u/alex_travels

I just had the pleasure of going on the first ever sailing of the brand new Orient Express Yacht. I want to give you a sneak peak as their official sailings start this week. Thus far I've done all of the hotel-"superyacht" products: Ritz Yacht, Four Seasons Yacht & Orient Express. Will be going on Aman next May as well.

Orient Express has a richness and character that I think the other two may lack a little bit of, to be honest. Which is expressed primarily through their design aesthetic. I personally still prefer the FS coloring and design, but I’m also more minimalist and prefer lighter colors.

Three top things I'll thing I'll tell you is:

1. yes, it's all inclusive
2. the sails of Orient Express make it basically silent and feel nearly motionless. No engine with that constant vibration - when we were sailing, I had to look out of the window to see the water moving to confirm we were actually moving. When the sails are out, you feel nothing. Also just from an engineering perspective, the sails are incredible. And as we all know, cruise ships/yachts are super "dirty" from a fuel perspective, so it's actually cool that they have the ability to navigate with zero fuel output (if the weather conditions are out)

All of the hotel-superyachts are all very different and I'll do a post where I actually compare/contrast each so that if you're interested in one, you can understand which is best for your needs.

Orient Express is the smallest by far with only 54 cabins. Whereas FS has 95 and Ritz has ~225 (depending on the ship). Aman will be a bit smaller once it hits the water.

The smaller the ship, the more privacy you get and the more of a "yacht"-like experience. But you lose some of the entertainment and things to do, as it gets smaller. For people who like a lot going on, there's simply just more to do on Ritz than both FS and Orient Express, but it also feels much more like a very nice cruise ship, rather than a yacht.
Orient Express design is starkly different than both Ritz and FS. As you can see from the video and the photos I'm sharing in the comments - it's much darker, richer and dramatically less modern. They were going for a very train-like experience to match their iconic train. There's even one suite that has a children's room that's inspired from the train.

OE is a joint venture between LVMH and Accor and marks a moment where Accor is definitely leaning much more heavily into the luxury scene. Of all of the ships - OE feels the most "expensive" to me inside.
It's also strictly not kid friendly. Most of the sailings don't allow kids under 16 on the ship. Very different to FS that is marketing itself as very kid focused. You won't find kids on this ship.

Last thing I'll say for now is that OE is very set up for charters and they already have a lot of private charters on the books. It will be similar with Aman. Both ships were built with the aim of private chartering because there's so few commercial options that could allow you to do a bigger group. It's around 2.5 million to charter the ship for the week. Which is a lot no doubt but for 110 guests works out to around $22k per person for an all inclusive yacht week.

The weakest thing with all these ships are the excursions. I expect OE to be the same but I won't know for sure until I go back and try the excursions out which I'll do later this year. For my sailing, they didn't have them open yet.
Let me know if you have any questions about this ship or any of the others. I'll do a separate proper review and a full compare/contrast on all elements

Ocean View One Bedroom Suite. Just over $1,100/night (refundable rate) pretty much all year until just before Christmas. Will share a screenshot in the comments.This suite is huge - 1,400 sq feet, full living room, massive terrace, huge bathroom and a second half bath. Can easily fit a family of 4 or even 5 if your kids are young and one or two are in a crib. And the resort is super walkable.

The design and aesthetic is super fresh and modern. Service has been great.

I’ll do a full review of Susurros, along with our other stops. But for now I just want to show you the suite.

I know not everyone will be amenable to the Puerto Vallarta area, so if it’s not for you, zero pressure. But I’ve spent 8 days down here with time - traveling all over and it’s been an amazing trip. So many wonderful hotels and fabulous staff.

I know O&O Mandarina gets mixed reviews on here at times. It feels fairly polarizing, with feedback all over the map. But I’m back for my third stay and I’m reminded how much I adore this place. If you’re into nature, views and animals - there aren’t many better places. If you want somewhere to relax and disconnect and enjoy your villa / suite, there’s something magical about the blend of the jungle and beach.

Yes you have to wait for buggies and no there’s no beachfront rooms.

So many hotels claim to be an eco resort. O&O Mandarina is one of the few that actually live up to it. They take environmental stewardship extremely seriously - to the point that they didn’t cut down a single mature tree in the construction. Any mature trees in the way were carefully moved and replanted. This is why the property feels truly enveloped in the jungle canopy.

