What extra expenses do you think are completely worth it and really elevate the travel experience?
In my case: Getting a room a on water. Going to sleep with the surf crashing outside is very nice. Also, splurging on 1 really nice meal on the trip.
What about you?
Continuing my review of the hotels I’ve stayed at while in Istanbul, now’s the time for Raffles:
Location: This is the hotel’s weakest spot. It’s located in Zorlu Center which is a complex of offices, luxury high-rise apartments, and an open-door shopping mall. The hotel takes up several floors of one of the 3 buildings of the complex. When you leave the complex area, you’re surrounded by highways, meaning you cannot walk anywhere. Sultanahmet is 40 minutes away by car, and traffic in Istanbul is no joke, so 40 minutes can turn into 80 very easily. There’s also a metro station inside the mall. Long story short, this is not a hotel for first timers in Istanbul. It’s more business oriented or for people who’ve been in Istanbul already and want to visit a different part of the city or are just looking for a relaxing stay without leaving the premises.
Property/Room: The hotel has the largest rooms offered by any hotel in the city. Their entry level room is 650sqft which is giant! All the rooms come with enormous balconies with either a city view, Bosphorus view or a mix of both. The spa and gym are some of the best I’ve seen in Istanbul; they offer a membership for locals too so it’s really well kept. They have an outdoor pool and indoor pool which are also a nice addition (none of the pools are heated) for those who want to have a “staycation”. We were upgraded to the Junior Suite which is almost 1400sqft with views overlooking the entire city. I felt like a sultan!
Food/Breakfast: Their main restaurant is a fusion between Turkish and Japanese food which was very good. Breakfast was at the same location and was okay. What you’d expect from a breakfast buffet at a hotel of this caliber. Perhaps what stood out the most was the service.
Service: Their strongest selling point. Service was immaculate. All rooms come with their own butler and unlike other hotels that offer the same service (St. Regis Venice!) you actually feel their presence. We had 2 butlers during our stay who communicated with me via WhatsApp and you could ask them pretty much anything. They left us beautiful gifts all around the room every single day (I know some people love these little touches, myself included), from traditional hammam bath items, perfumes, key chains, bath salts, etc.
When we checked in, it took 20 minutes for the room to be ready and instead of asking us to wait in the lobby, they invited us to the Bosphorus Lounge to have a complimentary drink and some snacks.
We felt truly pampered throughout the entire stay.
Pricing: The hotel’s pricing starts a bit lower compared to the other luxury options in the city, but where you truly feel the price difference is for the suites. A suite the same size at any other hotel would cost 2 to 4 times more. Of course the tradeoff is the location. For peak summer, the entry level room starts at $530/night. Our suite was $1,090/night.
Final thoughts: If you’re not coming to Istanbul to tour the city, this is a great hotel. I had a lot of work to do and didn’t need to leave the hotel so having a suite so spacious, service so attentive and such great amenities made for a perfect stay. That said, if I had to take a 40 minute car trip everytime I want to go explore the city, and another 40 minutes when I want to get back, I wouldn’t be very happy. This is more of a “staycation” type of hotel. If you need to relax for few days, work, or even do some shopping, you’ll love it.
Happy to answer any questions!
First time in Budapest and loving the view at FS Gresham Palace.
Any other suggestions with such a lovely view?
I'd shared about Four Seasons Perks the previous week, and just in time Mandarin Oriental has extended their amazing offer which we've booked for quite a few clients this week..
All Mandarin Oriental now get a guaranteed room upgrade for bookings till Aug 31.
To recap, all Preferred bookings at Mandarin Oriental get the following additional perks:
You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. We can be reached via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com) .
Take advantage of this offer till inventory last and glad to answer any questions on this.
Looking for recommendations for something that I’m not sure exists, but thinking this group could have some ideas.
As my husband and I have gotten older (mid-40s), we consistently stay at luxury hotels for the spas, dining, comfort, etc.
What I could really do without though is the constant pretense — I’m really not any sort of VIP, just a person with an Amex who likes to spend on quality travel experiences.
