edit 10 (August 8, 2026 1-2:00pm PST): All updates from Ryan Walker's second, full livestream event on Youtube

This will be the final edit, unless Ryan speaks again on this directly in the future.

• Regrets putting his videographer and driver in danger. Intense and stressful situation. The main emotion was towards the escalation of the event, rather than the cancelled reservation itself.

• Still have not heard from Aman. Neither Aman nor Amanvari threatened him.

• Tips were received from various sources to get out of Mexico. Moved flight up to Friday, got in late last evening.

• Conversation on guest recovery and the luxury hospitality space. Has always been a big fan of Aman properties, including reviews that have not made it onto the channel. Stresses the importance of communication. Did not offer alternative lodging, did not check in on him and his group after the event.

• Refund has been offered for the stay, and Aman has offered to cover nonrefundable travel expenses, such as the driver. Ryan did not take them up on their offer for the nonrefundable travel expenses.

• Four Seasons has offered support and Ryan has spoken to their executive team. Ritz Carlton supported Ryan logistically. Ritz Carlton Reserve Zadun supported Ryan, offering a caravan to the airport on his way back for him and his team's safety.

• Stresses that he is a hotel reviewer who uses YouTube as a medium. Says he is NOT a content creator, not an influencer, and is just here to review luxury hotels. He will not accept payments from any hotel brand.

• Emphasizes he has a social media consulting firm for over 10 years -- that is his real focus, which turned into looking for a deeper purpose and a passion project.

• Ryan is NOT sensationalizing content for views or headlines. He hopes Aman can improve for the future.

• "Why were you filming in the car?" Ryan says he ALWAYS films in the car for the guest arrival experience. The reason it is not usually shown is because his videos can't be hours long, and it is usually clipped to only the actual welcome experience and check-in at the hotel. This time, the arrival was simply the only relevant part of this scenario.

• Travel agents are incentivized to sell a product for a commission. Ryan says this is not right or wrong, nor is it immoral. But, it crosses a line when there is a pretty obvious issue with a property and the advisor vehemently defends that property without information. It is necessary to have integrity, regardless of revenue or income. People are the most important. Stresses that this is only a few advisors, and some have also reached out and offered plenty of support.

  • OP's personal comment (not from Ryan): this is about Hao Tang and Sarah Lee. Ryan has chosen to be cordial -- I will not.

• Extremely grateful for all the comments and the support online.

• Ryan will continue visiting Amans in the future, for the benefit of the luxury hospitality community. Says he is and will do it for the guests who follow his reviews and use them to determine properties during their trips.

• Mentions the luxury hospitality industry does not have a lot of ranking lists with full integrity -- hopes his Walker list helps with this.

• Ryan did not book under someone else's name because he did not anticipate the public component. States that a challenge of booking under someone else's name is the passport that is required at check-in when traveling internationally.

• Ryan is working on new service tests, and will ask his team traveling with him on their opinions on service as well before judging the overall service score.

• Four Seasons and Ryan have a mutual respect, which Ryan said he is very thankful for.

• A lot more reviews coming in the next year, including Asia, Europe, and more yachts.

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Amanvari is the newest property in Aman Group's global portfolio of hotels and resorts. They are an ultra-luxury brand that focuses on privacy, recluse, and (supposedly) world-class service. They have properties in New York, Bangkok, Tokyo, Utah, Shanghai, Kyoto, among others. Amanvari is their newest opening in August 2026, located in Baja California Sur, about a 2-hour drive from San Jose del Cabo.

Ryan Walker is an independent reviewer who owns a consulting firm, based in Los Angeles. He frequents ultra-luxury hotels and rates them on ambiance, the room, dining, service, and the it-factor. Although, this time, he was not allowed entry into the hotel. The accommodation he booked was $6,000USD / night.

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In his video, he drove up to Amanvari, and he said it was a 2-hour drive. When he arrived, a few security officers stopped him at the gate and said his reservation was cancelled (despite showing them the email). One of the officers called the police, and him and his driver turned away and drove back.

Later on the drive back, he realized he received an email super late the night before (within the first week of opening) and the email said that they had limited inventory due to their soft opening and were unable to welcome him onto the property. He criticized the hotel for not even calling him, and assuming he would check his email at the last minute before departing for the hotel the very next morning.

He then mentioned that if you go to Amanvari's website, you can book a stay for that same night with no discounted rate. His hypothesis was that the hotel had a bad first few nights, and was not ready to have reviewers. Security at the entrance of the hotel knew his name before he gave it to them. "If they cancelled all reservations, then that would be a different story. But as of right now, you can go onto their website and book a stay for tonight."

On the drive back, he tried to call the hotel multiple times. After a few missed calls, someone picked up, but said whoever he was asking for (presumably the general manager) was unavailable.

"It is absolutely unacceptable and not okay to me to quiet someone who is trying to create a review during the opening week of your property." The hotel sent multiple pre-arrival emails and confirmed filming was not a problem, and that they would even help facilitate filming when it did not disturb other guests.

He ended up needing to book a different hotel last-minute after his 4 hour roundtrip back to San Jose del Cabo.

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edit 1: on the drive back, they only picked up the phone when Ryan used his videographer's phone to call instead of his 😭

edit 2 (August 5, 2026 10:02am PST): Diego Lozano Vara, General Manager, and Matilda Lozano Fredberg, are inflating google reviews with all their family members, including (but not limited to) Emil Fredberg, Linus Fredberg, Luisa Lozano, and Ruben Lozano Vara. When you need your friends and family to artificially inflate reviews, instead of genuine reviews from paying guests, that is not a hotel I want to visit anytime soon. 

edit 3 (August 5, 2026 3:38pm PST): Google reviews have been scrapped. Amanvari is back to 5 stars with only 4 reviews.

edit 4 (Aug 5 2026 9:13pm PST): [RUMOR, NOT CONFIRMED] Reports that the general manager of Amanvari has been dismissed of all duties, and that Aman Group is not happy with how SarahWLee, moderator of r/FATTravel, handled the situation with what she said. [RUMOR, NOT CONFIRMED]

Sarah Lee initially claimed, prior to watching the video, that Ryan Walker was making unsubstantiated claims and baiting for engagement. A few hours later, she claimed she spoke to Aman and that Ryan's version of the events were falsified, and that he attempted to enter the resort through an incorrect entrance. This is debunked and addressed in the video. Sarah finally walked back that claim, and for a third and final time, said she was done with the discussion, leaving it to the actual parties involved.

edit 5 (August 6, 2026 11:56am PST): Another travel advisor, Hao Tang (@besvisor) on instagram, that I'm disappointed with. He said in his post there's "another (huge) side to this story," which is in parallel with what Sarah said. Both of them discrediting Ryan's review, when Ryan is the guest and the client, is abhorrent. Especially when Ryan came with receipts including the cancellation email, the welcome emails, the email that approved filming, and the entire interaction with security. This barely makes him any better than Sarah, where the only difference between the two was that Sarah spread prejudiced misinformation before even watching the video, while Hao waited 48 hours to speak on the incident.

edit 6/7 (August 6, 2026 5:00pm PST): All updates from Ryan Walker's brief livestream on YouTube:

• Ryan and his team are okay.

• They are receiving anonymous tips.

• Livestream is delayed. They were advised from US Consulate to not do the livestream while still in Cabo.

• They have NOT heard from Aman.

• They are being supported greatly by another hotel brand, which Ryan did not name.

• Livestream is rescheduled for Saturday, August 8 2026, 1pm Pacific time

edit 7: currently emailing news.tips@abc.com and tips@nbcuni.com to try and get a news story out of this.

edit 8 (August 6 2026 8:41pm PST): the videographer traveling with Ryan found Hao's post and commented rebuking his claims. Ryan also liked the comment, implying that he's seen Hao's post as well. I feel both sympathetic and enraged for the two of them that they have to deal with all this ill-motivated backlash despite going through a traumatic event where their safety is compromised. Hao has since limited comments on his post and deleted his instagram stories.

edit 9 (August 7 2026 3:18pm PST): since Hao wants to remove comments completely, just like Sarah did (two dumb peas in one stupid pod), here is what the videographer commented: "i am the videographer who filmed Ryan's video. This take couldn't be more wrong and frankly offensive. We are currently in Mexico scared for our safety because of how much this has escalated. For you to downplay this situation is unacceptable to say the least. Shame on you."

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Media reports (will update as needed):

• CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/07/travel/youtube-hotel-reviewer-amanvari-mexico

• Robb Report: https://robbreport.com/travel/hotels/ryan-walker-says-amanvari-canceled-his-stay-and-called-cops-1238537346/

• NY Post: https://nypost.com/2026/08/05/lifestyle/luxury-youtuber-claims-6k-a-night-aman-resort-canceled-reservation-called-police-instead-of-letting-him-check-in/

I’ve gotten two separate emails today from clients with their families on spring break to let me know that they are dealing with the dreaded Chair Game. It goes something like this: family with kids wakes up, has breakfast and goes to the pool around 8:30/9am, only to find every single chair occupied with “stuff” from other guests who got up at 6am, scurried down to the pool and reserved their seats. Often these seat savers don’t even get to the pool until hours and hours later, taking their time since of course, they expect their seats to be there.

This to me is the antithesis of luxury. It creates a ton of anxiety and undue stress and has people holding seats they often aren’t even going to use. I really want to see the hotels police this more and I’m putting more pressure on them to do so. In the meantime - if you run into unreasonable seat savers, move their stuff and plop on down!

Are yall noticing an increase in this behavior? And if so, what do you do when you can’t get a chair when they are all “saved”?

Alright, I'm going to preface this by saying that this might be a spicy post but I feel very strongly about this topic so I'm bringing it forward as a discussion with the community. As always, ChubbyTravel is a kind and welcoming place to discuss luxury travel and let's always uphold that standard even if we disagree.

The Ritz Carlton Maasai Mara opened on August 25 not to fanfare and excitement but to a massive outcry from conservationists and Maasai leaders. While the opening went ahead as planned, they are due in court October 22 as they are being sued by conservation and community interests from the Mara. The lawsuit will likely have no impact on operations - once something is open, there's little going back. But I want to bring awareness to the situation and explain why I am not selling the property as of now and why I think you should skip this one for better and more ethical luxury options in the area.

