Andaz Maui Ilikai Villas Review

Andaz Maui Ilikai Villas Review - Updated March of 2024

We just returned from a second stay at the Andaz Maui Ilikai Villas and this time we stayed in the beautiful Penthouse Villa with glass bottom plunge pool.

The villas are just as great as we remember, if not better and make the perfect accommodation for groups of friends, multi-generational families and more. And with a 5th night free when you book with Live Luxe Travel Co., there is no better time for a stay at Andaz Maui!

Our Verdict

Andaz Maui Ilikai Villas Review

Aloha! Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is located in, you guessed it, Wailea, with direct access to Mokapu Beach. Andaz Maui is located just down the street from the famous Grand Wailea on Wailea Alanui Drive. Andaz Maui isn’t your typical Hawaiian resort. This resort offers 300 guest rooms including 29 villas and 35 suites, but it still has a very boutique and upscale feel.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort offers plush accommodations, sweeping views of the ocean, a fantastic spa, boutique shops and award-winning dining options including Morimoto Maui (Iron Chef Morimoto).

Welcome to your home away from home at the beautiful Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. In the beginning of May, 2021 Andaz Maui at Wailea finished 19 new Ilikai Villas. “Ilikai,” like the Hawaiian word for Horizon, aptly names this new luxury villa offering.

These new villas are all three bedroom with several different bedroom configurations including:

2 Kings 1 Bunk Bed Garden View

2 Kings 1 Trundle Bed Partial Ocean View

2 Kings 1 Bunk Bed Partial Ocean View

2 Kings 1 Trundle Bed Ocean View

2 Kings 1 Bunk Bed Ocean View

2 Kings 2 Queen Beds Ocean View Penthouse

The new villas are located near the front drive of the resort and just a short walk to the adults-only pool or down to the beach. While some might argue that the new Ilikai Villas aren’t true villas since they aren’t free-standing and are all located in the same building, they are incredible and offer plenty of privacy.

Our stay in the new Ilikai Villas was our second stay at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort . Read our entire review from our stay in February of 2021 when we stayed in one of the Ocean Suites.

This review is based on our personal stay in May of 2021. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay in one of the new Ilikai Villas at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, book through Live Luxe Travel Co. to take advantage of exclusive Hyatt Privé benefits like the 6th night free, $100 USD resort credit (once per stay), $150 USD daily resort credit (based on number of bedrooms), complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two guests per bedroom, a stand-up paddle board lesson for up to 8 registered villa guests and a welcome amenity.

Our Villa

Our villa was the 2 Kings 1 Trundle Bed Partial Ocean View category located on the ground-level with a plunge pool. While this villa is categorized as a partial ocean view, it really should be considered an ocean view as it offers a pretty unobstructed view of the ocean.

This trip was a friend's trip and having the 3 bedroom villa made for the perfect accommodation to offer privacy and a common space where we could all gather. The main king bedroom is right off the outdoor patio which overlooks the plunge pool and ocean.

The second king bedroom was near the entrance to our villa and since we were on the ground floor, it offered a private outdoor courtyard with not much of a view.

The main bedroom and second bedroom are very similar as they both have a walk-in closet, a tv in the bedroom, a beautiful bathroom with dual vanities, walk-in shower and deep soaking tub.

And the third bedroom was toward the middle of the villa. This third bedroom is supposed to have a trundle bed, but due to COVID-19 and furniture being backordered, the bedroom is currently set up with a queen bed.

The third bedroom does have a closet although it’s not as spacious as the other two bedrooms and the third bedroom doesn’t offer an ensuite since the bathroom for this bedroom is located across the hall.

The new Ilikai Villas are just over 1,900 square feet of indoor living space plus the outdoor patio or balcony depending on the category. All of the new Ilikai Villas feature a gourmet chefs kitchen equipped with Bosch built-in refrigerator/freezer, 5 burner gas cooktop, wall oven and microwave combo, built-in coffee machine and built-in dishwasher.

Even though you’re likely staying at Andaz Maui for vacation, it’s nice having the villas to be able to keep snacks, beverages and to be able to cook some.

The outdoor lanai and plunge pool in our villa was the perfect place to escape the rest of the resort if we didn’t feel like leaving the villa. The plunge pool can comfortably accommodate 6 people with extra space. And to our surprise, the pool was heated to the perfect temperature.

The lanai also has a small bistro-style dining table for 4, a small loveseat, 2 lounge chairs, a beverage fridge and drop-in Viking Gas Grill which makes for the perfect place to entertain.

The new Ilikai Villas are equipped with smart switches throughout that control the lights and the roller shades. Some minor details such as motorized roller shades in all of the bedrooms, some additional furniture and a few miscellaneous items are still being completed during guests' stays.

