u/Middlename_Adventure

If you want the single most exclusive and unusual safari experience in Africa, I think this is it. Ol Jogi had been on my list for years, and it more than delivered. There's almost no real feedback out there on it, so after three nights with my family and a group of 11, here's my review. Harry Potter meets safari meets vintage Vogue is the fastest way I can describe it, and it's unlike anywhere I've ever stayed.

Who went

I am a TA who specializes in Africa and this has been on my bucket list for years. We paid full price. We were a group of 11, and this was a purpose-built trip. It was centered around visiting a school we helped fund in Nairobi through One Girl Can, a non-profit that educates and empowers girls in Kenya. So the group was a real mix: my Travel Coordinator and her little family, some clients/friends, our on-the-ground partner and bestie Don in Africa, other supporters of the cause, and the CEO of One Girl Can, along with my husband, my daughter and me. Ol Jogi turned out to be an incredible base for a group like this, because you take the whole property on an exclusive-use basis and get to spend proper quality time together. For full transparency: I'm a travel advisor, and this was a regular stay for us, not comped or hosted.

When we went

End of May of this year, for 3 nights. We paid roughly $35k per night for the whole property, so about $105k all in for the lodge across our 3 nights, split across the group with each family covering their own share. On top of that we paid for private charter flights with Scenic Air to get in and out, which is worth budgeting for since it's separate from the lodge cost.

Overall impressions

It was once the private home of the Wildenstein family, and it now runs as an exclusive-use lodge inside a 58,000-acre private conservancy in Laikipia. When I say private, I mean private. There are no other guests anywhere on the conservancy. It's just you, your people, your guides, the wildlife, and this enormous piece of Kenya completely to yourselves.

The house itself is honestly unlike anywhere I've ever stayed. Secret tunnels, hidden rooms, a dungeon-like wine cellar, treasures collected from all over the world, and then you're casually eating and drinking off Christian Dior and Hermès crockery like this is just normal life. There's a huge retro-sexy pool, a gym, spa, billiards room, library and movie room, plus an actual hidden silver room where they keep all the silver used throughout the house. The standouts for me were the sheer privacy, the wildly characterful house, the activities and guiding, the conservation side, the flexibility, and the people.

Now the honest part on the look of the place, because the decor won't be for everyone, and I'll be upfront that this isn't normally my style at all. If you want a clean, modern aesthetic, this isn't it. It's weird, wild, dramatic and eccentric, more Vintage Vegas meets Billionaire 70s over the top than minimalist. We also stayed at Wild Hill on this trip, which is completely my personal taste, basically what I'd want my own home to look like, so Ol Jogi sits at the total opposite end of the spectrum for me. And yet. I went in thinking I might hate it, and somehow I got completely swept up in it, like I'd wandered onto some James Bond or White Lotus set. That is the magic of it, they could never change it. The other honest note is the kids' food at dinner (more on that below). Neither of those changed how much I loved it.

Location

Getting here is part of it. You come in by light aircraft, we flew Scenic Air, landing right on the conservancy itself out in Laikipia, up on Kenya's central plateau. It's high, wide, dramatic country, a completely different landscape and feel from the Mara. Laikipia is also one of the most important strongholds for rhino in Kenya, and you feel how seriously they take that here in everything they do.

The room

Ol Jogi has 11 bedrooms across 8 cottages, and this is not a place where the rooms feel standard or predictable. Every space has its own personality, and part of the magic is that you never quite know what's behind the next door.

My husband, my daughter and I stayed in one of the master suites, which was wild. My travel coordinator and her family stayed in a room that was really two rooms in one: the main bedroom, and then a separate bunk-bed room for the kids with its own en-suite bathroom. It felt like English cottage meets safari. Cozy, layered, charming, and still completely Ol Jogi.

The masters are the suites facing the waterhole, and they are mind-blowing. From the outside you'd never know what's waiting inside. It's one building split into two wings, with a suite on each side and a shared central lounge between them. The lounge has a massive circular seating area and the most insane fireplace I've ever seen, with the biggest piece of amethyst above it. Each wing is enormous: a master bedroom, a second bedroom with its own en-suite, a study, his-and-hers bathrooms, and a wardrobe that is honestly an entire room for your clothes. The size alone is wild, but it's also the style. These are not polished, copy-and-paste safari rooms, they're layered, eccentric and completely unique.

Service

The staff were incredible, and truly one of the things that stood out most about the whole stay. Fred, the house manager, was hands down one of my favorite people we met. So kind, so patient, and so full of wonderful stories. He's worked for the Wildenstein family for 36 years, and you can feel that history in the way he speaks about the property, the family, the team and the land.

What I loved most is that the kindness never felt put on or overly polished, it felt completely genuine. From housekeeping to front of house, you could tell every single person wanted us to have the most special time. Halima, who helped look after the two children on the trip, was the most amazing lady. She warmed to the kids completely naturally, never forced or prompted, it just happened. They also quickly learn your likes, your dislikes and your rhythm without you having to ask. Warm, thoughtful, patient and deeply personal, and a huge part of what made the whole experience so special.

