r/luxuryhotel

Decided to stay 2 nights in this hotel during my trip to Lake Como in May due to numerous recommendations. Overall, it is a great property if you want picturesque views and easy access to the central of the lake.

Location & Arrival - 5/5

The hotel is located in Tremezzina, about an hour drive from MXP and only a 15 mins ferry ride to the main attractions (Bellagio/Lenno/Villa del Balbianello). Hence it is a perfect base for first-timers in Lake Como who want to explore everything. I booked airport arrival/departure transfer services (290€/way) through the hotel concierge as I was lazy to drive after a long flight. My room was not yet ready when I arrived at 9am, as standard check in time is 3pm, so I was offered an extra complimentary breakfast on that morning which was a nice welcome. My room was ready at 2.30pm and the overall arrival/check-in process was smooth.

Room & Amenities - 4.7/5

I stayed in a Park View Prestige Room (the most entry level room) overlooking the hotel gardens. The room was clean and felt relatively new despite the hotel being over a 100 years old and I loved the marble covered bathroom. Some quirky modern touches include a retractable television hidden in a chest in front of the bed and electric blinds. Minibar was also complimentary, which contains a mixture of soft drinks and alcohol. The room cost 1430€/night after surcharges, which imo is pricey for its size, hence i'd rate the room a 4.7/5.

Hotel Grounds & Garden - 5/5

The hotel has 3 pools, one floating on the lake overlooking Bellagio, one at the back overlooking the hotel gardens and another indoor. The pools are heated and I personally prefer the pool at the back as it is more peaceful, while the floating pool has a see and be seen type of vibe. Hotel garden was massive and beautiful and is sloped uphill. I managed to hike all the way to the top to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake & Bellagio as shown in the attached pictures.

Only downside is the gardens and floating pool can be quite noisy or crowded during peak timings but personally I am okay with it as and I think they contribute to the overall charm and lively atmosphere of the hotel.

Food - 3/5

Unfortunately, the food was pretty mediocre. Breakfast is overall alright but other than the nice layout, food wasn't too spectacular. For dinner, I had braised veal with risotto (48€) at L'Escale Trattoria and it was too salty for my liking. As expected, food prices were high in the hotel and I had better and more value for money meals at the nearby restaurants in Tremezzina.

Conclusion

This is a beautiful property and I highly recommend it for those who want to experience luxury, while simultaneously exploring the main attractions around the lake without commiting too much time on travel. Other hotels such as MO, Passalacqua and Villa d'Este are much further away from the central of the lake. GHT has a livelier vibe and an overall younger crowd so if you prefer a more intimate and private environment, Passalacqua might be a better alternative.

We were at InterContinental Paris - Le Grand and the end of another superb stay.

This hot ranks amongst my favourite due to location and staff.

Concierge Louise is a superstar with her local knowledge and humour.

Club lounge is perfect, Lofty is a wonderful host whilst there. Then Cafe de la paix menu is fresh, lively, and Cecil the waiter is meticulous.

Breakfast in the club lounge is lovely and quiet, but you have to experience the selection on the main breakfast salon.

We had a cosy twin, there were a couple of issues with the room but the attention given to remedy was fast and efficient. Great service and the issues that would not have been known by housekeeping as they were just apparent when ‘using the room’.

What amazed me most though is just how rude some customers can be to the staff, what on earth drives them to be so sour?

*edited to add, Royal Vendome bistro is short walking distance, a wonderful little place with superb food, hugely recommended little gem

I've just realised I'm not using the services of a butler at luxury hotels. I read elsewhere that people ask them to unpack your suitcase or even arrange the closet. I've never done any of these things.

I've a stay coming up at St Regis and I'd like to try asking something from them. But I'm not sure what can be asked without sounding rude.

Any tips? What do you usually ask the concierge to do?

AMAZING resort.

Right when we stepped foot on property, we were greeted by everyone from valet, concierge, to the butler team with smiles and warm conversations—the tone was set from the very beginning.

The room was spectacular—a gorgeous entryway, spacious living room (with a pull-out couch for the kiddos) and half bath, master bedroom with a king bed, and a stunning marble bathroom. Cute hallway with a unique closet setup. The wraparound balcony was bigger than most standard guest rooms and gave us amazing views of the resort and ocean.

Upon arrival, we were gifted a St. Regis beach bag, which my wife absolutely loved.

When we got back from the pool, we were greeted with a bottle of red wine and a handwritten note from the team. I had casually mentioned at check-in that we were celebrating 10 years of dating (married 10 years next year) and didn’t make a big deal out of it—but they still made it special.

The butler team was phenomenal—quick to respond and incredibly helpful throughout our stay.