Andaz Maui at Wailea features Mālie toiletries in the koke’e scent which combines organic aloe, coconut and ginger.

Maybe a villa is too big for your stay at Andaz Maui? Read our review of an Ocean View Suite from February of 2021.

Amenities

When you think of a beach vacation, it probably means something different to you than it does to someone else. If you want to swim, Andaz Maui has three tiered pools, a shallow pool walk-in pool (where kids and families usually spend time), and an adults-only pool.

If you’re looking for a place to get your zen on then look no further than ‘awili spa and salon. Awili spa offers separate men’s and women’s facilities with a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

If you like to live a life in balance and workout during vacation, the fitness center at Andaz Maui has plenty of cardio equipment including 3 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, 3 Peloton bikes, plenty of free weights and strength training machines. The safety and cleanliness protocols taking place all over the resort and especially at the gym were very thorough. During one of our workouts an attendant came in to spray gym equipment with electrostatic disinfectant. Masks are required during the duration of your workout, which if you aren’t comfortable with that there are a lot of places to get a great workout outside.

Andaz also has a surf shack on the beach where you can rent watersports equipment such as snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards and more. And if you’re looking for a guided adventure, they can help with that too.

Dining

Perhaps one of the best parts of staying at Andaz Maui is the proximity to some of Maui’s best restaurants including Ka’ana Kitchen, Bumbye Beach Bar and Morimoto’s.

Ka’ana Kitchen is Andaz Maui’s main restaurant that is open for breakfast and dinner. This is where the Hyatt Prive and Globalist breakfast is served. And if you’re lucky enough to have breakfast included, it’s about a $50 value per person, per day. Breakfast at Ka’ana is buffet style and due to COVID-19, it’s an assisted buffet to minimize the number of surfaces that guests touch.

The breakfast buffet features a hot food station with pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, an assortment of breakfast meats and a few dishes that change each day. The buffet also has a fruit and charcuterie station and a selection of fresh bakery items including toast, bagels, muffins and more.

One day for lunch we dined at Lahua Lounge. This is the same menu that is served poolside or at Bumbye Beach Bar. Our lunch started off with the poke. Then for our main course we tried the Crispy Chicken Mochiko Bowl and it was so good. If you’re looking for an insider trick add avocado to it. The cocktails including the Wailea Spritz are also excellent.

For dinner we ate at Ka’ana Kitchen and we will be the first to tell you to order the Fried Chicken with Jalapeno cornbread! It’s seriously so good!

During our stay we didn’t dine at Morimoto Maui, but this famed restaurant was started by Iron Chef Massiruh Morimoto who you may have seen on Food Network.

And lastly Andaz Maui has Mokapu Market where guests can grab a snack, a bottle of wine, specialty coffee drinks and gelato for a cool treat. And the market has local island made foods, treats and souvenirs. Mokapu Market is typically open 24/7 during normal times but due to COVID are running some temporary hours.

Service

Talk about being treated like a VIP. The Ilikai Villas at Andaz Maui come with a dedicated VIP concierge team. This team handles any requests you might have before you arrive at the property. Brittain, Ben, Michelle, Kathleen & Makanalani can assist you with things like dining reservations on the island.

During our stay, we went to use the Bosch in-wall coffee maker system and noticed one of the parts was missing to steam the milk. We called the VIP team, and within minutes they were at the door of our villa with the missing part.

How are they handling COVID?

Masks were required throughout the entire Andaz Maui Resort unless you were eating or drinking, were in the pool or were sitting by the pool.

Andaz Maui is adhering to all state and local government regulations. All employees were wearing masks, there were hand sanitizer dispensers all over the resort and the staff was there to give gentle reminders to wear a facial covering.

Overall Impression

Andaz Maui hit a home run when it comes to the addition of the 19 new Ilikai Villas. These new villas offer the perfect accommodations for a family trip, friends getaway, corporate retreat. The new Ilikai Villas are in buildings that are 5 villas across by 4 villas high. The villas can be connecting up to 5 across making for 15 bedroom accommodations. 

Extra Perks

And to make your stay in the new Ilikai Villas at Andaz Maui even more special, you’ll receive some extra perks for booking through a Hyatt Privé travel advisor like Live Luxe Travel Co. Andaz Maui is currently running a promotion for the 6th night free, which is a great value for those visiting Maui for almost a week. In addition to the free night the Ilikai Villas come with a daily resort credit based on the number of bedrooms. Since the Ilikai Villas are all three bedrooms they come with a daily $150 USD resort credit in addition to the $100 USD Hyatt Privé credit (once per stay). You’ll also receive daily breakfast for 2 guests per bedroom, complimentary valet parking for 1 vehicle, a private stand up paddle board lesson for up to 8 registered villa guests and a welcome amenity. 

