u/traveldigest

Did a site inspection of the Bulgari Rome today but unfortunately couldn’t see the rooms because the hotel was fully booked.

That said, I ended up spending some time at the rooftop terrace and honestly the views alone made the visit worth it. The hotel is in front of the tomb of Augustus! The first Roman emperor.

One thing I appreciated is that unlike some Rome rooftops that feel overly touristy or crowded, this one still felt relatively relaxed despite having panoramic views over the city. We stayed for drinks and a few bites around sunset and it ended up being one of the nicer rooftop experiences I’ve had in Rome recently.

Have any of you stayed at the Bulgari? Curious what your favorite luxury hotel terrace/bar in Rome is right now. I feel like the city has become incredibly competitive lately between Corinthia, Edition, Six Senses, Hotel de la Ville, etc.

Stayed at Capella Singapore last year and it’s still one of the hotels I think about the most.

What makes the hotel special isn’t necessarily one single thing, but the overall atmosphere. It somehow feels completely separated from Singapore despite being only around 10 minutes from the city. The whole property is surrounded by greenery and you constantly hear birds instead of traffic, which is pretty crazy for Singapore.

The resort itself feels very peaceful and low-density. Even when there were other guests around, it never felt crowded or hectic. We spent a lot more time at the hotel than expected because it was genuinely hard to leave.

The rooms were also excellent. Very spacious, especially compared to most luxury hotels in Asia’s big cities, and the design felt elegant without trying too hard. The bathrooms in particular were huge.

Service throughout the stay was great. Warm, polished, but never overly formal. It felt more personal than many larger luxury hotels.

A few things I particularly liked:
- extremely quiet atmosphere
- beautiful tropical setting
- very large rooms
- great pool area
- excellent breakfast
- easy access to the city when needed
- feels more like a resort than a city hotel

One thing to keep in mind is that this is not the hotel I’d choose if your priority is being in the middle of Singapore’s energy. If you want to walk outside directly into restaurants, shopping, Marina Bay, etc., somewhere like the Ritz-Carlton Millenia or Fullerton probably makes more sense.

But if the goal is to relax while still having access to the city, I honestly think Capella is hard to beat.

Would absolutely return.

Just stayed at the Six Senses Yao Noi and honestly, it might be one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve stayed at.

The views around the resort are insane. Everywhere you look there are those huge limestone cliffs coming out of the water and it almost doesn’t feel real, especially around sunrise/sunset. The property is on the Yao Noi island which is about 45’ away by speedboat from Phuket.

We stayed in one of the pool villas and I was surprised by how private everything felt. The villas are massive too, so we ended up spending way more time there than expected just relaxing by the pool and enjoying the view.

The whole vibe of the resort is very different from Phuket. Much quieter, slower, more focused on wellness/nature. Definitely not the type of place you go to for nightlife or beach clubs. Once you get there, you kind of just stay at the resort and disconnect for a few days.

A few things I really liked:

\- breakfast was excellent
\- spa/wellness side of the hotel is very well done
\- service felt warm without being overly formal
\- boat trips around the bay were incredible
\- the setting honestly carries the whole experience

One thing to know though: because of the location, it’s not the easiest resort if you’re someone who likes going out for dinners, exploring towns, etc. This is more of a “stay put and relax” type of trip.

Would definitely go back. Probably one of the most peaceful stays I’ve had in Thailand.

Just stayed at the Six Senses Yao Noi and honestly, it might be one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve stayed at.

The views around the resort are insane. Everywhere you look there are those huge limestone cliffs coming out of the water and it almost doesn’t feel real, especially around sunrise/sunset. The property is on the Yao Noi island which is about 45’ away by speedboat from Phuket.

We stayed in one of the pool villas and I was surprised by how private everything felt. The villas are massive too, so we ended up spending way more time there than expected just relaxing by the pool and enjoying the view.

The whole vibe of the resort is very different from Phuket. Much quieter, slower, more focused on wellness/nature. Definitely not the type of place you go to for nightlife or beach clubs. Once you get there, you kind of just stay at the resort and disconnect for a few days.

