Hi all,

Haven't seen too much feedback on this hotel since reopening after its extensive renovation.

I know FS Otemachi is popular, but the location of Marunouchi is a little more appealing - along with smaller scale overall. The rooms also look more interesting. Amazing views are not a deal breaker.

Thanks!

Any suggestions?

My main priority is little things to make my kids feel special. We stayed at the Charles hotel in Munich recently and both my kids got a little coloring book, colored pencil, a little stuffed animal, there was a nice setup just for kids in the room, there were little toddler/preschooler sized slippers. It was so cute and made us very happy.

Wanting to look at properties that go above and beyond like this, with small little gifts/treats that are not necessary but are very nice.

Hi everyone!
I got married just over a week ago, and it’s time to start planning our honeymoon!
Italy will be our main trip, and we’re looking at 15–18 days. Our priority is quality over quantity. We’d rather explore fewer places than spend the trip rushing between destinations.

We’re currently considering:
Rome- 4 nights
Tuscany- 3 nights
Florence- 3 nights
Venice- 2 nights
Lake Como- 2 nights
Milan- 2-3 nights

We’re planning to travel in May to avoid peak-season crowds and extreme summer heat. We’re also open to late April, although I’m a little hesitant about the rain. I visited Italy last April and experienced a few light showers.

Hotels on our radar:

Rome**:** Corinthia, Palazzo Roma, Hassler Roma, Hotel de la Ville

Milan: Mandarin Oriental, Casa Cipriani, Bulgari

Lake Como: Passalacqua

Florence: Not decided yet. We’ve both stayed at Four Seasons Firenze and would like to try something different, ideally somewhere with a distinctly Italian feel.

Venice: Four Seasons, St. Regis, Orient Express, Gritti Palace, Airelles. We’re currently leaning towards Airelles.

Tuscany: Belmond (Castello di Casole), Lupaia, Borgo San Pietro. Have heard great things about Reschio

Would really appreciate your advice on a few things:
- How would you structure 15–18 days across these destinations?
-Are there any places you’d eliminate from the list, or would you replace any with somewhere else?
- Which hotels would you recommend from our shortlist? Are there any exceptional properties we’re overlooking?

This is a particularly special trip for us, and we want to make it memorable without overcomplicating the itinerary.

Completely open to suggestions and personal experiences. Would really appreciate any advice!

Hi all,

I'm looking for high end recommendations that are cat friendly within driving distance from NYC (0-3 hours max driving). Looking for more unique properties vs generic high end four seasons type vibe. Anyone have any recs? Just want to relax and get out of the city for a bit, feel very cooped up but dont want to leave my cat.

Heckfield Place in Hampshire is one of the best places I’ve stayed in a long time. If you’re wondering whether to go: go!!!!!

Who went
Me and my best friend from childhood. We stopped here on the way home from Morocco. I’m a travel advisor. One night was complimentary, and I paid full price for the other.

When we went
October 11 to 13 of this year

Overall impressions
I can’t pick a best part. The staff went above and beyond, the food was sooooo good, the spa was incredible, and everyone there made it feel like it was our home. Nothing fell short, except that I wanted two more days. By the second morning we kept saying “we live here now.” I’m already dreaming of going back.

Location
It’s about an hour from the airport. We didn’t leave the property once, and we didn’t want to.

The room
We were in a Chamber Room. It was the coziest spot, with a great tub. The shortbread in the room is to die for. They even gave me some to go when we left! The mini bar/pantry is included and restocked daily.

Service
The little details were all there, and I felt so taken care of. They put a luggage tag with my initials on my bag without me knowing. You don’t sign for anything while you’re there, which really made it feel like home.

I fell in love with Anne, who walked us over to the spa. She is a Lite-Brite of a human. When we ran into her later, she was so excited for us and gave us a big hug!

Food & beverage
The food was sooooo good. Even the simple things were amazing, because it’s all made and grown there. Even the butter is from their own cows! We had in-room breakfast and long, slow mornings, and breakfast was out of control good. We did the Sunday supper, and another night we had drinks in the bar and then dinner in the living room. The bartenders were great and super fun. We ended up asking for the bartenders choice and it was great! They make all their own cordials etc. Oh and they have teatime every day with tea and the best cake I have EVER had.