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Our Verdict

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Aloha! Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is located in, you guessed it, Wailea, with direct access to Mokapu Beach. Andaz Maui is located just down the street from the famous Grand Wailea on Wailea Alanui Drive. Andaz Maui isn’t your typical Hawaiian resort. This resort offers 300 guest rooms including 29 villas and 35 suites, but it still has a very boutique and upscale feel.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort offers plush accommodations, sweeping views of the ocean, a fantastic spa, boutique shops and award-winning dining options including Morimoto Maui (Iron Chef Morimoto).

If you’re looking for a home away from home that has something to offer for everyone, then look no further than Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. The Andaz brand brings the local arts, culture and food to their properties and Andaz Maui is no exception. Whether you’re looking for a place to rest after a day of adventure on the island of Maui or if you’re looking for a place to relax, you won’t be disappointed with Andaz Maui.

This review is based on our personal stay in February of 2021. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at Andaz Maui, book through Live Luxe Travel Co. to take advantage of exclusive Hyatt Privé benefits like a confirmed room upgrade (if available, confirmed within 24 hours of booking), $100 resort credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. And for a limited time get the fifth night free combined with Hyatt Privé benefits, valid for stays from until December 20, 2023. See all Hyatt Privé offers here.

Our Room

Now to talk about those plush accommodations. We stayed in an Ocean View Suite in the Makai tower which offered an incredible view of the three cascading infinity pools and the ocean.

The Ocean View Suites are true one bedroom suites with a door that separates the bedroom from the living area. The living area features a half-bathroom, a desk, a dining table, wet bar and a small living area. The bedroom features a small sitting area, and a king size bed.

It’s worth noting that all the rooms and suites at Andaz Maui have lights and blinds that are operated by smart switches located throughout the room including next to the bed.

Andaz Hotels & Resorts are known for their approachable luxury lifestyle elements and that is no different at Andaz Maui. The accommodations feature a soothing neutral palette and modern wood furnishings.

Our Ocean View Suite featured a half-bath which is good if you are entertaining friends or have family staying on the sofa-bed. The ensuite featured a separate water closet equipped with a Toto Washlet toilet seat (in an effort to be more environmentally friendly). The bathroom also had a large walk-in shower that is pretty open unless you want to slide the curtain closed around the shower. The shower had a large rain head and a handheld wand. And lastly our bathroom had a large free standing soaking tub.

Andaz Maui at Wailea features Mālie toiletries in the koke’e scent which combines organic aloe, coconut and ginger.

If you’re looking for more space to spread out, read our review of the new Ilikai Villas from our stay in May of 2021.

Amenities

When you think of a beach vacation, it probably means something different to you than it does to someone else. If you want to swim, Andaz Maui has three tiered pools, a shallow pool walk-in pool (where kids and families usually spend time), and an adults-only pool.

If you’re looking for a place to get your zen on then look no further than ‘awili spa and salon. Awili spa offers separate men’s and women’s facilities with a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. The steam room was closed during our stay in February due to COVID-19 restrictions. During our stay we enjoyed massages one afternoon which were quite relaxing.

During our experience at the spa, it’s safe to say that the spa staff was taking COVID very seriously and offered us hand sanitizer before our massages and the therapists wore a facial covering during the duration of the massage.

If you like to live a life in balance and workout during vacation, the fitness center at Andaz Maui has plenty of cardio equipment including 3 treadmills, 3 ellipticals, 3 Peloton bikes, plenty of free weights and strength training machines. The safety and cleanliness protocols taking place all over the resort and especially at the gym were very thorough. During one of our workouts an attendant came in to spray gym equipment with electrostatic disinfectant. Masks are required during the duration of your workout, which if you aren’t comfortable with that there are a lot of places to get a great workout outside.

Andaz also has a surf shack on the beach where you can rent watersports equipment such as snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards and more. And if you’re looking for a guided adventure, they can help with that too.

Dining

Perhaps one of the best parts of staying at Andaz Maui is the proximity to some of Maui’s best restaurants including Ka’ana Kitchen, Bumbye Beach Bar and Morimoto’s.

Ka’ana Kitchen is Andaz Maui’s main restaurant that is open for breakfast and dinner. This is where the Hyatt Prive and Globalist breakfast is served. And if you’re lucky enough to have breakfast included, it’s about a $50 value per person, per day. Breakfast at Ka’ana is buffet style and due to COVID-19, it’s an assisted buffet to minimize the number of surfaces that guests touch.

The breakfast buffet features a hot food station with pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, an assortment of breakfast meats and a few dishes that change each day. The buffet also has a fruit and charcuterie station and a selection of fresh bakery items including toast, bagels, muffins and more.