Resort Highlights:

✅ Three pools, including an adult pool and a lazy river ✅ Resort sits right on the beach ✅ Champagne sabering at 6 PM daily – a classic St. Regis tradition with complimentary pours 🍾 ✅ Tons of restaurants on-site, plus a cute coffee shop ✅ Top-of-the-line spa and gym facilities ✅ Short drive to St. Armands Circle – still recovering post-hurricane, but worth a visit

Family Favorites:

🐠 Massive aquarium on property with tons of tropical fish and ~50 stingrays – you can even pay to swim inside! 🐢 Jack and Rose – the resort’s two giant tortoises with daily feedings at 11 AM – kids can pet and feed them 🎨 Kids’ Club activities all week – necklace-making, light-up shell jars, kite flying, magic shows, movie nights 🪁 Kite flying, souvenir crafts, and plenty of shaded lawn space and open areas for kids to explore at the resort daily

Truly one of the most well-rounded resort experiences we’ve had as a family.

Grand Family Room was perfect for our family.

Loved the service and the food was surprisingly good.

Top choice for us in Seoul.

We were blown away by Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook, New Zealand.

Where have you seen the most magnificent lobby?

Might be helpful for anyone planning a France trip.

Sharing below compiled offers live in France. For all offers, the following VIP Perks are also included:

• Free night offers (at select hotels)
• $100 hotel credit
• Complimentary breakfast
• Room upgrade

You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. You can reach us via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com)

Deals were manually checked, so I might've missed a few.

Location	Hotel	Offer
Paris	Mandarin Oriental, Paris	4th night free
Paris	Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris	3rd night free
Paris	Shangri-La Paris	4th night free
Paris	Grand Hotel du Palais Royal	3rd night free
Paris	La Réserve Paris Apartments	4th night free
Paris	Chateau des Fleurs Hotel & Spa	4th night free
Paris	Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris	15% off
Paris	La Maison Favart	3rd night free
Paris	InterContinental Paris Champs Elysées	3rd night free
Paris	Hôtel Barrière Fouquet's Paris	4th night free
Paris	Le Meurice (via Belmond Cruises Promo)	Free night
French Riviera	Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel	4th night free
French Riviera	The Maybourne Riviera	3rd night free
Megève	Four Seasons Hotel Megève	4th night free
Chantilly	InterContinental Chantilly Chateau Mont Royal	3rd night free
Bora Bora (French Polynesia)	Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora	4th night free
Bora Bora (French Polynesia)	InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa	4th night free
Taha'a (French Polynesia)	Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa	35% off
Tikehau (French Polynesia)	Le Tikehau by Pearl Resorts	35% off
Tahiti (French Polynesia)	The Brando	4th night free
St. Barth (French West Indies)	Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth	4th night free
St. Barth (French West Indies)	Le Toiny Hôtel & Beach Club	5th night free

Deals were manually checked, so I might've missed a few. Happy to answer any questions on this!

Also, comment below if there's any region you'd like to see next and I'll prioritize those.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience, from the excellent guest service (went above and beyond for us) to the dining options—both the breakfast room service and Bull & Bear restaurant were outstanding. The luxury shuttle bus to the Disney World parks was always on time.

Overall wow experience, and it was incredible! Attached are pictures of our view of the Disney World parks, the Magic Kingdom fireworks, and the Waldorf King Suite. I can't wait to come back!

One of the best FS Taormina I've visited. It far exceeded the expectations.

Loved the vibes at the palace.

The Chedi Andermatt was something else… cozy but so stylish at the same time.

The spa was amazing, and the breakfast omg sooo good ... perfect mountain vibes.

Honestly one of my favorite stays in Switzerland so far.

It can be subsidiary brands in a hotel's portfolio such as W from Marriott or Conrad from Hilton.

To me, The Auberge Resorts Collection is a little lackluster. I stayed at two Auberge hotels, one in Telluride (Madeline) and one in Austin (Commdore Perry Estate). Both I found lackluster and not so luxurious compared to the other luxury hotels I've stayed at.

Another one I found a little overrated is W, it just feels like a fancier Aloft but they don't go out too much on the luxury element. At least this is true for most of the W Hotels in the USA. I've stayed at some other great W properties around the world like the W Barcelona.

What are some of your overrated hotel chains?

Sharing this, since realized from recent chats that a lot of folks weren't aware of it.

Key point is this is valid for even existing bookings.

If you've a Four Seasons booking or planning one, you can get it booked through a Four Season Preferred Partner (FSPP) to get the following additional perks:

• Daily Breakfast for Two: Usually valid for room service or the restaurant.
• Property Credit: Usually $100 (varies by property) for the spa, drinks, or dinner.
• Room Upgrades: FSPP guests are top-priority (above Amex FHR) for upgrades at check-in.
• VIP Status: A personal note and welcome amenity waiting in your room.
• Early Check-in / Late Check-out
• Same Price as booking direct with payment at property

The best bit is that VIP perks can be added to an existing booking as well.