Also comparing my first stay here nearly 3 years ago to now, the overall construction has held up well. There is some wear on the wood floors in the Treehouses but furnishings / bathrooms / overall build feel really solid

I wouldn’t stay here unless you at least plan to do an Ocean Treehouse / Cliff Villa or preferably a Premier Ocean Treehouse / Cliff Villa. This place is all about the views imo. Good news is if you come more off season, there’s usually inventory for upgrades.

It’s hot but not unbearable. I’d probably skip a trip in August/September when it gets crazy rainy and humid.

I’ll do a proper review after my full stay.

Currently at Four Seasons Punta Mita with my entire team - part of our 9 day Mexico trip - lots more stops on our itinerary.

Wanted to share some of the rooms and suites with you. They are slated for a renovation in 2027. I keep trying to do videos but they compress and look terrible, so switching back to photos for this one.

First three photos is one of their entry level casita style rooms - Ocean View Casita (Garden View is the true entry level). The Ocean View Casita can fit 2 adults and 2 kids because it’s a king bed and sofa bed. It starts at $900ish in summer and peaks at around $3,500/night for Christmas/New Years

Second set of photos is their Oceanfront Suite. This room type goes for around $3,500/night in summer and peaks at around $8,500/night for Festive.

We are in their 5 Bedroom Presidential Suite - Coral, which is pretty insane. Incredible beachfront access and an amazing pool set up. I’ll show you videos/photos of that later. And before everyone comes for me, no - it’s not “Chubby” but still fun to experience and share.

The hotel is fully sold out for this upcoming weekend which honestly, is really great to see because they struggled after the February violence. If anyone wants me to do an update post on the general safety, let me know and I’m happy to expand with my opinion.

I’ve spent a week down in Anguilla checking out the island and all the luxury hotels down here. It’s been an amazing experience. Just a fantastic island with great food and beaches and even better people. I was surprised by how desolate the vegetation is on the island when flying in - though obviously all the resorts have great landscaping.

Here’s a video from our boat day yesterday of the coastline including Four Seasons Anguilla, Malliouhana and then also some shots I got from Cap Juluca. I’ll do a proper review of everything but wanted to show you all the exterior shots to paint a picture of the differences between the resorts. FS Anguilla is the largest and most expansive with two full beaches, multiple resort room buildings, 33 residences, 24 villas and 3 townhomes. Cap Juluca is more boutique but still expansive across the entirety of Maunday’s Bay. Malli is perched up on top of the cliff with the smallest total size of property but beautiful views.

Highlight of the trip has definitely been our stay at Four Seasons Anguilla in two of their 5 Bedroom Beachfront Villas. I’m down here with my entire family - 16 of us in total between my parents, 3 older brothers, their wives, nieces and nephews and my bf. This trip is for my mom’s 70th bday and it’s been absolutely incredible. The weather is fantastic - cooler in fact than in Virginia and even New York right now. Four Seasons Anguilla doesn’t have the most beautiful rooms - they are due for a renovation which will start soon - but it’s such an incredible spot for a family and multi gen trip. There’s so much to do, the beach is great, fantastic pools and the food and service is top notch h.

I’ve been all over the Caribbean and Cap Juluca stands out amongst the others. I’m here for a few nights before heading to FS Anguilla for 5 nights with my fam. While I knew Cap was beautiful, the magnificence of this setting and beach really does strike you at every turn.

Maunday’s Bay may very well be the most beautiful beach in the world. I’m debating whether I think it’s prettier than the beaches in Tetiaroa - which was previously my top - but I really do think it’s better because there’s a stronger contrast between the multiple blue hues of the water ranging from turquoise to light blue, juxtaposed against the powder-white sand.

The property itself is laid out across the full length of the crescent shaped beach. There’s no main hotel building - it’s 25 or so villas dotted along the shore. To get between them you ride a bike or take a golf cart. All 1 BR suites and up come with your own golf cart to drive. Below that category, you can rent on for $50/day. We loved biking around and found it super easy.

The stark white facade and Moorish architecture are another thing that distinguishes Cap Juluca. It’s a blend of Greco-Moorish design that is very rare, and absolutely beautiful.

Belmond as a brand does such a good job with having their own distinct design architecture. Their properties have soul and character. Unlike other Belmond spots like La Samanna which feel a bit dated, CJ feels updated, yet while still preserving its heritage and not going full modern like so many properties have. You feel like you’re *here* - not at every other luxury hotel on the planet.