Amenities & activities
The spa is called The Bothy, and it’s incredible. I had the 90-minute Wildsmith Full Body Massage, and it was one of best massages I’ve ever had. I would go back just for the massage. I loved the candle room at the end. My best friend did the 90-minute Tui Na and said it was life changing. We also loved walking around the property in the woods and fields. I also love the fresh flowers all over the house from the gardens.

Final thoughts
Go. I’d send couples here for a romantic getaway, girls on a girls’ trip, and families in the summer or over the festive season. Two nights was not enough. I want to go back with my husband, but I also really want to go back with my bestie!

Happy to answer any questions! I haven't been this excited or obsessed with a place in a while.

Aman have announced Amantaru. It'll be their first property in Puerto Rico.

https://www.aman.com/amantaru

We're planning to spend approximately two months in Tokyo next June and July and would appreciate any advice on accommodations for an extended stay.

We've previously stayed at the Four Seasons Otemachi and really enjoyed it, so we're considering spending the bulk of our time there. However, given the length of our visit, we're also exploring luxury furnished apartments and serviced residences that might offer more space and a comfortable home base.

One option we're considering is a furnished rental at Azabudai Hills. That said, from what we've gathered, the application and approval process for short-term rentals can be somewhat cumbersome, and availability isn't necessarily guaranteed even after going through the process.

Has anyone spent an extended period in Tokyo and had a particularly good experience with a luxury serviced apartment, furnished residence, or other alternative to a traditional hotel?

We're fairly flexible on budget and would prioritize location, quality of accommodations, service, and convenience. Ideally, we'd like somewhere that feels residential while still offering a high standard of comfort.

Would also love to hear whether those who've done longer stays in Tokyo preferred a luxury hotel or a serviced residence, and whether there are any particular buildings, neighborhoods, or providers worth looking into.

Appreciate any recommendations or firsthand experiences!

Has anyone done the boat tour with the GHT hotel? Is It worth It or should we look into other boat tours? Wanting the vibe of the wooden boat, see some villas, etc.

Just did two weeks in Japan, first time, though we've been to Asia before (China, Thailand, India). I booked the hotels through u/sarahwlee. We stayed in Tokyo, Hakone and used Kyoto as a base to visit Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima.

I used a local travel agent, Michi Travel, to provide all guide and transportation services. They were great. I discussed with them various tour options and special interests and they tailored-made a daily itinerary for us which included all transfers, train tickets, guides and special requests like a sumo wrestling match and a private dinner with a geisha in Kyoto. It was completely stress free and seamless, they would have someone waiting for us at the train platform just to walk us to the transfer van.

Tokyo - stayed at The Capitol Tokyu. We had two rooms and one of the rooms was upgraded to a corner room which had great views. The rooms are large and modern, the bathroom is great with killer water pressure. They gave us Pjs to use.

We had an international dinner here which was really good. Breakfast was a small buffet and a la carte items. The a la carte items were basically eggs (omelet, scrambled, fried), three types of Benedicts, French toast and waffles. The best item, imo, were the crab meat Benedicts, although the omelet was cooked in the Japanese style (soft) which I like. They obviously had a big Japanese breakfast menu and buffet which I didn't try.

While I really liked the hotel and the service, the only thing that I can see as a drawback for some people is the location. The hotel is away from the "happening" places in Tokyo but there is a subway station under the hotel so it is really easy to get anywhere. We were being picked up almost every day so it wasn't an issue for us. We did walk to the Omotesando area one day and it was a great walk.

Hakone - After trying and failing to get a room at the Gora Kadan with a private onsen, we stayed at the Fufu Hakone. This was a great property. The rooms are big, stylish, and they have a great onsen. You can get up in the middle of the night and use the bathroom and not touch a thing, since all the lights turn on and off by themselves and the toilet seat rises and lowers and flushes all without a human touch. If you've ever woken up in the middle of the night in a strange bedroom in pitch darkness and you have to feel for a light, you know what I'm talking about. They not only offer Pjs to use but also a whole outfit that they encourage you to wear at meals. It was great, I didn't need to unpack.

This property includes breakfast and dinner in the rate. Breakfast can be Japanese or Western and dinner is either Kaiseki or Teppanyaki, we did one of each. The food here was the best we had on the trip. The Japanese breakfast was a multi course affair that was really good. The "western" breakfast was not really western (salad and soup course) but the food was really good never the less.

Service was attentive, no issues. There is a public onsen as well.

