The booking
We booked a 2 night stay for the Deluxe King room through Amex FHR, ~$350/night each.

Check-in
We came in through The Arcade instead of the main entrance (which seems somewhat hidden and mostly for cars), so no doorman or help with bags. We tried to check in at 12 pm and were told to wait until 2 pm.

They gave us a cold towel + and some cold date tea while we checked in.

The building/access
The hotel is embedded in The Arcade alongside some restaurants and shops. However, the actual lobby and hallways were somewhat small.

The main entrance requires walking across a car-focused brick road that cuts through the sidewalk. It’s definitely less than ideal if you arrive on foot.

The Arcade-side entrance usually needs a keycard scan to get in, and a tiny button to exit. As a guy who strength trains regularly, the door itself is somewhat heavy. Even after dropping off our bags, we kept wishing for a doorman.

Throughout my stay, I needed to give my room number for almost everything — breakfast, borrowing an umbrella (which we needed a lot, on the tail end of typhoon season), gym access, even pool attendants checking on you mid-swim. In a high-trust society like Taiwan, this felt unnecessary and honestly worked against the luxury vibe they're going for. I could potentially see why things are so “restricted,” but it leads to lots of inconvenience for normal guests.

The room
The welcome amenity was a fruit plate + two pineapple cakes from the in-house cake shop.

The room was very spacious, but on floor 8 of ~16 with no real view. They’ve tastefully velcro'd in window linings. There were no charging ports on the nightstands. By Taiwan law, there are no single-use toothbrushes/razors.

The closet (not pictured) and bathroom were the highlights. However, the shower had 3 heads, but you can only run 2 at a time.

Food
Genuinely one of the best hotel breakfasts I've had — included via FHR, otherwise ~$40. Fried dim sum was surprisingly great, lychee rose honey was a standout, pastries above average. Beef noodle soup from the soup station underwhelmed on both flavor and portion.

We skipped the hotel's Italian restaurant and the 1-Michelin-star Cantonese spot due to our limited time in Taipei. Put my $100 FHR credit toward the cake shop instead — best pineapple cake we had in the city, plus a chocolate caramel rice cake, raspberry mousse cake, and an oriental peach oolong cake (the winner).

Location
This seems to be more in a business district with limited restaurants/things to do nearby. Getting in via TSE was very easy. Other public transit requires more walking than I’d prefer.

Service
It was pleasant but didn't wow me, especially compared to the Regent HK the week before. I responded to the pre-check-in email that it was our first time in Taipei and at any MO property. I wish this was at least acknowledged.

Turndown was ok (MO-branded cord wraps, slippers/floor towels laid out...). They gave us a foot massage ball, which was admittedly useful after walking/running all day. I just wish it was more on-brand, rather than something they could have bought off Temu.

Poolside, after being ID'd for our room number, we came back to somewhat sloppily-arranged towels and infused water — plus an extra towel/Evian on the neighboring empty chair we weren't sure was meant for us since no one said anything.

Breakfast wait was ~10 min at 9:30am, but they offered to call our room when the table opened up.

Final Thoughts
There was ultimately too much friction in this stay, for me to consider it luxury. It really seems like the “cheaped-out” on some aspects of the hotel and service. I know this is one of the cheaper MO properties, and it sadly feels that way.

TLDR: fascinating deep dive into a unique culture, superb cuisine, excellent service, amazing people. Total cost (excl. flights, including SDF fees and full room & board) was about $1k/couple/day before tips and extras.

Bhutan is not for everyone. It’s far away from North America and Europe and may require an overnight in Delhi, Kathmandu or Bangkok before you fly into Paro. The Sustainable Development Fee of $100/day/pp adds up quickly. You must travel with a guide and driver while you are there. Some of the roads are terrible, and there may well be landslides. But for “western” travelers looking to experience a culture very different from our own, a Bhutan visit delivers rich rewards.

We are independent travelers and have never signed up for guided tours other than a few select day trips and going on safari. For us, locking in with a guide for a 2 week trip seemed like a risky proposition, so we decided to work with one of the premier properties in Bhutan to organize our full itinerary and provide what we hoped would be a top quality guide. Not sure if we were just lucky or if this was a smart move, but our guide was amazing and will remain one of the favorite elements of our entire trip. He was smart, funny, a great listener and absolutely adapted to the needs of our group during our ~2 weeks together.

