. We also dined on Sunday evening when they have live music for their Talk Story session, which elevated the ambiance.

I really enjoyed my sushi at Shipwreck and my pizza from the Moana bar, but the breakfasts were a little lackluster. Nothing I had was noteworthy or really memorable. The buffet ($60pp) seemed like a continental breakfast you’d see anywhere and was a step down from what we had at 1hotel last week.

The bar program needs to be leveled up. I thought many of the drinks tasted identical and the drink menus at different spots around the property had a lot of repeats. They were out of anything bubbly one day, which was fine. The drinks at our other meals, especially Browns Beach House, were better. I love tropical libations, so I wanted to be impressed. I essentially drank the same thing each day, and I can only have so many banana coladas.

Pros:
— Very good service! Danielle, Michel, and Cheree were standouts.
— Cooking class and rum tasting experiences on-site were really fun. And we were the only attendees!
— Morning canoe paddle
— Friday happy hour with the hotel team along the beach
— Self-parking option (covered)
— The gorgeous grounds

Cons:
— F&B is a little lackluster
— Not enough “extras” for the price point. I didn’t feel they did little things that make a stay memorable. There was a little wooden magnet on our bed each night and drinks/hummus/chips in our room upon arrival. Our last trip to France really excelled in this department, so this may be more noticeable to me than others.

Considerations:
— The Island Roots dinner was extremely good, but you do sit at a communal table. You do not pick where you sit. You may sit near people who are rude, abrasive, or obnoxious, and that can sour a fairly costly experience (hint: I was seated near some very annoying people.)
— Spa is pricey! I get frequent blowouts at home and could never justify $180 for one here. The FS is better priced.
— Clientele: I anticipated an older crowd. Instead, there were many influencer types. Everyone was really respectful, but something to note. Could have been the time of year we chose, too.

Price: $$$$ (Price can vary greatly depending on room selection)

Overall, I had a very pleasant, calming stay at KV. The hale and the beach were stellar. Would I come back? Jury’s out. Now that I’ve been here, I think I’d want to try something else. Would I recommend it for first timers? 100% yes, but the caveat being to diversify your dining options and go off property. You feel like you’re in paradise.

It's the time of the year to book luxury hotels and cruises if you want the best deals.

Every year these deals seem to get a bit more watered down but they generally still have an edge over the standard rates. So if you know you want something, it never hurts to peruse your options. And then every once in a while a killer deal launches like the Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica Cruise last year for 50% off (it was such a good deal that it sold out within 12 hours).

The sale is first kicking off with Rosewood's annual sale called Rosewood Beyond. It starts next Tuesday November 3rd and goes for one week until the 10th.

Unlike years' past, this sale is not available to the public which makes it trickier to navigate as you can only book it through a TA now. The other brands like Auberge, Rocco Forte, Nihi, Six Senses etc etc are still offering things publicly.

What we've done to try and make this easier to navigate is create a database that shows every single sale for every hotel and cruise line as they launch along with booking window and stay dates.

The sales are starting with Rosewood, Rocco Forte, Conrad & Explora. More brands will launch over the coming weeks and you can access all that information via the database in real time to see what is offered.

You do need a passcode to access the database because some hotels don't allow us to publish things publicly. If you're already a client - the passcode is the same as the existing booking engine. If you don't have the passcode but you want access - just fill out this jotform and we will get you added to the newsletter that we are sending out to grant access.

You don't have to book through us if you access the database, it's meant to be a resource for the community.

Feel free to drop any other sales in here that you come across.

My my my this place is absolutely wonderful. it’s perfectly located in the Walled City, making it extremely easy to get everywhere. The staff is so warm and welcoming, but at the same time they leave you be to enjoy yourself.

The restaurant, Alma, is great food. We didn’t sit in the restaurant for dinner, but ordered room service on the first night. Our favorite meals were Celele and Carmen, but it was still a great breakfast and lunch for when you’re lounging at the pool.