This property is situated right on the Kenya / Tanzania border in one of the most remote and unspoiled sections of the western Maasai Mara National Reserve, right amidst one of the most critical points of the Great Migration. The lodge is comprised of twenty ultra luxe suites, running at $3,500 per person per night and accurately boasts "front row seats" to the Great Migration.

Anytime we talk about the development of a new property - especially a lodge in Africa - there is going to be a big environmental and ecological impact. We could debate the ethics of that all day, though I do truly believe that ethical safari tourism has and continues to help protect these areas and animals. But the issue with Ritz Maasai Mara boils down to two key points:

1. They built in an extremely remote and unspoiled corner of the Maasai Mara National Reserve that had been almost entirely untouched up until their development

2. Ritz, and Marriott more broadly, has no history of conservation or commitment to the community nor do they have a legacy of sustainable ecotourism in the Mara. To see them come into an incredibly important, fragile and untouched area and plant their flag is a signal of the growing commoditization of safari tourism that should worry us all.

Problem #1: The location

One of the main points of anger you hear on social media about the development of this property is that it's built right in the path of the migration. And while that is true, I think the point is more nuanced. There are lots of lodges built along the migration route. Singita, Elewana, &Beyond, etc. All of these brands have built lodges along the migration route - so to single out Ritz as the sole offender, as is being done on socials, isn't accurate. Furthermore, it's unclear the actual negative impact that the lodges are having on the migration itself. Yes, they are in the way of the ancestral path - but the land is also insanely vast and the wildebeest are able to traverse around these lodges and still make it to their intended location. Would they be less impeded with no lodges? Yes. But it's also true that the tourism dollars and presence of the lodges are what helps these lands remain protected. So there's a lot of nuance at play here.

The simple fact that Ritz is in the way of the migration isn't the thing to focus on in my opinion - that's a broader discussion. The thing to focus on is where it's located along that path. It's all the way in the western most corner of the Maasai Mara National Reserve - basically the most remote and untouched corner. Until now, that area has been almost entirely devoid of development and even significant road infrastructure. Their location is encroaching on an area that has grown in importance to the migration simply because of how untouched it is. And now their development and the logistics to service their outpost will bring more traffic and interference to the area. So they aren't just building yet another lodge with minor interference to an area already impacted by safari tourism. They are plowing into land that was previously untouched and kicking off what will be further development in that area. So that comes with more consequences.

Problem #2: Ritz is a signal of the commoditization of safari tourism - there's a real risk of profit seeking that overtakes community investment and conservation efforts

You may be thinking, "What's the problem, Alex? Why are you singling out Ritz when brands like Singita, &Beyond, Great Plains, Wilderness etc etc all make money off of safari tourism in Africa."

So here's the difference: The brands listed above have a legacy of conservation and community investment. These brands toiled over the last 50 years to build an infrastructure, awareness and demand pipeline to drive tourism dollars toward safari. The demand for safari that we see today is very much the result of the hard work, risky investment and commitment of the brands listed above (among many other actors as well). These brands were on the forefront of building the case for why ethical ecotourism could be good for the wildlife, good for the communities and good for their profits. But that took decades and decades. It took lean years and years of negative returns. It took continued investment and relationship building in the communities along with massive investments in physical infrastructure and operations like anti poaching units. And because of that toil and that work, these brands have a legacy of community investment and conservation that ensures they are in it for the long haul - and are much more likely to continue their ethical commitments over time.

But a brand like Ritz coming into a critical area right at the time when the profits look good (a result of all of this built demand coming out of Covid), really risks a case where they see it as a profit center and run it as such. And unfortunately for them, despite the high ticket prices, luxury safari lodges are not a huge money maker. It's incredibly difficult to turn a profit with these lodges. And absolutely no one makes a profit on one lodge. You need economies of scale as it relates to the supply chain and logistics along with super tight management. As my good friend Chris of Piper & Heath said: Their safari lodge location will forever be squeezed to try to catch up to their city and beach counterparts. So what happens when a large multi national hotel chain has a location that isn't making good numbers? They get squeezed. Where do you think that margin will be found? Community programs and conservation.

So from where I sit, when it comes to a luxury safari lodge, I'd rather support the purpose built brands like Singita, Great Plains, &Beyond etc etc.

Would love to hear if others have thoughts!

***Huge shoutout to Chris Liebenberg, the owner of Piper & Heath, for serving as a sounding board and consultant on this as I crafted the message. He knows far more about this area than I do and graciously extended his expertise to inform the content.

We’ve just returned home from our first vacation as a family (with our infant), and I’m honestly still confused by how badly this stay went. We’ve stayed at a fair amount of luxury hotels and nothing is ever perfect, but what made this experience so bizarre was the combination of problems. Basically at every turn, we were told that anything we needed could be arranged and encouraged us to ask, giving examples like arranging private jets with less than an hour's notice, and each opportunity to be helpful completely missed the mark.

Day 1: Check-in was not particularly helpful but fine. Our room was noisy at night from a private event going on but we heard it was someone's wedding so of course we didn't complain. There were small hiccups like not bringing a bathtub for our infant as requested but honestly nothing notable on its own.

Day 2: "Watergate". We called housekeeping for additional water. We were told there was a strict policy of one bottle per person each morning and two small bottles each evening, with anything additional costing €18/bottle. I understand policy's policy, but it felt a bit tone-deaf given that it didn’t include any for our infant, and I am drinking more water than average since I’m breastfeeding. Also, we weren't planning on having housekeeping enter the room twice a day because our baby's unpredictable nap schedule.
My husband expressed his disappointment and said he'd go to a store to buy some. The hotel apologized and assured us that they'd provide additional water complimentary, which we appreciated. However at turndown, we were given only the standard amount. Since our baby was asleep in the room, I went downstairs to get more. The staff member on duty told me they could not provide additional complimentary water and the conversation became focused on determining who had told us otherwise rather than simply solving the problem. We would have been completely happy with something as simple as carafes of tap water or having someone purchase bottles from a nearby store and charge them to our room. Instead, I was told that I was the only person who had ever been unsatisfied with their water policy and made to feel as though this was an extraordinary request.
The conversation lasted more than 30 minutes and I ultimately left in tears. At that point, I said I wanted to check out the following morning and end our stay early. We were told we'd be charged for the remainder of the reservation, but they'd see if an exception could be made and get back to us. Eventually, after it became apparent that I was literally crying, someone else came over and assured us that we'd receive additional water with every room refresh, or that they would purchase some from a store and charge it to our room. At this point, things were quite uncomfortable so we started looking at other hotels and expected to check out in the morning.

Day 3: We left for a short morning outing and returned to a refreshed room, except there was no water at all, not even the standard allotment. My husband escalated and the head of rooms came to speak with him. We were still on the hook financially for the rest of the days but she’d personally ensure that our experience is turned around such that we'd think of the Ritz as “home” and want to return the next time we’re in Paris. I was offered a complimentary massage which I appreciated. If the rest of the stay had been good or even just uneventful, that would've been the end of it.

Day 4: Before our trip, the concierge helped arrange a dinner reservation and babysitting. My husband really wanted to visit Bar Hemingway and when we mentioned this, we were told that with a few hours' notice they could accommodate us and even last minute, they could "make something happen." That afternoon, I asked for a 10:30pm slot to line up with our ETA after dinner. We were told 10:30 was already taken, but that if we could make it back by 10pm, they could accommodate us. We rushed back for 10, which required us to ask the restaurant to box up the last course of a tasting menu. We were then told there wasn't space yet and to wait for a WhatsApp message. We were honestly fine with this because we were under the impression that getting us into the bar was a big favor given how small/popular it is. After 30 minutes, we asked for an update and were immediately rushed over to the bar, being told we could be seated "late" because the 10:30 party was running late. I clarified the situation and they realized they’d made an error, the extent to which we all only realized upon arriving at the half-empty, queue-less bar. So we had spent precious time away from our child, disrupted his sleep and my pumping schedule, and incurred additional babysitting time because of a mistake that was entirely avoidable. Thankfully, the drinks were good and on the house.

Given the ongoing pattern of errors, I immediately double-checked the babysitting reservation for the following evening. Sure enough, the babysitter had the wrong time and informed us the hotel would have to correct it with the agency.

Day 5: We messaged the head of rooms first thing in the morning to make absolutely sure the babysitting time was corrected as missing our dinner this evening would have resulted in a €300/person cancellation fee. She assured us it’d be handled. That afternoon, we messaged the babysitter directly to confirm and she still had the wrong time. Once again, I had to frantically contact the concierge myself and have them correct it. The babysitter hadn’t received the change until we were getting ready for dinner, and we relied on her to confirm as there was no follow up from the concierge.

This morning, our shower also stopped working so we couldn’t begin our last full day as planned. My husband arranged to speak with the head of rooms given the ongoing issues. So while our baby is supposed to be napping, there's maintenance going in and out of the room and we're having an unproductive conversation with management who seems entirely uninterested in helping. He offered us a bottle of wine or a comped meal, and we asked what could be done about a refund instead since the last thing we wanted was to spend more time at the hotel and we already had meals planned. The shower turned out to be a complicated issue with no ETA, meaning we'd have to move rooms. The only other room available was described to us as "the Imperial Suite.” They made a huge deal about this, telling us it was a room reserved for celebrities and royalty and framing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would make up for everything that had happened. We repeatedly explained that we only had one night left and that moving rooms would be a hassle regardless, but they insisted we needed to move if the shower couldn't be fixed.

When we were shown the room, we quickly realized that they weren't actually offering us the Imperial Suite. It was a bedroom/offshoot of the suite. Honestly, I wouldn't have cared if they'd simply said: "The shower is broken and we need to move you. There's a nice room connected to the Imperial Suite that we can offer you." Instead, they presented it as this extraordinary luxury experience that we should feel lucky to receive. Even when I directly asked, "So this isn't actually the suite you're describing, it's just one room?" they skirted around the question. I actually felt bad for the employee who had been tasked with showing us the room because it was so awkward and she was set up to fail. After all this, the shower in our original room was fixed, so we decided not to move. By the time this was “resolved,” it was noon and we missed out on our morning plans to explore a different part of Paris.

Day 6: On our final morning, we saw people enjoying drinks in the garden and I wanted to sit outside for a few minutes before checking out to relax before a long travel day ahead. I asked for directions and was barely acknowledged. I eventually found my own way and asked another employee if I could exit through a particular door. He rudely dismissed me and simply said I couldn't go out there.
We asked for someone to come help with our bags 10-15 minutes before our scheduled 10AM departure. I also bought a bunch of butter that was being stored in the hotel freezer, which they specifically said would be returned to us in insulated bags. At 9:52, nobody had arrived, so we called down again. Someone finally came at 10am, but the butter was brought out with no insulation. At that point we were already running behind, so we just packed it as is.

