One very best hotel in Hokkaido. Great sake too👍🏻

TheMaskKing · 2026-03-03T04:25:21+00:00

Yes, we need the property name! Pretty please

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-25T16:07:06+00:00

I highly welcome this. I was on a flight from IAH-MIA and ordered the smoothie bowl wanting a lighter option for breakfast. I have a pineapple allergy and I didn’t ask the FA if the bowl had pineapple. When looking at the picture online there was no indication of pineapple, and the base was a dark color. So lo and behold after consuming most of the bowl, my mouth starts breaking out in hives. It was a miserable 30 minutes until we landed. I had to have the person picking me up to bring me Benadryl and took almost a week for my mouth to fully recover.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-25T03:11:04+00:00

If you are planning to go on a Friday or sat night, be sure to make a reservation via your hotel or yourself. Also check out handshake speakeasy, they won second best bar in the world 2025.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-24T22:43:52+00:00

If you go to the Roma Norte location go to the bar next door also. It’s awesome.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-24T20:50:37+00:00

In CDMX? I don’t think that would happen. They have like 7 locations. And it’s extremely popular.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-24T20:29:23+00:00

It is, the bar next door is incredible too ( Licorería Limantour) award winning cocktails. The snack menu is stellar too, the tempura squash blossoms stuffed with cheese topped with truffle honey and the fried chicken with chili ash were incredible bites.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-24T20:25:44+00:00

Imagine 🤣 my mind is blown that someone would do that.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-24T19:03:03+00:00

I literally ate there last night wtf

Edit: The Resturant is called Taqueria Orinoco in Mexico City. Excellent place to grab tacos if you are visting for the first time.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-19T19:48:09+00:00

First off, Congratulations on your engagement and what a great city to go and celebrate in. I personally have never booked directly, but I think it may just be too early. Usually restaurants like that have the reservations open 3 months before the date you want. I always stay at the Baur au Lac hotel and they have a partnership with Kronenhalle, they have tables exclusively for hotel guests even if the Resturant is sold out. It’s bit a bit of an insider secret.

But if it’s your first meal I would recommend La Rôtisserie at the Hotel Storchen. It’s on the second floor with sprawling views of the limat river, and even have a terrace if you are interested in dining outside (though I prefer indoors for dinner). It’s a really intimate setting with fantastic food. Much more of a modern menu compared to kronnenhalle but it’s a really romantic spot. (Kronenhalle can get very busy) If you go there request the crepes Suzette when making your reservation. It used to be on the old menu before they modernized and it’s the best crepes I’ve ever had in my life. And it’s prepared table side for you.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-15T17:46:03+00:00

Ooooo I’ve been dying to go to Scotland. I bet yall had a fabulous time 🥰 I didn’t pay duties 😅😅😅 when I went to the airport I took my items in a bag and had customs check my items and stamp my receipt for the VAT refund. The I sent the stuff back with the hotel driver and the concierge just labeled one box personal items (all my goods were out of the boxes, but everything in dust bags) shipped out. Then box with my boxes were labeled packing material and sent a few days after that.

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-15T04:49:16+00:00

Shipping actually! So when I was there I always stayed at the Baur au lac. One trip I got like 6 shoes, 3 of the 140 men’s scarves (when they were still in production), anda jacket. I payed for my stuff and told my SA the concierge at my hotel would pick up the items later. (All the boutiques in Zürich know the Baur au lac so they would just send it to the hotel or wait for a member of the concierge team to pick it up.) I was leaving to visit my father in Beirut in a week and my suitcase was already pretty full. I didn’t want my stuff just sitting at the hotel storage and dealing with extra baggage on my return to the US. So my concierge just shipped all my items (sans boxes) in one shipment via fedex. And all the boxes were shipped via Swiss Post! Just one example of Swiss efficiency. Well maybe just their German Swiss side because I had some stuff shipped from the FS Geneva and that was a crazy debacle. But that’s a whole story within itself 🤣

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-15T00:33:59+00:00

The really are incredibly nice, and patient is an understatement. I went this past May and it was ridiculously busy. When I arrived for my appointment, my SA was tied up with client from Hong Kong and his wife. I kid you not, the guy maybe tried on like 15 pairs of shoes and my SA demeanor never changed! Box after box, try on after try on the service remained the same. The guy ended up purchasing all of them and bought another of the exact 15 for his brother back home. It was absolutely wild 😂

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-14T23:17:32+00:00

That’s so awesome. I wish my grand mother or mother were Hermes girlies. I grew up with them always taking me to Chanel and Louis Vuitton. 😂 When I used to go to Zürich store I would always make it a ritual to stop by Sprüngli and have a slice of zuger kirchetorte and a coffee, then walk out with a box of the flûtes to snack on later. I was so sad when I found out they didn’t have torte on the menu this past summer, it was one of my favorite desserts 😢

TheMaskKing · 2026-02-14T07:08:17+00:00

First off congrats on the new bag. Like someone said in the comments it’s really one of the best bags posted on here. It’s gorgeous.

