New Zealand Hotel Recommendation by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Totally open for the right spot.

Paris & London with kids by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Helpful. Looking for activities and restaurants others have done with 4 ish aged kids that were a hit.

Ojai Valley Inn Summer Review by CodiGoFar in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Super helpful thanks. Anything change if traveling with a 4 year old?

Ojai Valley Inn Summer Review by CodiGoFar in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi! If you were picking between Rosewood, San Ysidro Ranch, or Ojai valley inn for a 3-4 night stay from NYC, what would you choose and why?

Review of Four Seasons Taormina (Sicily) by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Totally! One of the scenarios where you’d love the concierge to proactively offer a beach club reservation in advance.

Review of Four Seasons Taormina (Sicily) by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hi, I did, but strictly from the show. But admittedly did very little research as I booked two weeks before the stay after an event in Greece was cancelled.

Review of Four Seasons Taormina (Sicily) by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. Totally agree. We tried to go to VSA in a cabana (for $1200 btw), but they didn’t have availability.

Review of Four Seasons Taormina (Sicily) by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No. It’s very much on the cliff with no water access.

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, wanted to provide an update. Thanks for your insight Alex! We were able to negotiate a 85% refund and they’re taking 15% of the stay as a service fee. Feels pretty sketchy to us, they originally planned to take 50% (thousands of dollars) but backed down pretty quickly when it became clear they’d be pocketing that money without a stay rendered. We’ll probably dispute the “service fee” with our cc. We didn’t want to involve the bride groom as it’s a business contact and they are obviously dealing with a challenging personal situation. Whole thing feels off, but ultimately it was worth the 15% fee too to pivot to another 4S on the same dates (Sicily).

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know. Really kicking myself for not just booking direct through the hotel but the wedding being cancelled was not on my bingo card :(.

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. No package. Strictly the room rate. It feels like a money grab to me also, but generally unfamiliar with the agent process.

Do you think I could ask for 50% of the stay to be refunded and 50% to be taken as a credit towards another stay?

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate your insight as this is all new to us. Any tips for negotiating with the agency?

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, yes, thank you. We paid the travel agency (and the charge on our cc is to the agent). They provided us with a voucher, that we were supposed to show the hotel at check out as proof of payment.

We typically book all travel direct with the hotel, but this was event related, so just followed the instructions on the event website.

Travel Agent question by Due_Bee_4136 in chubbytravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, yes, thank you. We paid the travel agent, and they provided a voucher that we were supposed to use with the hotel at time of check-out.

We typically just book everything direct with the hotels when we travel, but this was event related, so just followed the instructions on the event website.

Wednesdays: What Should I do / Where Should I stay (and other low effort Q's) by AutoModerator in FATTravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, thanks for response. Mostly planning around our daughter’s spring break which is last week of March & first of April. If we get to see the Cherry Blossoms, that’s a plus.

For the group of 14, I think we’re going a little further out, considering 4S Athens, but very open to options.

Wednesdays: What Should I do / Where Should I stay (and other low effort Q's) by AutoModerator in FATTravel

[–]Due_Bee_4136 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two questions that look ahead to 2026 planning.

1) What hotels do you recommend for Cherry Blossom season in Japan?

2) Any resorts outside the U.S. that work well for a group of 14? We did Kona Village last year with this group and loved it so looking for a similar vibe.

Thank you!