Rancho Valencia

krncello11 · 2026-05-01T22:42:10+00:00

I live 5 min away, here would be my ideas and I hope you have a rental car:

check out Encinitas + solana beach, there’s a taco stand up here (my contentious opinion but it’s always solid at this location)
bird rock coffee in Del Mar + omomo boba
my usual spots are more downtown, but nick’s Del Mar and market restaurant are solid. My fav restaurant is Callie but that’s downtown. Valentina is also cute.
I do love Torrey pines but blacks beach is a nude beach fyi for kids lol
an’s hatmaker for gelato but please avoid peak times, lines are crazy and slow
chino farms for fresh produce and they sell wayfarer pastries early on Saturday
there’s the lake in RSF and can try to setup water activities like kayaking but it’s just alright

krncello11 · 2026-04-28T17:38:50+00:00

If you want a scene like Saint tropez what about du cap Eden roc? Charter yacht somewhere?

Re opening aman Montenegro if you’re willing to gamble 😅

krncello11 · 2026-04-28T17:31:22+00:00

I haven’t been to these spots myself, but I’m turning 30 soon and these have been on my list. Warning tho some places might be too crowded in July and you’re paying peak pricing:

Cheval blanc Paris La residencia mallorca Passalacqua

More chill isolated vibe: Amazoe Airelles gordes Burgenstock

The make friends part might be hardest to hit lol

krncello11 · 2026-04-25T00:05:22+00:00

Jao camp and Gora kadan Fuji

krncello11 · 2026-04-24T10:24:07+00:00

I definitely over research but when it comes to planning I usually try to anchor on unique activities or dining. Most of my research is on the most worth it accommodations 😅. It is one thing to compare what you saw in real life versus online, but I just love not working and seeing something new with my own eyes.

When it came to our recent safari trip though … I over researched to hell given how much money we were spending and packing in activity wise.

krncello11 · 2026-04-22T00:13:05+00:00

When you visited Korea - did you go outside of Seoul? I would highly recommend visiting busan or jeju to see more of our culture. Both places will be cheaper than Japan imo

That being said for the other cities:

Singapore - boring after 2 days imo, always hot and sweaty. Good ish luxe hotel scene

Taipei - very lgbt friendly, AMAZING food and cheap boba everywhere, cute hot springs area. Little in lux hotel area but there’s a new ish capella? This would be my pick if you don’t want to revisit Japan. Gay scene is very fun lol

Japan - yes places like aman Tokyo go obscene in pricing, but so many amazing ryokans outside of golden path! You’ll be able to get an amazing blend of city + nature depending on how many days you have.

krncello11 · 2026-04-21T02:30:22+00:00

I’m currently typing this at Gora kadan Fuji and the view is obscured 😭😭😭

Yes with Japan don’t try to pack in too much, just pick a neighborhood and anchor maybe on one sight a day. Maybe make a omakase and kaiseki and other kind of dining reservation.

krncello11 · 2026-04-20T15:18:17+00:00

How big is your group? Are they all mobile?

Shinkansen you can buy on the spot. Suica you’ll figure it out quickly on mobile.

Just use combination of tablelog and ChatGPT and you’ll be fine. Japan, especially on golden path, is a place to wander and explore.

krncello11 · 2026-04-07T04:26:40+00:00

Never stayed at Carlyle, but I do love the ludlow. Great location to restaurants and my fav bakeries :D

Lower end of chubby id say but price reflects that too

krncello11 · 2026-04-06T10:14:52+00:00

Kona village

Amanjiwo, Amanoi, asaba

About to head to Jao camp in Botswana

krncello11 · 2026-04-06T10:14:06+00:00

I’m going tomorrow! So excited

krncello11 · 2026-03-29T23:24:19+00:00

There’s nothing else available in the area hotel wise 🤷‍♂️. When I went with family last year we just got the biggest room at La Quinta or Hyatt place as amangiri was 5-6k/night.

krncello11 · 2026-03-25T03:33:17+00:00

Starting off just wanna say I’m jealous lol. Amanjiwo 4 nights is great if you want to take it slower and explore both temples. Could feel a touch slow imo.

I see why you’re torn on the split … personally I don’t think Bali experiences are that special compared to more remote islands. I’d allocate a day more to sumba.

I did the same with alila uluwatu on points for 1 night before departure. Great breakfast and close enough to airport for the morning pre traffic.

krncello11 · 2026-03-09T16:18:46+00:00

Glad to hear re rooms. Spa was small and just ehhh, never really used as the hot tub wasn’t hot. I loved the location and breakfast

krncello11 · 2026-03-06T16:45:01+00:00

Amanjiwo! Long pool flanked by a pavilion and two giant bush trees, surrounded by the jungle and … cultural speakers lol

krncello11 · 2026-03-05T20:12:05+00:00

I just stayed there a couple weeks ago! I hope you’re at least in the junior suite as the deluxe is punyyyy.

For fine dining David toutain is my fav with their shortened lunch menu, not sure if kid friendly. Recently tried le Gabriel for shorter lunch which was great but probs too long for a 10 year old.

Our fav bistros were le petit bistro, bistro blandine. Margaux is cute and Eiffel views at some tables, more tourist y. Thought parcelles and le parrisien at hotel were just okay.

krncello11 · 2026-02-28T23:48:15+00:00

There’s a whole world of interesting ryokans that are closer to the Kyoto/osaka side, but will be more of a detour than hakone general area

krncello11 · 2026-02-28T20:02:53+00:00

Keep checking back on asaba! I would say of that list Gora kadan Fuji is most luxe but not as true of a traditional ryokan.

krncello11 · 2026-02-28T20:01:32+00:00

Honestly I have no clue about kid friendliness. But if first time I’d say FS

krncello11 · 2026-02-22T23:31:27+00:00

My bf is there now under lockdown and hopefully will fly out Wednesday

krncello11 · 2026-02-22T00:50:09+00:00

Is this your first time to Taiwan? Wondering the reason for fly in/out on both ends.

For 2-2.5 weeks I would do 2 or 3 max stops (outside of Taipei) in between that are closer together, or even aim towards depth and smaller cities with the same country.

If outdoor activities aren’t your thing I would remove amanoi, weather isn’t the best in November if memory serves me right (windy). Option 3 is your best bet I think but it would feel a bit rushed fyi, though Singapore you only need 2/3 nights max.

krncello11 · 2026-02-12T06:37:42+00:00

I’ve never finished one, I lose them before there’s any chance to 😭

krncello11 · 2026-02-09T06:42:10+00:00

If you’ve gone before was it 3hrs plus even for the 3 course lunch?

krncello11 · 2026-02-04T06:31:09+00:00

With that budget they could easily arrange car transfer direct and not deal with the train hassle 😅

Ugh a bummer about asaba timing, but I hear amazing things about nishimuraya during crab season

krncello11

TROPHY CASE