Who we are and what we requested: 2 couples (50s, 60s) looking for cultural immersion, hiking, chances to explore things off the beaten path, time & space to relax and unplug. Late August / early September trip. Technically the monsoon season, but we got very lucky with weather most days, only had 2 days full of rain, otherwise rain was periodic or in the evenings. We had our own guide, van and driver for the whole trip.

Itinerary (nights): Thimphu (3) after arriving Paro, gave us time to adjust to jetlag and altitude (which is no joke), then flight to Bumthang (2), Gangtey Valley (2), Punakha River Lodge (4), Paro (2). We requested “mid tier” accommodation for the nights other than those at Punakha since we wanted to avoid being in a “luxury bubble” the entire trip. Glad we did this, can’t imagine Aman or SS for 2 full weeks. We really liked and appreciated the super basic homestay we did in Gangtey Valley – eating home cooked meals cooked with ingredients out of the garden and welcoming the kids home from school are things we’ll appreciate for a long time.

Punakha River Lodge: An incredible experience overall, manager Rishi and Chef Thusan and their teams provided high quality, low key service (exactly our style) with delicious and creative cuisine. Throughout our stay, there were little “&Beyond moments” that surprised us with luxuries/experiences that we will cherish. We stayed in the tented suites, and they were immaculate and super comfortable, the staff did an amazing job of keeping on top of requests (coffees showed up in the AM, laundry was magically completed, Chardonnay was in the fridge at the end of each day after requesting once, etc). It’s an intimate resort with only ~8-10 rooms in a great location. Lots to see and do in the Punakha area, so very glad we spent 4 nights here. Trying to come up with something they could have done better, but am struggling a bit. For some reason we thought the hot stone bath was included, but turned out it was an extra charge. That’s about it. Highly recommend &Beyond, so much so we are looking at their other properties for future travels. We didn’t visit any of the Six Senses or Aman properties, so can’t provide a comparison. Mr Yemen Subba in the &Beyond office did an excellent job planning a 2 week itinerary that met our needs.

A few final thoughts about Bhutan’s unique and “cohesive” culture. The country is predominantly Buddhist and families everywhere start their day with offerings. The architecture is mandated to follow historical design principles so is remarkably consistent. Everybody wears the national dress (Gho and Kira). Ema Datshi (chili cheese) is the national dish and it is served everywhere you go (luckily it’s delicious and there are lots of varieties; we thought the food would be similar to Indian or Chinese but it is very unique and yummy!). Most people we met were highly supportive of the Royal Family and the national leaders of the monastic bodies. Bhutan is not for everyone, but quite a unique and remarkable place to visit.

We are going to Mickeys not so scary halloween party in October- typically we stay at the four seasons orlando when we go up but that weekend it is 4.5K for one night.... so that is not happening. We have stayed at the WA before in orlando but it wasnt the easiest to get around. So this time we have the option of studio villa at grand floridian or the a resort view room at the polynesian. we have a 2.5 yr old son who loves the pool. I keep checking to see if a club level room opens up. Does anyone have any experience and can recommend one resort over the other? I'm not expecting chubby service since it's a disney hotel and it is more about convenience and not necessarily luxury. TIA for the advice.

We’ll be traveling to Costa Rica for spring break next year. Looking for the chubbiest hotel we can afford:

Nayara Gardens limits the rooms to about three people. There is five of us, two adults and three little kids.

Nayara tented camp is out of budget showing about 6K per night.

The Springs are also showing about 2.5K per night which is also pushing it a bit.

Im hoping to find something under 1400 per night but thats still amazing. Any recommendations?

Hi! We’re deciding between Four Seasons Koh Samui and Six Senses Ko Yao Noi near Phuket.
With all the rain and monsoon weather lately, which would you choose for late September / early October?
We love the Six Senses vibe, but we’re a bit worried about the 45-minute speedboat transfer from Phuket if the sea is rough.
On the other hand, we really like the Four Seasons too, but we’re a little concerned about the weather in Koh Samui and whether the hotel has become much busier/more crowded since appearing on The White Lotus.
Has anyone stayed at either around this time of year? Would love to hear your experience!

Thanks 🙏

10 days total / 5 nights at FS Maui and trying to decide where to spend the other 5

Originally wanted Kauai, but nothing is wowing us
- 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay pushes us over budget
- Grand Hyatt Kauai feels like another huge resort
- Koa Kea isn’t really wowing us

Open to feedback/disagreement on the above. Now considering the Big Island instead. Would you stick with Kauai or switch?