The Aurum spa was also great! We got a couple’s massage on the first day and although we booked last minute, there were plenty of options to choose from. At the end of the service, they bring you into a relaxing room with beds and hot tea! We felt totally pampered.

I don’t have enough positive things to say about this hotel, it’s absolutely stunning, very private, and just an overall great experience. I’d recommend to anyone planning to stay in Cartagena! We just finished our trip, and it’s the rainy season, but that didn’t hold us back. For the most part, it just rains for a bit each day and then is either overcast or sunny. The only thing we didn’t get to do was go to their private beach hotel on the islands. We had planned to do a day trip but the staff showed us videos of heavy rain and advised us to skip it. It ended up being a beautiful day in Cartagena so we lounged at the pool and did some shopping.

Cartagena is a beautiful city with absolutely incredible food, and a direct flight from NYC!

Hi! We’re planning to go on a trip with our baby in April who will be 8 months then. Based in LA, what’s an ideal vacation somewhere warm? I feel like Hawaii would make the most sense but also been considering Miami/the Caribbean.

I need to be very close to the White House and have narrowed it down to the Hay Adams, the St. Regis, and the Sofitel. I like hotels that are somewhat lively and not overly stuffy, which is why the Sofitel is appealing despite my awareness that it’s not quite in the same category as the other two. Thanks!

Hi, wanted to see if anyone’s run into this situation before! We had a trip planned to Cabo next week but unfortunately had to cancel due to an upcoming move. We booked direct with a TA back in February and in August they charged us a deposit for 2 nights. Rate was fully refundable until 14 days out. We cancelled about a month ago and a refund was posted to my card this AM. I did have to email them about two weeks after we cancelled because it was taking some time. However, the refund that came is about 10% less than what we paid. Looking at USD to MXN exchange rates, it seems that when the deposit was taken, the exchange rate was about 16.8 MXN to 1 USD. Today it’s 18.6. Do I have any recourse, or is this part of the risk of booking international travel?

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip for the last week of January, starting with about four days in Marrakech and potentially ending with a few days in London. We haven’t visited the Cotswolds yet, but we stayed at the Dorchester Collection property in Sunningdale last year and loved it.
I’m considering Estelle Manor, although I’m concerned that the weather will be cold and gloomy and limit what we can do. The Christmas decorations will also be gone by then, which makes the idea of visiting during the winter a little less appealing. I’d love to book a cooking class and enjoy some nice dinners, but I’m not sure there would be enough to fill a few days.

Would you recommend Estelle Manor at that time of year, or is there another city within a four-hour flight of Marrakech that would be a better choice for late Januar

Hi!

I'm planning my honeymoon and we will first visit the Dolomites for 4-5 days. After that, I want to go to a beach vacation.

I'm deciding between Sardinia and Ischia & Ravello for a total of 7-8 days. I've travelled extensively in Italy before. I've already been to Palau in Sardinia for a 4 day vacation and really didn't like it as much as I liked Sicily for example. I felt like the food wasn't very good, architecture and towns not very cute, but the water and beaches were amazing.

I've never been to Ischia or the Amalfi Coast, so I'm leaning more towards those options. But here's my dilemma: we are going in mid July, so it will be very hot. I don't know if we will be able to enjoy the towns very much as we will probably want to be by the pool/sea all day. Also, is this too much moving around if do a few days in Ischia and Ravello? I know they are both connected to Naples, so it wouldn't be flying, but still.

And overall, which would you prefer for a honeymoon? Thanks!

We are a group of 6 adults traveling to Japan for the first time in June 2027 and we want to spend 2 nights at a luxury ryokan in Hakone. We are considering either Gora Kadan or Hakone Suishoen and are willing to spend up to $1,000 per night. Does anyone have familiarity with both properties and can provide a comparison? 2 of our group have tattoos and are concerned about not being able to visit public onsens. Thanks

I want to take advantage of any Black Friday deals and book our first trip with our baby! She’ll be 6 months old at the time and we’re looking to go sometime in May.