Constantly being called Mrs. So-and-So and being treated with a kind of deference that borders on fear of me morphing into a crazed Karen just makes me so uncomfortable. We’re all human, people make mistakes, I would never berate an employee.
I hate feeling like hotel staff have to pretend to be my servants or something. Even having the valets run to open my door while I’m trying to cram all my kids shit into their backpacks just makes me feel kinda guilty. And I really hate seeing full grown adults treat my children like tiny kings who can do no wrong.
So my question is: Are there any truly luxe hotels that don’t have this type of old-school service? Where I can enjoy kind and efficient service without feeling gross about the classist implications of the whole setup? Thanks!!
Had the most wonderful three-night stay at Fairmont Tokyo.
The suite was extremely spacious with a separate bedroom and living area and comfortably accommodated my family of four. The views from the room were breathtaking, overlooking Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. Access to the Gold lounge was also included for the four of us.
✅ The hotel held our luggage for three nights prior to our arrival.
✅ The welcome gift was the best we have ever received.
✅ Upon arrival, we were escorted to the lounge for check-in and offered drinks and afternoon tea. We were blown away by the service from Chem and the rest of the lounge team throughout our stay. We were genuinely made to feel like VIPs.
✅ Late checkout was granted until 2pm, with lounge access extended until 4pm. This was incredibly appreciated and worked perfectly with our late night flight home.
✅ The lounge on level 42 offered spectacular views and included breakfast, midday refreshments, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and night snacks. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and it felt like we were always eating!
✅ The lounge staff were consistently warm and welcoming towards our children, which made our stay feel very family friendly.
✅ A sofa bed was prepared for our children.
✅ We were able to choose a convenient time for turndown service and the staff who prepared our room each evening were always friendly.
✅ There were countless thoughtful amenities and personal touches throughout the room, including a Dyson hair dryer and airwrap. We even found our phone charging cables neatly organised with Fairmont cable ties.
✅ Both the indoor and outdoor pools were heated. Even on cooler evenings, it was blissfully relaxing in the outdoor pool enjoying views of the illuminated Tokyo Tower.
There was construction at the neighbouring building, which slightly obstructed the view and created occasional noise; however, this did not impact our enjoyment of the stay.
This is the most luxurious hotel we have ever stayed in. We will definitely be returning on future trips to Tokyo.
Planning my honeymoon and long story short I have no idea where to go. Classic Maldives? Other Islands? Need everyones thoughts.
Checked into the Parlour Suite at Four Seasons Florence.
Loving its size. But conflicted about its aesthetics - appreciate the traditional look but miss the modern features.
What are your thoughts on this one? Anyone else stayed here?
We were recently at the Airelles Saint-Tropez - Château de la Messardière.
It's such a magnificent property. Just enjoyed being there and the service along with food was suprisingly good.
Also, shot a brief summary of our time there.
Great stay at Kimpton Seafire, and I now have a new favorite island.
Like many before me have said, the people really made the trip. Everyone was so helpful and accommodating.
They had a birthday treat in room and at the restaurant my first night.
I took advantage of the yoga, Pilates, and spin classes. The best seats at the beach do require you to get out pretty early. There were always plenty of seats at the pool.
The birds on the restaurant’s outdoor patio were out of control so we chose to eat inside after the first breakfast. Coffee and tea station in the AM and wine happy hour in the PM were both nice.
Concierge helped us book excursions and was very knowledgeable.
We loved the stingray excursion with Captain Marvin. The Turtle Park was underwhelming. The Library Bar was lovely. Let me know if you have any questions!
Might be helpful for anyone planning an Italy vacation - similar to the Japan offers shared last week.
Sharing below updated compiled offers live in Italy. For all offers, the following VIP Perks are also included:
Most offers are not public and are only valid with perks for preferred program bookings.
You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. We can be reached via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com) .