A few things I really liked:

- breakfast was excellent
- spa/wellness side of the hotel is very well done
- service felt warm without being overly formal
- boat trips around the bay were incredible
- the setting honestly carries the whole experience

One thing to know though: because of the location, it’s not the easiest resort if you’re someone who likes going out for dinners, exploring towns, etc. This is more of a “stay put and relax” type of trip.

Would definitely go back. Probably one of the most peaceful stays I’ve had in Thailand.

As a luxury travel advisor, Rome is probably one of the destinations my clients ask for the most and honestly, it’s not always easy choosing the “best” hotel because every property in the city has such a different personality.

Some clients want classic Roman grandeur, others prioritize location, others want modern luxury/spa facilities, quieter surroundings, rooftop views, larger rooms, etc.

Curious to hear from people here:

What’s your favorite hotel in Rome and why?

My personal favorite is probably the Bulgari. I think they nailed the balance between contemporary luxury and Rome’s atmosphere, and the spa alone is one of the best in the city.

Would love to hear everyone’s opinions, especially from people who’ve stayed at multiple luxury properties in Rome.

I’m a travel agent and I’ve had many clients go on the fairly new Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and reviews vary… a lot.

I was wondering if anyone here has been on a sailing with them and what your thoughts are?

Thanks in advance!

Yesterday I reached 500k in savings/investments. I work as a travel agent and started making good money in 2022.
I don't have a fix salary as the money I make comes from commissions I earn from my client's travels and that varies each month. This year I moved to another country where my expenses are much higher but I still save at least 70% of my income.
On top of my income from work, all my investments are on high interest bonds from the country I'm from (in South America) where I get an average 9% return a year, meaning my 500k makes me 45k a year, about $3,750 per month extra.
Went through a rough patch in 2020 trying to understand what my passions were and how I could live off something I loved, but that it also gave me enough money to support myself. 6 years later, I've made it! I hope anyone trying to still figure our their life/work/money aspect for themselves know there's always a way:)

I rarely see people talk about the Rosewood Phnom Penh, which is not particularly surprising given its location, but after staying there I figured I’d share some thoughts because it genuinely surprised me.

Honestly, this might be one of the most underrated luxury hotels I’ve stayed at in Asia.

The hotel occupies the top floors of one of the tallest buildings in Phnom Penh, so from the moment you arrive, everything revolves around the views. The lobby, rooms, restaurants, pool, even the elevators all overlook the city from above, and the skyline views are incredible both during the day and at night.

What stood out most though was the service. It felt warm and genuinely attentive throughout the stay without ever becoming overly formal or stiff. One small touch I loved: the hotel offers complimentary tuk-tuk transportation within a 2km radius of the hotel, which made exploring Phnom Penh surprisingly easy.

The rooms themselves felt very polished and comfortable. Modern design, floor-to-ceiling windows, excellent bathrooms, and overall just a very relaxing atmosphere after spending time in the city.

Sora Sky Bar was another highlight. Easily one of the best rooftop bars I visited during my time in Southeast Asia. Great views, great atmosphere, and actually worth visiting even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

The biggest surprise to me was the value. Compared to luxury hotels in places like Vietnam, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, the pricing here felt extremely reasonable for the level of service and quality being offered.

Phnom Penh itself also ended up being much more interesting than I expected. Definitely more chaotic and less polished than other Asian capitals, but that’s also part of what made the experience memorable.

Would absolutely return.

Happy to answer questions if anyone’s considering Cambodia or this property specifically.

Stayed at the The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore last March and honestly, it’s easily one of the best hotels I’ve ever experienced.

I booked a Marina Bay-facing room and the views were absolutely incredible at every hour of the day. Waking up to the skyline, watching the city light up at night, even just sitting in the room for a while became part of the experience itself.

What impressed me most was how flawless the service felt despite the hotel’s size. Large luxury hotels can sometimes feel impersonal, but here everything was seamless, attentive, and genuinely warm throughout the stay.