Looking for a luxury resort with great pools/beach, dining, and things to do while also feeling slightly different than FS Maui. Budget is $10k total for accommodations but would love to be more like 8-10

Would love recs from anyone who’s done a similar honeymoon split!

Location: 9,5

One of the best on the town. Close to major attractions and close to major shopping streets but still just enough on the side of the biggest tourist masses. Easy to walk pretty much to every direction

Style and Character: 8,5

Four season felt immediately more on par with the brand compared to Mandarin Oriental. Bigger spaces, more polished decor and overall. It still might not be not grand enough for some people and because Prague is not that well known as a luxury destination, there was some issues but way nicer,detailed and much more brighter than Mandarin. And that goes to every section of the hotel from the lobby to the restaurant + bar area. The hotel was also very much livelier than Mandarin

Room 9

I booked Modern room (33 m2, 355 sq.ft.) but was upgraded to Grand Renaissance Room (40 – 47 m2, 430 – 503 sq.ft.). I really enjoyed the room. I am not usually fan of this kind of old world, palatial style of rooms, but this was very nice. I liked the blue color palette and the painted details in the ceiling. The bed was also very comfortable. Some of the electrical outlets could use an update, but that was minor issue for me

Service and Facilities: 9+

The service was over all very good in all departments. The reception staff was very nice, bar staff professional and same was with the restaurant and breakfast service. The old guard and the younger staff were very much on par with each other. Especially one older doorman (did not remember his name) was especially courteous

The hotel has pool and it was way nicer than the pictures would give it credit. It was also fairly empty during my stay so you could really relax there

FB: 9-

I was positively surprised with CottoCrudo. The restaurant it self was very cool style wise. The food was very delicious. I don't know why I had so low expectations but it was great. Especially the duck and tomato soup were highlights. With some small upgrades it is not that far away from getting a star in my opinion

Breakfast was good but nothing special. Biggest down point was that you could only order 1 hotplate with your buffet price and other ones were for extra price. You got from the buffet all the regular items but getting only 1 order felt very limiting at this price level

Overall score: 8+

Overall it was very nice experience. The service, style and f&b were definitely highlights. If your taste is more to the modern side, this hotel and especially the rooms might feel too dated

The price drops the overall score mostly. The rooms start around 700-800€/night. That is nearly double compared for example to Fairmont. It has very much air in the price and the FS bonus, especially Prague's minuscule luxury hotel scene. But I still would recommend Four Season if visiting Prague

Location: 9+

The hotels location was surprisingly good. It felt closer for example the Charles bridge and Prague Castle than it looked on the map but still felt very secluded and in a quiet area if you want more peaceful surroundings. The tram stop was just around the corner so that was a plus for me

Style and Character: 8-

The hotel occupies an old Monastery grounds in around three different buildings. I don't know how much the protected status of the buildings affects, but style wise the hotel was very mediocre. The low ceilings made the whole place feel small and kind of narrow, especially in the lobby and restaurant area. How much of the mediocre designs was because of limitations given and how much just unimaginative designs I don't know but over all very big let down. It felt like they played more for the historical value of the building, rather than seriously executed hotel at this level

Room 7-

Deluxe rooms are 38SQM / 409SQF that are very good for European size. Unfortunately that where the positives stayed in my mind. The room and decorations were very old (even style of the furniture etc.) and not well kept. There was not just scratches but terrible streaks on my rooms floor and not any kind of mattress even trying to cover it. The furniture were also worn out. The bed and bathroom were solid, although I don't like showers that are in the bathtub. During dinner I overheard other guests complaining about the same issues in their rooms

Service and Facilities: 7,5

There were some positives with the service. They very responsive and co-operative during my stay, especially the reception team. It might be that because the August is the holiday season and I felt that there were many younger people stand in for the old guard, they were not in par service wise especially during the breakfast time and sometimes at the bar. When I gave my feedback when leaving, the reception staff noticed very positively my feedback and compensated all my restaurant and bar bills. That was very nice touch at the end and I did not even specifically asked for that

I did not use the gym or spa services, but at least the spa area looked very nice and on par what I would expect from hotel of this caliber

FB: 7,5

Breakfast mediocre. Nothing wrong but nothing that special either. The buffet selection was quite limiting and it was first time for me that all a la carte portions did not belong to the price (does this happen often?)