Deals were manually checked, so I might've missed a few.
| Location | Hotel | Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | Six Senses Rome | 4th night free |
| Rome | Hotel Eden Rome | 4th night free |
| Rome | Hassler Hotel | 4th night free |
| Rome | InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace | 4th night free |
| Rome | Orient Express La Minerva | 3rd night free |
| Rome | Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome | 3rd night free |
| Rome | Hotel Indigo Rome - St. George | 3rd night free |
| Rome | Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel | 30% off |
| Rome | W Rome | 20% off |
| Milan | Mandarin Oriental, Milan | 4th night free |
| Milan | Hotel Principe di Savoia | 4th night free |
| Milan | Excelsior Hotel Gallia | 4th night free |
| Venice | JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa | 15% off |
| Florence | Portrait Firenze | 4th night free |
| Florence | Collegio alla Querce | 3rd night free |
| Florence | Helvetia & Bristol Firenze | 3rd night free |
| Florence | Hotel Indigo Florence | 3rd night free |
| Florence | The St. Regis Florence | 3rd night free |
| Florence | Four Seasons Hotel Firenze | 15% off |
| Lake Como | The Lake Como EDITION | 15% off |
| Amalfi Coast | Anantara Convento di Amalfi | 3rd night free |
| Verona | Due Torri Hotel | 20% off |
| Siena | Grand Hotel Continental Siena | 3rd night free |
| Tuscany (Cortona) | Il Falconiere | 3rd night free |
| Tuscany (San Casciano) | Fonteverde | 3rd night free |
| Tuscany (Saturnia) | Terme di Saturnia | 3rd night free |
| Dolomites | COMO Alpina Dolomites | 4th night free |
| Sardinia | Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia | 3rd night free |
| Sicily (Mount Etna) | Monaci delle Terre Nere | 4th night free |
Happy to answer any questions on this!
Also, comment below if there's any country you'd like to see next and I can check for those.
PS - All luxury hotels can have perks added and a few have exclusive free night offers.
Just spent 3 nights at the Peninsula Istanbul and wanted to give my thoughts about it for anyone who may be considering it.
Location: The Peninsula is unbeatable. It’s right in the middle of Istanbul. You have other hotels that are next to Hagia Sophia (Four Seasons) or other along the Bosphorus (like the other FS property or the Mandarin Oriental) but they’re so incredibly far from the city center that I don’t understand why a first timer in Istanbul would choose them. The Peninsula is on the Bosphorus, walking distance to all the major attractions and if you don’t mind using public transportation, the ferry station that takes you to Asia is next to the hotel.
Getting here: The Peninsula must have one of the most magical arrivals in all of Istanbul. They have their own boat, PEN1, which brings you directly to the hotel’s private deck, as long as you don’t mind paying at least €700 for it. It does come with meet and greet at the aircraft’s door, expedited passport control via fast track and includes both the land and sea transfers (you can’t get here only by boat) so you decide whether it’s worth it or not, but it does make for a fantastic start to your trip.
The room/property: The property itself is massive, it consists of 4 buildings one next to each other and has a huge portion of water front space where you’ll find their outdoor pool, restaurant and breakfast tables and a few lounge areas. If you prefer smaller hotels, this is not the place for you. It’s also where a lot of locals come for drinks/dining so it can get crowded. The newest building has an event space on the ground floor and during our stay there was a wedding celebration so it was particularly packed. Music was loud until 12AM which is something to have in mind. Some of the most expensive suites are above this event area. I’m not sure how I’ll feel being blasted music everyday from 6PM to 12AM… (sound proofing is good but not that good).
The property being so big also has some advantages: the spa is massive, the gym is great and the whole property just feels like its own destination.
The room was super spacious, modern, with incredible views. I’ll let the photos do the talking.
Food/Breakfast: The Peninsula’s breakfast was one of the best ones I’ve had in a while. You sit right next to the water, with 180 degree views of the Bosphorus and most of Istanbul. There’s not a buffet per-se, just two small tables with some sweet and savory snacks and that’s because you have a huge menu where you can order pretty much anything. I don’t usually like breakfast where you can only order from a menu but here it’s done perfectly right. Besides breakfast I tried their main restaurant and room service, they were good, nothing to write home about and of course pricey, but not that bad either.