One day for lunch we had Bumbye Beach Bar. This is the same menu that is served poolside or at the bar. Our lunch started off with the poke. Then for our main course we tried the lobster grilled cheese & waffle fries and the burger, both which were excellent. The cocktails including the Wailea Spritz are also excellent.

For dinner we ate at Ka’ana Kitchen and we will be the first to tell you to order the Fried Chicken with Jalapeno cornbread! It’s seriously so good!

During our stay we didn’t dine at Morimoto Maui just because we were only in Maui for 3 nights, but this famed restaurant was started by Iron Chef Massiruh Morimoto who you may have seen on Food Network.

And lastly Andaz Maui has Mokapu Market where guests can grab a snack, a bottle of wine, specialty coffee drinks and gelato for a cool treat. And the market has local island made foods, treats and souvenirs. Mokapu Market is typically open 24/7 during normal times but due to COVID are running some temporary hours.

Service

The service at Andaz Maui truly makes you feel like you are family. The bell staff, front desk agents, house keepers, servers and everyone else we encountered made sure to say aloha to us.

The staff is very attentive and truly makes an effort to get to know you during your stay.

How are they handling COVID?

Traveling in February of 2021 and during COVID was definitely different, but one of the main reasons that we wanted to visit Hawaii was because of the protocols and procedures that Hawai’i put into place. In order for us to visit Maui we had to have a negative COVID-19 test, we had to download the AlohaSafe Alert App (for contact tracing), and we had to create a trip on the Safe Travels Hawaii website. Knowing that travelers have spent the time and money to go through these extra steps and have been recently tested definitely gives you a little bit of peace of mind.

Masks were required throughout the entire Andaz Maui Resort unless you were eating or drinking, were in the pool or were sitting by the pool.

Andaz Maui is adhering to all state and local government regulations. All employees were wearing masks, there were hand sanitizer dispensers all over the resort and the staff was there to give gentle reminders to wear a facial covering.

Overall Impression

Some resorts feel like you could pick them up, move them to another destination and you wouldn't even know where you were at. Andaz Maui at Wailea has a very authentic feel to it and truly makes you feel like you are in Hawaii the way the resort is perched to overlook the ocean.

This luxury resort is the perfect spot for a family getaway, couples getaway, honeymoon, or a friends trip.

Everything from the accommodations to the food to the staff, our entire experience at Andaz Maui was nothing short of Mahalo!

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Andaz Maui with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 resort credit, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and a welcome amenity.

Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale Review

Our Verdict

Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale Review

When most people think of a hip escape in Florida they think of Miami. But if you’re looking for something a little quieter than Miami, then you need to check out the Hyatt Centric Las Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This stunning hotel is located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Riverfront District in close proximity to the city’s top restaurants, nightlife, shopping and attractions. And it’s only a short drive to explore seven miles of sand and surf at Fort Lauderdale Beach.

This boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale features 238 destination-centric luxury rooms and suites that overlook the city skyline.

Hyatt Centric Las Olas offers luxury accommodations, a rooftop pool, on-site restaurant, and a great fitness center. It’s the perfect starting point for you to go and explore all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer.

This review is based off of our personal stay in January of 2021. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at Hyatt Centric Las Olas, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (confirmed within 24 hours, if available), $25 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

And as a Live Luxe Travel Co. client, you’ll also receive complimentary use of a Peloton bike in your guest room (normally a $25 charge) along with a chilled towel and sparkling water.

Hyatt Centric Las Olas is the first new hotel to be developed in Fort Lauderdale in over 50 years. And let us be the first to tell you that you won’t be disappointed staying here.

Our Room

During our stay at Hyatt Centric Las Olas, we were upgraded to a Centric Suite due to low occupancy rates during our stay. Even though we were able to enjoy a suite during our stay, it’s worth noting that all guest rooms have Hyatt Grand Bed’s, a 55” flat-screen TV, blackout curtains, floor to ceiling windows, robes & slippers, a coffeemaker and a mini fridge.

The Centric Suite was the perfect place to kick back in 733 square feet with a balcony, living room, a work desk, 1.5 baths and city views.

The Centric Suite is a true one bedroom suite that offers a separate living room and bedroom. The living room features a sleeper sofa, Keurig, mini fridge, work desk, a TV and a powder bath. One thing that was really impressive were the controls in the room. There were buttons on the wall in every room to control the lights, sheer curtains and black out shades. Nothing like the convince of the touch of a button.

The bathroom in our suite was quite spacious. The layout was a little different as the closet, ironing board, toilet and shower were all in one room that is separated from the bedroom via a sliding barn door.

The Hyatt Centric Las Olas features BeeKind toiletries which combines honey with certified organic extracts of red clover, calendula, lemongrass and camomile.

Amenities

The Hyatt Centric Las Olas is a small boutique property, but it also didn’t lack when it came to amenities. The rooftop pool and fitness center are located on the 8th floor and both were very spacious.