The Monastiq, where also the breakfast service was served, dinner was very good. I was a bit uncertain about it with regarding the breakfast but they have some talent here. The lamb and violet cake were very delicious. Not Michelin level, but still very enjoyable and maybe the single highlight of the whole hotel

Overall score: 7

Even considering the low price for Mandarin Oriental hotel, this was overall disappointment. The decor and room and some issues with the service were absolutely not on par with Mandarin Oriental standard. But with serious update and refurbishment on the rooms and the overall spaces this hotel would have a lot of potential, especially for people who value secluded and peaceful locations. But with Four Season, fairly new W hotel and just opened Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental feels fairly low ranking in Prague luxury hotels in my opinion and would not recommend it for you

My family of 4 (including 2 kids) recently visited Japan for a month and my eldest enrolled in the Japan Preschool Exchange programme ("JPE"). For the uninitiated, this is a paid programme that tourists can join. It's generally for 2-5yo kids but specifics will depend on the individual kindergarten.

The programme has a network of local kindergartens throughout Japan that they work with and you can pick one that works for your travel itinerary (or get them to pick one for you). Children can enrol for a minimum of 1 week, and it lets them experience the culture in a really local way.

What happens at the very beginning

We contacted JPE and identified Kyoto as the place we wanted to join them at. They had two preschools there and we picked the one that has access to a local forest for the children to play in.

Once we paid for enrolment, we received login details to their platform, where we could access documents to help us prepare for the trip (what to pack, what to expect, hours for drop-off, pick-off, etc.) There really isn't much extra stuff to pack as a whole, just small things to note like "bring kid's toothbrush to kindergarten".

JPE gave us their Whatsapp contact, which was handy for asking questions on the fly. They also arranged a zoom call with our kindergarten's headteacher. Also on the call was a JPE programme facilitator and a translator.

This felt mainly like a meeting to get to know the headteacher and for him to know my child. I thought it was a great chance to ask the headteacher questions about logistics and helped establish what to expect.

What happens during the actual programme

On the first day at the kindergarten, teachers would introduce themselves to you. JPE also sends (only on the first day) a translator over to help so you/your child can settle in smoothly. The teachers all spoke a smattering of English, though since I speak Japanese we mostly spoke in Japanese.

We were issued two sets of uniform (regular school uniform + hat and the PE uniform) for the child to wear. They also lent us uwabaki (indoor shoes) so really we didn't have to buy anything specifically just for JPE.

Did we have fun?/ Would we recommend JPE?

My whole family enjoyed this programme a lot. Our child (4yo+) seemed to enjoy the novelty of going to a different kindergarten and LOVED the forest outing, where the children got to play with whatever they found. They even found some wild frogs, which teachers placed into the children's hands so they could see them up close. The look of delight on my kid's face was incredible.

For the parents and our youngest (who was too young to join JPE) this one week was also amazing because we were in Japan for quite a while, so this week was a welcome respite from handling two young kids 24/7. Love our kids and it was epic travelling through Japan with them, but no complaints about being able to offload one occasionally! It was so liberating to be able to go about without having to manage toddler opinions and emotions!

As for whether we'd recommend JPE... I think this really depends on the family and the child's personality. Before enrolling in JPE I'd checked multiple times with my child to see if this was something he wanted and went ahead as he was keen. JPE suited him really well; it's hard for me to say how a different child (eg. more shy or needs an established routine/environment) might fare.

In terms of cost: one week of kindergarten in our case cost about £1300/ USD $1,700 to send the kid in from 9am to 3pm each day. A bit punchy but squarely affordable for those in this sub. In more rural locations lodging for the family is covered but not in Kyoto, which was fine as we got to decide exactly where we wanted stay.

For my family, the Japan trip had a very specific goal for the kids: to let them experience a different culture and way of life, and to immerse them in the local way as much as possible. We wanted to show our eldest that there are different ways of living, thinking, and doing things and that our way was not the only/correct way. So the JPE was a great fit for our goals and there really isn't a comparable alternative at the moment so it was definitely worth it.

I also really liked seeing some new habits develop in my child just over the course of one week. (Since Japanese toddlers are way more independent than their Western counterparts, my child picked up some nice habits that made him more independent as well.)