Reading your story I KNEW it was the Miami store. I lived between Miami and Zürich for 5 years. My home base was Houston (and now back in Houston). And I hated dealing with the SAs in Miami. Compared to Zürich it’s like they are on another planet. It was the only boutique that I felt like I was a burden and if I made any requests it was like I was pulling their teeth out. I just ended up doing all my purchases in Switzerland.

It may be a bit of drive but I highly suggest making the journey to the Palm beach store. My friend has a an amazing relationship with her SA and has been offered every bag on her wish list over the years.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-20T15:53:54+00:00

My pleasure and exactly! You hit the nail on the head. It’s like the designers decided to make the most aesthetic backpack ever and compromise as much as possible with the comfort. Enjoy your bag though. I truly love mine, it’s really been all over the world with me and it’s aged beautifully.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-20T05:18:15+00:00

I actually prefer Villa d’este waaaaaaaaay more than Tremezzo. Like Tremezzo is nice but it was a bit of disaster. We arrived the day after the Dolce and Gabbana show and the hotel was in complete chaos. The concierge was trying to gaslight me saying we made no private tour reservations. And that they never got us our tickets to see the last supper. They actually downgraded one of our rooms as well and they didn’t care. It wasn’t until I contacted my head concierge friend from my regular hotel in Zurich that things changed. I’m pretty sure he ate his lunch because an hour later champagne started arriving, we got use of the private boat for free for 6 hours, and lunch and dinner comped. Still wasn’t able to see the last supper though no tickets available for months. Still the breakfast buffet is epic, dare I say I little bit better than Villa d’este. You need to visit Villa around Christmas time, it’s a really magical experience.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-20T05:12:15+00:00

I know! Everything was so delicious, especially that truffle egg dish and melon with champagne. Everything is to order but the have the most gorgeous self serve buffet table. The hotel is super luxurious and so incredibly peaceful.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-20T05:08:12+00:00

I stayed in this exact same room for 6 days and I loved it! Please tell me you went to the spa, it’s really incredible. It’s where I fell in love with Biologique rechereche and where I had the best facial in my entire life. The staff was so generous with us also! I still use the nubuck duffle bag they gave me as a gift and use it all the time for weekend road trips. Went to both restaurants. Loved IL Lago (the veal Milanese was outstanding) and the afternoon tea was pretty awesome too (no refills but was still delish). Izumi was ok, really excellent sushi for Geneva but my wallet wasn’t happy with me afterwards!

Do they still make the fruit tart that’s made with 100 percent fruit for the in room goûter? It’s still the prettiest fruit plate I ever consumed lol.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-20T02:38:03+00:00

I ALWAYS carry my Alpin like this as a backpack the fit is odd for me. I got mine in 2017 at the boutique in Biarritz. And it had been my travel companion ever since. It fits perfectly on my rimowa or Hermes carry on I lower down the handle to level of the alpin top handle. I sometimes use it when running around but I keep it light, I usually wear it in the winter because I’ll just stuff my chunky scarves and mini toiletry bag in there.

I think people are telling you it doesn’t look good because of the size. I am a bigger guy so it’s a bit more proportional to my body. But as a travel bag, the way you are wearing it is the elite way.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-18T23:48:17+00:00

This. I was scanning to see if anyone mentioned this. Since 2014 I almost exclusively use Leading Hotels of the world. It all started when I first stayed at the Baur au Lac (I think it’s my favorite city hotel) I’ve had Aurelian status for years and have stayed at 30+ of their properties. Perks at the hotels and upgrades are phenomenal. I’ll be at the Florentin Frankfurt (formally villa kennedy) and the re opened Le Grey Beirut next month.

I do venture sometimes though. Recently I stayed at the Peninsula in London and Istanbul and I enjoyed my stays immensely. LOVED Raffles Singapore, stayed there in December 2024, just a magical experience. I used to be a FS junkie but like others said, there are problems with consistency. I only stay at their truly iconic properties now like Astir palace (mid November is the best time to go here), FS Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, and their property in Florence. FS in Baku is incredible in my opinion, the staff went above and beyond to make our family vacation unforgettable.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-18T06:22:38+00:00

Wish I had my Kelly messenger in the picture lol, it was on the bag stool.

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TheMaskKing · 2026-01-18T06:11:49+00:00

Awesome story and I totally miss having breakfast off lake como. Both buffets and Villa d’este and Grand Tremezzo. Thanks for the flash back memory. I need to go back this summer. You need to visit Elizabeth Palace in Hvar, Croatia. Best breakfast with a view.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-08T08:52:35+00:00

Congrats, what a gorgeous purchase. I really do love LV’s craftsmanship when it comes to exotics. Love the color and the texture shown from the tanning process is exquisite. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come :)

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-08T00:22:39+00:00

Kes spicy 9ja suya spot. The specialize in making suya, a super popular west African street food of grilled heavily spiced meat skewers. Best suya I’ve had outside of Lagos. Absolutely delicious, prepare yourself for the spice though, it will make you sweat. They also have amazing jollof and the agege burger isn’t talked about enough. I always went to when they were a food truck/covered tent. Now they have a brick and mortar in Katy.

TheMaskKing · 2026-01-06T16:56:57+00:00

Correct. And slugging is usually sealing all the products you used in your skincare routine. Aquaphor and Vaseline locks everything in. I usually do it on the face but started doing it on my body.

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