You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. You can reach us via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com)

Glad to answer any questions on this.

The island is amazing. Food and Spa was surprisingly good.

We stayed in a Crusoe Villa and quite enjoyed the stay.

Honestly, it is one of the villas we have enjoyed the most in all our travels.

Stayed at FS Toronto in the Yorkville Suite

We were mighty impressed by its size. If anyone has stayed there - what are your opinions on it?

FS service as usual was impeccable.

I think it’s ironic that there’s so much wealth in the US and yet such a lack in true luxury hospitality compared to Asia and Europe.

Most times I stay at so called luxury hotels in the US I find them disappointing in both hard product except for some newer ones like Aman NY and also mostly in terms of service, which can be terrible at times.

On the other hand, I’m usually super impressed by luxury hotels in Asia, Europe, and Mexico.

I find such little value in hotels in the US overall.

We had an amazing 5-night stay at the new Park Hyatt in Cabo in Feb!

We got upgraded to a deluxe ocean view suite with a massive balcony.

We enjoyed the sunrises and seeing the whales every morning.

Breakfast was included and we could anything odd the menu (which ended up being a $100+ value every morning).

The food was delicious (albeit expensive).

The pools were very relaxing and had great service, especially at Costamar.

We took advantage of 50% spa bookings while their spa was still under construction. The treatments took place in a modified guest room.

They were still doing some construction and the back of the resort but it did not affect our stay at all. It feels like they did all the right things and didn’t rush the open.

Definitely feels up to par with Park Hyatt standards!

Stayed for Christmas at Zemi in Anguilla.

Upon check-in, there was no upgrade availability as the resort was sold out for the festive period.

However, we had a housekeeping issue that got us an upgrade to the 2 Bedroom Penthouse Suite with a rooftop pool and a full kitchen for our last night.

Overall, Anguilla is a beautiful island with lots of very exotic beaches. We flew into AXA from Miami and planned to visit St. Maarten via the ferry, but ended spending all our time in Anguilla. Since we had a car, we did a lot of eating out.

Might be helpful for anyone planning a London trip - similar to ongoing Japan promotions shared a couple of weeks back.

Sharing below compiled offers live in London. For all offers, the following VIP Perks are also included:

• Free night offers (at select hotels)
• $100 hotel credit
• Complimentary breakfast
• Room upgrade

You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. You can reach us via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com)

Deals were manually checked, so I might've missed a few.

Hotel	Offer
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate	3rd Night Free
The Langham, London	3rd Night Free
InterContinental London Park Lane	3rd Night Free
The Welbeck Hotel	3rd Night Free
Grosvenor House Suites	3rd Night Free
Pan Pacific London	3rd Night Free
Six Senses London	3rd Night Free
Raffles London at The OWO	3rd Night Free
The Lanesborough	4th Night Free
The Londoner	4th Night Free
The Beaumont Mayfair	4th Night Free
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane	4th Night Free
Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge	4th Night Free
One Aldwych	4th Night Free
COMO Metropolitan London	4th Night Free
COMO The Halkin	4th Night Free
Kimpton Fitzroy London	4th Night Free

Happy to answer any questions on this!

Also, comment below if there's any region you'd like to see next and I'll prioritize those.

The hotel is simply extraordinary. I’ve stayed at almost all of the top hotels on the French Riviera, including Eden Roc and Hôtel de Paris, and none of them even come close to Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat.

My family and I have been returning guests every year since 2023, and as a true enthusiast of luxury hospitality, I remain deeply impressed by the level of service and the exceptional atmosphere that prevails even during the height of the season.

The suite is lovely and they did small decoration for us as well.

Stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Vienna for five nights over Christmas and was very impressed by the property and its location.

I know most reviews say to stay at The Imperial or Hotel Bristol (closed for renovations), but we decided to try out the Ritz. We had a Deluxe King room, but it was definitely spacious enough for two people and had a decent view of the city. Plus, it was ready for us when we arrived around 11:30 a.m.

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, providing more "local" dining suggestions and places to see in the city. We tried the lobby bar (technically Pastamara - Bar con Cucina) and D-bar for drinks before our dinners... drinks and service at both were great. The Atmosphere rooftop bar is set up with gondolas that require a reservation, but the bar is open for anyone to have glühwein and other festive drinks. We didn't try the steakhouse, distrikt, for a normal meal but did attend the Christmas brunch served in the restaurant. The food was good, but the service felt a little chaotic compared to the other spots in the Ritz and a meal we had at the Hotel Sacher (Restaurant Grüne Bar) the night before. Would highly recommend the Sacher for a Christmas meal—expensive but the food, experience and atmosphere were all worth it.

The location is great. Easily walkable to all the major attactions and Christmas markets in the city center. There is a tram immediately outside the hotel and the subway/U-Bahn is maybe a 3-5 minute walk away (can take one line to Schönbrunn Palace).