My husband and I are planning a trip next year and are going to Il San Pietro as that was our favorite hotel during our honeymoon. We also did Capri and Ravello. For this anniversary trip we plan to do 6 nights total as we do not want to be gone so long from kiddos. I love ISP but it has gotten so expensive I am thinking 4 nights there and somewhere else 2 nights? I liked Capri but don't feel the need to go back to something we have done, same with Ravello. TYIA!

Looking for some recs for if you preferred staying in a house rental or hotel while traveling with an infant (~6 months). Also any specific recs in europe for beach/pool access - I'd love to look into it for next spring/summer.

Hello! Looking for a Caribbean spring break spot with kids 8 and 11. Looking at Rosewood Little Dix, Four Seasons Anguilla and Kimpton Seafire most seriously. Anyone been to those with kids? Did they get bored? Or is there lots to do?

A few other ideas I’d consider - ritz GC, rosewood mayakoba and rosewood Baha mar.

We want a great beach with easy snorkeling and water activities, a fun pool for kids and obviously great service and facilities.

This is probably unanswerable but I have a question for parents of young kids that like to save and splurge on trips. My husband and I work super demanding jobs and a nice trip every 3-4 mos or so does wonders for our happiness and marriage. Two years ago, we had our first baby. Every FATT trip we’ve taken with him since has felt 10x harder and more exhausting than just staying home. First trip we planned was a bougie spa hotel in Napa. He was up all night, we didn’t sleep, couldn’t go to the adults only spa, and we felt disruptive in the serene environment. My fault, didn’t research enough. Next trip we drove to a beautiful lake house. Again didnt sleep, and felt out of sorts in a non-baby proofed lakeside property. We tried leaving him behind for one trip and I left him with my parents. Vacation was amazing and restorative but I worried about him ENDLESSLY like woke up at night checking the monitor, calling my mom, etc, and when we returned he seemed totally off schedule and had a rash. And my parents seemed deeply exhausted. I felt so guilty and vowed not to leave him behind again.

All to say — should I just give up on FATTravel for a few years until he is easier to travel with? We want more kids, so this may mean taking a several year break. Guess we’d save money. Or maybe we should spend less so the stakes seem lower when things go wrong? Is this just bad luck?

For context: We have a nanny we could travel with, but that sounds awkward to me and while I think she’s a great nanny, we’re not really natural friends and I don’t really want to spend vacation time with our nanny. Also whenever we ask her to do overnights she says no, so I don’t even think she’d be down for it.

Two nights in Santiago, CL post Antarctica cruise in January. Ritz or mandarin oriental?

So I am staying a week in Hong Kong next month and I have a corporate rate to stay in some hotels. At the moment I am inclined between MO original and FS. However, from what I have been seen, it will make a huge difference in which room I am staying at the MO given some are old and some are not.

In my mind, I am in doubt between the Statue Square Room and the Harbour view one.

What is your advice?

Thanks

Deciding between Sirenuse x Treville x Il San Pietro. We want somewhat walkable. Really just want the best hotel with the best views is the ultimate. What would you pick?

I know that Ams does not really have usual FATT hotels, but torn between these two options for a two night stay next month. Locations seem really similar and pricing is not too far off either. Any help is appreciated - just two adults. thanks!

We're planning to celebrate New Year's in New York. This will be a first visit for my children, ages 6 and 10, and we'd love to make it memorable.

Thanks in advance,

Dear all,

I am going to stay a week in Hong Kong in October and I have the following options with corporate rates with my company. My office is at Central. Which one should I choose?

- Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

- Mandarin Oriental Landamark

- Four Seasons

- The Murray

- Shangri la

- Rosewood (but more expensive than the rest)

Thanks!

Overall: 

Very pink. Very feminine. Felt classical French and contemporary at the same time. The lobby is small w/ pink plush seating areas. Same designer as the fifth ave hotel (Martin Brudzinski) and saw many of the same furnishings/fixtures like the Murano glass chandeliers. Fouquet’s is not as loud (unless all the pink is too much for you). It's in TriBeca and if you're planning to stay in the area, Fouquet's and the Greenwich Hotel are the only 5* options.