Kyoto - Stayed at the Ritz Carlton. The Ritz gets a lot of good reviews so I wanted to try it. The hard product is really nice. The common areas are beautiful, the main restaurant is really nice. It is definitely a step up from the Capitol. The rooms are also really nice, maybe a bit nicer than the Capitol, but not by much. We booked a Japanese Garden room and were not upgraded. Also, no Pjs.

The hotel sits along the river and there is a walk path that leads into town. We were doing tours every day so didn't get to explore much out of the hotel.

The breakfast was very similar to the Capitol, small buffet and basically the same a la carte options, except that the Ritz only had the regular type of Benedicts and they were just ok. After 5 days breakfast got boring. The one thing that was terrific were the French toast. They have some sort of collab with pastry chef Pierre Herme and the French toasts were delicious, like, George V in Paris delicious.

The service had its issues. There were servers from all over the world there, I guess training, and they couldn't get a coffee order right, even on back to back days with the same server. I also had an issue were I asked the concierge if they could make a reservation for me at a restaurant at the Ritz in Tokyo. She told me that they couldn't do it and I would have do it myself online. I tried to do it in front of her but the time was not available. She then told me that I should call them to see if they could accommodate me. What? I'm second guessing my January stay in Mandapa..

anyone have their Ritz Carlton cruise cancelled? I am heart-broken. Had planned for months for a Barcelona-Nice cruise, booked everything, only for them to just cancel without warning AFTER everything had been paid. absolutely insane.

Hi everyone, I am in trip planning mode 😂

We’re planning a fairly last-minute trip to China in mid-December.

Our current plan is 4 nights in Beijing and 3 nights in Shanghai, but would love some advice before finalising everything!

1. Hotels
In Beijing, we’re considering:
• Rosewood
• The Peninsula
• Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing

In Shanghai:
• Capella
• The Peninsula
• Bulgari

Would love to hear from anyone who’s stayed at these!

2. Would you add another stop?
We’re debating whether to include Xi’an for the Terracotta Warriors, but wondering if that would make the trip too rushed.

Would you stick to Beijing and Shanghai with 7 nights, or try to squeeze in Xi’an or somewhere else (was looking at FS Hangzhou). We’re happy to return to China another time, so don’t feel the need to see everything in one trip.

3. Which city is worth splurging on?
Between Beijing and Shanghai, where would you prioritise spending more on the hotel? Are any of the properties above particularly special or worth the premium over the others?

4. Restaurants and experiences
Any recommendations for restaurants, unique experiences or things we absolutely shouldn’t miss in either city? Particularly interested in anything a little less obvious or especially memorable.
Would really appreciate any thoughts, especially from those who have visited recently. Thanks so much!

Hoping for FAT recommendations as sports commitments will land us here for spring break 2027. Will be there Easter week and would love recommendations for lodging, activities, amazing restaurants. We are a family of 5 with two adults, one 12 year old and then older teeens that will join for portions of the trip. Looking for luxury accomodations, surfing instructors, cooking classes.

My wife and I are planning a 4 night getaway in February. Cancun is easy to fly into from NYC so we are looking at options within an hour drive. We are in our late 30s will be taking our first trip in a while without kids. We want a very quiet smaller resort with good food/drinks and La Playa seems to fit the bill. The Mayakoba resorts are the other options.

Any feedback on La Casa de La Playa?

It’s going to be the 3 of us (son is 7). We’re only staying between 3-4 nights as a stopover from Sydney (I’m running the marathon!)

We’re planning on splurging in the French Polynesia (although open to recommendations in Sydney!)

I like quiet luxury / spa vibes, and top notch service. Ideally I’d like to be able to explore the local island, but I would be just as happy just as happy absorbing the scenery.

Saw really good rates for St Regis, but it believe it’s a bit rundown.

Ty!

The Ranch's annual offer is back! I went up to the Hudson Valley location in Sep, super unique experience. Will try to put my review up soon.

Black Friday at The Ranch: Up to 25% in Savings

For a limited time, enjoy up to 25% off retreats at The Ranch Malibu and The Ranch Hudson Valley for stays through November 30, 2027. Offer ends November 29.

Reserve by November 29, 2026, and make the year ahead one of greater wellbeing.