Food & beverage

Dining was the one area where our group had a few mixed opinions, but personally I really enjoyed it. The meals were tasty, generous and easy to enjoy. Most were served buffet-style, which I loved because it kept things relaxed and made it feel more like being in someone's private home than a stiff lodge meal. If you wanted something more formal, I'm sure that could be arranged.

One of our dinners was a bush dinner and the setting was unreal. A full bar, kitchen and dining setup out in the open, with the dining area set over a flowing river. One of those moments where you look around and think, how is this real?

The one spot where I felt they missed the mark slightly was the children's food. It was almost a little too "chef-y" for kids. Not bad at all, just not always basic enough for little ones who sometimes just want something simple and familiar. So a heads-up for families with younger kids: I'd be quite specific about what you want for them from the start.

Amenities & activities

For me, the activities and experiences here are what truly set Ol Jogi apart from anywhere else I've been in Africa. You come to Kenya for the wildlife and the game drives, but the whole thing is built around you and your group. This is not the usual up-at-5am, back-by-7pm safari schedule. You make your own rhythm, and travelling with two children that was an absolute game changer.

On our first morning we only left at 9:30am and it ended up being one of the most incredible mornings. We went out with one of the property's conservationists, who talked us through Ol Jogi's philosophies, the conservation work, and how they manage and protect the animals. Even leaving late we still saw lion, cheetah, elephant and rhino all in one morning, and stopped for a snack near what I can only describe as a mini Grand Canyon, a dramatic ancient gorge hundreds of millions of years old.

A few things I have to highlight:

·       The underground tunnel to the hide, a few metres from the waterhole. On our first night we watched three black rhino, one of them a baby, so close we could hear them breathing and had no idea we were there. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

·       Meeting Bella, the resident orphaned baby black rhino, and her caregiver Peter. We spent about 45 minutes with her and it was the highlight of my nature time in Kenya.

·       Leopard every single night.

·       A 5km walk straight from the veranda up to a kopje, learning about the plants and landscape along the way.

·       The canine unit came to the lodge and did a full demonstration of how their working dogs help track and catch poachers. Amazing to watch.

The whole thing is so much more than a safari. It's exciting, interesting, flexible, educational, and honestly amazing for the whole family.

Final thoughts

Ol Jogi isn't like anything else in the world. The activities and experiences are what set it apart, and if you want the single most exclusive and unique safari experience in Africa, I truly believe this is it. Every safari expert I know who has had the privilege of going says it's their favorite of all time, and after these few nights I completely understand why. If you want somewhere completely private, wildly characterful, brilliant for kids, and serious about conservation, I can't recommend it enough. It's the rare place I'd tell you to experience at least once.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

Following my Ol Jogi report, the next stop on the trip was Giraffe Manor. One of those places you have seen a hundred times online and still cannot quite believe is real. It had been on my list for years, and getting to stay there, and have the giraffes come to the window in the morning, was every bit as surreal as I hoped. If you have been curious about it and want some honest feedback beyond the dreamy photos, here is mine.

Who went

We were a group of six: my husband, my 8-year-old daughter and me, along with my best friend, her husband and their 3-year-old daughter. Giraffe Manor came as the next stop after Ol Jogi on our wider Kenya trip. For full transparency: I'm a travel advisor, and this was a full-price stay for us, not comped or hosted.  BUT we were very lucky to get a spot open up in the last 30 days, as it is a very hard hotel to get into unless you are also staying at their safari lodges. 

When we went

Just one night, at the end of May, slotted in between safari lodges. That is really how I would suggest doing Giraffe Manor: a night on either end of a safari rather than a standalone stay. Our room came to US$4,832 for the night.

Overall impressions

Giraffe Manor is unlike anywhere else I have stayed, mostly because it is not really a hotel and it is not a safari lodge either. It is a historic manor house with wild giraffes wandering the grounds. For me the romance of the place sits on the outside: the ivy, the terraces, the gardens, and that old-world country-house feeling. The house is beautiful and there are lovely details inside too, but the interiors did not quite live up to the magic of the exterior. What makes it so special is the setting and, of course, the giraffes.

Honest heads ups: the giraffe experience is more managed and orchestrated than the photos make it look, and the food is good rather than spectacular. Neither of those took away from how much I loved it, but it helps to go in with the right expectations.

Location

Giraffe Manor sits in Langata, one of Nairobi's suburbs, which is wild because the minute you arrive it does not feel like you are in Nairobi at all. It feels tucked away, green and completely removed from the city around it. The manor was built in 1932 and modelled after a Scottish hunting home, so it has that charming, old-world country-house energy. You are not in the middle of the bush here, you are in a historic house within the, and once you are inside the gates it feels like its own private, leafy world.

The room

Giraffe Manor is very small and intimate, with only 12 rooms in total, split between the Historic Manor and the Garden Manor. The Historic Manor is the original 1932 house, and the Garden Manor was built in 2011 as a replica of the original, using reclaimed materials so that the two buildings feel like they belong together.

The Historic Manor has six rooms: the Karen Blixen Suite, Jock, Marlon, Betty, Daisy and Lynn's Room. The Garden Manor also has six: the Finch Hatton Suite, Helen, Kelly, Arlene, Salma and Edd. Some of the rooms have giraffe-feeding access from the windows or balconies, but either way, guests in both buildings are still part of the giraffe experience. We stayed in the Karen Blixen Suite in the Historic Manor.

