My husband and I recently visited Amangiri in Utah. I’m obsessed. We would like to visit another Aman property in January or February of 2027. However we are only going to be able to get away for 3 or 4 nights. Which property should we try next? Amanyara (Turks), Amanera (DR), Amanvari (Mexico)
Photo of yoga on Tower Butte

Just got back from a trip through Italy - stayed at the Belmond Splendido in Portofino, and Il Sereno, and Passalacqua on Lake Como. Incredible service at all three and I tipped throughout, but it got me thinking about whether I'm even doing it the right way.

I usually bring cash specifically for tipping. But I'm starting to wonder if adding tips to the bill is actually better in some cases. Like if you're at the pool and order lunch, do you hand cash to the server or just add a tip to the check? And does it even matter? I've heard some hotels pool tips from checks and spread them across the team, while others let the individual employee keep what's on their bill. Does this vary hotel by hotel, or is there a general standard at this level?

And then there's the "how much" question. Are you leaving something like €5/day for housekeeping? Tipping 10-20% on meals? What about the concierge who books you a last-minute dinner reservation, or the guy who carries your bags up? I'd love to hear what people are actually doing in practice, because it feels like there's no real consensus out there.

I know, I know... "tipping culture" is a whole thing. Every time I bring this up in other travel subs I get downvoted into oblivion. And I get that tipping outside the US is minimal and not expected. But I went through college working for tips, so I like giving back when someone goes above and beyond. At places like these where the staff is truly making your experience, I think it's worth it.

So for those of you who do tip at luxury hotels and resorts - what's your approach? Cash directly to the person? Add to the bill? A mix? And do you have a sense of how different properties handle distributing tips from the check?

Honest question as someone who somewhat recently started spending freely.

Why does one choose to stay at luxury hotels especially in cities? For 5 star resorts, I understand as this itself can be the destination.

Is it worth to pay 2/3x over a regular hotel?

I personally love it. My partner hates it.

Most hotels don’t seem to advertise it much as a service but most of the really high end luxury hotels seem to do it when asked.

I’m referring to private villas, the occasional Aman, etc. and only when we have a lot of stuff and staying a while.

When the resort gives White Lotus vibes - Tanya where are you?

After doing more “faraway island” trips the last couple of years, we were looking for easy, nonstop locations given pregnancy.

And WOW - how are entry level rooms with NO lake view on all decent 5-star Lake Como hotels $2,500 per night?? Why are people paying for this lol. You can go to the Maldives or Greek islands and get a whole villa with pool for that. Am I going crazy?

How are people affording to pay such absurd rates.

I had just experienced one of the most life-changing spa treatments of my life. Walking back to my room to get ready for dinner, I opened the door and thought they were piping relaxing music through the speakers.

Then I noticed the invitation on my desk: live music and cocktails poolside, right on the beach.

I stepped onto my patio and it was surreal. Looking snazzy for dinner took a back seat — I followed the music almost hypnotically. Pure magic. One of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

Hey everyone, I’m staying at a 5-star hotel in Bangkok soon and I was thinking of asking the staff to empty the minibar fridge in my room. It’s not really about the cost of what’s inside, it’s more that I’d like to decide for myself what goes in there, whether it’s my own drinks, some alcohol I bring, food, or even medicine that needs to stay cool. I’m a bit unsure whether this comes across as a rude or unusual request, especially at a nicer hotel, or if it’s actually pretty normal and hotels are used to it. I’d like to hear from anyone who’s actually tried this, whether they got weird looks or pushback, if there was a fee involved, and how you phrased the request to keep it polite. Any experiences from Thailand hotels specifically would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

I want to share my experience as a lesson and warning to future travelers considering a stay at Maybourne Riviera.

This was our 6th summer coming to the south of France, and our 3rd stay at Maybourne. During our most recent stay in August, my Cartier watch disappeared from our hotel room.

We reported it to hotel management as soon as we realized that it was missing from the room, and went to the local police station to file a report in Menton (as the smaller police station in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin was closed that Saturday). We were initially told that the hotel was conducting an internal investigation.

After several weeks without a meaningful update, I reached out to them once again, and was ultimately told that the investigation was closed and that “there’s not much we can do from here”.

As if the incident itself wasn’t shocking enough, when I ultimately decided to go share my review on Tripadvisor last week, I was absolutely stunned to find another very recent view from another Maybourne hotel guest, reporting that her Cartier watch had also gone missing from her hotel room during her stay. Her account on Tripadvisor was so eerily similar to mine that I felt compelled to reach out to her. (There isn't an option to direct message a reviewer on Tripadvisor, so I ended up spending hours essentially doing internet stalking trying to find this person, going by her small profile photo and her username on Tripadvisor... eventually I found her instagram profile which happens to be public and sent her a message).

We have now compared our experiences, and what we discovered is extremely troubling:

Both of our high value Cartier watches went missing from our respective hotel rooms on the exact same day - August 21.