Rooms:

I thought the rooms were elegantly done. Mostly pink and green. Bathrooms are two-toned marble with gold fixtures. Bathtub rooms have TVs in front of the tubs. Some of the Hudson view rooms/suites are better than others but none have like amazing River views.

I’m not a fan of the Mandy Racine French classical style art w/graffiti in some of the rooms but obviously that depends on the guest and I do like some of the more neutral art throughout. 

Wellness: 

I liked the spa. They have a pool, sauna, steam room (lightly scented) & decent body treatment options. Their gym is a Dogpound fitness center and you can request sessions with Dogpound trainers. 

Dining: 

Dining spaces all felt intimate and quiet, especially the Èlysées restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner. Then there’s a Brasserie Fouquet’s of course with a very French menu including burgundy snails, French onion soup, an elevated ravioli du dauphine with morels(love), etc. 

There is a decent rooftop lounge/bar and a small Parisian style speakeasy in the lobby. The rooftop has a nice residential feel but still spacious (for NY).

All are open to the public except Le Vaux rooftop.

Extras:

There's a cool cinema on property which I didn’t use but I know they do some sort of cinema Sunday. They also have scheduled movie calendars (please correct me if I’m wrong on this or if you’ve visited the cinema). 

The property is elegant and you get a lot of celebrity sightings much like the Greenwich. The fashion crowd loves the brand as well. Last winter they turned the Tisou speakeasy into Loewe Bar at Tisou w/ cocktails and decor inspired by Loewe’s pre-spring collection.

*They have a lot of events so I do recommend asking before booking incase any of the spaces are unavailable. 

*I also think they need slightly better sound-proofing. 

Planning a trip to the south of France with my boyfriend next summer. Looking to relax and take things easy, without much sightseeing/partying. Hoping to mainly enjoy the hotel grounds and laze about. I’m looking for the best hotel in terms of F&B, facilities and how easily we can access the surrounding areas, as we won’t be driving. We also prefer a hotel not overrun with filming influencers/loud families, though we appreciate this comes with the territory of travelling to the South of France in summer. While we are not looking to do that much sightseeing, we also don’t want to be inconvenienced if we need to go to the nearest town.

Obviously the rooms must be in a decent condition, but room size is not a huge factor as I don’t see us spending that much time in our rooms as we are the sort who prefer lazing at the pool/playing tennis.

We have narrowed things down to these three hotels (Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, Airelles Saint Tropez, Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc). We are thinking of travelling in shoulder season (eg May/June or September). Appreciate these hotels are all in different locations, so any advice on that would also be helpful!

Thanks!!

Spent lovely 8 nights at the Loren in Bermuda in July with my husband (we are early 30s) - just wanted relaxing beach vacation without long flight and no hurricane risk. We had king balcony room - so second floor of hotel over looking the pool and ocean.

Room: while not the basic room (King terrace is) it’s still one of the largest regular rooms we have stayed in with huge bathroom as well. Very comfortable bed, huge balcony which was so nice. We enjoyed breakfast on our balcony a few mornings. Overall the room was very quiet I think it’s likely a fact that the walls /building structure seems to be concrete. However, I unfortunately forgot to request a room with NO connecting door. Towards the end of our stay we did get neighbors who we could hear loud conversations and arguing when they were near the connecting door/ hallway area of their room. Cleaning and turndown were very consistent and had nice little chocolates at turndown.

