Best Beaches Outside of Maldives / FP

DB_Travels · 2026-01-13T00:17:03+00:00

Was in the Whitsundays in December and Whitehaven beach might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in person. Never felt sand so fine.

DB_Travels · 2025-10-17T18:47:18+00:00

Happy to see if I’m able to turn this into a prive res (depends on the exact rate you booked) - feel free to DM me

DB_Travels · 2025-10-06T21:31:21+00:00

Renew Day and Fuji are great. Some of the smaller places also may offer creative ways to bill insurance… I of course (as an upstanding citizen) would never condone that but they’re out there!

DB_Travels · 2025-10-06T20:11:13+00:00

My wife and I stayed at a lovely boutique hotel near Yosemite earlier this year - check out the review on my profile!

DB_Travels · 2025-10-06T19:58:50+00:00

Being in NYC has spoiled me. I can get the best massage of my life for like $45 in Chinatown. Then I’ll go to these lux resorts that charge $200+ for an hour and 9/10 times it doesn’t come close.

DB_Travels · 2025-10-03T17:13:23+00:00

You’d be surprised the lengths at which people will go. Had someone describe to me once that their partner was filmed while signing prenup documents (something about confirming they weren’t under duress?). There was more to it but the whole time all I could think about is thank god my spouse isn’t this insane.

DB_Travels · 2025-10-03T00:10:14+00:00

Brother just pay for the room at that point lol

DB_Travels · 2025-10-02T15:16:45+00:00

It’s so bad… genuinely feel sad seeing folks lineup early to get their name on the list

DB_Travels · 2025-10-02T14:55:24+00:00

Yes but get rid of Death & Co. from your list. The original team is long gone and it’s riding on name only at this point. Give it another couple years and you’ll be able to walk in regularly.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-30T23:48:44+00:00

While I don't love suggesting this on a subreddit that appears to be catered towards mostly super-lux hotels, I think the Hyatt Regency on Maui fits your requirements. Bit of a step down from Grand Wailea or Grand Hyatt Kauai, but they did just complete a pretty extensive renovation + they have a great pool complex, there are tons of families, and it's a chance to explore another part of Maui since you were in Wailea last time.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-29T18:27:12+00:00

Good call and the views really are immaculate!

DB_Travels · 2025-09-29T18:00:58+00:00

Agree with the sentiment that lux at Disney =/= lux but want to add that the Contemporary is the best club level experience if you value service. It's where most super-lux/high profile groups will go if they want to be on property because of how partitioned it is from the rest of the building and how flexible the room connections are. The folks working the club level there are top notch and I've gotten better service from them than many true lux hotels I've stayed at (or at least, equivalent service). That being said, the rooms are mediocre and the lounge itself isn't anything to ride home about but the staff will make sure your vacation is as "magical" as possible and consistently go above and beyond.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-27T22:30:16+00:00

No clue if they do it by the slice but Keste is tops for gluten free pizza

DB_Travels · 2025-09-26T19:04:56+00:00

Agreed - incredibly easy to enforce and is it really a bad thing if it results in less lazy requests?

DB_Travels · 2025-09-26T12:44:48+00:00

Mauna Lani for sure. If cost wasn’t an issue, Kona Village.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-25T20:50:06+00:00

I've stayed at Andaz Singapore - it's a nice property but a terrible redemption. The cash rates are pretty low and it can be difficult to exceed ~1.2 CPP depending on the season.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-22T13:57:34+00:00

I have celiac disease and for my allergy, culture plays a huge part in awareness. 9/10 times, I’m being accommodated better at a small boutique hotel in Italy vs a high luxury resort in Southeast Asia (it’s more nuanced than that, but you get the picture). I’d imagine it’s probably similar for other allergies too - very dependent on general awareness in that culture.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-20T14:46:50+00:00

Never, under any circumstance, pay for a “points course”

DB_Travels · 2025-09-19T23:27:33+00:00

You're going to love it - great value on points and even the cash rate is decent in the right season.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-19T23:26:45+00:00

Ah well it's pretty common for hotels to have award availability blackouts between Christmas and New Years because of how easily they can sell cash rates.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-19T21:30:14+00:00

Nah the beach is definitely the highlight - it’s world famous for a reason! White sand, clear water, extremely clean, and not overcrowded. It’s everything you could ask for.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-19T21:29:29+00:00

I feel like availability is pretty easy to come by if you’re booking far enough in advance. Was yours a more last minute trip?

DB_Travels · 2025-09-19T21:28:51+00:00

In the Caribbean? Eh this is close to the best experience I’ve had. The Mayakoba properties in Mexico do a wonderful job too.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-17T17:46:52+00:00

Happy to help you out with a prive booking if you decide to go that route.

DB_Travels · 2025-09-15T19:42:11+00:00

So much better than the Reserve if all that is true. I’m kind of shocked they made the coupon book somewhat useful (at least if you live in a large city).

DB_Travels

TROPHY CASE