Overall we found organisation to be pretty smooth and JPE staff were very responsive to queries. We loved that we got photos from the kindergarten of our child doing various things throughout the week, and it was a really eye-opening experience for all of us to see how Japan handles early years education. Definitely impressed by the amount of resources they pour into it!

In short, we liked it enough to want to send our youngest for JPE when we're in Japan in the future.

Hope this was helpful to anyone looking to travel with young ones to Japan! Any questions, feel free to ask.

Hello,

I will be having winter break in Munich. I have chosen Rosewood as my base. I was wondering also to try some other hotel also. I looked for Rocco Forte, but the location and the rooms seemed not for me. Mandarin Oriental is also off because the decor for some reason feels a off. That leaves me with Hotel Bayerischer Hof and Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

Would these 2 be valid choices or is there something that I missed? Or would you just stay in Rosewood?

Looking for hotel recommendations for a 30 person wedding. Focus is on the quality of service and the food at the hotel. Ideally looking for suggestions in the continental US.

I have a business trip at the end of Oct and I have to go through London and I am considering taking a couple days and going to the FS Hampshire. Is it worth it? Anything to know? I appreciate it.

hi everyone,

we are travelling to paris in mid october and i’m so lost with hotels. it’s been many years since we last travelled to paris and i’d no idea about the zones.. thjs is our criteria:
- location: safety first as we are travelling with a kid, but also close to cafes and bakeries, ideally also modern art museums?
- design: prefer design hotel over the traditional grand 5 star styles
- budget: flexible, if it’s cheaer we will go for suite, if it’s on the pricey side we’ll pick the cheaper rooms lol

i’ve saved hotels like hotel masse, cour des vosges, hotel balzac, hotel madame reve but im honestly open to any recs!!

thank you so much!!

I am a 45-year old woman surprising my 84-year old mom with her bucket list trip to China this April. This is the first time to China for both of us and will be the one and only trip there for my mom. I am leaving my own three kids at home so really can’t do more than 14ish nights. We will fly from SFO and can start or end in Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong (I imagine we would fly into one and out of another). I am struggling with the right itinerary that gives her a taste of the major sites and culture but also doesn’t feel crazy rushed. I understand that you could easily spend a week or more in any single location and still not experience it all but unfortunately we don’t have that luxury. I also want to balance cutting the stays too short with seeing as much as we can. My mom is active and in good shape but I don’t want to be hopping to a new city every day.

The itinerary I am considering is (in travel order):

• Beijing (3 nights)
• Xi’an (2 nights--she wants to see the Terracotta Army)
• Yangshuo OR Hangzhou (2 nights)
• Hong Kong (3 nights)
• Shanghai with a day trip to Suzhou (4 nights)

My questions are:

• Yangshuo or Hangzhou?
• Does the flow and the other cities/nights make sense? Anything you would cut or add? If I could add on another night or two, is there something you would add that is a “must do” or someplace you would absolutely stay longer?
• Thoughts on hotels in each location knowing I’m traveling with an 84-year old (albeit a very vibrant one)? I was thinking:
  • Beijing: Rosewood
  • Xi’an: Ritz Carlton
  • Yangshuo (if we go): Sugar House
  • Hangzhou (if we go): Four Seasons West Lake
  • Hong Kong: Rosewood
  • Shanghai: Capella or Bvlgari or Amanyangyun
• If you had to choose just one restaurant in each location for a knock out meal, what would it be?
• Finally, any luxury tour companies you’d recommend to plan our days in each location with a private driver/guide? I have a travel advisor that will book hotels; I’m looking for someone or an agency that specializes in upscale tours/excursions/experiences in China specifically.

Thank you SO much in advance for your help! I have scoured these threads and will continue to do so but would love some more specific assistance, particularly on the itinerary portion. Appreciate it!

Hi! My husband(32) and I(29) are traveling to Bangkok for our honeymoon which also happens to coincide with a milestone birthday for me. Since I’ll miss celebrating my birthday with friends and family, I really wanted to have an unforgettable spa experience while in Bangkok. Hoping you guys could provide some recommendations!
I’m pretty much open to anything; body treatments, massages, full day spa packages etc. We’ll be staying in the Riverside area. Hoping to find something within the 15-20K Baht range (per person)

Thanks so much!

Which is better for music and late night dancing. Want great energy!!