Pool and beach: we selected the hotel vs Rosewood partially for direct beach access and partially for it seeming to be more of an adults only hotel. Beach was very relaxing and quiet. Loren has its own area and was never crowded - you could always seem to be guaranteed spot at beach. Part of the beach area was for the condos next door but we hardly saw anyone in their area. You had access to free snorkel and kayak and paddle board. Weekends were a bit more crowded at the pool and beach , I think maybe more east coast guests coming for a long weekend? Pool was never that crowded during mid week but on weekend chairs did fill up and people would reserve early. Lovely pool overlooking ocean and very comfortable chairs. The beach and pool service was great - nice complimentary snacks at the pool similar to FS hotels. They were even really good about coming down to the beach and bringing full carafes of water so you didn’t have to walk up to ask for more water. Halfway thru our stay the main pool did start to look a bit green and dirty - like water/chlorine levels were off? I didn’t raise the issue to the manager but after a couple days it did return back to normal. We used the beach more so it didnt affect us that much. It would be nice if the pool was cooled since it can get warm being in sun all day with guests. There is also a smaller kids pool to the right of the main pool which some couples would use with babies or small kids would jump in.

Food and beverage: There is a main restaurant (pink beach club)and a lounge beneath the lobby with I believe a rotating guest chef. The food was really delicious - great selection, a lot of healthy , light options, lots of local seafood. The menu was pretty big for dinner as well we ate at the twice during our stay at Pink Beach Club and once at Maree lounge which had a guest sushi chef during our stay. The Maree lounge was also delicious. We loved the outdoor dining options at both and how Pink Beach club overlooked ocean. Breakfast was delicious too with a great menu. Expensive of course - typical resort and Bermuda prices. We live in NYC so we are used to it but since the food was so delicious we didnt mind the price as much- wasn’t like your money was wasted.

Gym and Spa: spa services were great had both hot stone and facial and my husband had their Loren signature massage. The spa itself left more to be desired in terms of amenities. There was really just a sauna. Even the lounge room to wait for your therapist was small and basic. Locker room only had one small restroom and one shower. I know it’s a boutique hotel so I guess there is trade off. Same with gym- very small - two treadmills one elliptical one bike. Some weights and rack. Gym would fill up in mornings and was also somewhat stuffy in terms of the AC. If there were more walking and running trails I wouldn’t have minded as much but this was pretty much only source of exercise.

Service: Service at check in was very nice - they bring you out to the balcony with a great view and complimentary drink. Bellmen were great in explaining the layout of hotel, using Hitch taxi app, and room features. The concierge was helpful in dinner reservations and recommendations. However our first night we were supposed to eat at Pink Beach Club but they could not find our reservation which concierge confirmed. Service at the restaurant I would say lacked the most- the hostesses seemed pretty clueless - the waiters were hit or miss. Even the front desk staff sometimes seemed a bit new to this . It’s hard to describe but was almost like there was no manager or supervision at times? Just seemed like the staff was kind of green. I’d been to Bermuda before but not in ~6 yrs and I know from this thread they aren’t always known for their five star service. Nothing really impacted our stay though but for example we’d give our room number at the hostess stand at breakfast but then we would be asked for it 3 times afterwards - almost like there was little communication. Just some odd things like that.

Area: since Bermuda is small you aren’t very far from anything. The biggest con was just the fact of needing a taxi to get anywhere. Not being in walking distance ( like say Wailea in Maui or Kapalua ) to other restaurants /hotels and no sidewalks for morning runs or walks. It was just a little annoying to have to get into taxis so much to go everywhere since there was really just 2 restaurants at hotel (and only one with bigger menu). It would be nice if hotel has a courtesy car or shuttle but I don’t think any really do in Bermuda?

However as we live in NYC it is such a nice close hop - safe, clean, accepts USD, don’t need to worry about the drinking water, beautiful new airport with lovely lounge! And you go through customs IN Bermuda vs JFK when you land.

I would stay again at the Loren. There were a number of couples who were returning guests and the pool staff remembered them which was nice . A few families, but not many small kids which was nice and what we wanted.

Would be curious about anyone’s experiences at the Rosewood. I think we will try that next to compare. We just didn’t want to deal with a beach shuttle or it be overrun with kids, but their beach club at Tuckers point looks amazing.

This will be my first time staying at properties at this level. I’m considering one night at Aman Tokyo followed by two nights at Bvlgari Tokyo. Is one night at Aman enough to enjoy the property, or would you choose one hotel for all three nights?