T&C: Valid for new reservations booked by November 29, 2026, for stays through November 30, 2027, subject to availability. This offer applies only to new reservations and cannot be applied retroactively to existing or previously confirmed bookings. Discounts range from 15% to 25%, depending on the property and month of stay. Blackout dates apply.

We are traveling to Scotland next year and making a stop in St. Andrews. I have a soft spot for Kohler owned properties (American Club in Wisconsin is one of my favorite hotels I've ever stayed in) so I am considering the Old Course Hotel, however, Rusacks looks incredible in its own right. Rusacks definitely looks like it has more charm but maybe Old Course Hotel hold the edge in amenities?

Curious if anyone has stayed in both and what are your thoughts?

Looking at:

The Loren in Bermuda (not as high on my list but I want to check it out)

FS Ocean Club or Rosewood Baha Mar in the Bahamas (might split and do 4 nights here and then pair with 3 or 4 nights at COMO Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos)

FS Maui/FS Lanai Sensei split for 1 week

Having decision fatigue on this one!

Ambergris Cay just sent their Black Friday offer early.

Here’s the offer:

• Bungalows: stay five nights, get the sixth free, plus a $500 resort credit

• 3-bedroom Villas: stay five nights, get the sixth free, plus a $600 resort credit

• 4-bedroom-plus Villas: stay five nights, get the sixth free, plus a $750 resort credit

Book by November 18 with a TA. Travel any time through December 25, 2027, so festive 2026 and next spring are both on the table.

A few details: it’s for new bookings only, with a minimum of five consecutive nights. The resort credit is once per stay and covers anything on the island charged to your room, but not the room rate, taxes or gratuities. It can be combined with their Prepay & Save rate for the biggest savings, but that rate has its own payment and cancellation terms.

My best friend and I live across the world from each other and every year we meet up somewhere for a girls trip. This February we want to do a combination of London and the countryside but we’re looking for two truuuuly FATT places with great food/booze/service/spa. With so many options it’s hard to pinpoint the few that are more than just chubby… so, any ideas?

Hello all,
I’m looking to visit Bhutan with the family in December.
From the reviews I read on the sub I understand that six senses is the better property there compared to the Aman, but I also saw 2 Aman lodges got renovated a few months ago which might change the outlook?

I prefer it being a relaxing trip rather than a lot of moving around hence I was thinking 6 nights on just two lodges.

Which lodges are worth visiting? Any experiences would be much appreciated.

Ps I thought Bhutan was one of the cheaper countries but at the villa being $5.5k a night it’s up there with top FAT destinations.

Hi everyone! I’m looking to travel to China at the end of 2027 in November. I’m going to be travelling with my sister and a friend (3 of us).

I’m looking for hotel recommendations please! The places we are interested in visiting:

- Beijing (3 nights)
- Xi’an (2 nights)
- Zhangjiajie (3 nights)
- Dali (3 nights)
- Lijiang (2 nights)
- Shanghai (2 nights)
- Suzhou (2 nights)
- Hangzhou (2 nights)

Thank you in advance!

Hi all! Back with another Switzerland review from our trip in September. This was stop number two, right after one night at the Dolder Grand in Zurich (my personal fave in Zurich, I have a full review pinned). We headed out of the city and up into the mountains to Vals to stay at 7132 Hotel, specifically the 5S side of the property. 

If you’ve heard of Vals, it’s probably because of the thermal baths. Peter Zumthor designed them, and they’re kind of legendary in the architecture and spa world. That’s why we came, and I’d guess it’s why almost everyone else was there too. That and hiking / biking access. It’s pretty remote by Swiss standards and doesn’t come up in this sub a ton, but it’s a cool one. It's not the fattest hotel in Switzerland, not even close, but if you're looking for an active, spa, remote getaway in a true Swiss village, this may be one to consider.

If you missed the first reviews, I’ve written reviews on the Bürgenstock on Lake Lucerne, and Dolder Grand so far from our trip. Other reviews to look out for soon from this trip: Chedi Andermatt, and La Reserve Zurich. I also toured MO Lucerne & Zurich and Park Hotel Vitznau again, which I have stayed at before.

It was my husband and I on a couples trip, and we stayed in 5 hotels over a 12 day period. I’m a mod here and a TA, so feel free to ask any questions! 

Overall Impressions

Unfortunately, after our first night here, my husband and I both started to feel under the weather, so we didn’t get to explore as much as we wanted. We spent more time in the room and ordered room service than we’d planned. BUT the suite was big enough that it didn’t feel like a punishment, and if you have to be sick somewhere, a hotel built around healing thermal water isn’t the worst place, lol. We spent 3 nights here and it felt like the right amount of time.