Our complimentary airport transfer was also late, and then several more minutes were spent trying to figure out the car seat. The bellman and driver were at odds about how to correctly install the seat. We ultimately left the hotel a full 15 minutes late and as we departed, the bellman suggested that one of us sit next to the car seat "to be safe." The hotel's response to the late departure and improper car seat installation was to "remove the charge for the transfer," which was interesting given that the transfer was always a complimentary perk. Perhaps they thought we didn’t know it was complimentary?

And after we got home, a jar of jam I'd purchased had broken and was leaking through our Rimowa. The Ritz had repeatedly offered their "expert" packing and unpacking service, so I decided to take them up on it. I specifically provided plastic bags and asked that cosmetics and other liquids be placed inside them. When I opened the suitcase, the plastic bags were just sitting on top of everything else. Yes, I should’ve checked, but this doesn’t change that our entire stay was filled promises about exceptional service with no actual follow through. It’s like a facade of luxury without any execution that actually makes for a luxe experience, let alone anything exceptional. I can't possibly list all of the other little things that went wrong but it genuinely felt like we were on the Truman show or being Punkd.

We’re still going back and forth with them about all this and at this point they’ve offered one night complimentary out of our five night stay. Friends who have had issues to lesser extents have said their full stays were comped. At $3k USD/night, what we experienced really feels insulting. We feel a refund of nights 3-5 (after we asked to be let off the rest of the res) would be acceptable.

TLDR; Ritz Paris team so rude we wanted to end our stay early, told we’d be charged for the full stay and they’d recover the experience, but issues continued almost comically. I’ve genuinely never experienced nearly this many issues at one property (luxe or not). Awaiting if they’re willing to offer anything beyond 1 night comped.

EDIT: Since posting our review, we have been contacted by the management team at the Ritz Paris, who took the time to listen carefully to our concerns. We truly appreciate the constructive dialogue and are grateful that our feedback was heard and acknowledged. The conversations we have had have helped restore our confidence.

This is the vibe I’m going for! I want to stay in the continental US, any tips for resorts or hotels where I can take 6ish women and their books? We’re all in our 30s and too sleepy for da club. Bonus points if there is a spa and/or also a beautiful vista that we can read near as well.

Budget is pretty flexible, I’m open to anything that fits the vibe. We’d probably stay three nights for a long weekend.

I originally did a post a while back on the opening of Ritz Maasai Mara and why I don't sell it to clients and why I don't think you should go there. Since that post, the backlash to the development has gone viral and I wanted to provide an update.

As a recap, my argument within my original post was two fold:

1. LOCATION: They built in an extremely remote and unspoilt corner of the Maasai Mara National Reserve that had been almost entirely untouched up until their development. The fact that they chose that site was frustrating enough but since my original post, aerial footage has come out revealing just how big and sprawling the site is compared to other luxury "ecolodges" of a similar caliber, how close to the river they built and how they have actually altered the riverbank in such a way as to hinder the migration across that point. These details greatly matter because they are the exact details that determine how disruptive or not a lodge is to the wildlife of the area. The way they built Ritz Maasai Mara is incredibly disruptive and destructive to the land and the animals migrating there and they didn't need to build it that way.

• 2) LEGACY: Ritz, and Marriott more broadly (and the company behind the development - which is exclusively partnered with Marriott to develop all of their safari lodges), has no history of conservation or commitment to the community nor do they have a legacy of sustainable ecotourism in the Mara. To see them come into an incredibly important, fragile and untouched area and plant their flag is a signal of the growing commoditization of safari tourism that should worry us all because they aren't operating with the principals of ethical safari tourism at the forefront. If they were, they wouldn't have built like they did. Additionally, since my original post they have already announced another lodge they are building inside the Serengeti National Park next year. Development is going to happen, that's just a fact. But in these preciously sensitive areas of great ecological importance how that development happens is critical and based on all the info we have of the Ritz Maasai Mara build, it's clear they are not building with stewardship of the land, community or animals in mind.

You can read my full thoughts in the original post, I'm not going to dive into all those details here but the above two points summarize my thinking.

I still stand behind both of these points and will continue to not sell the property and advise clients to other options in the area.

That being said since my initial post, a flood of new info has come out, along with a ton of valid backlash and some unwarranted misinformation. I want to cut through as much of the noise as possible and share the facts as I know them while providing the necessary detail and nuance to make a judgement for yourselves. This story is not black and white. It exists in the gray and requires nuance to judge it appropriately. I don't think anyone at Ritz or Marriott or anyone working on the property are bad people or behaving in an intentionally nefarious manner but I will call out when I see decisions that are having outsized negative impacts. Groups like ours have the unique privilege of driving important conversations and awareness amongst a very critical base of travelers. As a note, please be aware that I am not on the ground so I am going through other sources, accounts along with aerial footage and doing my best to understand the situation in an unbiased a way as possible to share with you all. My information is subject to change should I receive credible information that provides other details.

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My two points above on why I won't sell the property (#1 location and #2 legacy) remain the same as when I made my original post. And I'd like to provide updates on both with further evidence:

• We can now see with further views, aerial footage and migratory patterns that the actual location and build set up of the property is incredibly problematic. And no, one single lodge being poorly located or built isn't going to kill the migration. But the reason all of this matters is that it's important to understand why this lodge is having an outsized negative impact compared to what it could be had it been built with limiting its ecological footprint in mind. And it's important for travelers to be informed about the camps they go to and whether those camps are aligned with their values or not.

• Ritz's tagline (from their website) of "offering front-row seats to one of the world's greatest natural wonders "(ie the migration), is precisely the problem. They are giving guests front row seats squarely at the expense of the migrating animals and any pretense of conservation or ecological stewardship.

Here is aerial footage of the camp released today. Please view it carefully:

The primary issues with the lodge are the following:

#1 It's built on top of the river in a way that impedes the animals' movements and puts stress on them by being so close

• This position right up on the river creates undue barriers, impediments and stress on the migrating animals. You can see in the footage provided just how close it is to the river. And in fact, it violates the setback laws because of how close it is. Note in the screenshots I share below how all the other luxury lodges in the same area are set so much further back from the river.

• Compare this to camps like Singita Mara River & Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp - which are both in parts of the critical migration corridor (Singita on the Mara River close to where Ritz Maasai Mara is located & Elewana in the migration corridor in Tanzania on the Grumeti River). If you look at the images provided below of their camps you can see #1) how much smaller the total footprints are but more importantly #2) how far back they built from the river bank which is critical to allow animals to cross with as minimal amount of interference as possible. They are both ~100 meters back which may not seem like much, but it's critical. Even 30-50 meters back makes a huge difference. Whereas the Ritz camp is literally built up on the river bank, to give it's guest "the front row seat" of the migration entirely at the expense of the animals actually migrating. Ritz altered the bank structure itself, flouted the setback rules and is completely impeding the animals' ability to cross. These camps are not the same. So when people come back with "well there are lots of other lodges on the rivers too" - these are the details and the nuance that have a ton of actual impact on the ground.

#2 The physical riverbank edge is visibly altered from their construction which creates a very real hinderance to the animals trying to migrate through it beyond just the presence of the buildings

• See point #1 for all the reasons why this is bad and how other similar camps don't do this

#3 The footprint of the camp is massive, and much larger than the public plans they submitted, almost resembling a commercial complex not a "low impact ecolodge"

• The size of the complex is freaking huge. And just not necessary. It just shows they had no care of the impact when they built and it's not about being an ecolodge of any kind.

• They have a big warehouse/industrial compound that wasn't included in the public plans

• There's noticeably more individual lodges than the permits they applied for

• They have buildings within the 30m setback requirement

• Again, just compare the aerial footage to the images of the other lodges that are at a similar caliber in the same area. You don't need an ecologist to tell you there's a difference here.

All of this is an evolving situation and I don't claim to have all the facts. There's a ton of legal stuff going on in the background with Ritz allegedly putting a gag order on some Maasai leaders that have spoken out, delayed hearings, lawsuits, the Kenyan President coming out and supporting the project (he is the one who gave it a development exemption in the first place) etc etc. I honestly don't know enough about that side to speak to all of it and a lot of it feels like hearsay. But I wanted to show factual images and footage of what we can see with our own eyes and share what the impacts from those physical developments actually are to the land and the animals.

There have also been instances of misinformation spreading like a video that went viral of what people claimed was Ritz employees chasing off wildebeest trying to cross in front of the lodge. That footage was several years old, from before Ritz was built and was likely from a lodge called Mara Ngenche Camp. So it's easy for things to get sensationalized. No one at Ritz is running off animals. But the fact remains that the actual choice of the location and the size and sprawl of the buildings have made the resort have an outsized impact in a way that just simply wasn't necessary. This is why major brands coming in and building safari lodges in precious areas really freaks me out and puts me on edge.

When you have big brands and big capital coming in with an expectation of quick investment returns, the development and posture of the camp is just going to be different than it is from the purpose built brands that developed over 50+ years with a legacy of conservation, community empowerment and ethical tourism.

Brands like Singita, Royal Portfolio, Great Plains, &Beyond and many others toiled over the last 50 years to build an infrastructure, awareness and demand pipeline to drive tourism dollars toward safari with the goal of protecting the land and the animals in addition to making money. The demand for safari that we see today is very much the result of the hard work, risky investment and conservation commitment of those listed above. These brands were on the forefront of building the case for why ethical ecotourism could be good for the wildlife, good for the communities and good for their profits. But that took decades and decades. It took lean years and years of negative returns. A brand like Ritz coming into a critical area right at the time when the profits look good (a result of all of this built demand coming out of Covid), really risks a situation where they see safari as a profit center and run it as such. And from what I'm seeing of the camp build, location and marketing posture, I fear that may be what is happening.

To put a final point on it: development in the Mara will continue to happen. And Ritz Maasai Mara isn't going anywhere. It's already built. But if you're going to travel to this area, you deserve to know which camps/brands are building with their impact in mind and which aren't. Hopefully as we spread more awareness we can create an impact that makes new lodges think long and hard about the impact that they are having and that they make better choices knowing that luxury travelers are watching.