The rooftop is the perfect place to float, swim, kick back with a drink from the rooftop bar, or the perfect place to energize yourself and focus with a morning yoga session.

The fitness center is open 24-hours and offered plenty of cardio equipment, free weights and an area to do yoga and stretch. There was plenty of sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer in the gym which is nice in today’s world. And if you’re into cycling, you’re in luck because Hyatt Centric Las Olas has Peloton Bikes.

Dining

Hyatt Centric Las Olas features one main restaurant, Harborwood, located in the lobby + ELEV8 pool bar located on the 8th floor. Harwood + Harwood Bar is one of the hot spots in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This space really allows the outdoors to be brought in when the weather is nice with doors that open up to Las Olas Boulevard.

During our stay we dined at Harborwood for breakfast and for an afternoon snack. This modern American restaurant is the perfect place for people-watching, soaking in the downtown views, indulging in savory bites and enjoying a hand-crafted cocktail.

For breakfast we had the All-American Breakfast, a 3 Egg Omelet and a blueberry muffin. Both main dishes at breakfast were excellent. And Hyatt Centric Las Olas serves one of our favorite coffee roasters, Panther Coffee.

And for a snack we had the Argentinian Pulled Chicken Empanadas and Roasted Cauliflower. You have got to try both of these appetizers. The empanadas are homemade by the chef and were quite tasty.

And last but not least, we got a sneak peek during our stay at one of Hyatt Centric Las Olas’s newest amenities, Room 901, a prohibition inspired speak easy.

This guest room converted into a secret speakeasy happens to come with a bartender-in-residence program that gives back to the food and beverage industry. This will allow bar’s from around the world to keep their legacy alive through a pop-up event at Room 901.

Room 901 is set to open on February 12th and first up for the bartender-in-residency program is the famed Washington D.C. speakeasy, The Gibson. The 901 can be reserved as a private experience for up to six guests at a time and is bookable by reservation only. To book, guests can email 901@hyatt.com or by visiting the bar’s website. There is a minimum of $50 per person, with a one-hour minimum for 1-2 guests and a two-hour minimum for 3-6 guests. Upon reserving the speakeasy, guests receive a password to give at the front desk in exchange for an unmarked key to room 901. Just make sure to knock twice or you may not get in.

Service

While Hyatt Centric Las Olas isn’t a 5-star property, the service provided at check-in, at Harborwood, by valet and everyone else we encountered was top notch.

Service by the front-desk agents was very quick efficient and helpful. And the service provided at Harborwood was prompt.

How are they handling COVID?

How is Hyatt Centric Las Olas handling COVID? They are following all state and local government regulations and Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment. Hyatt Centric Las Olas first opened their doors in June of 2020, so they are no strangers to enhanced safety and cleaning protocols.

All employees were wearing masks, there were hand sanitizing stations located in the lobby, throughout the property and in the elevators.

There were plexiglass partitions up at the front desk to protect guests and staff during the check-in process. And if you’re like us we used the mobile check-in option in the World of Hyatt app to minimize contact necessary during check-in.

Overall Impression

If you’re looking to experience the best that Fort Lauderdale has to offer, then book yourself a stay at Hyatt Centric Las Olas. The location here gives you access to the best shopping, restaurants, museums, and more!

This was our first Hyatt Centric stay and after the experience at Hyatt Centric Las Olas, it certainly won’t be our last.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Hyatt Centric Las Olas with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $25 hotel credit to use on dining, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade, welcome amenity and complimentary use of a Peloton bike in your room with sparkling water and chilled towel.

Thompson Zihuatanejo Review

Our Verdict

Thompson Zihuatanejo Review

Looking for a luxurious place to stay that’s off the beaten path? You’ve found it at Thompson Zihuatanejo, Beach Resort. Thompson Zihuatanejo is located on Playa La Ropa, the premier swimming beach of Mexico’s Pacific Coast. And this refined luxury beach resort is not your typical Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa hotel or resort experience. In fact, this boutique property will make you never want to stay at a large resort ever again.

Thompson Zihuatanejo features luxury accommodations on one of the most sought after beaches in Mexico, an adults-only pool, a family pool, an intimate spa (currently being renovated), fine dining and the best place to watch the sunset.

This review is based off of our personal stay in December of 2020. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at Thompson Zihuatanejo, book through Live Luxe Travel Co. to take advantage of exclusive Hyatt Privé benefits like a confirmed room upgrade (if available, confirmed within 24 hours of booking), $100 resort credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. And for a limited time get the third night free combinable with Hyatt Privé benefits, valid for stays from January 20, 2021 to October 31, 2021. See all Hyatt Privé offers here.