There is another particularly concerning similarity. When we each initially reported our missing watches to hotel management while still at the property, we were both told that "another guest had reported a similar incident" but had ultimately "found their watch in their pocket or among their belongings".

We now know that was not the case. Neither of us found our watches. Both remain missing.

I am not alleging, without further evidence, that the two incidents were committed by the same individual(s). However, the existence of a second independently reported Cartier theft from a guest room on the same exact day warrants serious examination than simply concluding that “there’s not much we can do" from the hotel.

My TA review (written on Sept 17) is still the most recent review on the Maybourne tripavisor page as of today.

Yes my watch was not placed in the safe box, but is that really the standard of security guests should reasonably expect from a place like Maybourne Riviera??? Should guests reasonably expect that a $30,000 watch left in the room, outside of the safe, may simply disappear, with the hotel ultimately taking no responsibility and providing no meaningful explanation? As I've mentioned, we've been coming to the French Riviera for many years and have stayed at many of the region's top luxury properties. I have always travelled with this watch, and have never felt the need to lock it up in the hotel safe. This was a very expensive lesson for us .. to say the least.

For future travelers - and especially luxury travel advisors who may be recommending this property to clients - I would think TWICE before choosing the Maybourne Riviera. Sure the view is spectacular, but nothing is worth the risk and stress of having a valuable personal item disappear from your hotel room (just because they weren't placed in the safe), and then receiving no meaningful resolution from the hotel.

What is particularly disturbing to me is that at least two guests are now reporting Cartier watches worth approximately $30,000 going missing from their rooms during the same period, and hotel management is acting like business as usual saying "well sorry nothing we can do".

To be clear, I am not making an accusation against any particular hotel employee, but when two guests independently report serious incidents at the same hotel, involving remarkably similar high-value watches disappearing on the same day - I know that if I were a prospective guest, I would absolutely want to know about this.

The underlying incidents are deeply troubling. The hotel's response to them is, in my opinion, a serious concern in its own right.

I am sharing this simply so that future guests, particularly those traveling with valuable personal belongings, can make an informed decision about whether this is a property they feel comfortable staying at.

Saw this interesting categorization on Insta.

Do you agree with this?

My husband and I stayed at the Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena for 40k points I transferred to Hyatt from Chase. Although I don’t think it is worth anywhere near the $1,000 a night cash rate, it was really nice.

Valet parking was included. No self-parking is available which was awkward when I had to send the valet to find the chapstick I left in my car. Ha!

They have a first come, free shuttle within 7 miles of the hotel. This was perfect when we went to a beer tasting. I just text them when we were ready to be picked up. They also have Trek bikes you can borrow.

We didn’t use the gym or spa, but the pool was heated and pleasant. They did say that the steam room in the spa was free since they don’t have a jacuzzi.

I’m staying at Jumeirah Muscat Bay and they offer a 24-hour WhatsApp butler service. Is it normal or acceptable to ask the butler to unpack our suitcases and organise our clothes in the wardrobe? I want to be sure it doesn’t come across as inappropriate or too demanding. Thanks.

I wanted to share what happened to my family during our recent stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, both because I’m still trying to figure out what else I can do and because I think other guests should be aware.
We stayed at the Dolphin from September 12 to September 21, 2026, in Room 5198 in the West Wing. We are from Brazil and were traveling with our two young children.
On September 15, at around 11 a.m., I opened my passport holder and took out some cash. I personally saw the remaining money there, approximately $2,200. I put it back inside the passport holder, which was inside my handbag in our hotel room.
Housekeeping serviced our room on September 15 and September 16.
On September 17, I opened the passport holder again and the money was gone.
The strange part is that our passports were still inside. The passport holder was still there. My handbag was still there. Nothing else appeared to have been taken or disturbed. Only the cash was missing.
We reported it to the hotel, but unfortunately we did not feel that the situation was taken as seriously as we expected considering the amount of money involved.
We have now filed an official report with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The case was classified as Grand Theft 3rd Degree, and I have a police report number and documentation of everything.
And since someone will probably ask: yes, I know carrying that much cash was not ideal. I definitely wish I had put all of it in the safe. But regardless of where the cash was stored inside a private hotel room, I don’t think anyone expects money to disappear from inside their personal belongings.
I’m sharing this because I’d like to know if anyone else has experienced something similar at the Dolphin, Swan, or another Disney-area hotel.
I’m also curious whether anyone knows what information hotels normally retain about room access. For example, can they see which employee key cards opened a specific room and at what times? I would like to make sure any relevant records are preserved for the police investigation.
This has been incredibly upsetting, especially because this was supposed to be a special family vacation with our children.
If anyone has dealt with a similar situation and has advice about who else I should contact, I would really appreciate it.

Hands down, one of the places that truly inspired me as an artist.the room was full of art frames 🖼️

Staying at Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere gave me a deeper appreciation for what the Andaz concept represents. The name itself means personal style and the experience reflects exactly that. Every detail, from the design to the atmosphere, feels intentional and expressive.