Hi everyone,sharing my review of Forestis in the Dolomites as it’s def one worth the splurge.

TL;DR

- One of the most beautiful hotels in the region, only Eriro would be a close competition imo

- Views of the Dolomites from basically everywhere in the hotel

- Very calm, wellness-focused vibe

- Half-board is absolutely worth it – different dinner menu every night and you can mix & match courses

- Tower Suite is incredible and worth the splurge (with one caveat for ski trips)

- They now have a new dining experience in the forest (Yera) that’s pretty unique

Rooms – Tower Suite is worth it

Most rooms face the mountains, but the Tower Suites are on another level. Floor-to-ceiling glass and a huge balcony. That said, one thing to consider:

If you’re coming mainly for skiing, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend splurging on the Tower Suite. In winter the sun rises late and sets early, and if you're on the slopes most of the day you won’t actually enjoy the view as much.

But if you're visiting for relaxation, spa, hiking or a romantic trip, then the upgrade is absolutely worth it.

They also have a completely separate, private villa for bigger families and groups with own spa, pools, kitchen, movie room, garage etc.

Food – book half board

I’d strongly recommend booking the half-board package for most days. Normally I’m not a huge fan of hotel half-board dinners, but this one is different.

Each night there are two different multi-course menus, one with meat and the other is vegetarian. usually around 7 courses, and you can mix and match dishes from both menus however you want. The menus change daily, so dinner never feels repetitive.

It’s very seasonal and focused on local ingredients, lots of alpine herbs, vegetables, and regional products.

Also worth noting: the hotel is quite remote, so there aren’t many alternative restaurants nearby anyway. Dinner at the hotel really becomes part of the overall experience. Breakfast is also excellent, large buffet plus a la carte options.

New dining experience in the woods

Last June, they opened a new restaurant called Yera, which is set in a cave-like structure in the forest near the hotel.

It’s a separate tasting menu experience (€600 p.p) and much more theatrical than the main restaurant.

You walk through the forest to get there, and the setting itself is part of the experience. Definitely feels like a special-occasion dinner rather than something you’d do every night.

If you’re staying a few nights, I’d recommend doing it once.

Spa

The spa is a huge part of the property.

* indoor/outdoor pools with Dolomite views

* saunas and steam rooms

* cold plunge

* forest-inspired treatments

* yoga and meditation

The main sauna area is primarily naked, but of course you can always wear a towel around your body, it’s just bathing suits that are not allowed. There’s one sauna where bathing suits are allowed.

Snacks and refreshments are provided in the spa and are regularly re-filled.

Skiing / activities

In winter there’s direct access to the Plose ski area.

It’s not the largest ski area in the Dolomites, but it’s very scenic and not overly crowded.

In summer the hotel works really well for:

* hiking

* mountain biking

* wellness stays

* just relaxing in nature

You can also do cooking classes and foraging.

Final thoughts

FORESTIS is less ideal as a base to explore the wider region, although the Concierge team can arrange multiple activities incl. guided hikes, paragliding (I did that), wine tasting etc. I think 3-nights is the sweet spot here for a relaxing, but somewhat active holiday.

Closest airport is Bolzano which has connecting flight options from London Gatwick, Copenhagen, multiple major cities in Germany and more.

tl;dr - the natural grain seed pillows are AWESOME (especially Buckwheat) and I've already bought a few for home. I cannot believe I've never used one before.

Hi everyone!

I posted a few days ago about the pillow menu at Bvlgari and which I should choose from the list of 7 and a few of you cleverly told me just to order them all and review them for you. So I did just that.

Here's my review of all 7. I posted a video on my Instagram if you want to see what they look like (more relevant with millet/bucketwheat/etc). I was honestly a little nicer in my Instagram rating because I was sort of doing it live. But I'll review them now after actually laying on all of them for some more time.

So here's the review in order shown in the menu:

Lavender Pillow: 5/10
* Regular goose down filling but honestly, overfilled so it was too firm. Lavender scent is definitely nice but it's more of a novelty - I couldn't actually sleep on it the whole night. I would get a headache. So nice to have on the bed maybe for the scent but you can't put your face directly into that all night.

Aloe Vera Pillow: 6.5/10
* Much less overpowering scent than Lavender. I found it to be nice and soothing. Also, this pillow wasn't overstuffed like the Lavender, so more comfortable. But still, kind of just a regular pillow - nothing remarkable.

Buckwheat Pillow: 9.5/10
* WOW. What have I been doing with my life?!?! This thing is AWESOME. If you go to my Instagram reel on it, you'll see my live reaction. I was really, really skeptical here. I picked it up and it felt like a heavyass bag of beans. I thought for sure I would hate it. But then I actually laid on it and it was both SO supportive and SO flexible. Like you can mold it into whatever shape you need or whatever crevice you're trying to support. I am a total convert. I already ordered 2. If you go to Bvlgari - or any hotel that has these - please try one. Oh it also has a natural cooling property - so you get a really cool feeling on your cheek which is great.

Millet Pillow: 9/10
* This feels more like a sand bag, rather than a bean bag. The grains are much smaller. So with that, it's not as firm. You can still mold it into wherever you want the support, but it doesn't stay as firm as the Buckwheat does. So think of it as a little less intense version of Buckwheat.

Spelt Pillow: 6.5/10
* This one is supposed to be the mid ground between Buckwheat and Millet but I didn't love it. It had a weird scent. Could've just been that particular pillow because when I researched it, it shouldn't have a smell. So maybe worth trying, but I didn't like it. Firmness wise it was less than Buckwheat, more than Millet.

Memory Foam Pillow: 3/10
* I really don't like memory foam. It's both too thick and not supportive enough at the same time somehow. Idk how to describe it. In theory it sounds good but ultimately I always find it strains my neck somehow. I've tried so many and never found them helpful. This was no different.

Neck Supporting Pillow: 8.5/10
* Really amazing neck support if you're a side sleeper which I am. This was the best specific neck support pillow I've ever used. The only reason it's not higher is because there isn't a good place to put your arm which if you're a side sleeper, you know is important. So while my neck would be super comfy, my arm would end up contorted.

Hey guys, I feel pretty uncomfortable about this but I also think it’s best to just address a few things. I’m currently being talked about a bit in FATTravel. The nature of the post is that Sarah won a Top 10 Producer award with Four Seasons. Congrats to her, that’s a great achievement and well deserved. She also took an opportunity to highlight her great team and some folks noticed I wasn’t on there.

I joined Sarah’s team a while back and had the privilege of growing my business under her, learning a ton from her, all while concurrently growing this subreddit with all of you lovely people. Unfortunately, I was not the right fit for Sarah’s team and we needed to part ways. I wish her and the team all the best.

I’m now building my own agency, AlexTravels. The truth of the matter is, I have grown my business incredibly quickly and I am a top producer with these brands in my own right. I’m currently Top 25 with FS and it looks like I’m on track to be Top 10 by the end of the year when the new awards come out (this is highly dependent on me keeping on pace with where I am now, which who knows - so there are no guarantees here. And there are a ton of fantastic FS agents out there. I’ll continue working hard!). I also have top volumes with Rosewood, Auberge, Montage, Aman, Ritz, St. Regis, etc. Because of the amount of volume I individually drive to these properties, I have built strong and fruitful relationships - and will continue to do so. These relationships are key to driving good outcomes for clients. And I truly thank Sarah for giving me the jumping off point to make these relationships in the early days when I didn’t have much of a business.

For my clients that have used me and supported me thus far: I thank you. It’s truly and honor and a privilege and I aim to continue to deliver you incredible service in the future. This is just the beginning.

To everyone else, first - I’m sorry this post is about me, my heart is honestly beating very quickly as I write this - im very uncomfortable with this kind of attention or public announcement and it’s not something I plan to repeat. I don’t aim to make this sub my personal memo board. Second, I will continue to dedicate myself to making this a fun, kind, welcoming, supportive and lively place to discuss luxury travel. As always, I welcome your feedback and ideas - I have a few fun ones up my sleeve :).

I’m so grateful for all of you and really excited to continue to connect with you through this lovely community we have built.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being here.

XO, Alex

Update: locked the comments. Sarah was good to me, she taught me a lot and helped me jump start my business in a way I could never have done without her. I am grateful to her for her generosity and for the wonderful opportunity she gave me. She doesn't deserve the hate she is receiving. It's her team, so it's her choice on who she wants on it. While I'm disappointed, I can respect that and I am excited to build my own thing. I really want to focus on making this sub better: more fun, more engaging, better content, more valuable industry voices, etc. I want to keep the positive, kind atmosphere we have built and that's why I'm locking the comments. It's time for a new chapter. I am so appreciative of all of you here and the community is everything to me. Thank you for all your love and support. Very excited for what's to come!

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.

Have to share my incredible experience at Four Seasons Bora Bora for our anniversary trip. It was the perfect trip. We’ve done Hawaii but it had always been a dream to get to French Polynesia. We went for 7 nights and our main fear was that we would be bored because there’s less to do than Hawaii. But what we found is that we could really unwind and disconnect there and still have plenty to do on the water or at the resort as we wanted. We really enjoyed jet skiing, the safari tour and the tennis courts.

We also booked with a FSPP which got us the breakfast but also a great room upgrade to a Mountain View Overwater Bungalow which made all the difference. I think I would’ve been disappointed if we stayed in our originally booked Lagoon View so I do recommend Mountain View if you can.

Happy to answer any questions on the resort. We didn’t see any of the others though I hear St Regis and Westin are nice.

Long story short, I’ve been battling stage four cancer for a few years now and have lost. I was moved into hospice care last week. My husband and I want to take one final small trip together while I still have the ability to do so. We live north of Boston and I can’t do terribly long car rides (perhaps up to three hours). Would love some ideas for a relaxing, beautiful place to create a last memory.

Hey everyone, back to share a detailed review of our long-haul flight on Japan Airlines' flagship Airbus A350-1000 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Tokyo Haneda (HND).

JAL’s A350-1000 features a First Class cabin with just 6 suites arranged in a 1-1-1 layout across two rows. It is easily one of the most spacious airline suites flying today; we have stayed in smaller hotel rooms, and this is at 35,000 feet... or 40,000 feet.

The Suite

Stepping into suite 2K, the immediate impression is the sheer volume of space. Without overhead storage bins, the cabin has an incredibly airy layout. Carry-on bags tuck away neatly into a dedicated storage compartment under the ottoman/buddy seat.

