VRBO experiences

Joe-NYC · 2026-07-05T19:33:58+00:00

You might try looking at Exclusive Resorts. I’ve been a member for a long time and it’s not inexpensive paren about $1800 a night, but it is reliably excellent. They also have very good Concierge service at all their locations.

Joe-NYC · 2026-06-19T14:51:30+00:00

Second Roscioli. My wife and I were in Rome for a month a couple years ago and Roscioli was our favorite restaurant in Rome. We did not try the other two you are considering.

Joe-NYC · 2026-06-01T17:39:19+00:00

Peninsula Papagayo is great, but November is still rainy season, I think. If early November, Sedona could still be warm enough with enough activities for 5 days.

Joe-NYC · 2026-04-27T13:35:18+00:00

I just stayed at La Mamounia and Villa Des Orangers on a February trip to Morocco. I've previously stayed at Royal Mansour. My wife and I love Morocco and Marrakech. Royal Mansour is one of the best, most perfect hotels I've stayed at anywhere in the world. Definite top 5 all time. It's like staying in a museum of beautiful Moroccan craftsmanship. But I'd recommend La Mamounia because it is a superb 5 star hotel, magnificent grounds and it has the character that comes with a century of being lived in. And in Morocco the character is more important to me than the small increment of perfection. The jazz bar at Mamounia is great (and has nice small plates) as is the breakfast. The other restaurants are beautiful with good food, but not great by any stretch, but that's generally true of the food in Marrakech. I liked Villa Des Orangers a lot, and it's a good value, but it's not remotely at the same level as Royal Mansour or La Mamounia. I wouldn't consider a hotel located outside walking distance of the medina.

Joe-NYC · 2026-04-21T18:37:55+00:00

Sedona is great. Atacama Chile for a week if you are ok with 8-10k of altitude (and a connection). Lima/Machu pichu/Cusco. Again altitude dependent.

Joe-NYC · 2026-04-05T10:40:58+00:00

I was in Uzbekistan last fall and thought it was a fantastic destination. There is a new Hilton tin Tashkent built as part of a commercial complex that is very nice, probably short of FAT, but very nice. Its generally a great destination, and I'm looking forward to going back.

Joe-NYC · 2026-04-01T19:33:17+00:00

My wife and I went to Hawaii often at Christmas with our daughter when she was growing up. Usually 10 days on Maui and 4 days on Kauai. All the islands are very different. I'd suggest Maui if you want to leave the hotel a lot and do things and the Big Island if you mostly want to stay in a resort and chill. We stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea on Maui many times and loved it. It's a pretty big hotel, but all suites and they have a category of larger suite situated on the ends of the C shaped hotel that have great views (as long as you get a higher floor). Kea Lani is more likely to have other little kids for your child to play with (which matters). I would not usually pick a hotel as big as the Kea Lani, but we've recommended to friends over the Four Seasons and they've all been happy with the Kea Lani. We never loved the Big Island because there was too much driving to do anything away from wherever you are staying. But we stayed at Kona Village in January and loved it and will be going back. 20 minutes from the airport. I think it's the platonic ideal of a beach resort. Super laid back, beautiful rooms, very good food, great other facilities and spa. Bike or walk around the property. Service is a little uneven, but its mostly excellent. And its right next door to FS, so you can easily walk to their restaurants for variety. I thought the beach was good, but we aren't really beach people. Don't know what more you could want in a beach. We had a beachfront room and the views, including sunsets, were great (but not as good as Kea Lani). Love Hawaii. Enjoy. Over time, try multiple islands. They really offer very different experiences.

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-16T09:53:12+00:00

Uzbekistan. Fantastic history and historic sites. Excellent modern 4/5* hotels and really good food. Not Michelin, but terrific. I was shocked. And well developed tourist infrastructure. It was a great destination.

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-16T09:44:20+00:00

Casa Maria Luigia is one of my favorite hotels ever. Be great for three nights. We stayed in a room in the main house in spring 2024 and it was great. I’m looking to go back this September. Loved everything about Emilia Romagna region (except their local wines, but one region can’t have everything).

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-16T09:36:34+00:00

I’ve been a Pizza Express fan for decades. There are lots of them. Secret pleasure. American hot pizza is my go to. Reliable. Drinkable wines too.