I absolutely loved my stay, but I would say the rooms and interiors were a bit of a mixed bag aesthetically. There are beautiful details and the whole property has so much charm, but the suites themselves were not quite as beautiful or as layered as I had imagined they would be. For me, the real magic of Giraffe Manor is less about the rooms and more about the setting, the history of the house and the giraffes.

Service

The service at Giraffe Manor was really good, and one of the strongest parts of the stay. Each room or party has their own dedicated host who is with you throughout the main parts of the stay. I am not even sure exactly what the official title is, they are part waiter, part butler, part giraffe-experience guide, but essentially they are there just for you and your group.

It makes the whole thing feel very personal and well looked after. They help with meals, guide you through the giraffe interactions, and generally make everything run smoothly and feel easy. Because the giraffe moments are quite managed, the staff play a big role in keeping it all calm, safe and organized without taking away from how special it is. Everyone was warm, polished and very on top of things, and having someone dedicated to your party made the experience feel much more personal.

Food & beverage

The dining was fine, but I would not say it was my favorite food of the trip or some of the best meals I have ever had. Dinner was the standout, easily my favorite meal during our stay.

Breakfast itself was fairly average, and I think it is important to explain that the famous "breakfast with the giraffes" is not quite what many people imagine. Before everyone sits down to eat, there is a dedicated table in the breakfast room where the giraffes come to the windows to be fed their specially prepared pellets. Guests take turns feeding them and having photos, and once everyone has had their moment, you go and have your breakfast. It is still an incredible experience, but the giraffe interaction and the meal are much more separate than the photos online make them seem.

The same goes for afternoon tea. The food is lovely, but it almost becomes secondary because you are so caught up in the experience itself. You are there to spend time with these incredible animals, and that is what stays with you long after you have forgotten what was on the plate.

Amenities & activities

The main event is, duh, the giraffes. There is breakfast with the giraffes in the morning and afternoon tea with the giraffes later in the day, and these are the moments everyone comes for. The giraffes are wild animals and they do come and go as they please, but the experience is a lot more managed and set up than I had imagined. From the photos you picture yourself just casually eating breakfast while giraffes randomly poke their heads through the windows, but it is more orchestrated than that. The staff are there guiding the whole thing, helping with the feeding, making sure everyone gets their moment and keeping it safe for both the guests and the giraffes. It is still completely surreal and special, it is just worth knowing it is not quite as spontaneous as it can look.

Beyond the giraffes, guests have access to The Retreat, which is just next door. That is where you will find the pool, gym, hot tub, sauna, steam room, spa and Daisy's Café. It gives the stay a bit more space and makes it feel less like you are only there for breakfast and a photograph.

You can also visit the AFEW Giraffe Centre next door, which is focused on conservation and education around the endangered Nubian giraffe. And if you have time there is plenty more nearby: the Orchid House, croquet, boules, chess, spa treatments, local shopping, the Karen Blixen Museum and Nairobi National Park. The giraffes are obviously the reason you go, but I did appreciate that there was more to the stay than just that one famous moment. It is not an activity-heavy safari lodge, but it has enough around it to make the stay feel like an experience rather than just a stopover.

Final thoughts

Giraffe Manor is not about polished rooms or standout food, and if that is what you are chasing you will come away underwhelmed. But if you want somewhere truly special, full of history and charm, in a green pocket of Nairobi, with one of the most surreal wildlife experiences in the world happening right at your window, it more than delivers. It is the rare place I would tell you to experience at least once.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

If you want the single most exclusive and unusual safari experience in Africa, I think this is it. Ol Jogi had been on my list for years, and it more than delivered. There's almost no real feedback out there on it, so after three nights with my family and a group of 11, here's my review. Harry Potter meets safari meets vintage Vogue is the fastest way I can describe it, and it's unlike anywhere I've ever stayed.

Who went

I am a TA who specializes in Africa and this has been on my bucket list for years. We paid full price. We were a group of 11, and this was a purpose-built trip. It was centered around visiting a school we helped fund in Nairobi through One Girl Can, a non-profit that educates and empowers girls in Kenya. So the group was a real mix: my Travel Coordinator and her little family, some clients/friends, our on-the-ground partner and bestie Don in Africa, other supporters of the cause, and the CEO of One Girl Can, along with my husband, my daughter and me. Ol Jogi turned out to be an incredible base for a group like this, because you take the whole property on an exclusive-use basis and get to spend proper quality time together. For full transparency: I'm a travel advisor, and this was a regular stay for us, not comped or hosted.

When we went

End of May of this year, for 3 nights. We paid roughly $35k per night for the whole property, so about $105k all in for the lodge across our 3 nights, split across the group with each family covering their own share. On top of that we paid for private charter flights with Scenic Air to get in and out, which is worth budgeting for since it's separate from the lodge cost.

Overall impressions

It was once the private home of the Wildenstein family, and it now runs as an exclusive-use lodge inside a 58,000-acre private conservancy in Laikipia. When I say private, I mean private. There are no other guests anywhere on the conservancy. It's just you, your people, your guides, the wildlife, and this enormous piece of Kenya completely to yourselves.