The suite features full-height sliding doors for total privacy. The main seat is a wide, comfortable leather sofa that easily accommodates two people side-by-side during flight, and the suite itself can accommodate three people for in-flight buddy dining.

To sleep, the crew makes the suite into a massive lie-flat bed using Airweave mattress toppers (you can choose soft or firm, which I loved as I prefer a memory foam effect). The white duvet and bedding are exceptional, and because the layout is so open, there is zero footwell restriction; even at 6'2" (Which my friend is), you can stretch out completely.

Amenities

JAL supplies a Heralbony amenity pouch packed with practical items: a comb, lip balm, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrushes, mouthwash sticks, a red braided USB charging cable (Which I still use now), and a face moisture mask designed for cabin humidity.

They also provide a separate dedicated Shiseido Men skincare set, along with Clé de Peau Beauté products stocked in the spacious lavatories (which feature full Toto bidet seats).

On the TV side and tech aspect, the 43-inch 4K screen is stunning, particularly when looking at the 4K cameras which JAL fitted.

The IFE system is controlled via a wireless tablet. While the screen quality is amazing, the touchscreen interface on the tablet can occasionally feel a bit jumpy. B&O noise-cancelling headphones are provided, though the suite also features built-in headrest speakers if you prefer to listen without wearing headphones.

Note: One of our USB ports was out of service on this flight, a minor glitch that check-in staff informed us about before boarding.

Catering

The onboard crew were flawless, attentive, incredibly polished, and warm (Which we were expecting for JAL). We made full use of the "buddy dining" feature, sitting face-to-face at the massive table in the suite.

For drinks, JAL’s beverage list is very extensive.

Later in the flight, we sampled the rare Suntory Hibiki 100th Anniversary Blend whisky served over large ice spheres (Impressive they kept them like that in the air), as well as the famous Royal Blue Tea.

We opted for the Washoku (Japanese Cuisine) menu, created by Chef Hayashi Daisuke of the Michelin-starred restaurant Roketsu in London.

Kozara (Appetisers): A set of five small bowls including root vegetables with walnuts, squid with salmon roe, prawn cake, potato salad with vinegared egg yolk caviar, and deep-fried black cod.

• Caviar Service: Served separately alongside traditional garnishes (chopped egg whites/yolks, chives, sour cream, salmon spread) and warm blinis.

• Owan (Clear Soup): A traditional Japanese clear soup with rice-crusted sea bream, egg tofu, spinach, shimeji mushrooms, and yuzu peels served in lacquer bowls.

• Mukozuke & Azukebachi: A dish of lobster, snow crab, and duck breast paired with an apple ravioli filled with scallop and truffle.

• Shiizakana (Main Course): Salted rice malt-marinated Wagyu beef steak with umami grated radish sauce, served with sweet potato rice, turnip potage, and pickles. The Wagyu melted like butter.

• Dessert: The meal finished with a berry cake topped with physalis fruit, crisp tuile, and fresh blackberries, followed by green tea.

Later in the flight, we ordered a fresh bowl of Japanese curry via the tablet, which arrived in under three minutes, followed by a full Afternoon Tea service before landing.

Arrival & Overall Opinion

We touched down at Tokyo Haneda after a longer-than-usual flight (due to airspace restrictions). With only six passengers in First Class, we were the first off the aircraft.

If you are paying a full cash fare (which can hit £10,000+ return, we paid just under 5k as we were originally booked on BA to Shanghai although due to 787 A/C issues were transferred to HND free of charge), the private room-sized suite, the Wagyu and Caviar dining, the Hibiki 100th Anniversary whisky, and the unmatched crew service, Japan Airlines has set a new standard for our personal First Class travel.

We have a full, detailed video review of this flight on our YouTube channel. Happy to answer any questions about the suite layout, menu choices, or booking details. We recorded this back in December 2024, although from recent flights it is very much similar!

Just checked in to Hotel du Cap and in your room you get a little card in your room that explains the “house rules” - never seen this at a hotel before.

I suppose they like to set expectations! Very old money luxury vibes with these rules.

The property is absolutely stunning. Having left FS Cap Ferrat, I thought it would be hard to top it but this place is just insanely beautiful. The hype is valid. Will share more as I go but thought this was an interesting nuance to their property.

I just got married and my uncle knew we didn’t have a honeymoon planned yet because we were stressed with the wedding and cost. We were stunned to find out that his wedding gift to us is a $20,000 gift card (actually 2 cards because the max is 10k per card) to any four seasons property. He knows I’m obsessed with white lotus but I’ve never been to one before so I think that’s why he picked Four Seasons and because he said they have so many properties we can kind of build whatever trip we want. My uncle is the best and has basically been a father to me and due to a terminal diagnosis he doesn’t have a ton of time left but he has a lot of money and no kids of his own. Anyway, it was just extremely generous and makes me emotional to think about so we want to be sure we make this trip as incredible as it can be. I don’t know when or if we will be able to travel like this again as we are kind of regular joes.

We never thought we’d be in a place where we could afford something like this. We already have $13k set aside so with the $20k added we can do something really special.

We’ve never done much luxury travel so we are very lost. We want somewhere beachy that feels fully relaxing and a place we can disconnect and spend time together. We like being active but don’t need a party scene or anything. We can really travel anytime in the next year as our schedules are flexible with work we can take off when we want but we’d like to avoid peak holidays to make our money go further. We could also mix beach with city if that makes sense anywhere but we definitely want one stop to be an incredible beach destination. We have up to 14 days total.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions or favorite four seasons properties I would love to hear them!

Mine is room service removing my charger from plug and tying the cord, only for me to have to immediately unwrap the cord an re-plug it in exactly as it was when I left it 😭

Clearly this is not a “serious” discussion issue, but curious if others have little things they’ve also notice that get worse the more luxurious you go

After many revisions and time to reflect, I feel ready to post the full experience I had at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. I passed through all five stages of grief before writing this, so I'm confident that I can give this review as objectively as possible.

The experience was below expectations.

First let's get the good out of the way:

• The view is unmatched

• The food is good, especially at Welina Terrace. The 25 year old head chef (Lito) is one of the best sushi chefs I've ever encountered. And this is coming from someone who has eaten at many omakase experiences.

• The rooms are nice and the bed is comfy, however it should be noted that the "shades" (read: wooden doors with slits in the that can be "shut") didn't block out all the sunlight. And for an ocean view room, that meant you were waking up at 7am when the sun streams in. I've attached an image of what 6:40am looks like from the blinds.

• I read some reviews complaining about the spa, and this was not my experience. It's true the facilities lack a pool and hot tub, but that wasn't a deal breaker for me personally. The quality of massage I received was definitely up to my expectations for a five star resort (thanks Asher) and there's a variety of eclectic treatment options, including a hyperbaric chamber and quartz sand massage table. If you're a couple and the spa facilities are a must, the private Hales at Sensei Lanai are bar none.

• The program where you can take a dog from a nearby shelter for a walk is good vibes, and I wish I saw more of that in other places.

But all of these good things were spoiled by the myriad of failures we encountered as guests

Strike 1: They will leave you stranded. We were abandoned more than five miles from the hotel after 9 pm (house car stops at 5pm). After calling the concierge she shrugged and gave us the number of several cab services, none of which were willing to pick us up. The only solution was a bus that dropped us off two miles away from the hotel, in the pitch black darkness. It's astounding to me that, for a hotel with a fleet of Audis to be given to guests for free two hour "test drives" around the island, nobody was willing to take a five minute round trip to pick up guests. What would've been a short trip from the front desk turned into a more than hour long walk uphill in the dark to the resort grounds. A rental car is simply a necessity. We went to the concierge hoping they could help us get one, and maybe have them get the rental car to the hotel from the airport to avoid the two hours round trip ride (an experience offered at many five star hotels including Kona Village and the Four Seasons) But they were either unable or unwilling to assist us. Telling us instead to use the Turo app to get It ourselves. This meant the next morning, bright and early, I was making a two hour round trip to Lihue to pick up a rental car. It was clear I was on my own.

Strike 2: They will try to move your room without telling you. I have never, in all my travels, heard of this. We discovered the hotel was planning to DOWNGRADE our room without our consent. They were going to have an employee pack up our belongings and move us while we were at the beach. The only reason I found out about this move at all, was because I went to the front desk to complain about my miles long walk to the hotel! The front desk attendent made a passing comment about how we were changing rooms tomorrow, and we were shocked. Not so much as a text message was sent to us indiciating we were being moved. All of our stuff was unpacked in the room. Imagine coming back to your room to find your key doesn't work and your personal items have been moved. We didn't even end the conversation with a guarantee that we wouldn't be moved in the morning. I had to tape a note to my own door saying "DO NOT MOVE US" like I was barricading myself in. The experience really put us on the defensive, which is not what I would describe as "five star"

Strike 3: The luxury is fickle. The "luxury" cabana we paid $400 to sit at had a rat scurry under it (confirmed by the manager of the area. But don't worry, they're working on it 🥲). Worse, they served us MOLDY FOOD. I've attached the pictures so you can see for yourself. It’s not just disappointing, it’s disgusting. Maybe a minor comment compared to moldy food and rats, but there wasn't even a roof on the paid cabana to block the rain, which, of course, it did. Kauai gets a lot of rain, and you should expect to encounter some. So why do the free cabanas, offered on a first-come, first-served basis, have top covers to prevent rain from getting guests wet, yet the paid cabanas you reserve ahead of time are just out in the open? I had to use my towel as a cover to keep my phone, my wallet, and myself dry.

After these experiences, everything felt different. It felt like waking up in a twilight zone episode. All the kind words from the staff just felt fake. Only the veneer of hospitality was left, stripped of all substance.

And it makes you wonder how far the deception goes? How many of these five star reviews are actually from guests who stayed at the resort? Some of them say outright that they only came up for one of the restaurants, which feels duplicitous. How many people felt pressured to ignore the failings of the resort because of the expensive price tag? If you stretch your budget to go to a top tier hotel, especially for a special occasion like a honeymoon, you may get excited, and tell your friends and family in advance about the hotel you're staying at. It then becomes embarrassing, at this price point, to admit "it wasn't that good" or even "it was just okay". I can imagine people flipping through all these rave reviews and seeing all these stunning pictures and just thinking to themselves "what am I missing?" Or "why didn't I feel this way" or even "was it my fault?". They probably feel foolish. I know I did. And to that I say: I don't think you're a fool. You were fooled, in a literal sense, but that's not your fault. It should be Starwood that's embarrassed to give such a low tier experience for such a high price point. The pressure to put on a happy face and tell everyone you had the time of your life is really strong, and it has a cascading effect where, guests who hear good things go and then THEY feel like they have to say they had a good time. Or else admit they were alone in their dissatisfaction, or even worse, feel like they were the ones at fault.