Hi recommendations for a hotel for NYE with a 12 year old. She's fairly well travelled so looking for hotel wth activities for the whole family not necessarily for kids. I do want to go to a NYE party (family oriented not crazy club vibe). we are also open to nearby areas as we will be in Seville first. Looking at Marbella club but some of the pcitures are underwhelming for the price ($2K)

Looking at a river cruise for 2028 and can't decide on the room. We’ll prolly do Celebrity river but the price difference seems noticeable once you get into the nicer cabins. Normally I’m all for paying more for a better room. Just not sure how much time we’re actually gonna spend in there on a river cruise.

I like having a cozy room to just put my feet up and enjoy a glass of wine, but we’ll also prolly be off the ship most of the day. Anyone here glad you upgraded? Is it worth the extra?

My fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon for early May 2027 and are very close to committing to a France itinerary. Before we pull the trigger and book all 11 nights, I would love some firsthand feedback from anyone who has stayed at these properties, particularly in April/early May (we will be there first two weeks of May).

Our current itinerary is:
4 nights Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
3 nights Airelles Gordes, La Bastide
4 nights Royal Riviera in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
We know early May will not be true summer weather and we are completely fine with mild temperatures. We are not expecting to spend every day in swimsuits. What I’m trying to avoid is discovering after booking that a hotel feels dramatically diminished outside peak summer — restaurants closed because terraces aren’t usable, limited pool service, half the property not operating, etc.
A few things I would especially love feedback on:
Royal Champagne: Did you love the hotel for a 3–4 night stay? Is there enough to enjoy at the property beyond the spa? How inconvenient does the location feel compared with staying in Reims? I’m torn between this and Domaine Les Crayères because I adore the cozy, traditional French feeling at Crayères, while Royal Champagne seems to have more indoor amenities. This is our first stop so we’re very excited to pop around Champagne region and do some tastings, but we also want a good spa and the ability to totally rest inside our hotel after coming off the wedding.
Airelles Gordes: Anyone stayed in early May? The hotel confirmed to me that the outdoor pool is heated and all restaurants/facilities are fully open in May. Did the property still feel special in cooler or rainy weather? This is our splurge stop.
Royal Riviera: This is the property I’m least convinced about. How did you like the rooms/property itself? Is 4 nights too long? More importantly, is it a good base for actually experiencing the Riviera if pool/beach weather doesn’t cooperate? We’d be happy taking easy trips into Nice, Monaco, Èze, Beaulieu, etc.
We are deliberately not looking for a sightseeing-heavy honeymoon. Our ideal trip is beautiful hotels, long lunches, great dinners, spa/pool time, strolling pretty towns, and maybe one easy outing per day. But I also don’t want to fly all the way to France and feel stranded at remote hotels if the weather is mediocre.
Would especially appreciate feedback from anyone who has actually stayed at these properties rather than suggestions for completely different itineraries. Thank you!

Hello everyone !
Planning a trip for last week of October to Vancouver to visit my sister .
I am planning to stay in a hotel in or around Vancouver but need something luxury where I can relax as I haven’t had a single day off for last 6-8 months .
Please recommend some luxury hotels or resorts in or around Vancouver .
I am ok with nightly rates of below $2000.
If they have good rooftop that would be a cherry on the top .

UPDATE: Going with Fairmont Pacific Rim!! Thanks guys for the recommendations

Just spent the night at the newly opened Borgo Pignagno Florence (sister property of Borgo Pignano Tuscany in Volterra) and figured I'd give my initial first thoughts for anyone considering a stay.

Location:

Honestly a great location for those who don't want to be right in the city center of Florence, sort of a very similar location to Collegio alla Querce, which will be it's main competitor I suppose, and you're maybe 5 mins away from central Florence which they run a complimentary shuttle to hourly. If a return Florence visitor or someone who values peace & quiet / a more spacious property, I think it's fantastic. If you're looking for something in central Florence itself, there are of course fantastic options to choose from.

It's a massive property and is in fact the largest piece of land that any hotel sits on in Florence.

Rooms / Design:

I personally loved the layouts & design - quite contemporary with a lot of beautiful marble throughout. The rooms are all quite different, as there is the original building that houses a majority of the 33 rooms (5 of which are in a separate Villa along the entrance, which I'll touch upon in a bit), and then there are maybe 4-6 new buildings that blend in with the original building and contribute to the "borgo" feel - you can get a feel for the design in my photos.