If you’re looking for a luxurious escape and want to enjoy relaxing mornings while enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee and homemade pastries, a place to get in a great workout, a place to soak up the sun, eat delicious food and whatever else your heart desires, you’ve found it at Thompson Zihuatanejo.

Our Room

Now to the good part! During our stay at Thompson Zihuatanejo we stayed in a 2 Bedroom Beach Suite. And are you ready for the best part….you can walk out the door of your room, take 10 steps across the patio and be walking on the beach. Our Beach Suite made for the perfect place to really enjoy all that Playa La Ropa has to offer.

The Beach Suites have incredible indoor and outdoor living spaces, a small plunge pool, and the best part is you are so close to the beach and to the relaxing sound of crashing waves.

While we stayed in a 2 Bedroom Beach Suite, it is worth noting that all of the rooms and suites at Thompson Zihuatanejo come standard with the following amenities: custom Egyptian cotton bedding, cotton kimono bathrobes, slippers & beach towels, Thompson DS & Durga luxury soaps & shampoos, rain showers, gourmet mini bar, bluetooth speakers, in-room safe and flat-screen TVs.

Thompson Hotels & Resorts are known for their mid-century styling and that is no different at Thompson Zihuatanejo. The accommodations feature touches of parota woods, brass details, Mexican artworks and Oaxacan clay light fixtures, which all come together to create the perfect balance of old-world and new in the 56 guestrooms and suites.

Our 2 Bedroom Beach Suite had 2 bedrooms, each with their own living area and bathroom, making for the perfect place for a friends getaway. The rooms are separated by a large sliding wood door that could be left open to make a bigger space to spend time together or closed to offer privacy.

Each bathroom in our suite had an oversized vanity and shower and featured a sperate water closet.

Amenities

While beach vacations look different for almost everyone, one thing to note is that Thompson Zihuatanejo sits on Playa La Ropa Beach, one of Mexico’s most swimmable beaches. As you may have read some of our other hotel reviews such as Viceroy Los Cabos, The Cape - A Thompson Hotel or Solaz Los Cabos, none of these resorts sit on beaches that you can actually enjoy swimming.

As mentioned earlier, the spa at Thompson Zihuatanejo is currently being renovated which means they have a temporary spa setup in a couple of suites near Ceniza (the fine dining restaurant) and the family pool. The intimate makeshift spa is quite nice. During our stay we enjoyed massages and could hear the sound of waves crashing which made for a relaxing experience.

One of the therapists we spoke to at the spa has been with the property for over 18 years. And if you know anything about spas, this makes for fantastic treatments. People who have been with a property for a long time come to know the guests who come back year after year and are very good at what they do.

During our experience at the spa, it’s safe to say that the spa staff was taking COVID very seriously and offered us hand sanitizer before our massages and the therapists wore a facial covering during the duration of the massage.

Whether or not you like to exercise while on vacation is up to you, but Thompson Zihuatanejo has a great air-conditioned gym. The gym did require that we had reservations each day to limit the number of guests trying to utilize the gym at the same time and so they could clean in between guests. We have stayed at other resorts who have been doing this during COVID and can really appreciate them providing a safe place for guests to enjoy working out. The gym has an elliptical, a Peloton bike, dumbbells, and a couple of cable machines.

If you like to run, the beach makes for a great place to get those miles in. And if you like to do yoga, there are lots of outdoor areas to find peace and serenity.

Dining

Under the direction of Executive Chef Miguel Baltazar, Thompson Zihuatanejo’s two restaurants Ceniza (wood-fired cuisine with a menu crafted daily from fresh local ingredients) and Hao (Zihuatanejo bar featuring all-day-menu and seasonal cocktails) make for the perfect place to indulge your palette.

During our stay breakfast was served on the weekends at Hao and during the week at Ceniza. Even while at Ceniza, the breakfast menu remains the same breakfast menu from Hao.

Since we stayed for a week, we definitely got to try several items from the breakfast menu including Chilaquiles, Rancho Troncones, Zihua Benedicts, Surf Champion’s Breakfast, and Steak & Eggs. And the longer we stayed the decision didn’t become any easier, all of the items we tried for breakfast were delicious. A couple things we really enjoyed about the Privé breakfast that was included was that it comes with coffee, choice of fresh juice, a fruit bowl, fresh baked pastries and your choice of entree.

And another thing that makes Thompson Zihuatanejo special is that each morning around 7:20 am, a basket of traditional Spanish pastries and a freshly brewed pot of coffee would show up outside the door to our room. This made for very relaxing and indulgent mornings.

On Saturday nights, the resort does a taco experience and let’s taco-bout how incredible it was. Taco night consisted of lobster, octopus, pork pibil and short rib authentic tacos which are served with handmade rolled tortillas on the beach. We can tell you from first hand experience, the whole meal is incredible. And to finish off your meal, it includes fresh made churros or cookies & cream tacos for dessert.