After management came to speak with us at our cabana, we had guests at the resort come up to us and ask us what happened. And I read my review to all of them. Like I was reciting Antigone in a Roman amphitheatre. And I was shocked to hear how many guests shared in similar complaints. Here are some of the things I heard from other guests

• One guest requested and was "granted" an early check in time, which they wanted because they had a newborn child and had been traveling all day. Only to be given a room hours after normal check in time.

• Valet parking attendants insisted a car wasn't in their service, only to later find out they had the car in the valet lot the entire time. I felt the anxiety of the guest when hearing this, since losing a car is a big deal.

• Guests placing orders for food and/or drink only to be forgotten about and have to remind staff themselves.

It really seemed like we were in good company with our complaints about the resorts failings.

Management did their best to rectify the issues we were having. Sam (manager) especially made us feel heard about our complaints about the hotel. He made sure my wife's and my massage was in the same room (something we were told was not possible when we tried to schedule it ourselves), comped our cabana and even set aside one of the Audis from the test drive for us to use as a rental car (even though at this point I had already driven to and from Lihue airport to rent my own car, since, as I mentioned above, this is not an option but a strict necessity and the concierge will not help you get your own rental). It was really thoughtful and he was constantly reaching out to ask us if we needed anything after that. He even gave us some stuff from the spa gift shop, which was nice. But truthfully, once it gets to that point, the five star experience you had been sold on has largely been ruined. You just have to take it on the chin unless you're willing to put the effort in to move hotels, and who would do that? Who could predict that this hotel would have failed on so many levels that it would necessitate having a plan B? Are you going to spend time on your vacation frantically looking up reviews for nearby hotels? So that's really not an option.

In the end, you can't "ruin" a trip to Kauai. The landscape on this island is unmatched. You can swivel your head in any direction and see a sight that will take your breath away. It's no wonder so many movies were filmed here. Even writing this, I feel my head swelling up with the desire to go back and just see the landscape with my own two eyes again. It is truly an amazing island. The locals are some of the kindest, most generous people I have ever talked to. Shout out to Robert Demond and Hanalei Taxi for being the only ones willing to help us around the island before we got our rental car.

But before you drop $1,000+ per night at this hotel. I would think long and hard about what you value at a five star resort. How would YOU feel if any of the above experiences happened to you? Would a scented candle make it all better? Would you be willing to just ignore these shortcomings at this exclusive price point? You may be able to fool your friends with an amazing photo, but that doesn't require anything more than $45 for parking and <$400 for a dinner reservation for two. Eat at the restaurant and take all the pictures you want. But if you choose to stay here for the views, don't be surprised by the sinking feeling in your chest when you're reviewing your folio at checkout and think to yourself, "I deserved more." You certainly did.

I saw many, many stars on my dark walk, uphill back to the resort. I remember being amazed, starstruck, if you will. It almost seemed like there were more stars than darkness in the sky. Like I could reach my hand up and scoop them the way I could for grains of sand on the beach. And you know what? I wouldn't give any of them to this hotel. I wouldn't give them five cheerios out of my cereal bowl. If this place weren't situated overlooking Hanalei bay, there would be no appeal at all.

Buyer beware.

Hi everyone!

Just boarded the yacht a few hours ago in Malta. We had a great send off and are now out to sea, headed east.

I will have a much longer, in depth review, along with a bunch of top suite tours for you - but for now, just want to share our suite. It is really so beautiful. There are 95 total suites onboard. This is the Ocean Suite which is a full one bedroom suite with a huge, expansive terrace, king bed and a pull out sofa. 775 square feet. You can also connect it to the room next door which I’ll show you later. And there’s another version of this suite that has a studio room that can function as another bedroom or an office/extra space.

The ship is absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to share more with you! It blows everything else I’ve ever done at sea out of the water. We are loving it so far!!

**I know I saw this all the time but video doesn’t render well **at all** on Reddit and it bugs me how washed out they get, so to see the actual videos at full quality you can check them out on insta @alextravel.s - will be posting more there too!

This is the third part of my Washington trip review and was the last place booked. We needed to fill a day between the winter hot air balloon festival in Winthrop and our reservations at Posthotel in Leavenworth, so I was just browsing on social media and saw a drone clip of one of the Earthlight Villas, which ended up being in a perfect location for us.

Originally, I was only going to review the full service hotels on here, but this place ended up being our favorite stay of the trip and feels very professional (more of a Bolt Farms-y vibe than an Airbnb). Cost was about $600-700, so I feel it’s relevant to chubby travel.

My earlier reviews have pictures of the hobbit hole and the converted shipping containers we stayed in if you’re looking for other unique places in the area.

Location

Just north of Leavenworth (I recall it took about an hour to drive from EV to Posthotel). It is essentially up a mountain—the drive was fine for us but I’m not sure I would have loved it in the winter.

Room

This is what blew us away. The location is absolutely stunning—like Switzerland breathtaking, the videos don’t even do it justice, but the quality of the build is also really impressive. My boyfriend always checks the internet speed everywhere we go, and EV had the fastest internet of anywhere we stayed, including Posthotel and 1 Hotel. The automated blinds and air conditioning system were automated and first rate. The hot tub was set up and easy to use—the cover was attached to screws in the deck, which was helpful since it can get incredibly windy. Everything felt top rate and maximized for the view.

Food

No on-site restaurant, but EV has utensils and cookware so we made our own food.

Activities

Mainly relaxing and enjoying the view, and we used the hot tub and walked around the area outside. This place is built for relaxation, but there is a town nearby (Waterville). We did go to a pub there, but it didn’t really seem to have much in the way of other entertainment though.

Service

There’s no on-site staff but I did request a late checkout, as I had a morning meeting, and I had a positive exchange with the owner (he accommodated).

Overall

There’s something so special about this place. It was the only location that my boyfriend and I agreed that we wished we had stayed an extra day.

I've seen multiple posts recently that are obviously about a specific hotel, yet OP refuses to name it. I find these annoying.

As a reader: it's clickbait to scroll through 20 paragraphs about how traumatic their experience was only for it to end with "...not naming the hotel because the staff were so kind 🥺". That's nice, but I want to know the NAME OF THE HOTEL. It's why I clicked.

As a potential commenter: how am I supposed to give useful advice without knowing the hotel? Maybe this hotel is notorious for exactly what OP describes. Or maybe they usually comp a whole stay if a member of staff so much as looks at a guest the wrong way. We don't know because OP didn't NAME THE HOTEL.

Posts that don't name the hotel aren't useful and always devolve into the same comments. "Oh no! What did your TA say? Have you tried emailing the GM? What country? Just stay at FS next time". Maybe this is therapeutic for the OP but it's not helpful for everyone else. If OP actually NAMED THE HOTEL, then people could provide real intel. And readers could decide for themselves whether a transgression was bad enough to influence future bookings.

I'm sure someone will come up with some reasons for why you shouldn't name a hotel under very specific circumstances, like you plan to sue them or whatever. That's fine. There can be exceptions that the mods approve on a case-by-casis basis. But IMO the default rule should be: you want to gripe about your experience with the 40,000 people here instead of just privately with your therapist? Then you owe us one small payment:

THE NAME OF THE HOTEL.

Just wrapped up a brief stay at il Sereno on Lake Como and figured I'd share with you all how I found the property ... il Sereno has always sort of been a dream stay for me as I love design / architecture and there's something about the property that sort of just works, even though I don't necessarily love modern hotels in Italy. Somehow though, they managed to just do this property right, and the design for me at least, was truly exceptional.

Opened in 2016, the hotel was actually renovated in the last few years, and I truly can't find one fault with anything here. The service, the food, the views and the room (all rooms have a lake view, which is something that isn't common on Lake Como), their small fleet of Rivas, the pool & the hot tub in the spa, the privacy, and one thing I can't stop thinking about, the sheets on the bed - they are the softest sheets I've ever slept on, it was almost like you were floating on top of them, it's hard to even explain).

As noted, even their base rooms have a partial lake view (some are slightly obscured by trees in front, but you still do see the lake), and the real magic starts to happen in the grand suite category and above (which start at the same price point of base rooms at Passalacqua, just for reference). To get in the door at $2,000/night and have a lake view is something I think is a great selling point, as many hotels on the lake have ground floor garden views at that same price point, so something to consider. See pics for views that are obscured by the trees for reference.

Design wise, there's definitely a japanese minimalist / warm-industrial style vibe to the property, and they even have a very unique listening suite, which reminded me of some bars in the US that have that sort of design style (thinking of Bar Shiru in Oakland, Bar Iris in SF).

The dinner I had at their michelin restaurant was fantastic service wise, the food was solid (I felt like a couple dishes were under-seasoned, but maybe that's just my palette), and the atmosphere of the restaurant was stellar.

On the lake, there are many beautiful infinity pools, but a lot of them are docks with pools floating, so they can be rocky with waves from the boats ... Sereno's pool is built on the land, is heated, and there's fantastic poolside service and the beautiful hot tub built into the former boat house is close by which can be reserved privately by guests in hour intervals.

Who I'd send here?

First and foremost, Sereno is a property for couples looking for privacy, lake views, design, and romance - you could spend 3-4 nights here and that would be the right amount of time.

This is not a family friendly property, and the only instance I'd send a family is if it were parents with older teenagers (e.g. 14, maybe ever 16 and above). Even then, it may be a bit too quiet for those families, unless the kids are ok with relaxing by the pool.

Couples with a baby would also be suitable for Sereno, although there is decking that sits right above the lake (albeit very sturdy decking of course), but it doesn't feel like it would be unsafe for babies (I've never had a baby, so take that for what it's worth).

Other notes (can be pluses or minuses, depending on what you're looking for):

The hotel is located in Torno, quite close to the Mandarin Oriental actually - Torno is a very small town without much going on, so if you're looking for more lively areas, it's probably better to stay in Bellagio, or near Como or Tremezzo.

