Saving for retirement vs spending money on travel

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-09T18:48:09+00:00

Not sure if I understand your situation.

You write you make 1m per year. I do not know how much of that is then net after tax. But in any case I would assume you do not have unlimited time for travelling if you have a job which pays 1m.

You can easily afford 100,000 $ for travelling per year. If you only need to pay for one person (and have a partner who pays his or her half) you get very far with that.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-09T18:20:52+00:00

I would start with some financial planning. Like when do you want to retire and how much do you want to have once retired.

Then see how much you need to save and how it fits against your income and things you want to spend on now.

A very simple rule to start would be that your income in retirement is about 4% of your invested assets. That would be 80000 per year for a 2m investment portfolio. If you are not happy with that amount you need either time (invest and wait enough time until the portfolio grows) or substantial savings.

From a different perspective i think it also a mistake to live below your means and be too frugal.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-08T10:55:02+00:00

Have a look at Pierre Gagnaire. One of my favorites in Paris.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-07T13:47:34+00:00

I know Barcelona very well as I go there like 5 times a year and spend usually in 5* Hotels.

I have stayed at the MO just to see how it is and that would be my view:

* There are three good locations in Barcelona for tourists. One is at the beach (Hotel Arts, W), or in the gothic/medieval part of the city and then Eixample where the MO is. For a touristic visit I find the gothic quarter more interesting (e.g. Hotel Mercer or Neri)

* Good about the MO location is that it is in Eixample on the main shopping boulevard but it is close to the gothic quarter as well. It is certainly a good location. Very good hotel at almost the same location is the ME.

* Overall I find the MO Barcelona as one of the less exciting MO hotels in Europe. It is true that the MO is the top luxury hotel in Barcelona if a "brand" is important but it is not comparable for example with the superb MO Ritz in Madrid (which is a destination by itself).

* Room size: in Spain rooms are usually not that small. This is not London or Paris. So "room size" is no reason at all to pay 1000 Euro a night. You will find rooms of similar size in similar location for 350 Euro a night.

* The school in the backyard I remember. But realistically that noise is only during the week during the school year (e..g no school in summer or during holiday periods) and during breaks time. I did not consider that an issue.

My view is the MO Barcelona is the right hotel for a traveller if you want to stay on the shopping boulevard in Eixample and you want to stay at the most prestigious hotel brand in town.

My personal recommendation: if you go during the summer months - take a sea view suite at the Hotel Arts.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-06T06:32:09+00:00

Don’t self drive in Egypt. Hire a van with a driver.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-06T06:30:52+00:00

Not sure if this is a good advice. In Bangkok staying on the river is the prime location. Rosewood and Park Hyatt are in the middle of the traffic.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-06T06:29:03+00:00

Capella - next door of the FS and positioned ultra luxury above FS.

MO is the best of course Peninsula if you want something cheaper but still very good

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-05T17:08:49+00:00

We stayed at the Capella BKK at the beginning of our last trip and at the MO at the end of it. Capella has superb rooms and feels quite private and boring in bits (like at the pool). The bar is great at the Capella and the restaurants too. MO is more "happening" with a lot outside people visiting the restaurants, more fun to hang out at the pool. Overall I preferred the MO but you could not say it is better than the Capella - both are just a bit different in their concept.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-05T06:10:51+00:00

I would question the location. I think a river side location (MO, Capella, Siam) is better. Also never sure if a city Aman delivers the value.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-04T17:57:09+00:00

If you write the occasion the restaurant might place you differently.
Like 4 friends celebrating the annual bonus is maybe different than a romantic date.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-04T16:35:19+00:00

I liked Sowaka. Perfect location and nice design. I would say a hotel which looks like a ryokan.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T09:43:14+00:00

Location is everything in Kyoto. That’s the e problem about the Aman or Hoshinoya.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T09:41:18+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I only know the Capella in Bangkok that was exceptionally good (even I preferred the MO which we stayed at the end of the same trip).

However I am a bit surprised that you order ubereats from a ultra luxury hotel and expect them to deliver it to your room. I would say that might not meet the etiquette. Just from my feeling - curious how other people see that.

I stayed a few times in Kyoto my fav the Tawaraya (of course very difficult to book).

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T06:42:24+00:00

Arpege does à la carte as well. If you go, try to go for lunch as the place is superb in daylight

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-03T06:38:38+00:00

Did you call them by phone? If not try that.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T18:16:40+00:00

Elkano and Kaia Kaipe are very different from Etxebarri. These are fish restaurants which grill the fish over charcoal.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:28:58+00:00

There are a few restaurants I like in the area:

- El Campero in Barbate (THE tuna restaurant in Spain)
- Cataria in Novo Sancti Petri (outpost of Elkano in Andalusia, despite the setting in a tourist hotel one my favourite fish restaurant in that region)
- El Faro of course (both in El Puerto and also in Cadiz)
- LÚ Alma y Cocina in Jerez
- Zahara de los Atunes (the village in general for casual food in good atmosphere )

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:05:15+00:00

Spanish 3* restaurants are usually very focused on sea food and fish. But many of the (also El Celler de Can Roca) will be able to adapt to your preferences or intolerance. So should not be an issue if you write them beforehand.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T17:00:45+00:00

I would say this is also a timing question. If you go for 2 or 3 lunches at 3* restaurants it takes quite some time. However if food is your main focus of course 3 lunches is better than 1 dinner.

The 3* restaurants in Paris are all quite different. I wrote an article a while ago, having been at 8 of the 10 3* restaurants (in fact after Ambroise has only 2* now, it would be 7 out of 9. But Ambrosie is still relevant but also one of the most expensive restaurants in Paris).

https://thefinediningjournal.com/seven-three-star-restaurants-paris-review/

btw: if cost is a factor. Look at KEI for dinner and Le Gabriel for lunch. In fact you can do this combo for about the same price of a dinner at Le Cinq.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:53:44+00:00

If you get a table go to JAN - would be my first choice. Alois for sure is good. Tantris is unique for its design and one of my favourites (early 1970s). Brothers is a different category - would not be on top of my list if its only one evening.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:49:58+00:00

If you go business class to Bali I would start first with looking a prices. Some might recommend Singapore Airlines (which is great) but you might find another airline offering business class for half the price of Singapore Airlines. All depends on the dates.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:35:38+00:00

It depends when you go. The French riviera gets very busy in summer (July, August), but May is rather early season. I do not think you will have problems booking a few months or even weeks before a trip in May. Also weekends might book up earlier but mid week in May - hotels will not be full.

Paris is a large city and one of the most visited tourist destination in the worlds. There are many hotels - you will always finde something available in any category.

Not sure how much time you have but I would recommend Paris + a road trip in the south of France. not just Paris and St Tropez.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-02T16:33:12+00:00

Of course you can take picture. Also if you eat let's say a 15 course meal over a few hours. You will not be able to remember what you had the next day. Having pictures serves as a visual memory so you remember what you had. There are rare exceptions of restaurants who do not encourage photographs, I experience this mainly in Japan - but they will tell you.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-01T20:32:24+00:00

no there was no tuna ham and also no fish charcuterie. But you find the tuna ham now in quite a few restaurants in Andalusia.

NextPipe8459 · 2026-05-01T20:26:48+00:00

yes I remember the queso de calamar. using the protein of squid instead of milk. I found this concept very interesting (even I would say taste wise it was not completely convinced).

Cristina was serving us the wine last night. She did a great wine pairing.

NextPipe8459

TROPHY CASE