The house itself is honestly unlike anywhere I've ever stayed. Secret tunnels, hidden rooms, a dungeon-like wine cellar, treasures collected from all over the world, and then you're casually eating and drinking off Christian Dior and Hermès crockery like this is just normal life. There's a huge retro-sexy pool, a gym, spa, billiards room, library and movie room, plus an actual hidden silver room where they keep all the silver used throughout the house. The standouts for me were the sheer privacy, the wildly characterful house, the activities and guiding, the conservation side, the flexibility, and the people.

Now the honest part on the look of the place, because the decor won't be for everyone, and I'll be upfront that this isn't normally my style at all. If you want a clean, modern aesthetic, this isn't it. It's weird, wild, dramatic and eccentric, more Vintage Vegas meets Billionaire 70s over the top than minimalist. We also stayed at Wild Hill on this trip, which is completely my personal taste, basically what I'd want my own home to look like, so Ol Jogi sits at the total opposite end of the spectrum for me. And yet. I went in thinking I might hate it, and somehow I got completely swept up in it, like I'd wandered onto some James Bond or White Lotus set. That is the magic of it, they could never change it. The other honest note is the kids' food at dinner (more on that below). Neither of those changed how much I loved it.

Location

Getting here is part of it. You come in by light aircraft, we flew Scenic Air, landing right on the conservancy itself out in Laikipia, up on Kenya's central plateau. It's high, wide, dramatic country, a completely different landscape and feel from the Mara. Laikipia is also one of the most important strongholds for rhino in Kenya, and you feel how seriously they take that here in everything they do.

The room

Ol Jogi has 11 bedrooms across 8 cottages, and this is not a place where the rooms feel standard or predictable. Every space has its own personality, and part of the magic is that you never quite know what's behind the next door.

My husband, my daughter and I stayed in one of the master suites, which was wild. My travel coordinator and her family stayed in a room that was really two rooms in one: the main bedroom, and then a separate bunk-bed room for the kids with its own en-suite bathroom. It felt like English cottage meets safari. Cozy, layered, charming, and still completely Ol Jogi.

The masters are the suites facing the waterhole, and they are mind-blowing. From the outside you'd never know what's waiting inside. It's one building split into two wings, with a suite on each side and a shared central lounge between them. The lounge has a massive circular seating area and the most insane fireplace I've ever seen, with the biggest piece of amethyst above it. Each wing is enormous: a master bedroom, a second bedroom with its own en-suite, a study, his-and-hers bathrooms, and a wardrobe that is honestly an entire room for your clothes. The size alone is wild, but it's also the style. These are not polished, copy-and-paste safari rooms, they're layered, eccentric and completely unique.

Service

The staff were incredible, and truly one of the things that stood out most about the whole stay. Fred, the house manager, was hands down one of my favorite people we met. So kind, so patient, and so full of wonderful stories. He's worked for the Wildenstein family for 36 years, and you can feel that history in the way he speaks about the property, the family, the team and the land.

What I loved most is that the kindness never felt put on or overly polished, it felt completely genuine. From housekeeping to front of house, you could tell every single person wanted us to have the most special time. Halima, who helped look after the two children on the trip, was the most amazing lady. She warmed to the kids completely naturally, never forced or prompted, it just happened. They also quickly learn your likes, your dislikes and your rhythm without you having to ask. Warm, thoughtful, patient and deeply personal, and a huge part of what made the whole experience so special.

Food & beverage

Dining was the one area where our group had a few mixed opinions, but personally I really enjoyed it. The meals were tasty, generous and easy to enjoy. Most were served buffet-style, which I loved because it kept things relaxed and made it feel more like being in someone's private home than a stiff lodge meal. If you wanted something more formal, I'm sure that could be arranged.

One of our dinners was a bush dinner and the setting was unreal. A full bar, kitchen and dining setup out in the open, with the dining area set over a flowing river. One of those moments where you look around and think, how is this real?

The one spot where I felt they missed the mark slightly was the children's food. It was almost a little too "chef-y" for kids. Not bad at all, just not always basic enough for little ones who sometimes just want something simple and familiar. So a heads-up for families with younger kids: I'd be quite specific about what you want for them from the start.

Amenities & activities

For me, the activities and experiences here are what truly set Ol Jogi apart from anywhere else I've been in Africa. You come to Kenya for the wildlife and the game drives, but the whole thing is built around you and your group. This is not the usual up-at-5am, back-by-7pm safari schedule. You make your own rhythm, and travelling with two children that was an absolute game changer.

On our first morning we only left at 9:30am and it ended up being one of the most incredible mornings. We went out with one of the property's conservationists, who talked us through Ol Jogi's philosophies, the conservation work, and how they manage and protect the animals. Even leaving late we still saw lion, cheetah, elephant and rhino all in one morning, and stopped for a snack near what I can only describe as a mini Grand Canyon, a dramatic ancient gorge hundreds of millions of years old.

A few things I have to highlight:

·       The underground tunnel to the hide, a few metres from the waterhole. On our first night we watched three black rhino, one of them a baby, so close we could hear them breathing and had no idea we were there. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

·       Meeting Bella, the resident orphaned baby black rhino, and her caregiver Peter. We spent about 45 minutes with her and it was the highlight of my nature time in Kenya.

·       Leopard every single night.

·       A 5km walk straight from the veranda up to a kopje, learning about the plants and landscape along the way.