Service: Service was either great or mid. The people who work during breakfast and at the restaurants were always incredibly lovely and attentive.
Peninsula hotels around the world pride themselves on offering the “Peninsula time” which means flexible check-in and check-out times for everybody. We were not given this perk at any time. We got here early to take advantage of it and were left waiting a few hours until our room was ready, although they did offer us 2 complimentary glasses of wine while we waited which was very nice. When we left, I requested a 2PM check-out which has denied due to low availability, although I was told the hotel is far from capacity. There was nothing offered for us while we waited for our car to pick us up to go to the airport. So if Peninsula Time is a reason why you’d book it, keep in mind it’s not always offered.
Pricing: This is another positive thing about the hotel. The entry-level room can go for as low as €500 per night, which is incredibly competitive. Suites start at around €1,000 and can go up to over 30k for the Peninsula suite. Basically, there’s a room for everyone.
Final thoughts: All in all, the hotel is great. It has some minor issues which are common for a property this big but it does not take away from the experience. Would definitely come back and recommend it to clients, although as usual, it’s not a hotel for everybody.
Happy to answer any questions!
For us it was Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como - it was pure magic and the views were so breathtaking and comforting.
Would love to hear which was the most romantic one you’ve experienced and why?
I recently stayed at the IHG property Kimpton Los Monteros in Marbella. I want to share my thoughts about it for anyone who is considering staying in this hotel.
Property:
The hotel is a large resort with 195 rooms, including 60 suites, and a fascinating history. Originally opened in 1962, it was one of the Costa del Sol’s first luxury resorts and quickly became a destination for international celebrities, such as Michael Jackson.
Over the decades, the property has built a strong legacy.
After a complete renovation, it reopened in 2025 as Kimpton, entering a new era that blends its historic character with contemporary design. Still today, it remains a landmark hotel in Marbella.
The property feels more like a resort than a traditional hotel. Facilities include a spa (not included in the room rate and charged separately), a rooftop terrace with impressive views, and extensive gardens. The main pool area is spacious and rarely crowded, with a maximum depth of 1.5 metres.
The beach is approximately a five-minute walk from the hotel through the upscale Los Monteros residential area, although a branded golf cart service is also available for transport.
The hotel’s beach club, La Cabane, features a Dolce & Gabbana design. However, one drawback is the limited direct beach access from the sunbeds, as the shoreline in that area is quite rocky.
Room:
My reservation was for a King Premium Terrace (around €600 per night). At check-in I was happy to find out that we were upgraded to a Duplex Suite with Balcony on the top floor. We had views on both sides, which was great and much appreciated. The room was spacious and I appreciated the bathroom with two sinks.
Location:
The hotel is located in the centre of Los Monteros, the most exclusive and peaceful residential area of Marbella. It is surrounded by luxury American style villas, which were interesting to see while walking around the neighbourhood.
To reach Marbella city centre, a taxi was the only practical option, taking around 10 minutes at most. Málaga Airport is approximately a 40 minute taxi ride away.
Food:
The breakfast is excellent, served buffet-style with a small à la carte selection for certain dishes. The variety is very wide, making it suitable for all preferences. It can be enjoyed either outdoors on tables near the pool or indoors behind large glass windows.
The only aspect I did not appreciate was the limited options for guests with lactose intolerance, while the selection for gluten-free diets was well catered for.
Gym:
They have a spacious 24/7 gym, it is a separate building in the garden near the main pool. It is well equipped with a bit of everything, so it will be perfect if you are not too demanding. It is surrounded by gardens, and next to the gym they also offer yoga classes.
Service:
During my stay, I always felt well taken care of by the staff. From the moment I arrived, the bellboy was there to open our car doors. Everyone was consistently smiling, so my overall experience was very positive. One night I had dinner at the hotel restaurant Jara; the food quality was excellent. The service felt a bit informal, but still appropriate for the atmosphere. However, I didn’t like the loud music playing throughout the evening.
