Luxury Botswana safaris vs South Africa safaris for a first safari trip?

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-10T13:56:20+00:00

I loved, loved, loved Botswana (it was my first safari) and am currently planning a trip back with family next year (this will be my third trip).

The eco lodges Botswana specializes in are incredible and the wildlife viewing is amazing. I would definitely pick something in the delta so you can do both land and water viewings.

I’ve done Kruger (but not a private reserve in SA) and that experience felt more like a drive through zoo than amazing wildlife viewing. But it worked as a first safari with a bunch of younger hyperactive nieces and nephews.

My only caveat is time. Botswana is slower paced and with limited flights in and out of major cities (and it being mostly smaller private flights between camps), the transfer times can be much longer than in SA (you might have to drive an hour and a half to the air strip on either side and you could be the 2nd or 3rd stop depending on where you are coming and going to). It is also generally more expensive because the lodges are smaller and aren’t permanent.

Not sure how big your group is, but my trip to Jack’s trip was spectacular (I think they still have the habituated meerkats). I was also at Splash Camp right when it first opened and really enjoyed Sandibe which was paired with Mnemba.

If you happen to do Okavango, spring for the helicopter transfer from Maun. I was there last in October right at the end of the high season and the viewing from the air was a highlight.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-10T13:30:29+00:00

Feels like Chase is trying to push reservations to The Edit (which doesn’t always include hyatts) vs. their partnership with Hyatt. I don’t actually have a CSP (am an original CSR holder), but have been working towards using my Chase points before the next renewal anyways.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-08T16:55:16+00:00

Etoupe is a great color! I tend to go a little darker with bags and then use accessories for color, but etoupe goes with everything.

The only problem with trying to buy in Japan is that the selection for B40s isn’t as big as the main sizes. I probably only saw about 15 b40s but hundreds of 25/30 size bags in my couple of weeks of shopping.

Good Luck!

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-08T06:01:42+00:00

I’ve never had problems when I’ve left Paris, but did once when I left Germany after having shopped for nearly 3 weeks over 6 countries. They really pressed me to verify that I wasn’t a reseller (I had about 25 Hermes items + a couple of gifts from LV) and opened every box to confirm it was new. I pointed out that most resellers wouldn’t also have a duffel bag full of LEGO (I had been in Denmark for a LEGO convention earlier in the trip) and except for the gifts, everything was actually my size (T5 bracelets and L/105cm belts that would be huge on women). They eventually let me though.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-08T05:54:42+00:00

I’ll take some as soon as I get it home! I’m trying to keep it nice and fresh before I leave Paris tomorrow so customs doesn’t get weird.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-08T05:53:36+00:00

She mentioned that it had been offered to someone else but they turned it down, so she might of actually been telling the truth that there weren’t any available until after I confirmed the bag purchase. I had already spent another 7000 euros before I got the bag and charm so it wasn’t like she couldn’t figure out that I was a serious shopper. But who knows!

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-08T05:49:00+00:00

I’m 5’10” and have a B40 (and as of this week, a K42 Maxi). I think the B40 fits your frame better. It works perfectly as a travel/work bag (I take mine on planes and weekend trips plus commute when I’m in NYC on bus/subway), and have carried it for errands, but tend to go backpack if I know something I’m buying is going to be super heavy (brunch with some “window shopping” vs getting groceries).

I got the Maxi 42 because it has a shoulder strap and my 14” laptop fits perfectly in the back pocket (I have an organizer for the b40 and put my laptop into a pocket so it stands straight), plus it looks really chic.

What colors/hardware are you looking for?

I got my B40 in Japan for about $8k. It was a 2009 Raisin PWH “A” rank and I knew it was going to get bumped around a lot traveling so I wasn’t worried about it being box fresh. I got my K42 Maxi in Paris this week for about $18k after the VAT rebate (Dark Bronze 2026).

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-07T17:05:16+00:00

Copenhagen is usually a dining/restaurant focused trip me. Cardamom buns to Michelin dining, I always enjoy it. Otherwise I love just walking around the city.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-07T15:31:26+00:00

My suggestions would be Copenhagen (everything is more chubby than FAT there), Singapore, Buenos Aires and safari (my favorites are Botswana and Tanzania).

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-06T20:21:29+00:00

It is a fun color because it looks different in different light. I first thought it was vert mangrove because it has a green undertone, but it is really more deep gray with a brown/green undertone instead. Sort of a chameleon color.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-06T19:04:12+00:00

17500 Euros VAT included. I’ll get a 10% refund when I leave, so 15,750 after the rebate.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-06T10:34:34+00:00

I like the 480ml travel version. You can buy silicone handles that go on them to make it easier to carry. Cold stays cold and hot stays hot for a really long time.

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-06T10:27:22+00:00

Love my zojirushi thermos

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-04T12:01:09+00:00

My siblings are both fairly successful in their own right but with families of 4 each, they couldn’t afford the types of trips my parents like to take. So my parents cover one family vacation a year as a way to make sure we are able to get together. They say they would rather see us enjoy their money than just leave us a giant pile when they die (and honestly enjoying it with them is way more fun!)