·       The canine unit came to the lodge and did a full demonstration of how their working dogs help track and catch poachers. Amazing to watch.

The whole thing is so much more than a safari. It's exciting, interesting, flexible, educational, and honestly amazing for the whole family.

Final thoughts

Ol Jogi isn't like anything else in the world. The activities and experiences are what set it apart, and if you want the single most exclusive and unique safari experience in Africa, I truly believe this is it. Every safari expert I know who has had the privilege of going says it's their favorite of all time, and after these few nights I completely understand why. If you want somewhere completely private, wildly characterful, brilliant for kids, and serious about conservation, I can't recommend it enough. It's the rare place I'd tell you to experience at least once.

Happy to answer any questions.

Hey everyone. I know I've been quiet around here for a good while, so I wanted to say hello and let you know where I've been. This past year, my dad's cancer moved into its final stretch, and I made the choice to step back and walk with him all the way through hospice, and to be by his side when he passed this summer. Between that, work, and raising my daughter, life was as full and as hard as it has ever been. I don't regret a single moment I gave to being with him. It was a gift to be there, and now I'm giving myself room to grieve and slowly find my footing again. I'm not quite back yet, but I've missed this community, and I'm looking forward to finding my way here again.

Before things started a downward spiral, I took a big trip to Kenya with my husband and 8 year old daughter that I've been holding close to my heart, and I can't wait to share it with you soon.

I also know u/Mike_on_safari and u/Dowa_don have been out on the road lately, so keep an eye out for them. I'm sure they'll have wonderful reviews to share as they're able.

More than anything, I look forward to being more present here again, and to helping this community grow into an even warmer place to swap stories and learn from each other.Thank you to everyone who makes this space as kind and generous as it is. I'm so grateful for it, and for all of you.

This was stop #4 on our Italy trip. We drove up from Emilia-Romagna in the Mercedes, handed it off to Prime Rentals at the dock, and boated over. I'd done a quick AMA while we were there and promised a full review, so here it is. I went in not totally sure how it would go, because Venice luxury tends to be so couples-y, but the new Airelles ended up being one of our favorite family hotel stays.

Who went

Just my little family this time, me, my husband, and our 8 year old daughter. For full transparency: I'm a travel advisor, and this was a full-price stay, not hosted or comped.

When we went

Early June of this year, for 3 nights.

Overall impressions

The short version: it's a beautiful hotel, but what actually sets Airelles apart is everything around the rooms. My standouts were the little in-room details, the included experiences, the food (that breakfast alone), the huge grounds and three pools, and the kids club.

The main caveat is that it just opened, and a few things haven't fully clicked yet. The service is really good but still settling in, and there was some first-few-months roughness (more on that below). Nothing that ruined the stay, just go in knowing. That said, this is still one of the best openings I've ever seen. The few things I noticed are so small, especially this soon in, that I have no doubt they'll have them figured out fast.

Location

You're on Giudecca, so everything kind of rides on the boat shuttle. I was worried about this going in, but it was completely seamless, which is exactly what makes the hotel feel like a little escape instead of feeling stranded. When one boat leaves the next one goes, we never had to wait, and it's only about a 5 minute ride. The boats themselves are gorgeous too. If that shuttle weren't this good the location would be a problem, but they really have it figured out.

This isn't the spot if you want to walk straight out the door into San Marco. You're here for the gardens, the quiet and the space instead, and for us with a kid that tradeoff was 100% worth it. My husband especially loved it in high season, since you can escape the crowds.

One useful tip on the transfers: if you book through a Virtuoso advisor, depending on how many nights you stay you get an airport boat transfer included (one way, or round trip if you're there long enough). Those transfers are not cheap and the boats are beautiful, so it kind of pays for itself.

The room

We stayed in a junior suite with a pullout couch for our daughter. The little details won me over right away: pads of paper with our initials on them, nightly gifts, Guerlain bath products, a shower that doubles as a steam room, and Toto washlet toilets, which if you know me in real life you know is one of my favorite things, lol. It was plenty of space for us.

Service

Service is warm and very good, but since it just opened they're still finding their footing. Breakfast service especially was kind of hit or miss, and stay on top of housekeeping. I got lazy about scheduling it and they showed up late every single day. None of it ruined anything, it's just new-opening stuff to go in knowing. Where the team really shines is the kids club, the staff are SO into it and every bit as excited as the kids are.

Food & beverage

Breakfast was the best I've ever had at a hotel, truly. The Cédric Grolet pastries alone are worth the trip. My one caveat is the one I mentioned above, breakfast service could be hit or miss, but the food itself was outstanding.

Beyond breakfast, there's a Jean-Georges restaurant on property, and the bar, Elton's, opens next month. Fun backstory: Elton John lives right next door and wanted to partner with them on it. And rumor has it he's planning to be there for the opening.

Amenities & activities

This is where Airelles really separates itself.

The included experiences are the heart of it. One night they put on a private orchestra in the candlelit church on property, with Ruinart flowing the whole time. It was 100% a core memory for me, getting to sit there and share that with my family.

The kids club is incredible. The staff threw a completely over-the-top pool party with a Cédric Grolet tea party, and my daughter has not stopped talking about it since. If you've ever written Venice off as not a place for kids, this flips that.