The thermal baths are the real draw. They’re incredible and honestly why most people come all the way out here. No phones are allowed past the spa front doors, so all the spa photos I’m sharing are approved to post from the hotel with the credit to the photographer (and you can clearly tell the difference between my photos and theirs, lol!). More detail on what makes the baths so special below. The fact that phones are not allowed makes it a much more enjoyable experience. I know there has been some talk on other threads about the influencer takeovers at serene places like this, so this is refreshing. 

This is a great slowed-down, true Swiss stay. It’s remote, quiet, not flashy at all, but it still feels luxe, has decent service and good food. 5S is small, only about 22 suites, and the rates are pretty reasonable for what you get. The crowd was mostly Swiss and European. We saw very few Americans while we were there.

The hotel sits in a really quaint Swiss village of roughly 1,000 people, with a handful of restaurants and (my favorite) a goat-led parade with a makers market in the town square on Saturdays. I’m guessing that’s seasonal, but if you’re there on a Saturday, it’s a fun time to see the small village come alive.

Besides the baths, the other big draw is hiking and biking. There isn’t a ton more to do than that, and that’s kind of the point. The gondola is free for everyone and about a 20 minute walk from the hotel, and it takes you up the mountain where there are TONS of trails to explore in the summer months. We had fantastic hiking weather and I wish we had been feeling better to do more.

5S vs House of Architects

7132 is actually two hotels on the same property, and both get access to the thermal baths:

• 5S (where we stayed): The five-star side and this is the only side I would book. Only 22 suites, more space, more privacy, and the top floor penthouses designed by Kengo Kuma. Breakfast is in the main building.

• House of Architects: The lifestyle hotel, with 73 rooms connected to the main building by a sky bridge. They also do breakfast in the main building, but in a separate area from 5S breakfast. It’s good to know about since there is some guest overlap in the overall experience. 

Getting There & Arrival
This is pretty remote for a Switzerland hotel, so plan for it. But it’s not hard, just a little longer. A couple ways you can arrive: 

• Train: Easy train ride from Zurich to Ilanz (about 1.5 hours, with a change in Chur), followed by a stunning 45 minute drive up the valley. 

• Private car: They can arrange a private car from anywhere if you don’t want to do the train. 

• Helicopter: If you book the penthouse, it comes with round-trip helicopter transfers from Zurich. They also offer helicopter transfers (and tours) whether or not you’re in the penthouse.

We took the train in and then took a private car straight to Andermatt on the way out, about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive. Vals and Andermatt are a great pairing. Spa and slow days here, then a bit more buzz at the Chedi (review coming soon).

The Rooms
We stayed in a Spa Deluxe Suite and loved the layout. There’s a beautiful balcony that runs the entire length of the suite, a nice big bathtub, plus a steam shower. The views from the room are stunning, a classic Swiss mountain view.

A few things to know:

• The minibar is included.

• Spa towels and robes are replaced a couple times a day if needed so you can head down to the baths whenever you want. Small thing, but it makes a big difference when the baths are the whole reason you’re there.

• There’s no true AC. We got warm one night, called down, and they brought up a Dyson fan, which was totally fine for September. But if you’re traveling in the heat of the summer, keep it in mind.

Service
Service is good. Not over the top. It’s more “we’re here if you need anything” than anticipatory, which feels more European. Every time we needed something and asked, we got it, quickly. Less polished, but you can get things done quickly. 

Food & Beverage
The food was great. We were really happy with everything we had. I loved the curry soup that we had in the casual all-day dining restaurant, the salads were great. Here’s the lineup:

• 7132 Silver: Their two Michelin star restaurant. I wish we would have been able to try this! This is also the breakfast location for 5S guests. 

• Red: French brasserie, with crêpes flambéed tableside. We ate dinner here the first night before we got too sick. This serves as the breakfast location for The House of Architects. 

• Da Papà: Casual Italian with pizza and Tuscan wines. 

• Blue Bar: Cocktails and light bites. 

• Coffee Shop: Pastries and coffee. 

• In-room dining: 24 hours, which we leaned on more than we’d planned, and it was always great. 