The breakfast was on another level entirely, probably the best hotel breakfast I’ve had anywhere. The selection is massive, spread across multiple rooms with genuinely high-quality options. It felt more like a full culinary experience than a standard breakfast buffet.

The gym, spa, and pool facilities were also excellent and completed what was already an outstanding stay.

What makes the hotel even more impressive is the pricing. Southeast Asia is known for its better fares at luxury hotels but even so, the price was surprising. The value here feels exceptional for the level of product and service you get.

Overall, a truly memorable stay and one I’d return to without hesitation.

Last month I stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona and thought I’d share some impressions since this hotel gets hyped a lot in luxury travel circles.

First off: the location is fantastic. You’re right on Passeig de Gràcia, walking distance to pretty much everything most people visiting Barcelona want to see. The service was also consistently good throughout the stay; warm, polished, and attentive without feeling overly formal.

One thing that surprised me positively was the room size. For Europe, and especially for a luxury hotel in a city center, the rooms felt genuinely spacious. I was upgraded to a balcony room which definitely elevated the experience.

That said, I do think there are a few things people should know before booking:

- Breakfast was underwhelming for the price point. Not bad, but the selection felt limited compared to other hotels in this category.
- The biggest downside: noise. There’s a school nearby and during the day you can hear kids outside quite clearly depending on the room location. After discussing this with the hotel manager he said that the only rooms that do not “suffer” from the school’s noise are suites because they face the other side of the hotel. It’s definitely a great outlook to know that suites do not have this issue, yet at the same time… what does it say about the hotel that if you book an entry level room (at around €1,000 a night) you should expect screaming kids all day?
- Design-wise, the hotel felt elegant but not especially memorable. It didn’t give me that “wow, I never want to leave this hotel” feeling some luxury properties do.

Overall, I’d still recommend it, but selectively. I think it works best for travelers who prioritize location, modern luxury, and larger rooms in Barcelona. Personally, I don’t think it’s automatically the best luxury hotel in the city for every traveler considering the rates.

Happy to answer any questions if anyone’s considering booking it.

Just finished a 3-night stay at the St. Regis Venice and wanted to share some thoughts since I couldn’t find too many detailed recent reviews before going.

Overall: beautiful property and absolutely worth considering if you want a luxury stay in Venice, though not perfect.

The arrival experience is incredible. Since you arrive by boat, pulling up directly to the hotel’s pier on the Grand Canal really sets the tone immediately. The location is probably one of the hotel’s biggest strengths, close enough to everything but still feels calm compared to the more chaotic parts of Venice.

We were upgraded to the Astor Suite (entry-level suite). Large by Venice standards, especially the bathroom, though it’s more of an oversized studio suite rather than a true separate living room setup.

Some things the hotel did really well:
- Excellent concierge/front desk team
- Beautiful bar terrace overlooking the Grand Canal
- Very good breakfast with both buffet and à la carte options
- Daily champagne sabrage ritual at 5pm
- Nice touches in the room like fresh flowers, Venetian cookies, handwritten welcome note, etc.

One thing I appreciated: our room wasn’t ready at 3pm and instead of just apologizing, the hotel offered us a complimentary 1-hour private boat tour around Venice while we waited. Thought that was handled very well.

A few things that surprised me for a St. Regis:
- Butler service felt almost nonexistent during our stay
- Tea/coffee items sometimes weren’t replenished unless we called
- Gym is very small and missing some basic equipment
- Spa closes relatively early

None of these were dealbreakers, but at this price point (€2,000 a night) I notice details more carefully.

Would I stay again? Yes, absolutely. Venice is a difficult city for hotels operationally, and overall this still felt like one of the best luxury options in the city, especially for first-time visitors wanting a classic Venice experience.

This was a travel agent stay so experience may differ to a full-paying client. Most of our clients who have stayed here did not have any issues. Happy to answer questions if anyone’s considering booking it.