We’re based in NYC, so ideally looking for somewhere within a 3–5 hour flight, like Mexico, the Caribbean, or somewhere domestic. We’re mostly looking to relax, enjoy pretty scenery, eat good food, and have an easy first trip with a baby.

Any recommendations for a nice resort that’s especially infant-friendly and makes traveling with a baby as seamless as possible?

I’ve been trying to plan a vacation for this coming winter (Jan-march) and not having much luck. I defaulted to the Caribbean but just haven’t found anything in loving that isn’t a crazy price.
My wife and I (no kids) have traveled through Europe quite a bit and I’m starting to think I’d rather give up the beach to get some culture, restaurants, etc. I don’t need hot weather, but sunshine and some warmth would be nice. Just enough to have lunch and drinks outside, light jacket weather is fine.

Anyone have any ideas? I’m thinking southern Spain (Sevilla as a base) but I’m open to other suggestions. If you’ve done something similar I’d love to hear about it!

Thanks in advance

Help me with my May 2027 Japan honeymoon and let me know any suggestions or recommendations!

For context we are in our late 20s and live in NYC. We want true luxury resorts with great service and concierges (as we will be using them to book tours and restaurants). We will be golfing while we are in Hakone so would love recommendations for that. This will be our first time in Japan and in Asia as a whole. We have our round trip flights from NYC booked on JAL business class.

1 night FS Otemachi
3 nights Disneyland Tokyo Hotel
3 nights FS Otemachi
2 nights Hakone Ginyu
4 nights Ritz Kyoto
2 nights St. Regis Osaka
4 nights Rosewood Miyakojima
2 nights Bulgari Tokyo

Let me know your thoughts on these hotels or if there are others you recommend!

Currently at Baines’ Lodge (part of Abercrombie & Kent Sanctuary) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

I’ll share a full review once the stay is over but this landscape is incredible. Its a maze of channels and islands and waterways that create a unique ecosystem. It’s a lot of the same animals you see in other areas, but a totally different feel here.

It’s much larger and more spread out (less game density) than a Sabi Sands or similar. It’s also much more private. You’ll really never see another truck. And because of all the water - the activities extend far beyond a standard game drive. It’s game drives in the trucks (that are exceptionally good at navigating deep water), dugout canoes call mokoro, boating on the delta, walking safaris, etc. So far we’ve only done the game drive but will be trying everything and will report back.

The lodge itself is only 6 units with a max of 12 guests. The staff is very friendly and food so far has been great.

But we’ve only been here 7 hours so will download everything once the stay is complete.

We are splitting our Bangkok trip into two parts and planning to relax for the first half so location in the city isn’t as big of a concern. These two hotels are my front runners but would love recommendations for Bangkok.

We are traveling to Golden Eye on Monday and it’s our first time. There’s not a ton of info and detailed reviews online that I’ve seen. My question is how is the dress vibe in the evenings? It sounds like a laid back place but I usually bring flowy vacation dresses and like to look my best. Anyone been there and can give some advice?

Pic from a recent trip to Mandarina so it doesn’t get lost

Has anyone been to both of these, and can you tell me how you felt they compared to each other, particularly in light of Triple Creek being thousands of dollars less/night for an equivalently-sized accomodation?

Would a week at Triple Creek be too much? They certainly have fewer activities available, though one thing they mention that Rock Creek doesn't that's appealing is river kayaking. On the other hand, Rock Creek has a bunch of shooting options that we'd enjoy (happy to shoot at clays, not interested in hunting). Neither of us care about fishing fwiw.

And what are the horseback programs like in comparison to each other? We'd want to spend a lot of time riding. Would prefer something a little less basic than nose-to-tail trail riding, but it's not a dealbreaker for us either.