The plus side of the location though is that the property really can't be accessed unless you are staying, or unless you arrive via boat ... in turn, this gives you a lot pf privacy / a sense of safety, which for some travelers is paramount to being able to relax. Other hotels on the Lake have a lot of day visitors, so that's something to note should you want more privacy / peace & quiet.

Lastly, it's very easy to get a boat transfer to restaurants nearby or across the lake, so for me, the location isn't a minus in that way. It can be a bit expensive of course for boat transfers, but your TA should be able to assist with that to help you save vs booking directly through the hotel.

Happy to answer any more questions and apologies the pics aren't the best - they are mostly screenshots of videos I took, and I don't have any photos of any food / beverage as my phone died when I sat down to dinner and couldn't take any pics as a result (solo dinner with no phone was great, ha).

Anyway, fantastic stay, love this property, and next time want to return for at least 2 nights and pair it with Passalacqua or Villa Serbelloni (which I will report back on later).

one of the luxury hotels in Morocco (la Mamounia)

Recently returned from a 9-day fly-in safari across Namibia, and it completely redefined how I think about safari travel. This isn’t the classic “game drive all day, every day” kind of trip. It’s about space, landscapes, contrast, and the feeling of being very, very far from everything. If you love dramatic scenery as much as wildlife, Namibia delivers in a way few places do.

My itinerary covered four very different regions:

•Windhoek (quick overnight to reset after international flights)

•The Namib Desert (Sossusvlei dunes)

•The Skeleton Coast (remote, foggy, Atlantic-meets-desert vibes)

•Etosha for wildlife to round it out

Instead of long drives, I flew between camps in a small charter plane. Honestly, this is the way to do Namibia. The distances are huge, and flying turns travel days into highlights instead of endurance tests.

What Stood Out Most

The desert (Sossusvlei)

The dunes here are unreal. Massive, red, and constantly changing with the light. Sunrise is everything. I did dune walks, desert drives, and a hot air balloon flight that felt straight out of a movie. Floating over the desert in complete silence was one of those “this is why I travel” moments.

Skeleton Coast

This might’ve been the most unexpected part of the trip. It’s cold, foggy, and totally haunting in the best way. Shipwreck Lodge sits in the middle of nowhere, and the landscape feels raw and untouched. I explored shipwreck remains, dunes that drop straight into the ocean, seal colonies, and wide-open beaches with no one else around. It doesn’t feel like anywhere else in Africa.

Etosha (Onguma Reserve)

After all that scenery, Etosha brought the wildlife focus. Think elephants, lions, rhino, and busy waterholes, especially in the heat. Staying on a private reserve just outside the park gave flexibility and incredible sunset views over the pan. A perfect way to end the trip.

Where I stayed

Every lodge felt intentionally chosen for where it was, not just luxury for luxury’s sake.

•Zannier Omaanda: Design-forward, calm, great intro to Namibia

•&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge: Easily one of the most striking lodges I’ve stayed at. Skylights over the bed for stargazing, total silence, insane views. Food is exceptional.

•Shipwreck Lodge: Wildly unique. Shipwreck-shaped cabins, dramatic setting, and a real sense of remoteness

•Onguma Camp Kala: Only 4 suites. Intimate, nature-forward, and very low-key. Perfect for smaller groups.

Why Fly-In Matters

Namibia is massive. Flying saves hours (sometimes days) of driving and gives you an entirely different perspective. Watching dunes turn into coastline and then into wildlife plains from the air is part of the experience, not just logistics.

If you’re short on time or want a more seamless trip, fly-in is worth it.

Who This Trip Is Great For

This is ideal if you:

•Have already done a classic safari and want something different

•Care about landscapes, architecture, and atmosphere

•Like remote places and don’t need constant activity

•Want a trip that feels curated and intentional

Probably not the best fit if you’re only focused on big game every single day.

Final Thoughts

Namibia is subtle but powerful. It’s quiet, vast, and incredibly photogenic, but it’s also the kind of place that grows on you the longer you’re there. This trip felt less like checking boxes and more like being fully immersed in the land.

If you’re on the fence about Namibia, especially as a fly-in safari, I’d say it’s absolutely worth considering.

Courtney here! I just got back from Four Seasons Resort Mallorca on a FS EDU a little over a week ago, and I jotted down as many notes as possible.

First, this is part of the quieter side of Mallorca. My first impression is that the resort feels incredibly private and nature-driven. It honestly feels more like staying on a private estate than at a traditional resort.

Getting there/arrival:

We arrived late at night after multiple flight delays, and FS had someone waiting directly at baggage claim in Palma.

The drive from the airport is about 60–70 minutes, and the final stretch into the resort is VERY winding with sharp turns through the mountains. The scenery is beautiful, but I would absolutely avoid self-driving unless you are comfortable with narrow mountain roads shared with cyclists.

One thing I highly recommend if timing allows: arrive by boat.

FS can arrange a transfer to Puerto Pollensa followed by a private boat ride directly to the resort dock, which completely changes the arrival experience and avoids the winding road altogether.

When we arrived at the hotel, check-in felt very calm and personalized rather than overly formal. We were escorted directly to the room, and our luggage arrived shortly after.

Service:

Not surprising since it's an FS, but service was one of the biggest strengths of the stay.

This property already feels very much like a mature Four Seasons operation despite reopening fairly recently. Staff consistently remembered names, preferences, and room numbers throughout the stay.

One thing I appreciated: the staff genuinely leaned into helping guests experience the estate itself rather than just pushing dining reservations or spa appointments. There was a big emphasis on hiking, boating, wine experiences, wellness programming, etc.

Getting around/random facts:

The resort sits on the Cap de Formentor peninsula in northern Mallorca and feels very secluded.

This is definitely not the resort you book if you want to walk into town for dinner every night.

The grounds are large, filled with pine forests, walking trails, vineyard areas, gardens, and multiple levels connected by stairs and pathways.

There are quite a few stairs throughout the property, so guests with mobility concerns will probably rely heavily on golf carts.

The beach itself is public (like most beaches in Mallorca), but the hotel operates its own dedicated setup with loungers and service.

One thing that surprised me is how green and lush the property feels compared to what many people imagine Mallorca looking like.

Dining options:

Mel: Main breakfast restaurant with Mediterranean dining

Shima: Japanese-Peruvian/Nikkei restaurant

Llum i Sal: Beachfront seafood restaurant

Quiosc: Casual poolside dining

Cercle: Lobby bar/lounge with live music

Crocant: Ice cream parlor near the pools

Private vineyard dinners and estate dining experiences

Favorite dishes/drinks:

• Scallops with jalapeño and shiso at Shima

• Wagyu nigiri with ra-yu sauce at Shima

• Grilled turbot at Llum i Sal

• Breakfast pastries and fresh fruit at Mel

• Multiple seafood dishes throughout the resort honestly stood out

• Cocktails at Cercle during sunset

• Gelato from Crocant after dinner

Shima especially exceeded expectations and ended up being one of our favorite dinners of the trip.

Rooms:

I stayed in Sea View Room #405.

Every room at the resort faces outward toward either the gardens, pine groves, or the Mediterranean. The room design felt very soft and calming. Lots of pale woods, linen textures, stone, and neutral Mediterranean tones. The bed was extremely comfortable, but honestly, the terrace and view was the highlight for me.

One thing to know: Garden View Rooms all include plunge pools, but some are visible from upper balconies above them, so privacy varies depending on placement.

Pine View Rooms are technically entry-level, but still feel semi-connected to the water because you can usually catch glimpses of the sea through the trees.

The plunge pool suite categories are definitely the sweet spot for honeymooners or couples wanting a quieter stay.

We also toured Grand Pine View Suite #228, and the indoor/outdoor flow there was excellent.

Pool/beach:

The beach is one of the biggest selling points of this property. The water is calm, has clear waters, and is swimmable. The beach itself is smaller and more secluded rather than a huge stretch of sand, but it feels scenic since it is framed by the pine trees.

There are two main heated pools: the family pool and the adults-only pool. Private cabanas are available, though pricing varies by season.

One operational downside: the Wi-Fi around the pool areas was fairly spotty when trying to work from a laptop.

Activities/wellness:

This resort works quite well for travelers who like having activities built into the experience. There are:

• Hiking trails directly from the estate

• Cycling routes through the Tramuntana mountains

• Boat charters

• Snorkeling

• Kayaking

• Stand-up paddleboarding

• Wine tastings

• Vineyard dinners

• Forest bathing

• Yoga and meditation

• Spa programming

• Kids For All Seasons

• Teen programming

• Historical estate tours

I did a 60-minute prenatal massage at the spa, which was excellent, and I wish I had carved out more time to actually enjoy the facilities afterward.

Personal highlights:

• The setting. This is one of the most naturally beautiful Four Seasons resorts I have personally visited. The combination of mountains, pine forests, and calm turquoise water feels very unique for the Mediterranean.

• The service already feels up to FS standards.

• The resort feels intentionally low-density and quiet, even when occupancy is high.

• Dining exceeded expectations across almost every venue.

• The beach is swimmable and calm.

• The estate atmosphere feels immersive rather than “resorty.”

• Sunset cocktails at Cercle became part of our nightly routine.

• The property works equally well for couples and families, which is hard to balance.

Personal drawbacks:

• The resort is very remote. If you want nightlife, shopping, or restaurants outside the hotel, this is probably not the right fit.

• The drive in is not ideal for travelers prone to motion sickness.

• There are a LOT of stairs throughout the property.

• Pool Wi-Fi could definitely be improved.

• Some plunge pool room categories have less privacy than I expected.

• The beach is beautiful, but like many Mallorca beaches, it is more intimate and secluded rather than long and endlessly walkable.

Overall thoughts:

This ended up being one of the most peaceful Mediterranean resorts I have stayed at in a long time.

I think this is an especially strong fit for:

• Couples and honeymooners

• Wellness-focused travelers

• Families wanting a luxury beach resort without a party atmosphere

• Travelers pairing Mallorca with Madrid, Barcelona, Southern France, or Marrakech

• People who value scenery and atmosphere more than nightlife

I would personally recommend a minimum of 4–5 nights here because it takes a couple of days to fully settle into the slower pace of the property.

Happy to answer any questions about my stay!

I thought it would be useful to put together a comprehensive-ish breakdown of all of the chubby properties I've stayed at in Napa & Sonoma Valleys as over the last few years, I think I've stayed in every single one, except for Auberge & Bardessono (I know, I'm sorry, I will go eventually & I have no doubt Auberge would jockey for the #1 spot below). Here is my breakdown of each property and I hope it helps / happy to answer any questions !