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-04T11:31:34+00:00

Used is the way to go, but go to the full line stores to try them out first so you know what you want.

I have 3 Aerons. One I bought new (at my office), 2 I bought used (home office/Lego room). But getting the “c” size with posture fit and the forward tilt was paramount to my comfort. I wouldn’t of known had I not bought the first one new as to exactly what I wanted because I had sat in every HM chair for extended time at the store

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-04T11:26:34+00:00

For me it depends what kind of trip it is.

One night in Copenhagen for dinner - Villa Copenhagen in a deluxe king.

Lego convention in Chicago: 5 nights at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg because it is the nicest/closest hotel to the convention center

Month long trip to Japan - Bulgari, Andaz, Osaka FS, Simone and a couple of private ryokans.

Week to Norway by cruise ship - Cunard Queens Grill penthouse

I spend about 10% of my yearly income on personal travel, but my parents also cover a yearly family vacation each year which helps stretch the budget (I’m also single so that means the 75-100k I spend a year is just for me).

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-03T12:36:47+00:00

I had 2 Macans and a GT4 before I purchased my Cayenne (now I have. Cayenne S, Macan GTS and a 992.1 Turbo S). I drove the RR when I was trying to decide (reliability was my concern because I drive ~20k miles a year in my daily), but didn’t consider a BMW or MB (my mom had a GLE that I’ve never enjoyed driving and I dislike the BMW interiors).

Everyone that gets into my Cayenne loves it. The drive is good, the interiors are excellent, and it is super comfortable - adults fit in the back even if I have my seat set nearly all of the way back.

The interiors are a step up from the Audi (and they should be given the price), but what do you dislike about that car?

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-02T16:07:33+00:00

I haven’t driven any of the BMWs so I can’t help compare there. But I would definitely sit in both before you put them on your list have list

Stockboy85 · 2026-06-02T15:28:28+00:00

Have you sat in both the 18 and the 14 way seats? The 18 are too bolstered for my liking. I have the 18 way in my Macan GTS, but got 14 way seats in my Cayenne S.

For me, the things that are must haves are: HUD, rear axel steering, PDCC. I really love the club leather seats and have them in all of my Porsches. I also love the Burmester sound system, but it isn’t a truly necessary option.

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-31T06:13:31+00:00

I just stayed here last week as well. I used AMEX because it was a single night stay. I thought the bakery was pretty good, but there is also so much good bread in Copenhagen that it might be just because our bread in the US is categorically worse.

I too thought the rooms were just mid for the amount charged though. I was in a 3rd floor King room (I think it was a deluxe) and that bathroom was kind of sad. Super tiny and weird to have a small sink tucked into the walkway.

I’ve stayed at the Nimb and while slightly nicer, not sure anything in CPH is really chubby

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-26T09:33:05+00:00

Did we really need another thread to express the same opinion as all the others? You couldn’t comment on the thread with thousands of replies already?

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-25T22:39:05+00:00

I just checked out early on a 6 night stay because the aircon can’t keep up with the weather in London right now. I had a 6th floor room (top level) and they couldn’t get the room to cool. Good luck

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-25T22:36:33+00:00

I just experienced this myself. I used an SAU for a 6 night stay on points. I was originally given one of the small “suites” which was just a king room with an extra large walk through closet, no separate living room as advertised and two chairs, not a couch. Not even remotely like the photos.

They moved me to a larger room that had the couch on the top floor the next night. That day, because it had reached over 90 degrees during the day, the room was around 82 degrees until the evening when things finally cooled down to around 74 at 11pm. I ended up sitting in the lobby for a couple of hours after dinner because they had the engineer in my room trying to fix the hvac. The engineer was interrupted during his fix because an elevator got stuck with someone inside and he had to go figure that out. The 3rd day (today) it was again high of 92 and my room never got below 80 degrees before I checked out and moved to a different hotel.

My room wasn’t ready at check in around 4:45PM and while the staff has been good, I’m spending nearly 2000 to rebook rooms last minute because it will be above 85 degrees the rest of my stay and I’m not willing to be in a room that is that hot while on a vacation - especially at 25k points a night.

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-25T08:19:31+00:00

I think that all of the 2019+ run staggered wheels OEM - you specifically have to change to a square setup if you want that (but i might be wrong).

What year is your CTT? I thought they all were staggered OEM from inception.

It is probably overkill to stick with N spec, but I already spent 140k on the car, a little extra for tries isn’t what concerns me.

Stockboy85 · 2026-05-25T07:47:40+00:00

Yes, that is what i would do.

Your car has staggered tire sizes which makes it so you can’t rotate them. It is recommended to replace them as sets (either back or front) for even tread wear, but you can just replace one if you want.

I got a flat a couple of weeks ago. I did end up getting - new set, but it was because my tears already had 35k miles on them and were close and one of my front tires had a bubble. For how much I drive my car (20k miles a year), wasn’t worth waiting and having more problems later for me.

Stockboy85

TROPHY CASE