The downside of the property are food and service. Service is super friendly - but it’s slow at times. It’s really just an island thing - not a lack of training or number of servers. Everyone is super kind and willing to help - they just move a bit slower than I think we type A Americans do sometimes. It’s a good reminder to slow down on your trip and relax. Now onto the food - this one always gets a bit debated. I will admit that I am not a foodie. I’m a vegetarian - so always take that into account when I share my thoughts. But I would give the food a 7/10. Some of it, like breakfast, is very strong and other things I’d say aren’t stellar. I really liked Pimms which is their signature, fine dining restaurant. Anguilla as an island has great food so you can always dine off-property if you want too.

Cap Juluca is not an ideal spot for kids. It’s more kid tolerant than kid friendly. If you are traveling with young kids who need a lot of entertainment, I’d go to FS Anguilla instead.

Let me know if you have any questions! I’ll be doing a specific compare/contrast post with FS Anguilla after our stay there. We will be in a 4 BR Oceanfront Villa so the room types will be quite different but I’ll still share the overall property differences.

I’ll be the first to admit that Nice has always been my last spot of choice on the French Riviera. However, I needed to be here for a night before the Orient Express Yacht sailing (which I board today), and so I found myself staying in the heart of the old town at Hotel du Couvent. And I want to say, I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed my stay here and it’s made me rethink my position on Nice.

Hotel du Couvent is a 17th century convent converted into a unique and charming luxury hotel with a strong sense of character and history. The convent was operational until 1980 at which time it was closed and then left in disrepair for decades because the city of Nice couldn’t figure out what to do with it. 15 years ago the current owner found it and fell in love with it. It took him 10 years (7 of that to permitting & 3 of it for the renovation) and $130,000,000 to get it up and running in 2024.

This property is super interesting to me because of the history, ambiance and quality. Yes, it’s a Luxury Collection hotel, but in name only and it could easily be a Belmond or even an Oekter property. In fact, both of those brands, among others, put in bids to win their flagging - but the owner went with Luxury Collection because it was the only flag that allowed them to keep their own branding and not do any corporate branding whatsoever. So you won’t see anything Marriott / Luxury Collection except for the inscription on the wall of the entrance of the property.

Everything here is rooted in authenticity - the owner wanted you to feel the presence and history of the nuns, long after they left. It’s also very focused on sustainability and local products - they source much of their food from either the garden on property or their dedicated farm which is an hour outside of Nice and their menu is dedicated to seasonability and local produce - you won’t see avocado here or even fruits that are out of season.

The last thing I’ll say is that the aesthetic of the property is deeply rooted in his history as a convent - it’s very historic and minimalist. So you have to be someone who appreciates that vibe. If you like Belmond properties or places like Il Pelicano - you’ll love this spot. If you’re a Four Seasons stan, it won’t be for you.

I don't know exactly why but I've had mixed feelings toward Ritz Dorado for a while. I think overall sometimes I feel that the Ritz product doesn't have enough consistency across the board (even within Reserve) and I felt that Ritz Dorado may be overpriced. Well, after my stay there I can report back that yes, it is expensive AF but it's also pretty remarkable and I'm fully hooked and definitely going back again. It's a stand out spot in the Caribbean. I'm sharing photos but they don't fully do it justice. If this spot has been on your list, I recommend a visit. If the winter rates are too high, try shoulder season. It's still a great time of year to visit in May or even go in the fall.

The strengths
- The spa is absolutely incredible. It is really an oasis and truly a center of wellness. Their spa director is phenomenal with such a deep knowledge of herbs and holistic remedies, there's a whole section where you can create your own custom scents and oils to be used in your massage.
- PR is a direct flight from most US cities and you don't need a passport which can make it great for families traveling with young kids
- This is truly one of the most lush places I've ever been. Because PR doesn't have distinct wet and dry seasons, it can sustain lush vegetation year round so there's no other word to describe it than oasis
- The beach here is great - it's super walkable and they've created an ocean cove of sorts to create a calm pool that's protected from the wave break
- There is so much to do: the property is really like a resort compound with so many different areas and places to play and have fun: golf (two courses), a full sports complex with tennis, padel, pickleball, basketball, bocce ball, volleyball, soccer, extensive hiking trails, pools, waterpark, 5+ restaurants
- The pools are beautiful - there's two main oceanfront pool areas and then a fun water park for kids / families All of the amenities are incredibly high caliber and really quality
- The service is very, very good. Which surprised me because I've stayed elsewhere in PR with nowhere near as good of service
- Food is strong - it's not going to blow you away but very strong which is not a hallmark of PR overall so they've cleared invested a lot here to make it good

