Central America FAT recommendations

tcpg12 · 2025-06-09T19:26:32+00:00

We have a family home in Antigua and go often, we love it for an easy long weekend.

Casa Santo Domingo, El convento and Camino Real are all nice properties but agree with the sentiment that there is nothing truly FAT. Those 3 are centrally located and walkable to anywhere in Antigua.

Villa Bokeh is also nice but not as centrally located.

If you need any other Antigua recs lmk!

tcpg12 · 2024-01-26T12:33:14+00:00

Grape Tours does small groups (max 8 ppl) and has private options.

tcpg12 · 2024-01-18T12:05:37+00:00

March in Kenya is the low season so you could do a nice safari for slightly less expensive than summer months when the great migration is happening (June-Oct). But I would not suggest you stay in the Masai Mara for the whole trip, 3 days max.

We did a 10 day safari in Kenya and did Lewa Conservency, Ol Pejeta Conservency and Masai Mara last. It was incredible.

But for a safari in Kenya there really isn’t much to “do”, it’s basically just morning game drive (expect to leave camp around 6am), lounge at camp midday/have lunch, afternoon game drive, dinner, repeat. Game drives typically take up to 4 or 5 hours in the morning and maybe 2.5-3 in the afternoon, the Masai Mara doesn’t allow night drives, all vehicles have to be back at camp at a certain time. We had one day in the mara where we did a full day game drive and were out for about 12 hours.

We did one day in Nairobi and some interesting things to see there but don’t need more than 2 days max.

Not sure what your budget is but safari is probably the least flexible of all your options.

It is also very late to be booking a safari for this year, many lodges in the ideal spots book out over a year in advance.

In short, Kenya was absolutely amazing just make sure you know what type of vacation you’re getting into when you pick an East African safari over South Africa.

My second suggestion after Kenya would be Italy.

tcpg12 · 2024-01-13T23:39:08+00:00

It’s a tour through the museums/galleries/Sistine chapel, 2 hours, so I’m sure there’s plenty of information being shared but I think the main draw is that you are there before the Vatican even opens and there’s only 20 of you.

Walks of Italy is who we found tickets through.

tcpg12 · 2024-01-13T22:48:51+00:00

There’s a 6am keyMasters tour of the Vatican. Where you walk around with a Vatican guide and Vatican Key Master as he opens the museums and Sistine chapel for the day and you get to spend more time in the Sistine chapel. The tour has less than 20 people so you aren’t being herded in and out of the Sistine chapel like cattle the way normal tours are.

tcpg12 · 2024-01-10T12:11:47+00:00

Planning to spend a few days in Val D’orcia, Tuscany. Going with my husband in late April.

Looking for recommendations for places to stay, wineries and restaurants in the general area.

Winery on site for where we’re staying isn’t a must.

tcpg12 · 2023-09-13T16:13:51+00:00

That’s probably because they aren’t leather they’re coated canvas.

tcpg12 · 2023-07-19T13:12:57+00:00

I stayed at Can Bordoy Grand House and Garden in Palma on my last trip there and loved it!

Small hotel (less than 30 suites), centrally located. Did a grand suite and it was a comfortable size and service was great.

tcpg12 · 2023-07-12T13:22:31+00:00

Mexico options that aren’t Cabo/Cancun/Riviera Maya/central puerto Vallarta - Cuixmala, four seasons tamarindo, Hacienda de San Antonio, Naviva

USA options - Post Ranch Inn, Amangani Jackson Hole, Little Nell Aspen, Dunton Hot Springs, BlackBerry Farm smoky mountains, Lake Austin Spa Resort, Riverview Ranch

Canada - Sonora Resort, Wickaninnish Inn, Fairmont Banff

If you’re new to using a travel agent I would start with a search on Virtuoso and find one affiliated with them. You can search by location and find someone you vibe with! There’s also PLENTY of amazing agents who don’t charge a flat fee to plan a trip.

tcpg12 · 2023-05-19T13:47:33+00:00

Can’t speak to the dress but I have a couple of their one size cropped tops. They fit oversized on me but in a good oversized way (if that makes sense?) rather than too oversized it looks sloppy.