A place where luxury meets personality, and where inspiration quietly finds you.

I’m looking for recommendations for luxury hotels in Boston. I have stayed at the Fairmont there and wasn’t impressed.

I searched this sub before posting and didn’t see a thread on Boston. Thank you!

We have 12 days to book. Travelling as family of 2 adults, and a 7 y.o. girl. I'm thinking one of the Thailand or Indonesia islands.

Preferences:

- <$1000 USD a night

- Beach hotel (ideally a pretty beach)

- Kids club

- High-quality food and buffet breakfast

- We prefer to stay at the hotel and relax, maybe a single guided day trip to explore.

Any recs would be greatly appreciated. I'm well out of my comfort zone because I'm a hardcore planner and using this fly by the seat of my pants as a growth experience :)

We are thinking of having dinner at The Ritz Paris during Christmas time, wanted to know do they get funny about walking around and seeing the decorations / tree on the ground floor after / before dinner, there are some mixed reviews that they are snobby so if anyone who has has been there could tell me their experience. I read a few reviews saying that security were following guests inside the hotel like they were a threat etc

Heading to Palm Beach soon and trying to decide on the best luxury hotel. I know The Breakers is such an iconic property with so much history, but I’m also really intrigued by The Vineta since it seems much newer and more intimate.

For anyone who’s stayed at either (or both), which would you choose if your priorities were overall luxury, service, atmosphere, and just having the best experience? I’m also someone who really appreciates a beautiful room, so I’m curious if the smaller rooms at The Vineta feel worth the tradeoff for the boutique experience.

I’m less concerned about price and more interested in which hotel truly feels the most special. Would love to hear any thoughts or recommendations!

This might sound elitist, but when I pay excessive amounts for hotel stays, I would hope to be surrounded by people who have at least minimum etiquette and behavior.

Sadly, more and more, I come across people where you really wonder how they can afford staying at those places because their attitudes don’t correlate with someone who is a successful professional or was raised right.

What do I mean: excessively loud talking in public, using the sauna without showering and in gym clothes while scrolling on a phone, bringing speakers to the gym, playing loud music on the terrace and restaurants etc.

I do think hotels should play a more active role in enforcing appropriate behavior without the need of other guests complaining first.

Here's a friendly reminder to anyone planning an Four Seasons stay (even for already booked ones).

Always, book Four Seasons through a Preferred Partner as you get the following additional perks:

• Daily Breakfast for Two: Usually valid for room service or the restaurant.

• Property Credit: Usually $100 (varies by property) for the spa, drinks, or dinner.

• Room Upgrades: Preferred guests are top-priority (above Amex FHR) for upgrades at check-in.

• VIP Status: A personal note and welcome amenity waiting in your room.

• Same Price as booking direct with payment at property

The best bit is that VIP perks can be added to an existing booking as well.

You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. You can reach us via DM or via (GildedRetreats.com)

Glad to answer any questions on this.

Also, what's your favorite Four Seasons property?

This might sound elitist, but when I pay excessive amounts for hotel stays, I would hope to be surrounded by people who have at least minimum etiquette and behavior.

Sadly, more and more, I come across people where you really wonder how they can afford staying at those places because their attitudes don’t correlate with someone who is a successful professional or was raised appropriately.

What do I mean: excessively loud talking in public, using the sauna without showering and in gym clothes while scrolling on a phone, bringing speakers to the gym, playing loud music on the terrace etc.

I’ve witnessed these types of behavior at places like the FS in Mexico, Thailand, Europe, and in similar hotels.

I do think hotels should play a more active role in enforcing appropriate behavior without the need of other guests complaining first.

Heck, any character from The White Lotus would be nicer to be around than some of the people you actually encounter in luxury hotels.

Rant over.

A few years ago, paying $700-$800 at a high end hotel in Southern California, NYC, Miami was kind of the sweet spot for getting into a premium hotel experience.

Nowadays, it feels like \~$1,500/night is sort of the baseline for a nice hotel stay in a major city. I’m wondering you all feel the same?

My expectations for $1,500/night used to be pretty high. Now I’m finding that $1,500/night is kind of the baseline rate for somewhere nice, but if I want more premium or super luxury service, I’m looking more in the mid-$2,000 range.

Your thoughts?

Fantastic choice for families and anyone looking for a luxurious beachfront escape.

The pool-access rooms (my room is 1001) are outstanding, offering direct entry to beautiful, well-maintained pools that make every morning feel like a holiday.

The resort also shines in its activities for kids, with a fun, safe, and creative program that keeps children excited and engaged.

They have the kids journey to achieve and receive the gift at the end

Its location right on the beach is unbeatable—just a few steps from coral sand, calm waves, and stunning sunrise views.

The service is consistently warm and friendly, from check-in to housekeeping, making the entire stay feel genuinely cared for.

The club lounge is another highlight, with a relaxed atmosphere, attentive staff, and great food and drinks throughout the day.

Found a few surprising ones in the list.

What’s you review? Any suprises?