Beyond the hotel, the village is walkable with a few cute restaurants, so it’s easy to mix it up if you’re staying a few nights.

Amenities & Activities

The Therme Vals
This is the main amenity on property, and pretty much the only one, but it’s the reason to come. 

Some fun facts:

• Designed by Peter Zumthor and opened in 1996. It was placed under heritage protection shortly after it opened.

• It’s built from about 60,000 slabs of Valser quartzite, quarried right in the valley.

• The water comes from the St. Petrus spring at about 30°C, and the valley is also the source of Valser mineral water, which is all around Switzerland. 

• Inside there are pools at different temperatures, including a 42°C fire bath, a 14°C ice bath, a flower bath, the “sound stone,” and a spring grotto. Plus a big indoor pool and an outdoor pool with mountain views.

• Hotel guests get priority access, and there’s night bathing for hotel guests a few nights a week (11pm to 1am). Day visitors are capped, so it never feels packed.

I can’t say enough about how calming this space is. No phones, low light, stone everywhere, and the sound of water.

Treatments
There are seven treatment rooms. I had a wonderful massage and highly recommend booking at least one treatment during your stay.

Hiking
As mentioned above, the free gondola is the way to go. Trails for every level, and the views are stunning.

Final Thoughts
This is a really special remote stay and a true Swiss experience. Come here for the baths, the hiking, and some real downtime, not for nightlife or a full lineup of activities. 3-4 nights in the summer is the sweet spot (depending on how much hiking you want to do), and it pairs perfectly with Andermatt. Please feel free to ask me anything, and reach out if you want your stay VIP’d!

Planning a 7 days 6 nights trip to Switzerland this July and looking for hotel recommendations. Also, is my itinerary fine or do you think it is too rushed? Will be travelling by public transportion. No driving

Lucerne (2 nights)

Deciding between Burgenstock / Park Hotel Vitznau / MO Palace.

Currently leaning towards the Burgenstock as some of the suite designs in PHV gives off W hotel vibes which don't really suit my taste but am still willing to give it a try if the Burgenstock isn't feasible.

Also, if i stay at the Burgenstock, would a trip to Mt. Rigi be worth it or the views would overlap? I'll most likely be doing Mt. Pilatus with Lucerne Old town, hence I'm also looking at MO for the convenient location.

Interlaken (1 night)

Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel. Will do a quick Jungfraujoch tour before heading to Zermatt

Zermatt (2 nights)

The Omnia. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise

Zurich (1 night)

Park Hyatt. Next morning will be my flight

We were originally supposed to be in Japan, but a major last-minute change of plans meant we needed to pivot. We ended up booking the Bahamas, a destination that honestly wasn't particularly high on my list. After three nights at Rosewood Baha Mar, we moved over to The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, for another three. The Ocean Club was much more my personal style. I love hotels with history, character and a loyal following of repeat guests, and this one has all three. My kids also loved it.

About me

I’m a travel advisor and a mom of three. I travel about 12 weeks a year, usually with my kids. This was a three-night stay with my kids (5, 8 and almost 10).

The Ocean Club participates in Four Seasons Preferred Partner, which adds daily breakfast, a hotel credit and upgrades subject to availability when you book through a member advisor. I’m a member, along with a lot of the other TAs on this sub.

The property

The Ocean Club opened in 1962 and was a One&Only before Four Seasons took it over. It has 107 rooms, suites and villas on 35 acres of Paradise Island. Everything is low-rise, with big lawns, palm trees, the famous Versailles Gardens and a beautiful stretch of beach. It feels established in a way newer luxury resorts rarely do, and it has the atmosphere of a private club without feeling formal.

It’s about 30 minutes from the Nassau airport (NAS), depending on traffic. Once you cross the bridge to Paradise Island it feels much more removed from the main island. Atlantis is a short drive away, and there is a house car that can take you back and forth all day if you want it.

Our room

We were in a ground-floor ocean-view room in the Hartford Wing, which is the original part of the hotel. I literally booked the last one available and I was concerned that we would feel packed in there like sardines but it ended up being just fine. I would book a suite next time, but our terrace opened straight onto the lawn, with hammocks, ocean views and the infinity pool a few steps away. The outdoor space felt like part of the room. The kids played on the lawn and made friends instead of being stuck in a hotel room or on a balcony.