If you love trying new food, you’re going to want to sign-up for a cooking experience with Chef Miguel. We opted to do the cooking class one afternoon of our stay and made it into an early dinner.

The cooking experience usually starts with going into Zihuatanejo to the market to pick out the freshest ingredients and fish. Due to COVID, we weren’t able to go into town and go to the fish market, but chef did that part for us. So our cooking class began on the beach with this amazing market setup for us to select fresh ingredients from.

The menu for your cooking experience can be tailored to accommodate food allergies and sensitivities as it was for our group.

Welcome to Brandon’s Fish Market where Chef brought to us fish caught just hours before. For our experience we prepared citrus salt that was used in all of the following dishes we made: Trendy Guacamole, Tiritas Ceviche, Tuna Tiradito, Grilled Catch of the Day and Papaya Quinoa Salad.

Holy guacamole was never so fitting. One person in our group didn’t like guacamole and after trying this guacamole, that changed.

This hands on culinary experience was by far our favorite thing we did on the trip. Chef guides you through each recipe and leaves it up to you to be creative and to use your own technique.

We’re not sure which dish we made was the best because it all paired so well together to create flavors of sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami.

Service

Be prepared to be treated like family when you stay at Thompson Zihuatanejo. This boutique resort feels very intimate and the service matches that. The staff is very attentive to your every whim and truly gets to know you throughout your stay.

How are they handling COVID?

While traveling looks much different in 2020, we felt extremely safe and healthy at Thompson Zihuatanejo. The resort was following all of Hyatt’s Global Care and Cleanliness Commitment.

Thompson Zihuatanejo is adhering to all state and local government regulations. All employees were wearing masks, there were hand sanitizer dispensers all over the resort and the staff was there to give gentle reminders to wear a facial covering.

And one of the biggest reasons we felt safe here was because of the size of the resort. With government regulations only allowing for 30-40% occupancy during our stay the resort was very quiet and not very crowded which made for a safe and enjoyable getaway.

And also to let you know how serious Thompson Zihuatanejo was taking COVID, upon arrival and exiting of the resort you had to have your temperature taken.

Overall Impression

Zihuatanejo might be off the beaten path and at times a little challenging to get to with flight schedules, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trip. The Thompson Zihuatanejo is a hidden gem. This luxury resort is the perfect spot for a family getaway, couples getaway, honeymoon, or a friends trip.

From the accommodations to the food to the staff, our entire experience at Thompson Zihuatanejo was nothing short of perfecto.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Thompson Zihuatanejo with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 resort credit, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and a welcome amenity.

Grand Hyatt Nashville Review

Our Verdict

Grand Hyatt Nashville Review

While the Grand Hyatt Nashville might be the newest hotel to open in Music City, it sure doesn’t lack when it comes to the history and heritage this property pays to the city. The hotel is located on Broadway at the new Nashville Yards development that is within walking distance to the Gulch and Midtown. And one of the best features of the new Grand Hyatt Nashville is that they have the highest rooftop bar in the city.

The Grand Hyatt Nashville offers luxury accommodations, a spa, seven food and beverage experiences and is located close to all that Nashville has to offer.

This review is based off of our personal stay in October of 2020. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (confirmed within 24 hours, if available), $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

And don’t miss this exclusive 3rd night free offer to Live Luxe Travel Co. clients. Must book by March 31, 2021 for stays between January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021. See all Hyatt Privé offers here.

If you are looking for a grand experience in Nashville, look no further than the Grand Hyatt Nashville. This area of the lobby is made to look like a box car of a train paying heritage to the Nashville Rail Yard.

From the moment you drive up to the front of the hotel, to that first step foot inside the expansive lobby, your experience will be nothing short of grand, especially with the use of luxurious stone, hardwood and metals that you will find throughout the hotel.

Our Room

During our stay at Grand Hyatt Nashville, we were upgraded to a Grand Corner King Suite due to low occupancy rates during our stay. While we might have had a suite for our stay, it’s worth noting that all 591 guest rooms including 55 suites have hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen TVs, blackout curtains and BALMAIN bath amenities.

The Grand Corner King suite offers incredible views of the city while surrounding you in luxurious accommodations.

The Grand Corner King Suite is a true one bedroom suite that offers a bedroom equipped with a door and a separate living area. The living area features a Nespresso, a flat-screen TV and a mini fridge.

The bathroom in our suite was stunning and offered incredible views of the city. The floor to ceiling windows in the bathroom gave it plenty of natural light. And if you’re worried about privacy, the bathroom had shades that came down with the push of a button. Our only complaint was that the sun coming through the window can make the bathroom get quite warm.