Also curious whether there are any other hotels in Japan you’d put in the same league, particularly for hard product, service, food, and the overall experience.

We are a young couple looking to vacation in the uluwatu/other coastal areas in Bali in late November. Looking for resorts with great service, food and spa options. Also privacy in the villa and plunge pool preferred. We found a few options on this sub including Alila, umana, bvlgari etc. A bit confused as all look great and looking for any recent experiences to decide. We are planning 4-5 days and budget is 1000-1500$ per night.

Currently have 3 nights lined up at Aman I Khas - are we missing out by not adding 2-3 at Amanbagh? My initial thought was to do those nights more central Jaipur. Maybe Rajvillas (20 minutes out?), but wow this hotel is beautiful! Thoughts on Bagh?

I’m hoping to spend a week in Guatemala in January with my college age daughter hiking volcano/cultural activities - casa Polepo and Villa Bokeh have been recommended but has anyone been there recently? Should I be worried about the travel advisory? Any other tips appreciated (helicopter, etc)

True luxury to me, is when a hotel and the people on the ground make you FEEL. I think these moments are ones that really stand out the most for me, and as a parent obviously when you touch my kids heart it touches mine as well.

Mine's a three way tie: a stuffed wolf that went exploring, opening a closed restaurant for olives, and the box of cereal in the photo. Will go into more detail in the comments.

Location:

Punta Tragara sits at the end of a picturesque little path with breathtaking views of marina piccola bay (the local Beverly Hills), lined with bougainvillees, lushious trees and gorgeous villas. It’s also just 10min walk to piazetta. The walk was part of the experience. It’s the only hotel that truly can offer views of the Faraglioni (only a few suites do). The most magical viewpoint is in front of the lobby and it’s also where you’ll find the stairs to La Fontelina beach club. IMO location cannot be beat.
Le Sirenuse was in the village, about 10min walk up from the lowest street, there are 2 paths, not the easiest to remember with the crowds. But you are in the action, maybe a little too much. From the back you can also access the main road with restaurants and viewpoints easily. The views are obviously what makes the hotel special, you truly do get that postcard view from anywhere on the sea facing side of the hotel.
Santa Catarina is literally a couple minutes drive to Amalfi and there’s a free shuttle that runs all day by the hotel, you can call it whenever you want. The views are amazing because they capture Amalfi from the perfect distance, yet you feel totally secluded in the most magical gardens, just walking around with the scents of all the flowers and lemons. The beach club carved in the rock is even more impressive in real life.

Rooms:

Punta Tragara: I had a 2 level suite, it was nice, but it felt a little tight, the finishes were high end, but you could tell you were in a converted mansion not a purpose built hotel which also gives it charm. But nothing impressive.
Le Sirenuse: I was one floor above the pool, in the main building, I walked past a bar and the entrance to a terrace to get to my corridor but didn’t hear anything once inside. I’m more of a modern design kind of guy and minimalist but i must admit it’s the first time I enjoyed something that sits at the opposite spectrum of my taste profile. The room was like a perfectly curated assemblage of Italian taste, everything felt curated, it was a lot but not too much. The room was filled with branded goodies. The bathroom was a marble overload, and the bath was a lawsuit waiting to happen, I slipped multiple times and almost ended my holiday, there was a non slip mat which tells you they know about the issue. So the decor was on point with the local charm you’d expect but again for me it was far from being worth the price I paid.
Santa Catarina: I had a suite in a house on the left of the main building, facing the sea again, it was very very large, there was a bathtub in the middle of the room, it was EXTREMELY quiet and peaceful, but the finishes were outdated, decoration was scarce, it didn’t feel finished or done with attention. It felt old. It needed a renovation.