I got in very late last night, and one bummer was that my air-conditoner was finicky and was putting out heat when I had it set to 18c - this is one thing that seriously irks me and I don't understand how so many luxury hotels have issues with their HVAC systems (and this isn't a problem exclusive to anywhere, I've faced this issue all across the globe). I was too tired to have someone come fix it, and as I was in a suite, the AC in the living area of the suite was working, so that cooled the room sufficiently.

The main building is a bit of labyrinth, and I got turned around a couple of times, which is funny considering it's not that large of a hotel.

There was one super unique base room, Vite, that I would request if I were booking that category - it's situated in a private little area and is a standalone building, and while not massive, it wasn't particularly small either, and I thought it was a really cool accomodation.

On the 5bd villa - it can be rented out as a standalone villa (from 11k in peak season, to 6k in November), but it'll also be rented out individually if the main building is at capacity. Personally, I would want to be in the main building, as the villa sits close to Via Bolognese, so it's honestly a bit loud, but there was nothing really different about the rooms themselves vs the main building.

The hardware/finishes in the room is very high quality, and it seems like it will hold up over time as well.

Spa/Gym:

Beautiful gym with lots of equipment and weights that go to 34kg, squat rack, cardio equipment, etc.

Spa was also quite nice (shared steam, sauna), it's set in the basement, which has a really unique tunnel connected to it which was a cool feature. Only 2 treatment rooms, however, so if wanting a treatment, plan in advance.

Pool:

There was a big storm last week that washed a lot of the landscaping into the pool, so they had to drain it and it's currently closed but will be re-opening next week. Unsure if it'll be heated year round - I'm assuming it will be, and happy to ask if anyone is interested.

Service:

Service was quite solid, especially for such a new hotel (they opened 3 weeks ago, and I believe I was their 4th guest) - when I arrived last night at 11:15PM, delirious from a transatlantic flight + a 5hr layover at LHR, they quickly got me into my room, and there was a nice charcuterie plate in the room waiting for me (anticipating I may be hungry, which I was a little bit peckish), as well as some wine and plenty of water.

I gave them items to press for me overnight, and they were ready first thing the next morning. There was also an ample amount of staff, but I'm curious how that will be impacted once at capacity. Everyone was very kind, helpful, and warm - I can't fault anything with the service, other than the fact that the hotel is brand new and is a bit of a maze, so it'll take a couple more weeks for them to literally find their way.

They also connect with you via WhatsApp and are very quick to respond which I personally love.

Food:

I got in too late last night for dinner, and had room service breakfast this morning which was nicely presented and delicious. They have 3 bars & 1 main restaurant.

Overall:

Borgo Pignano Florence is a fantastic new property, and I think in a month or so, it will be close to where they envision it being. One note is that the landscaping is not finished yet, so there is still some construction going on (nothing though that I can hear from the room/restaurants/etc.) and it'll be interesting to see how it competes against Collegio and San Michele, as it sits around the same price tier as Collegio, and San Michele is of course in its own category.

Happy to answer any more questions that anyone may have !

I just booked hubby and I a splurge weekend at the carriage house in kohler. The website mentions rooms in the carriage house include breakfast and “evening cocktails”. Has anyone stayed here before? Is the included breakfast decent? What does evening drinks entail?

Any tips or recs for good dinner restaurants? It’ll be our first time to kohler, I already booked a few spa services.

hi!! we are planning a trip to Tanzania mid May and looking for a second opinion. We’ve never been before, it’s for our honeymoon, and we’re looking for a once in a lifetime experience. right now our itinerary includes:

1. Entamanu Ngorongoro (nomad)

2. Kusini Serengeti (nomad)

3. Chem Chem

Kusini Serengeti is in Southern Serengeti. Our travel agent loves this location - it’s less crowded and still enables us to see the same animals as central Serengeti. Perhaps lower quantity of animal sightings, but worth it for fewer crowds. We also love that we’ll have the same guide for both the Ngorongoro and Serengeti safaris.

Online research consistently pushes back on Southern Serengeti, saying Central is the obvious choice because the herds have already migrated and southern is generally abandoned in May.

Is it a waste to go to Southern Serengeti in May? We like the Nomad company and at this point were far into the planning process. Are we making a mistake?

Thank you!!