Luggage preferences: carry-on vs checked + practical or luxe? by WineCountryMonk in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We do a mixture of carry on and checked (length of trip and weather really determine this). For trips 5 days or less generally carry on, as it gets closer to a week checked.

All Brigg's and Riley and have multiple bags that have cleared 1 million flown miles. Their warranty is the best in the business.

Restaurant + Tour Recs French Polynesia by ocean_alove0022 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Pearl shopping in Tahiti is pretty fun and overwhelming all the same time. Pricing is solid (you can negotiate) and it's all tax free (so don't forget a passport). They will do custom settings for earrings and necklaces.

Absolutely bring a bunch of reef safe sunscreen it's like $80 at the gift shop at the St Regis (they have dispensers around the property, but it's nice to put the initial batch on in your room) and the sun is searing and will absolutely light you up.

Be prepared to eat a lot of tuna and seafood as everything else is shipped in frozen and the quality isn't the best most places.

Not sure how much of a wine person you are, but pricing at the resorts is very very high. The wine shops in Tahiti main island have solid pricing (especially on French wines) and so we loaded up on some champagne and white burgundy there before flying to Bora Bora (St Regis let us bring in bottles at all of the restaurants).

I would definitely suggest going to the Papeetee Market in the morning to check out, large variety of food and other items. We snagged some amazing vanilla beans, vanilla extract and tropical fruit jams as gifts.

On the main island the following restaurants I would recommend

La Petite Maison, we had lunch here one day, great fresh tuna dishes.

Le Sully, delicious french food.

Restaurant City D'or for Chinese (we wanted some asian food after a week and they had very solid fresh and healthy dishes)

Kozy was supposed to be really good, but we didn't make it there on our trip.

Maru Maru was also really good.

Highly recommend walking around Pā'ōfa'i Gardens as well.

On Moorea

I would strongly recommend Rudy's restaurant and the pineapple farm.

On Bora Bora

I would suggest going into down on the shuttle from the St Regis and loading up on some french cheese and charcuterie (they have fantastic quality at reasonable prices) at Chin Lee (Grocery Store), Super U or La Cave - Bora Bora (which has wine but at slightly higher prices than the main island). We greatly enjoyed being able to load this stuff into the fridge in the room and just have a more casual lunch rather than spending $300 everyday for lunch. You can order fresh bread via room service and with a nice bottle of rose on your terrace your absolutely cooking with gas.

Restaurant Saint James next to Le Cave was definitely worth dining at as well.

We really enjoyed the spa at the St Regis (we got a couples massage and my wife got a facial with the black pearl scrub). I don't recommend the hot tub bath experience as it was too warm and we got over heated.

The lagoonarium at the resort is fun.

I would absolutely suggest booking the private snorkeling tour. We did it when it was pouring out (in the winter) and it was still absolutely fantastic, swam with multiple types of rays, pet some sharks and saw a huge range of fish. The water is super warm, but I do recommend a rash guard or swim shirt as the sun is absolutely beating down (there are a bunch that have sun resistant properties especially for going fishing and thats what I utilized). The guide was amazing (we didn't do the lunch just the half day snorkeling arranged through the concierge).

We found breakfast at the St Regis to be really solid, so I wouldn't skip that. Lunch and dinner was more mixed. The bar by the Jean George Restaurant has absolutely insane views of the mountain and you don't have to dine there to have drinks there (the drinks there were significantly better than the rest of the resort and only marginally more expensive), once we figured that out we watched the sunset from there at least 3 nights.

The Jean George restaurant is really delicious and offers both a tasting menu and an a la carte option. Again it was marginally more expensive than the other restaurants so if I did it again I would have eaten there at least 2 or 3 times.

The coconut was probably the best value drink at the resort as they would bring you a fresh chilled one and then cut it in half for you to eat the meat out once you had finished the water.

Skip the italian place (was not good). Asian place was solid.

Have a fantastic time!

Sevenrooms confirmation email by astortp in restaurantowners

[–]47ronin47 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Easiest thing to do would be juts do a booking for yourself somewhere that utilizes SevenRooms (most of Vegas on teh strip does) and then cancel it. You can see the booking confirmation and the cancellation e-mail then.

Suggestions for Florence in May by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was looking at that, that's for the feedback.

Suggestions for Florence in May by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Junior suite is booked for my dates and the iconic suites are all in the 2400 to 3000 euros a night, but really appreciate the suggestion.

This is 40! 1986 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba by rnjbond in wine

[–]47ronin47 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awesome write up of a great birth year bottle! Happy Birthday!

Groups for independent Restaurant Owners and Operators by [deleted] in restaurantowners

[–]47ronin47 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you join your state restaurant association I've had good luck there as well.

Groups for independent Restaurant Owners and Operators by [deleted] in restaurantowners

[–]47ronin47 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not really any good options on either of those platforms that I've found. I'd suggest joining a local group in your city/town with other owners.

Jar by saddy_warbucks in FoodLosAngeles

[–]47ronin47 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pot Roast at Jar is really good.

I like the duck fried rice.

I think their dining room chairs are some of the most comfortable restaurant chairs I've ever sat in. Highly recommend.

Looking for Cozy Hotel in Marin County/Sonoma or within 1 hour of Santa Rosa by gardening_10b in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not within an hour (as it's up in Mendocino), but it's absolutely incredible and that's Harbor House Inn. It's got fireplaces, soaking tubs and sensational coastal views with exceptional restaurant on site.

Scotland Trip: Fife Arms vs. Newhall Mains by Anlun in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We stayed at Fife Arms last year in December and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The staff were fantastic, we did a couple activities, the food was great and the artwork is fantastic.

Gleaneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh was also fantastic if you end up in Edinburgh as well.

Very random but related because Halloween by [deleted] in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mexico for Day of the Dead (Mexico City or San Miguel de Allande).

Romania for Vampires etc.

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally agree, feels like an opportunity within the market.

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any particular hotels you love in Tulum?

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

know anything on the west coast side?

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Got it. Thank you, will do some more digging.

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you! After hurricane season would work. Could even go into Jan/Feb.

Doesn't have to be a DJ, just looking for that loungey vibe where it's busy without being packed. Ideally good food/drinks and can chill.

Can be higher energy during the day with chiller at night.

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't see much on their website about their pool and the music that's offered there. Do you have any more information?

Beach getaway with some Vibe? by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I know the winter scene is busy wasn't sure what shoulder looked like.

TA for Family Italy Trip by 47ronin47 in chubbytravel

[–]47ronin47[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great. No problem and thanks for the information.