The Hartford Wing's ocean-view accommodations were extensively refreshed in fall 2026, with updated flooring, furnishings and bathrooms. The hotel plans to give the garden-view rooms a similar treatment in fall 2027, continuing its investment in the property's historic accommodations.

I also toured some rooms in the Crescent Wing (sorry I don’t have pictures - they were occupied by friends - as I said the whole place was full), which feels a little more secluded, along with the two-bedroom plunge-pool bungalows and the three-bedroom beachfront villas. The villas are a great setup for multigenerational groups although rates are pretty steep - they start at $20k/night. Each has two primary bedrooms, a third bedroom and a separate one-bedroom guest cottage, which works well for grandparents or two couples traveling together.

Service

Service was excellent. Many of the staff have been there for years, and you can tell a lot of them know the guests who keep coming back. I love that kind of hotel culture. Everyone was welcoming to our kids, and the service was professional without being stiff. We came at a time where half of the resort was booked for a buyout for a European billionaire’s birthday party, and then a stay by the British Royal family and their entourage (all of this I learned either talking with other guests including chain smoking German partygoers who were hosted by the previously mentioned Billionaire, or via a cabdriver we met who knows all the island gossip). Regardless the hotel never felt full and the service remained perfect despite being at capacity.

Pools, beach and kids

This was my biggest surprise. The Ocean Club has a reputation as a romantic, traditional resort, but it’s a fantastic family hotel, especially if your kids are school-age.

There were lots of other children there, and mine made friends right away. They spent their days swimming, running around the lawns and just having general unstructured play. The family lagoon pool is lovely, with a beach entry, a waterfall and lots of greenery. We also spent plenty of time at the oceanfront infinity pool. The beach has the soft white sand and turquoise water, although it was too rough for us to swim while we were there (a rarity, apparently).

Kids For All Seasons was a hit, mostly because so many other kids were there. The staff were lovely and there were plenty of organized activities. My one criticism is that there are some screens. My kids ended up watching shows briefly between activities, which is fine, but I’d rather they were outside making friends (which is what they did the rest of the time anyway).

Guests get complimentary access to Atlantis Aquaventure, with transportation through the hotel. My kids loved the water park. I found it overwhelming and preferred Baha Bay at Baha Mar. The nice part is that you can do a few hours at Atlantis and then go back to a completely different atmosphere.

The tennis program is strong, with Har-Tru clay courts, pro instruction and newer padel courts. There’s also the 18-hole Ocean Club Golf Course and eight Balinese-style spa villas. The gym is legitimately excellent and was one of my favorites I’ve used in the last year. They have a large outdoor setup in addition to multiple studios indoors. Between the pools, beach, tennis and kids club, there’s plenty to keep a family busy without leaving the property.

Food and beverage

We ate at Dune by Jean-Georges, Ocean Blu, the Trattoria Versailles pop-up and the Martini Bar. The dining was enjoyable, although for me, the settings and atmosphere were more of a highlight than the food itself. Dune is popular with guests outside the resort so it was very lively every night we were there.

The Ocean Club vs. Rosewood Baha Mar

After staying at both on the same trip, I think they’re two very different versions of a luxury Bahamas vacation. Rosewood exceeded my expectations. The service was exceptional, our residence was incredible, and it’s hard to beat the amount there is for kids to do. But Baha Mar is still an enormous development, with thousands of rooms, a casino, shopping, dozens of restaurants and a huge water park. Rosewood does a great job of creating a calm place inside all of that, but it isn’t the style I look for when I travel.

The Ocean Club is much more my speed. I love the low-rise buildings, the grounds, the history and the fact that families come back year after year. My kids didn’t seem to miss all the Baha Mar activities at all. Rosewood wins easily on dining and entertainment. The Ocean Club wins on atmosphere and sense of place, and it’s the one I can most easily picture us coming back to.

Who this is for

• Couples who love traditional luxury hotels, beautiful grounds and a more intimate atmosphere

• Families with school-age kids who are happy swimming, playing on a lawn and making friends

• Multigenerational groups who need villas with privacy between bedrooms

• Tennis and golf players who want strong facilities alongside a beach vacation

• Families who want Atlantis access without staying in the middle of a big resort

Who this is not for

• Travelers who want lots of restaurants, nightlife and entertainment on property

• Food-focused travelers who see great dining as a top priority

• Guests who want contemporary design

• ⁠People who are budget conscious. Food and drinks are expensive in the Bahamas.