Service:

Punta Tragara: they offered the most personalised service, it felt like the small number of keys had meaning, the front desk really listened and provided unique recommendations, they knew the island. Room service was delivered without a bill. The lady running breakfast was impressive. The waiting staff and the Michelin restaurant knew the menu inside out.
Le Sirenuse: the arrival ceremony was great, they picked up everything and walked me to the hotel and greeted me with towels and drinks but at night when I asked for specific restaurant recommendations none of what I asked for was taken into consideration and I was served with a pre printed list of restaurants none of which matched what I asked for and were extremely disappointing. The service around the pool was a little slow and just tried to make everything too grand causing frustrations.
Santa Caterina: nothing memorable around the restaurants, but I did appreciate the service at the beach club, the boys immediately greeted you and set you up on loungers with towels and fresh water, a waiter passed fruit plates and little snacks on the house throughout the day which was a lovely touch. The concierge was good but organised transfers with very rude scammy local taxi drivers and missed a couple important details that should have been provided based on what we told them and where we were going - for example when going to Ravello to see the terrace of infinity gardens, they should have checked it was opened - it was closed as it most often is for weddings.

Food:

Punta Tragara: the food at Monzu was delicious, the chef came at the end and greeted us asking how everything was. Breakfast was great. The complimentary cake was nice upon arrival. Food at lunch was ok. (Capri restaurants worth mentioning: Le Grotelle, Pescheria Le Botteghe
Le Sirenuse: didn’t eat anything there no commments
Santa Caterina: only had breakfasts they were great. (We did do dinner at the famous Michelin La Caravella, the lemon soufflé was insane, the food was amazing, but the quiet atmosphere was outdated and boring).

Conclusion:

Positano: for a first time and a unique time, Le Sirenuse is worth it with a view for 1 night. It’s too busy for me and if I were to come back I’d base myself outside the village. Probably at Il San Pietro or another property further out like Borgo.
Punta Tragara: worth it if you splurge on the suites with faraglioni view. Next time I’ll prob stay at Scalinatella, same road just a little bit before and slightly cheaper.
Santa Caterina: I hope they renovate but I did love the gardens and the beach club carved in the rock on the cliff and the elevator to it was magical. I’d stay again.
I would add a night or 2 in Ravello next time.

Would love feedback on if these experiences are worth the steep price

Any intel on the new luxury openings / re-openings in Sardinia (Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte Costa Smeralda, Cheval Blanc)? Seems like they keep getting pushed. Interested in going next summer but it doesn’t feel like the current luxury options on the island provide enough variety for an 8 night stay. Was hoping one of the new brands would be open soon?

My husband and I are planning a ~2-week trip for the end of October and are currently deciding between China and Chile + Argentina.

One of the biggest factors for us is the luxury hotel experience / value. We’re happy to spend around $1,000–$1,500/night for the right property, but we want that money to actually feel FAT — incredible design, service, rooms, setting, amenities, food, privacy, etc. rather than simply paying a premium because the destination is expensive.

For those who have traveled to both:

Where do you think you get more for your money at the $1k–$1.5k/night level?

For example, does $1,500/night in China get you an experience that would cost $2,500–$3,000+ elsewhere? Or are there particular properties in Chile/Argentina where that same budget gets you an exceptional, truly special experience?

Also, how does late October affect this decision? I know Patagonia is shoulder season, so I’m wondering whether that changes the value proposition significantly.

Basically: If you had ~$1,500/night to spend on hotels, which destination would give you the biggest “holy shit, this is amazing” factor?
Would love specific hotel recommendations and comparisons from people who have actually stayed at them!

Hi there! Where would folks suggest I stay out of the following places if I care a lot about location (specifically being on a nice street/cute surroundings, lots to do within a somewhat walkable distance - I'm from NYC to used to a lot of walking - and just general vibe)? Open to other suggestions as well; these are just the ones I've been circling. It's a short trip, and I want to make the most of it. Thanks!

- Claridge's

- The Emory

- The Chancery Rosewood

- The Chelsea Townhouse

- Raffles

I don't know London AT ALL so any insight regarding locations/neighborhood is greatly appreciated. I know location can make or break a visit to a city.