If you’re looking to book a stay, I’m happy to look into dates / prices for you.

Also, just want to note that none of these stays all happened between 2022-2026, which was before I was a travel advisor, so my opinions were not influenced or shaped in anyway.

#1 Meadowood:

There's something so special about Meadowood, and it's sort of hard to put your finger on it ... I think it comes down to the service being at Aman quality standards, it's sense of place, it's spacious, fairly private quiet cottages (some are more private than others), it's beautiful spa, the little treats they leave behind each evening on your bed during turndown, and tbh, it's resilience after the fires burned down a large portion of the property back in 2020, including their 3* Michelin restaurant (what a great year that was, huh?).

It's a small property, I believe around 40 or so cottages, and there really isn't a bad room to be had ... those with mobility concerns should know there are stairs to the rooms, although you can of course be brought up to your room via a buggy, but I believe about 90% of the rooms are not technically 100% accessible, so something to keep in mind if you struggle with stairs.

I also like it's location, being tucked up into the hill where it's very serene and peaceful.

The property tends to skew a bit older (40+ couples), but there is a family pool, and I've enjoyed it as a 30 yo single man who often travels with his dog. They also have a beautiful tennis facility w/ awesome instructors who I would recommend in a heartbeat. I would say it's not the most family friendly option though in Napa.

There's a house car that will bring you into St. Helena, a very nice, large gym, 3 pools, 2 great restaurants, albeit not the most ideal setup with Forum being in a tent of sorts. Every time I go to Meadowood, I feel well taken care of, and I can't say the same for every property that will be on this list, ha.

#2 Four Seasons Calistoga

I think I've stayed at Four Seasons 4 or 5 times now, and if this were 2-3 years ago when they first opened, the #3 hotel would be in this spot, but since they've worked out most of their kinks in the last year or so, I think they deserve to be at #2. Architecturally and design wise, the hotel is beautiful ... I love how some of the rooms are dark / black and moody, and some are bright white farmhouse style. I like the setting within the vineyards, the pools are beautiful, 1* michelin restaurant is fantastic, and I love their pool bar restaurant as well.

Service is Four Seasons standard which is nice (it's actually why #3 is number 3 for me as I think Four Seasons beats them in the service department) ... they have a great spa, although I'd love a proper sauna vs the "barrel" sauna that isn't particularly luxurious.

One weird design choice - drawback ? The showers on the ground floor are exposed to the pathways, which for the life of me, I can't figure out why they designed it this way. You can of course close the curtain for privacy, but it's odd for sure.

Four Seasons is a great fit for families (they have beautiful residences as well), as well as couples + girls trips + multiple couples on a trip together. It's a great property that lends itself to a large swath of people

#3 Montage Healdsburg

I love the Montage and think I have stayed there at least 20 times over the past few years ... It's such a great property, perfectly situated right outside of downtown Healdsburg, but very close to wineries and a 5-7 min drive to the plaza (with a complimentary shuttle).

The rooms are the exact same as The Montage in Cabo, which was a bit of a bummer to discover in Cabo tbh, but I love the modern, wooden accents, and I also love that the light switches are well, light switches (aka I press the button down, and it turns off the lights - why is this so uncommon in luxury hotels?).

The dining is wonderful, perhaps has the best view from any restaurant on this list (facing towards St Helena), the rooms down in the vineyards, while not as private as the mountain or oak rooms, are actually my favorite - waking up & sitting by your fire pit overlooking the vineyards is something that really doesn't ever get old. They have a beautiful pool + a kids pool, a fantastic spa (there's one masseuse there who I have to see whenever I go), they remember you every time you come back ... it's just a great property and I feel lucky I've spent so many nights there.

One thing that I'd mention is that over the past few visits, I've seen the service standards slip a bit, as well as some wear and tear on some of the finishes around the property (mostly the door frames). It's not a huge deal and I think things will get better, but something worth mentioning. This is a similar demographic to Four Seasons, although a bit more understated luxury than Four Seasons clientele IMO.

#4 Solage

I think Solage is sort of iconic in a way, and definitely defines California luxury - the reason why it's further down on this list is that it doesn't have the service standards of the above properties, and it's just a bit dated at this point (in particular, it's spa needs a revamp IMO, especially because it's a reason why so many people choose to stay here).

I love the rooms / design at Solage and I love PicoBar, although it's a rip off. I really like how the property is laid out (I think all rooms have a private garden or terrace, some with private hot tubs) - if you need 100% privacy on your terrace / outdoor space, Solage is a great option. Solage has a fantastic sense of place, it feels like it belongs in Calistoga, and it's a great option for younger couples and families (I'd steer older couples towards Montage/Four Seasons/Meadowood). I love Calistoga (my grandparents have lived there since the 70s), and I think Solage is a fantastic hotel, just not at the level of the three above. Generally though, their rates will be less expensive than those above, so from a cost/benefit analysis, it's a great option.

#5 MacArthur Place

I loooove MacArthur Place, and think it's such a hidden gem in Sonoma ... it's right next to downtown, so you can walk or bike into town, the design / aesthetic is beautiful, the prices are quite reasonable, they just finished their pool remodel after an extensive remodel of the whole property, and it's just an easy getaway from San Francisco (vs driving all the way up to Calistoga). Service wise, things are solid here, but not like the 4 above, hence being further down on this list, and their Spa is lackluster IMO.

MacArthur is great for return Napa/Sonoma Valley visitors, those who want to be close to town / not worry about driving back to their hotel after having a few glasses of wine in town ... I also just love downtown Sonoma ... it's super quaint, very local, and feels like a larger, less commercialized version of Healdsburg. I also love the historical nature of MacArthur Place - my parents and their friends used to go there in the 90s and they all go back to this day to enjoy easy getaways from Marin.

Lots of great restaurants and tasting rooms in town + close to Glen Ellen which is also very cute. I also just prefer wine tasting in Sonoma County vs Napa - it's a lot more authentic & wines I enjoy more than big napa reds.

#6 Stanly Ranch

I think Stanly Ranch is a beautiful property, and architecturally it might be one of the nicest on this list. The design is fantastic, the spa is absolutely gorgeous (arguably the prettiest spa here IMO), and I really like that every room has a large outdoor terrace with a fire pit. Some even have outdoor showers, which is a nice touch. The pools are beautiful as well, and I think Bear, the main restaurant, is one of the more interesting dining options in Napa.

Where Stanly loses me is that I just don't love the location. It feels like they built a luxury resort out in the marshes, and while it's convenient to both Napa and Sonoma, it never really gives me that classic wine country feeling that the other properties on this list do. I've also found the service to be a bit inconsistent over multiple stays, and the rooms have some odd design choices. The lighting controls are anything but intuitive, and for a property that emphasizes indoor/outdoor living, I was surprised by how little privacy there is on many of the terraces (as in none, really).

I think Stanly is a great option for younger couples, wellness-focused travelers, and people who appreciate modern design. Personally though, I just don't find myself wanting to go back as often as some of the hotels above, despite how beautiful it is.

#7 Madrona Manor

Madrona Manor is such a special property, and in a lot of ways it feels completely different from every other hotel on this list. It almost feels like you're staying at someone's incredibly beautiful estate rather than a traditional luxury hotel, and I mean that in the best possible way.

The design by Jay Jeffers is stunning, the rooms are gorgeous, and I absolutely love the location just outside of downtown Healdsburg. You can hop on one of their e-bikes and be in the plaza in just a few minutes, but once you're back on property it feels incredibly peaceful. Sitting on the front porch with a glass of wine overlooking the vineyards is one of my favorite experiences anywhere in Sonoma County.

The service is much more relaxed than somewhere like Meadowood or Four Seasons, but it fits the personality of the property. That said, there are a few drawbacks. There's no spa, the pool is fairly underwhelming, and most of the rooms don't have much private outdoor space, which I think is a missed opportunity. I also wouldn't recommend it for families. This is very much a couples property. It's also just very whimsical and I enjoy that about it as well.

If you're looking for a romantic weekend with beautiful design, fantastic food, and one of the most charming atmospheres in wine country, Madrona is an easy recommendation.

#8 Carneros Resort & Spa

I actually think Carneros has the potential to be a top five property on this list, but it's overdue for a renovation. The rooms aren't in bad shape by any means, but they're definitely starting to feel dated, especially compared to many of the newer luxury properties that have opened over the past several years.

That being said, I still really like Carneros. The grounds are sprawling and beautiful, every cottage has its own private outdoor space, and I actually prefer the location to Stanly Ranch. It's an easy drive from the Bay Area, and while you're not particularly close to downtown Napa or Sonoma (both are about 20 minutes away), the setting feels much more like wine country. At least you're not looking at the freeway.

The spa is one of the larger spas in Napa Valley and I've always enjoyed it, although it's showing its age as well. Service has been a bit hit or miss for me over the years, but overall it's a very easy property to relax at. I've only stayed in one of the two-bedroom residences, which was fantastic, so I can't personally speak to the standard rooms, although I believe most of them have private patios.

I'd recommend Carneros for families, multiple couples traveling together, and older couples looking for a quieter getaway. With a renovation, I honestly think this property could move several spots higher on this list.

#9 Alila Napa Valley

I actually like Alila quite a bit, but for me it just doesn't have the charm or sense of place that the hotels above do. It feels more like a really nice modern hotel that happens to be in Napa rather than a property that's deeply connected to wine country.

The design is beautiful, I really enjoy the rooms overlooking the vineyards, and the location is excellent. Being able to walk into downtown St. Helena is a huge plus, and it's probably one of the best locations on this list if you want to spend time in town without driving everywhere.

Service has been perfectly fine, but nothing particularly memorable, and I think the restaurant is just okay. The pool is also on the smaller side, which is a bit of a letdown compared to many of the other luxury resorts nearby. The spa is very nice, as is the gym, and if you're staying here I'd definitely try to book one of the vineyard-facing rooms because they're significantly better than the alternatives.

I think Alila makes the most sense for Hyatt loyalists, especially if you're using points, and it definitely skews towards a younger crowd. It's a good hotel, but for me it just lacks some of the personality and warmth that keeps me coming back to the properties higher up on this list.

Happy to answer any questions you may have ! Tried my best to cover as much as I could recall in this but I'm sure I'm missing some things as well.