The grounds are huge, with the most beautiful landscaping, three pools, and actual room to breathe, which is unheard of in this city.

Final thoughts

If you've written Venice off as not a place for kids, this is the one that changes your mind. You come here for the gardens, the quiet, the space and the experiences, not for stepping straight into San Marco, and for a family that tradeoff was completely worth it. It's brand new, so there's some polish still to come, but it's already one of our favorite family stays anywhere, and we'd go back in a heartbeat.

Happy to answer any questions!

(u/sarahwlee also recently stayed here, so keep an eye out for her review too as I am sure she will have picked up some things I missed)

This was my first visit here, and it was stop #3 on our Italy trip. June 1-3 of this year, two nights, with my little family and my in laws back with us for this leg.

I'm a travel advisor. I received one night free and paid full price for the rest of our stay, plus full price for my in laws' room.

Overall impressions

Relais Roncolo 1888 is really the only luxury family friendly property in Emilia-Romagna, which is a big part of why it's worth knowing about. This is a special part of Italy with some of the best food in the country, and the estate makes its own balsamic vinegar on property, which turned out to be a highlight of the whole trip. It's also meaningfully less spendy than Tuscany (for now), which is worth knowing if you're weighing the two and if you are wanting to get off the beaten path.

Fun fact: Catherine the Princess of Wales stayed here in mid-May during her visit to Reggio Emilia, just a couple of weeks before we did.

A bit about Emilia-Romagna, since it's less familiar

If you haven't spent time here, this is Italy's Food Valley. Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, traditional balsamic, and lambrusco all come from this area of the country. It's also Motor Valley, home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati, so there's a whole other kind of trip you could build around it.

The property itself sits in the Matildic hills between Parma and Reggio Emilia, at the foot of the Apennines. It's about 30 minutes from Reggio Emilia, an hour from Modena, and a little over an hour from Bologna's airport. Milan is roughly two hours if you're coming from that direction.

Roncolo is small, just 17 rooms and suites, and it sits on a working organic estate that produces lambrusco, olive oil, and balsamic aged in a 17th century acetaia. That last part is what makes it different from a hotel that simply happens to be in the countryside.

Getting there and getting around

We rented a car through Prime Rentals and they dropped it directly at the Four Seasons in Florence for us, which was seamless. We got a Mercedes AMG SL 63 and it was an amazing, fun rental. One heads-up: a sports convertible has almost no luggage space, so my in laws took our large bags in their car. Without that it wouldn't have worked.

A car isn't essential here, but it was really fun to be able to drive through the countryside and explore on our own.

The rooms

We were in a family suite, with my in laws in a superior room directly across the hall. We effectively had the whole floor to ourselves, so it was very private. The family suite has two bathrooms, which I loved and which makes a real difference traveling with a kid.

One thing to know: the family rooms are not in the main building. They're spacious and lovely, but they're newer and they lack the charm of the main building, so know that going in.

They gave us and my in laws a lovely welcome with sparkling wine, plus some really yummy treats and a stocked minibar. The family suite has 2 mini bars, which my daughter loved since that meant she had her own.

Service

Warm, welcoming, and low key. Not quite as polished as somewhere like Castiglion del Bosco, but this is also a much less trafficked part of Italy, and it felt special in its own way.

Food & beverage

We ate at Ristorante Limonaia, the estate's restaurant set in a historic greenhouse, and had the prix fixe, which was amazing. Beautiful views out the back. Breakfast was included and was fresh and delicious.

The standout was the balsamic. We did a private tasting and learned all about how it's made, and it was genuinely educational and so cool. I'm a self-admitted balsamic connoisseur and this was the best I have ever had, and we came home with a lot of vinegar, lol.

Amenities & activities

We kept it simple and mostly just enjoyed the grounds and the gardens, which are beautiful. There's a pool, which is lovely, though it ran a little chilly while we were there. My in laws really loved it here, the resort and the balsamic especially. At night there were fireflies everywhere which was magical, and my daughter loved it.

Final thoughts

If you're headed to Emilia-Romagna and want a luxury base that works for a family, this is the one.

Happy to answer any questions.

This was my first visit here, and it was stop #3 on our Italy trip. June 1-3 of this year, two nights, with my little family and my in laws back with us for this leg.

Quick disclosure: I'm a travel advisor. I received one night free and paid full price for the rest of our stay, plus full price for my in laws' room.

Overall impressions

Relais Roncolo 1888 is really the only luxury family friendly property in Emilia-Romagna, which is a big part of why it's worth knowing about. This is a special part of Italy with some of the best food in the country, and the estate makes its own balsamic vinegar on property, which turned out to be a highlight of the whole trip. It's also meaningfully less spendy than Tuscany (for now), which is worth knowing if you're weighing the two and if you are wanting to get off the beaten path.

Fun fact: Catherine the Princess of Wales stayed here in mid-May during her visit to Reggio Emilia, just a couple of weeks before we did.

A bit about Emilia-Romagna, since it's less familiar

If you haven't spent time here, this is Italy's Food Valley. Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, traditional balsamic, and lambrusco all come from this area of the country. It's also Motor Valley, home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Ducati, so there's a whole other kind of trip you could build around it.

