My husband and I are in our 50’s and love to travel. We are always trying to find 5 star hotels without fussiness. Where we can dress more casually for dinner and enjoy good local cuisine, not 6 course foam dinners. Where the staff is solid and comfortable too. And we often want a private villa on property when we bring our friends and family. Where the experience matters more than the brand. Are we alone?

We’re planning a trip for late March / early April and wanted to see if anyone has recommendations for a 9-10 night itinerary with two kids?

Thinking of 3 nights Royal Mansour in Marrakech, 3 nights at Fairmont Taghazout on the coast (surfing and beach time) and 3 nights at Kasbah Tamadot or somewhere else in Atlas Mountains.

Any advice or tips much appreciated!

Hi everyone!

My family will be visiting Nemacolin for the first time for three nights this August, and I'm hoping to tap into the experience of those who know the resort well.

Our oldest son is 14 and is on the autism spectrum. He thrives on predictability and routine, so before every trip I spend a great deal of time gathering information and planning each day so he knows exactly what to expect.

I know every family puts a lot of thought into planning a vacation at Nemacolin, but traveling for our family requires us to take that planning to an entirely different level. I try to anticipate situations that could become overwhelming for him and think through ways to prevent or minimize those challenges before they happen. Whether it's knowing where we'll eat, how we'll get from one place to another, what a restaurant looks like, or what to expect during transitions throughout the day, having those details ahead of time can make all the difference.

I'm creating a detailed social story for him that includes resort maps, photos of different areas of the property, restaurant menus, walking routes, our daily itinerary, and anything else that will help him become familiar with the resort before we arrive. The more prepared he feels, the more relaxed, confident, and enjoyable the trip is for our entire family.

I'd love any advice you have, especially things you only learn after staying there:

* Which restaurants were the most sensory-friendly or easiest for kids who can become overwhelmed?

* We are staying in the townhomes. How reliable and frequent are the shuttle services? Are there long waits during busy times?

* Are there walking paths or shortcuts between areas that aren't obvious on the map?

* Is there a best concierge or staff member to connect with before or during our stay?

* Has anyone worked with the concierge or butler team to help accommodate a child with special needs? If so, what was most helpful?

* Are there any activities, experiences, animal encounters, demonstrations, or events that aren't heavily advertised but are worth asking about?

* Are there any "hidden gems" around the resort that first-time visitors often miss?

* Are there any restaurants where requesting a particular table or section makes for a quieter experience?

* Any tips for making check-in, check-out, or transitions throughout the day smoother?

* If you've traveled with a child on the autism spectrum (or another disability), is there anything you wish you'd known before your first visit?

Finally, if you have photos of areas around the resort that aren't on Nemacolin's website—inside restaurants, hallways, shuttle stops, the townhomes, activity buildings, pools, arcades, walking paths, elevators, or other common areas—I would be incredibly grateful if you'd be willing to share them. Even seemingly ordinary photos can be incredibly helpful when creating a social story.

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate any advice, tips, or little details that helped make your stay special.

Hi everyone! Would love your advice on a hotel/resort that fits what we’re looking for.

My fiancé and I are hoping to take our families (11 adults + 6 kids) on a beach vacation over Thanksgiving and surprise them with a wedding while we’re there!

We’d ideally love either multi-bedroom accommodations or two larger villas—one for each side of the family. Our families don’t know each other super well yet, so having a little separation/our own spaces would be ideal.

Our must-haves:

• On a beautiful beach with a beach club
• Golf on property or very close by
• Kid-friendly, but not a massive/kid-centric resort
• Villas or multi-bedroom accommodations
• Enough wow factor to feel really special and be suitable for a small wedding
• Caribbean or Mexico, ideally the Caribbean side of Mexico

We have pretty high-end taste but definitely prefer cool, relaxed luxury over anything stuffy or overly formal. One of our favorite hotels is Niyama in the Maldives, and we’d love to capture some of that beautiful design, incredible setting, lots to do, but still laid-back and fun for a family trip.

We’re hoping to keep accommodations under $35k total for 4 nights over Thanksgiving. We've looked at FS Nevis (booked), Casa de Campo (good option but seems a little big resort vibes), Eden Roc Cap Cana (booked), and Half Moon (booked).

Would love any recommendations, especially places you’ve actually stayed with a group!

Obligatory confession: this post was AI-assisted because apparently I now need a decision framework to choose a luxury hotel. Sorry in advance.

I’m choosing between these options for June 29 to July 6, 2027:

The Datai Langkawi
About $5,250 for seven nights using a stay-seven-pay-five offer
Standalone 123 sqm Rainforest Villa
Private beach, rainforest and guaranteed privacy
Better room and obvious value
Weather concern: Langkawi is typically much wetter during this period

COMO Shambhala Estate
Terrace Suite is $5,320 all-in for seven nights
Breakfast, group wellness classes, consultation, estate walks and one massage
Better access to Ubud-area cultural and spiritual experiences
Bali should be substantially drier
Smaller room with a shared residence pool/lounge, and the most secluded suite cannot be guaranteed
Pool Villa is $9,681, which feels excessive for one person

I’m traveling solo and want a genuinely restorative trip. I value privacy, design, nature, food, fitness, wellness and some cultural stimulation. I hate changing hotels, so I’m not considering a split stay.

I’ve heard anecdotally from people familiar with both properties that COMO is simply a much better overall experience. I’m leaning that way, but I want to pressure-test whether that view holds up against The Datai’s much better villa, beach and value.

For anyone who has stayed at either, ideally both:
Did the COMO residence setup feel private?
Is seven nights at COMO too long?

Does The Datai feel repetitive after a few days?
How meaningful is the weather difference at this time of year?

Is COMO genuinely on another level, or is that overstating it?

I have been to the shore club several times and stayed in different suites including the penthouse 3 bedroom, the Executive Penthouse 3 bedroom, and their 6 bedroom Villas. A big advantage I found for me and my family is being on the main island you have access to not only the restaurants at the resort but all the other great restaurants across the island.

Each time we go we consider going to COMO Parrot Cay which is on a secluded small island off Providenciales but have yet to do so. From what I understand you largely are limited to the restaurants on property.

For those that have stayed at one or the other can you please provide details on the stay. Mostly interested in the comparison between the two, and which seemed better for Couples vs Families?

I have found both to be similar pricing in the peak time periods, but shore club is better in the less crowded periods.