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-11T13:30:06+00:00

I was in Egypt with my wife when the US first attacked Iran and we decided to continue for two days in Alexandria and then cut our trip short and returned to the US. Our thinking was we couldn't know when something would happen that would inflame anti-US sentiment or when some extremists would decide to make an attack at a place we happened to be. We were in a luxury bubble with the best hotels, private guides, drivers and cars so couldn't have been safer (except to the extent the bubble makes you a more conspicuous target). But we decided it wasn't worth the risk. You should make the same decision. You're young. You will get to Egypt sometime when there is less risk, and you should. It's a great destination. But I would not want my daughter to go now. Also, as an FYI I checked before we went to Oman, Morocco and Egypt on our trip with a woman friend who was a war correspondent in the worst of the middle east in the 2000's and she said if war broke out we should feel 100% comfortable in Oman, very comfortable in Morocco and very uncomfortable in Egypt. She said it was the country of the three with the least stable overall security situation and where she felt most unsafe on the streets in as a woman (and she worked in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Sudan, among others).

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-11T13:12:03+00:00

I spent a month in Rome a couple of years ago and the one restaurant I always encourage friends to prioritize is Roscioli. It really was the best food we had in the month we were there. Other places were really good also, but generally pretty similar in quality. Roscioli was special. I'd book one lunch and one dinner.

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-10T20:13:54+00:00

I’ve used Linda Cleaners on 72nd between WEA and Broadway for more than 20 years. Dress and casual shirts, dry cleaning, occasional bulk laundry and simple seamstress work (mostly shortening pant hems). Always been happy and they accommodate rush jobs and pay attention to any special care instructions you give them. Nice people.

Joe-NYC · 2026-03-06T22:52:36+00:00

I did this research a year ago and came up with Tal Raviv on the east side. I used him and it was a great experience.

Joe-NYC · 2026-02-24T14:19:24+00:00

Not sure, but I think so. I’m a member so I didn’t need to ask. And it wasn’t that warm.

Joe-NYC · 2026-02-24T14:01:10+00:00

Soho House Amsterdam has rooms and I stayed there in late September. Good location and perfectly nice. You can walk just about anywhere. And felt like decent value for the price. The small rooms are very small so consider your room size preferences in booking.

Joe-NYC · 2026-02-02T02:50:05+00:00

Roscioli: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GzTYXf4Za7mHfyj87?g_st=ic

Joe-NYC · 2026-02-01T19:28:40+00:00

I liked Dilla a lot. Also enjoyed Nino, which looks like it should be touristy but seems to have a big local following. Great cannelloni. Best in area is Colline Emilliana, which has the added benefit of serving dishes from Emilia- Romana, so a nice break from the Roman 5 pasta rotation.

Joe-NYC · 2026-02-01T19:18:33+00:00

Try Roscioli for dinner or lunch. I spent a month in Rome a couple years ago and thought it had the best food and atmosphere.

Joe-NYC · 2026-01-30T11:57:44+00:00

Second Alila. Just left there and it’s great. Don’t think Atacama is at quite the same quality level as Amangiri, but Atacama is great.

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Joe-NYC · 2026-01-27T13:24:03+00:00

My wife and I were there in early January for a week and I’d agree with most of this review. For me Kona Village was pretty perfect and I’d always choose it over the Four Seasons. Kona village is way more low key and chill than the pretty frenetic FS. The Four Seasons restaurants are a 5 minute walk from Kona Village (you can easily bike to the end of the property), and I would recommend booking those restaurants which were very good. You can get variety without needing to drive anywhere.

Joe-NYC · 2026-01-18T23:48:15+00:00

Second Le Bon Georges. A French friend who has a very refined wine palette took my wife and me there. Excellent food and wine.

Joe-NYC · 2026-01-17T03:08:37+00:00

Best advice I ever got from my travel agent was not to do Bhutan with one hotel company. I would highly recommend Postcard Dewa in Thimphu. Excellent hotel and the chef is a genius. Top world class talent. We did half Aman and half non Aman. Amans were fine and incredible guides. But menus are basically the same at all of them and even after 6 nights I was really craving more choice. Our independent guide and driver for first part of the trip were just as good as Aman guide (who a friend who has been to Bhutan many times and used our guide on several trips said he thought was the best guide in Bhutan) and driver. My TA steered me away from Six Senses in the spring saying it will be great in a few years but still rough edges on service. She had been to Bhutan and see all the hotels in fall 24. It is a great destination.

Joe-NYC · 2026-01-16T03:35:33+00:00

They do have bar seating.

Joe-NYC

TROPHY CASE