The property itself sits in the Matildic hills between Parma and Reggio Emilia, at the foot of the Apennines. It's about 30 minutes from Reggio Emilia, an hour from Modena, and a little over an hour from Bologna's airport. Milan is roughly two hours if you're coming from that direction.

Roncolo is small, just 17 rooms and suites, and it sits on a working organic estate that produces lambrusco, olive oil, and balsamic aged in a 17th century acetaia. That last part is what makes it different from a hotel that simply happens to be in the countryside.

Getting there and getting around

We rented a car through Prime Rentals and they dropped it directly at the Four Seasons in Florence for us, which was seamless. We got a Mercedes AMG SL 63 and it was an amazing, fun rental. One heads-up: a sports convertible has almost no luggage space, so my in laws took our large bags in their car. Without that it wouldn't have worked.

A car isn't essential here, but it was really fun to be able to drive through the countryside and explore on our own.

The rooms

We were in a family suite, with my in laws in a superior room directly across the hall. We effectively had the whole floor to ourselves, so it was very private. The family suite has two bathrooms, which I loved and which makes a real difference traveling with a kid.

One thing to know: the family rooms are not in the main building. They're spacious and lovely, but they're newer and they lack the charm of the main building, so know that going in.

They gave us and my in laws a lovely welcome with sparkling wine, plus some really yummy treats and a stocked minibar. The family suite has 2 mini bars, which my daughter loved since that meant she had her own.

Service

Warm, welcoming, and low key. Not quite as polished as somewhere like Castiglion del Bosco, but this is also a much less trafficked part of Italy, and it felt special in its own way.

Food & beverage

We ate at Ristorante Limonaia, the estate's restaurant set in a historic greenhouse, and had the prix fixe, which was amazing. Beautiful views out the back. Breakfast was included and was fresh and delicious.

The standout was the balsamic. We did a private tasting and learned all about how it's made, and it was genuinely educational and so cool. I'm a self-admitted balsamic connoisseur and this was the best I have ever had, and we came home with a lot of vinegar, lol.

Amenities & activities

We kept it simple and mostly just enjoyed the grounds and the gardens, which are beautiful. There's a pool, which is lovely, though it ran a little chilly while we were there. My in laws really loved it here, the resort and the balsamic especially. At night there were fireflies everywhere which was magical, and my daughter loved it.

Final thoughts

If you're headed to Emilia-Romagna and want a luxury base that works for a family, this is the one.

Happy to answer any questions.

Following my last post, just like CdB, I stayed at the FS in November with my best friend and loved it enough to come back at full price with my family. It was stop #2 on our Italy trip, and imho a pool is a must when it is this hot in the summer so between the walkability and the pool it sealed it for me.

Who went

This was my little family only, me, my husband, and our 8 year old daughter. My in laws didn't join for this leg, though they wished they had. This was a full-price stay. I'm a travel advisor, but I rebooked this one because I love the hotel and it had all the things we needed for this trip: luxury, family friendly, walkability and a pool.

When we went

May 29 to June 1 of this year

Overall impressions

What I love about this place is the history, and the fact that it sits just out of the hustle and bustle while still being an easy 8 minute walk into the city center. It's a Renaissance palace with a huge private garden in the middle of Florence, which is a rare thing. The standouts for me are the rooms, the grounds, the service, the breakfast, the secret snack pantry, and the pool.

One honest low light from this stay: the air conditioning in our room wasn't keeping up. They brought in a fan right away, which helped, but I run warm due to surgical menopause and strong AC is a must for me, so in the peak summer heat it's worth knowing. One other heads-up for families: the kids club is seasonal, and we missed it by a couple of weeks.

Location

The location is the best of both worlds. You're tucked away from the crowds behind the walls and the garden, but the city center is only about 8 minutes on foot, so you can walk everywhere and still come home to quiet.

The room

We were in a Renaissance Suite in the main palace building, with a view over the garden and grounds. High frescoed ceilings, an insanely big bathroom, and a great amount of space for a family of three. Our daughter had a rollaway and it never felt cramped. One afternoon they surprised us by bringing her a popcorn maker and soda, along with negronis and nuts for us. A really nice, thoughtful treat mid stay.

Service

Warm and personalized, and we were always greeted by name. One moment that stuck with me: my daughter accidentally broke a plate at the breakfast buffet and was absolutely beside herself about it and so nervous and embarrassed. The staff were so kind and completely put her at ease. It truly is a child friendly hotel, and this the kind of thing that makes such a difference.

Food & beverage

We only ate here for breakfast this time, mostly because there are just too many incredible food spots in Florence to stay in. But breakfast is great. There's a small self-serve kids buffet that my daughter loved, plus a great spread of fresh options. Also worth highlighting: the secret snack pantry over in the other building. It's a self-serve room full of treats you can raid whenever you want, even late at night!!

Amenities & activities

The pool is tucked into the garden, and it was a total lifesaver in the heat. The schedule that worked for us: tour in the morning before it gets too hot, come back to the hotel to rest and cool off by the pool, then head back out in the evening. I skipped the gym this time since I got more than enough steps walking Florence. But it is a great one in the city.