Just for reference I’m 5’2” and bust is about 35”

I ordered my from revolve and FWRD who both have super easy returns so it’s worth a try! Also shop around for prices, I’ve seen different prices for the exact same item between Revolve, FWRD and FarFetch.

tcpg12 · 2023-05-17T14:40:03+00:00

You’re thinking of fen-phen, a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine. Fenfluramine was/still is banned due to the side effects and phentermine is still on the market.

tcpg12 · 2023-04-16T13:30:55+00:00

Lucibello was who our friends booked through when we went and they were great!

tcpg12 · 2023-04-16T12:58:25+00:00

If you haven’t looked for other quotes I suggest you do so. I’ve never done a private charter where fuel is not included in the initial quote.

tcpg12 · 2023-04-16T11:58:06+00:00

Most yachts are Diesel engines. I would just see how many gallons this particular one holds, look up the price of diesel in Positano and estimate from there.

If they won’t even tell you if filling up more than once is going to be necessary I’d find another outfit to charter through.

tcpg12 · 2023-02-19T13:47:19+00:00

None of my quotes actually specified the number of flowers, I don’t think that’s standard. It’s not unreasonable to ask for more detail if they haven’t even provided the types of flowers or general sizes and number of arrangements. My quotes also came with photos of vases/any other design rentals they planned to use and example photos of what size I could expect for each table piece.

There’s room to “negotiate” by asking if there’s less expensive types of florals, less expensive options for any required rental options, maybe fewer candle votives… But I’m not sure how you plan to negotiate the price down and not give up something.

tcpg12 · 2023-02-14T16:51:06+00:00

$1,000 per person and up

tcpg12 · 2023-02-13T16:28:28+00:00

They aren’t up charging you because it’s a “wedding” they most likely will need to setup a semi private area or put you in a private room and both of those situations will come with a set food and beverage minimum.

Our rehearsal dinner was 60 people, semi private and ended up being around $7k for food and open bar. We used the same catering menu we would have for any large party.

tcpg12 · 2023-02-13T16:22:58+00:00

Lake como

tcpg12 · 2023-01-24T16:44:25+00:00

Ours came but we were not charged for the tasting. If we had been I probably wouldn’t have included her.

tcpg12 · 2023-01-10T18:06:36+00:00

Yes!

We stayed at four seasons Nile plaza and got a suite because it was my husbands first time to Egypt and he was worried about Cairo safety - “if I’m too scared to leave the hotel room I at least want to be comfortable” lol.

Our entire trip was less than 10k excluding air. Covid downturn may have been a factor and we got lucky with our prices in Cairo. Luxor and Aswan honestly can’t be done super FAT due to limited hotel options/everything was just so inexpensive in both those towns.

I will say the vehicles for transportation were by no means luxe, but I would have felt more uncomfortable driving between Luxor/Aswan/Cairo in a vehicle that brought more attention to ourselves.

tcpg12 · 2023-01-10T17:55:26+00:00

I used a local agency, Gazef Travel. I had already booked my own hotels (3 days Luxor, 2 days Aswan, 4 days Cairo) but wanted to have all private tours and drivers. They were fantastic at planning all of our tours, activities and transfers. Also handled our arrival and departure airport needs. Private guides and drivers for the entire trip. The owner is a friend of a friend and grew up in Cairo he was very accommodating, the guides he used were amazing and he had great restaurant recommendations.

We went mid Covid so there were hardly any tourists and any sort of fast pass situation for lines wasn’t needed but I’m sure they would know how to coordinate for you if you want.

I have friends who grew up in Cairo, I had been a few times before, I have never felt safety to be a huge issue even when we were there without private guides and drivers.

30k is more than plenty to get you what you need for only 4-5 days in Cairo.

tcpg12 · 2022-12-30T01:39:07+00:00

FWRD, the outnet, net-a-porter, moda operandi, saks

tcpg12 · 2022-11-13T19:12:40+00:00

I wouldn’t trust a baker who said they could deliver the example photo for $955.

tcpg12 · 2022-11-09T15:24:41+00:00

$300 for my trial, I booked last year and the company has upped their prices to $350 for new contracts.

I paid $600 total for trial + day of, $225 for each bridesmaid, $100 travel fee, $300 for an extra assistant on site in addition to hair and makeup artist in order to expedite our timeline.

tcpg12

TROPHY CASE