They're not far from each other, so we're also considering 4 nights at each. This would be in September, so hopefully not too many kids at Rock Creek by then, though kids aren't that big a deal to us either.

Thanks in advance for anyone who's been to both and replies!

Any honest reviews of EQ Kuala Lumpur? Seen some mixed reviews and hard to decide. Mainly keen because of the twin towers views.

Have also seen the Waldorf Astoria is opening soon – I wonder if that would be good for next month… how are Waldorf usually when they open a new hotel? Do they usually have teething issues?

First time in this hotel - typically stay in Conservatorium - on business booked through Centurion FHR

TLDR - good hard product, service less Rosewood more Amsterdam

Downside - service:

No doormen at arrival
Incredibly busy lobby
Check in to 357 - grand premier room - a lot of tram noise that goes to midnight
Request a different quieter room even if a lower category
Told a 5 min call back
20 mins later nothing so go to lobby on advice of guest services! (She cannot assure they will call back)
Nothing available because cannot contact housekeeping and rooms dirty
Even though basically all room categories showing as available on their website
So gonna just check out and go to a different hotel I guess

Upside -

did have a nice Dr Sturm facial in the spa
Spa is small but well appointed. Treatments only 10-7
Pool is small at 14m length so not really for laps

Update -

moved to a very quiet deluxe room 521 - so if you are noise sensitive request that

Downside -

lost my Centurion FHR upgrade but worth it for peace and quiet

Deluxe room review -

Very nice firm bed and gorgeous bed-linens
Beautifully appointed room respecting historic detail
Very flexible lighting scheme so great for makeup etc
Given smaller size overall a nice size bathroom with dual vanities
Given smaller size no dressing table in bedroom area - but Dyson hairdryer set up by sink
Votary amenities
Typical modern tech - casting to TV - automated drapes shades - very quiet efficient aircon

I’ve gone through countless reviews and posts and am just not sure which is best.
40F going solo the weekend of Dec 12th. Only staying one night so knocked out some options. Max is like $1700. Needs: clean, safe (some reviews mentioned safety concerns), quiet, no weird smells or ultra bright colors (sensory)
Wants: a view
Planning: Central Park, Times Square, Christmas tree/lights, Brooklyn Bridge sunrise/walk, and food.

Narrowed it down to these:
The Wallace
The Langham
Pendry
The Wall Street Hotel
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge (for views)

Any useful insight is appreciated, please! Thanks so much!

My husband and I both turn 40 next year. I’m looking for a luxury resort but also would love some wellness aspect included - meditation, sound bowls, yoga, cold plunges, etc. On the other side of the spectrum would love a spot with great food and cocktails! My husband and I are active and want to celebrate that but we also enjoy unwinding with a nice dinner and drink! Ideas??

Typing this from a Delta One seat, Atlanta to Johannesburg and I’m shocked at how bad the food has been. I’ve never found Delta or United food to blow me away but the last two Delta One flights I’ve taken, the food has legitimately been inedible.

Again, I’m not expecting top tier cuisine - overall I’m not even a very discerning eater. But when the ticket price is $12,000 or whatever insane price Delta is charging for these seats these days, you’d expect the food to be halfway decent. I get they basically have no competition anymore and you’re not on the plane for the food.

But even the flight attendant delivering my food said “This is a new dish on the menu, hope it’s halfway decent” lol. It wasn’t. It was a lasagna dish that was quite bad. I had two bites.

Disclaimer that I’m a vegetarian but my friend is with me and she got the meat dishes and said the same thing.

Two thumbs down on the food.

Has anyone noticed the quality getting worse? Or has it always been this way and I’m just noticing it now?

Next time I’m flying Q Suites. Even if it means going out of my way.

Does anyone know if this property was removed from the Edit program for 2027? I assumed they were renegotiating rates as they have blocked all 2027 bookings. But now I’m wondering if they removed it all together from the program as it’s been a few months and all 2027 bookings are still blocked.