The weaknesses
- Honestly...not too many
- You don’t come here for the room aesthetic imo. The rooms are very comfortable and nice but there’s nothing unique or distinct about their aesthetic. Looks very Marriott imo. Minimal, modern, white, limited decor.
- It is a huge property, so if that doesn't suit you and you prefer boutique properties, you're not going to like this place. But it's also what makes it a huge strength.
- The price is really, really high especially in winter. You have to be OK with that. It's one of the more expensive Caribbean destinations.
- You might see Jake Paul or Logan Paul skulking around. Honestly I doubt it because they seem to have their own residences away from the hotel but a lot of rich influencers/business owners have residency in PR because there's a tax loophole for US citizens whereby if you spend 6 months a year physically in PR, you pay 4% corporate tax, 0% capital gains & I think close to 0% federal income tax - I forget the exact mechanics of that but it's super low

PS West Beach (beachfront) is way better than East Beach (not beachfront), so stay West.

If you've been - I'd love to hear from you in the comments about how the experience was for you!

What do we think about this? I firmly want to boycott any airline that allows this. It’s going to turn into madness so fast.

As you all have seen I'm sure, Auberge has been on a complete tear with expansion. In the last year their presence in Europe has rapidly grown: Collegio alla Querce in Florence, Grace Hotel in Santorini, Domaine des Etangs in France, with more set to open this year.

Now they are moving on to Africa with the launch of 9 lodges in Tanzania.

While this might seem random and fall under the category of annoying global brands moving into Africa, this one feels very different to me, and much more intentional and aligned. What you may not know is that Dan Friedkin, the billionaire Texas owner of Auberge, actually already owns several extremely high quality lodges in Africa and has for years.

His Africa brand is called Legendary Expeditions and while it's not super well known within US consumer circles, it's some of the best product in Africa. Particularly his lodge in Tanzania, Mwiba. Back in the 90s, Friedkin spent $100,000,000 acquiring the 125,000 acre Mwiba Wildlife Reserve and turned it back over to the community to operate it (they also lease another 3.2 million acres for conservation in Tanzania). This lodge is one of the only ones we will pair with Singita-level properties for an incredible Tanzania / Serengeti experience. The Serengeti is typically a pretty hard spot for luxury safaris because there's not many quality lodge options (really only Legendary, Singita Mara River & Chem Chem) and since it's a national park, many of the sightings can be overrun with self-drive trucks as it's not well regulated. However, Mwiba (Legendary's lodge) is up near Singita Mara River in the top corner of the park that due to geography, is very hard for self-drive vehicles to get to so it's one of the best spots for animal and game viewing. You get the animal density and beauty of the national park without the crush of vehicles.

Auberge Safari Brands will be a combined partnership between the existing Legendary brand and Chem Chem, which is really exciting and this will bring an incredible powerhouse of quality in Tanzania together into one unified portfolio. Chem Chem is known for their lodge quality, incredible game viewing in Tanzania and their "slow safari" philosophy which is all around trying to allow travelers to truly experience Tanzania as the destination. But honestly, they have had trouble with that because they only have 3 lodges and so people zip in and out of Tanzania for a few nights in combination with Kenya. This partnership under Auberge Safari is designed to create a more cohesive and commercially powerful offering across nine properties between Legendary and Chem Chem - all under the Auberge Safari brand.

Auberge brings the name recognition and US luxury consumer and Chem Chem brings the operations know how, booking management and "slow safari" experience.

Feel free to AMA with any questions! Have the head of sales of Auberge Safari Brand, Roberto Viviani, on standby to answer all questions.

Will post my review after my stay but since there were a lot of questions about this in the other post and you can’t actually see rates online…here are the 2026 rates, posted in the lobby. It’s weird bc some of the rooms on the website aren’t even listed on this sheet (like the Deluxe Jr Suite as an example). But this is what they have in the hotel. Hope it’s helpfulish! Sorry I couldn’t get rid of the reflection

Sorry in advance for spamming the chat! But it’s just so pretty! I’ve only been here 6 hours, so it may be premature but this is feeling like one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever been to in the world. There is something so magical and special about this place. The attention to detail, the setting, the quality, it makes even the best hotels feel dull in comparison. Look at this sunset from my room, it’s spectacular.

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

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

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