Overall, my experience was definitely positive, so I would recommend this hotel. However, I think it is more suitable for families than for couples, given the presence of many children, which can sometimes be disruptive.
Happy to answer any questions. :)
I am looking for some recommendations for a 3 night break for my wife and I. Want somewhere with fantastic food, great spa and possibly walking distance to a small town/city.
Europe in early June, we like the sun too!
Break is a chance to spend some time together without the kids.
We've been enjoying a 6-week trip around indonesia, staying mostly in 5-star hotels in Java and Bali (Grand Hyatt, Intercontinental, Alila, etc.). This is actually our first Airbnb-style villa we stayed in and we couldn't be happier!
Everything about this villa is excellent, from location to amenities, and comfort to decor. The villa includes 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, as well as a living/dining/kitchen setup that was separated by a swimming pool.
The villa sits outside of the hustle and bustle of Ubud center but it's still easy to get there. So it's the best of both worlds. You get the serenity that everyone expects from Ubud, in a quiet area overlooking rice fields. One of the features that was the best was opening both sides of the living room doors and letting the breeze sweep through!
Everything about this villa that stood out in the pictures online lived up to it. The minimalist vibe with dark walls and directional lighting really stood out to us and made this a unique stay.
We really appreciated everything about it. The host walked us through the villa when we got there, they gave us the ins and outs of the villa, nearby attractions and everything we could need. They were also only a message away!
After doing more “faraway island” trips the last couple of years, we were looking for easy, nonstop locations given pregnancy.
And WOW - how are entry level rooms with NO lake view on all decent 5-star Lake Como hotels $2,500 per night?? Why are people paying for this lol. You can go to the Maldives or Greek islands and get a whole villa with pool for that. Am I going crazy?
How are people affording to pay such absurd rates.
We recently stayed 5 nights at the St. Regis Bermuda.
This was our first St. Regis experience and it did not disappoint. This resort is relatively new as it opened in 2021. Our Platinum Elite status was recognized at check in by the concierge and we were upgraded to a partial beach view on the top floor.
Our studio room with king bed was amazing and spacious. It had separate shower and toilet, double sinks with plenty of counter space and cabinet space, a soaker tub in the middle of the room, two large hanging closets, in room safe, a large screen TV, multiple USB and USB-C charging outlets, large balcony and a bar fridge stocked with bottled water.
The buffet breakfast had a wide variety of hot and cold offerings, fresh fruit, pastries, juice and much more. The coffee was hot and tasted great.
We dined at the onsite BLT Steak restaurant once ($$$$) and had a fantastic evening. Our waiter was attentive and very helpful. The food and drinks were most excellent!
The beach has an easy slope into the blue water and plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas.
The resort is adjacent to the historic Fort St Catherine for all the history buffs. Tobacco Bay is about a 10 minute walk and has excellent snorkeling and a beach bar.
All the resort staff were very friendly and eager to make our stay special, which it was.
We highly recommend the St Regis Bermuda and will definitely return again.
Recently visited the Auberge du Jeu de Paume in Chantilly, France for a few days.
Loved the historic property. Suprisingly good service.
Hope you guys enjoy the video.
If anyone's planning a trip to Vegas, sharing a list of top hotels which have perks.
VIP Perks include:
Bookings must be processed via the hotels preferred program for perks to apply.
You can ping us or your TA to book via their preferred program. We can be reached via DM or through our website (GildedRetreats.com) .
| Hotel |
|---|
| Bellagio |
| The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas |
| ARIA Resort & Casino |
| Park MGM Las Vegas |
| Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas |
| Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino |
| Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World |
| Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas |
| Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas |
| W Las Vegas |
| Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts at Resorts World |
| JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa |
| The Nomad at Park MGM |
Happy to answer any questions on this!
Also, feel free to comment below if there's any specific hotel you'd like check.
PS - Most luxury hotels globally have similar perks available.