We did our own touring, but one off-property experience I have to highlight is a perfume-making session at Ephemera Firenze. It's kid friendly and honestly one of the best travel experiences I have ever done. If you're in Florence, go do it. Even easier if you are staying at the FS as it is right around the corner which was super convenient.

Final thoughts

This is a hotel I keep coming back to. The history, the garden, the walkability, and a real pool in the middle of Florence make it a special place to base a family, especially in the summer heat.

Happy to answer any questions.

I stayed here previously with my best friend last November and it was one of my favorite hotel stays ever, so I knew I wanted to come back with my family and do a villa this time. The villa turned out to be a completely different experience from the hotel, and might be my favorite way to do Tuscany with family or a group of friends.

This was the fourth stop on a five week trip. We came from Africa, and Castiglion del Bosco was our first of seven stops across Italy over three weeks.

Who went

Multigen family trip. Me, my husband, our 8 year old daughter, and my in laws. I'm a travel advisor, but to be upfront: this was not a free or hosted stay. In November I had a discounted advisor rate. This time was full high season pricing, because I knew after that first trip that I wanted to bring my whole family back.

Overall impressions

The estate is expansive and that's what makes it special. So many places to explore and so much room to have privacy at the same time. There is nothing more relaxing to me than being in a villa with your own space while having everything taken care of for you. My in laws don't usually do luxury travel, my father in law especially. The villa completely turned them around on it.

One thing to flag: it is remote. You can get into the nearby town in about 15 minutes and that's no issue with the Land Rover, but when you're here, and paying what you're paying to be here, I didn't see many people leaving. So if your plan is to home-base here and day trip all over Tuscany, this probably isn't the right fit. This is a settle-in-and-stay-put kind of place.

Getting there

We flew Nairobi to London, then London to Florence (FLR), and took a private car from the airport to the estate. It's about an hour and 45 minutes. The arrival welcome was lovely. Welcome drinks, and everyone was so kind. My daughter was exhausted and had actually gotten sick in the car on the way in, and they handled it so well. More on that below.

The villa (Villa Alba)

Villa Alba has two main bedrooms in the villa plus one in the annex, so it sleeps 6 comfortably. We slept in the master, my daughter had the room across the way, and the grandparents took the annex, though she ended up wandering over to sleep with them a few nights anyway. That setup was the whole point for us. Real privacy from the in laws, but shared spaces when we wanted them.

Rate: we paid around 9,000 euro per night in high season. You can get much better pricing other times of year if cost is a factor, but for a special family trip I thought it was well worth every penny.

The personalization starts before you arrive. They collect all your preferences ahead of time, so my pillows were already exactly how I like them, sorted before we walked in. The welcome grocery basket was stocked to our preferences and was incredibly generous. So much food and so many treats that we genuinely couldn't get through it all. You also get a private heated infinity pool, indoor and outdoor space that actually works for a group, a sound system so you can have music going all day, and a Land Rover Defender included for the whole stay.

Service

This is where the place shows what it is. My daughter arrived exhausted and carsick and was in a real funk. Liliana scooped her up and took her all around the property, showed her everything, and completely turned her mood around. It was amazing, and it happened within an hour of arrival. The gifting and personalization ran through the whole stay too. Personalized napkins at breakfast, personalized laundry bags, travel kits. It never once felt scripted. On the truffle hunt they surprised us with a photographer we didn't know was coming, and during our wine tasting they quietly set up a juice tasting for my daughter alongside ours so she felt fully included.

Food & beverage

Some of the best food I've had anywhere. Breakfast cooked in the villa by a nonna was the highlight of our mornings. For lunch and dinner you can eat at the restaurants or have a chef come cook in the villa, and with a kid in tow we preferred the chef coming to us. I loved the pici pasta and the pizzas. On our last night we did a Tuscan BBQ at the villa, mostly for my husband and father in law since I'd have happily eaten pizza again, and it turned out to be one of the best meals of the entire trip. So fresh, so good. I remember during my trip to the hotel last time I was worried being "stuck" at a resort while in Italy would put a damper on the food as there is so many amazing spots to eat....but even after exploring and traveling all over CdB still reign for some of the best meals I have had in Italy.

Amenities & activities

On property we did truffle hunting, a pasta making class, and a wine tasting, and my daughter loved the Kids' Club. Resort facilities include a sauna, steam bath, fitness center, pool, tennis, and bocce. The standout was a surprise private picnic at Villa Capanna, the original villa Ferragamo fell in love with when he bought the estate. Guests can't stay there, so being set up for a picnic felt really special. There is a kitchen in the villa stocked with anything you might need on top of the picnic too. Off property, the town is a quick 15 minutes with the Defender if you want it, but as I said, we mostly stayed put and were glad we did.

When we went

Late May into early June.

A note on the team

I have to call out the sales team here, because they are incredibly hands-on. I'd mentioned totally in passing that we have a little Harry Potter room under the stairs at home, and she remembered and sent the most amazing Harry Potter cupcakes. She also hand delivered a beautiful necklace to me for good luck because my dad was sick while we were away. These are the kinds of touches that just show you how much they care.

Final thoughts

If you're looking at Tuscany with a family or a large group at the top end, the villas here are worth every penny. It even won over my famously frugal father in law. Due to the nature of my job there are few places I would go back to-- I went back 6 months later to this spot and I plan to return again and again.