Amenities

Unlike the Thompson Nashville (read our review from July of 2020) , the Grand Hyatt Nashville does have an incredible rooftop pool located on the fifth-floor.

Whether you want to enjoy a leisurely swim, or lounge in the sun, the rooftop deck offers panoramic views of Broadway and downtown Nashville.

The fifth-floor is known as the lifestyle level which features the outdoor pool, sundeck, fitness center, spa and pool-side restaurant, Solstice.

The fitness center is open 24-hours and offered plenty of cardio equipment, free weights and an area to do yoga and stretch. And there were bottles of Fiji water for you to enjoy during your workout, which we thought was an extremely nice touch!

Dining

You’ll find no shortage of restaurants to enjoy at Grand Hyatt Nashville. There are 7 food and beverage experiences on-property including The Continental (signature dining experience from Chef Brock), The Nashville Grange (“Tennessee to table” menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner), Aurum (lobby lounge with small bites, craft cocktails and local brews), Hummingbird Coffee Market (coffee, grab-and-go, pastries, muffins and sweet treats), Solstice (healthy food served on the fifth-floor pool deck), Lou|Na (rooftop bar), Grand Club Lounge (for Club-level guests) and Room Service.

The Grand Club wasn’t yet open due to the pandemic, but we did have the opportunity the see the space and it’s gorgeous.

While Hummingbird coffee was open, we didn’t have a chance to visit during this stay, so it’s on our list to check our next time.

During our stay we did have the opportunity to dine at The Nashville Grange for breakfast and dinner. This farm-to-table inspired restaurant offers incredible views of famed Broadway, nearby Union Station and the city. The cuisine at Nashville Grange is best described as southern flavor with a modern twist.

For dinner we had the savory monkey bread, R&R Radishes and the Carrot Ravioli to share with the table. All of which were delicious. You have to try the Carrot Ravioli!

For the main course we tried the Joyce Farm Chicken, the Fennel Rub Pork Chop and the Atlantic Halibut, all of which were so fresh and very flavorful!

And we finished off our meal with Chess Pie (a true Southern-inspired dessert).

For breakfast at Nashville Grange, we enjoyed the biscuits which are an absolute must! And for the main part of breakfast we tried the 2 Eggs Your Way, the TN Omelet and the Eggs Benedict which were all fantastic.

One of our favorite things about Grand Hyatt Nashville is the rooftop bar Lou|Na. Lou|Na plays heritage to the Louisville & Nashville rail lines that passed directly through the site of the Grand Hyatt for over a century. The rooftop as we mentioned earlier is the highest rooftop bar in Nashville and it offers incredible food, drinks and nightlife.

Lou|Na has a DJ on the weekends and their indoor and outdoor spaces make for the perfect place to hangout with friends, take your significant other out for a night on the town or to host a celebration.

The cocktails at Lou|Na are crafted with perfection. We tried the Message in a Bottle, Moxie Dewdrop, and the Wild at Heart.

Service

The service that the team at Grand Hyatt Nashville provided was 5-star through and through. The bell staff was great helping us unload our car, getting us checked-in and up to our suite.

The friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff was always eager and willing to assist with our every request. When you stay at a luxury property you expect a certain level of service, and that was no exception at Grand Hyatt Nashville.

How are they handling COVID?

How is Grand Hyatt Nashville handling COVID? They are following all state and local government regulations and Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment. Since the Grand Hyatt Nashville opened its doors during the pandemic they were prepared from their very first day to make sure guests have a safe, healthy and memorable stay.

All employees were wearing masks and the bell staff were also wearing rubber gloves which they were changing after each encounter with a guests vehicle or luggage.

There were plexiglass partitions up at the front desk to protect guests and staff during the check-in process. And if you’re like us we used the mobile check-in option in the World of Hyatt app to minimize contact necessary during check-in.

From the lobby to the elevator lobby to the restaurants, gym, pool deck and everywhere else you can think of there were hand sanitizing stations.

Overall Impression

If you’re looking for new digs that surround you in luxury while getting a history lesson, then the Grand Hyatt Nashville is a place you need to experience. And the location of this property gives you easy access to all of the great areas of Nashville without getting caught in Downtown Nashville traffic.

The service, the food and the accommodations made for an incredible stay for us. We even expected a few kinks from a property that was so new, but we didn’t experience any glitches or service failures. In fact, this might be a bold statement, but this is likely one of the best Grand Hyatt properties we’ve ever stayed at.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Grand Hyatt Nashville with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and a welcome amenity.

Andaz Mayakoba Review

Our Verdict

Andaz Mayakoba Review

Escape to paradise in Mexico at Andaz Mayakoba. Located in the gated Mayakoba complex, this secluded beachfront resort is nestled on the coastline of the Mexican Caribbean surrounded by vegetation and nature.

When you arrive at this stunning resort, you will instantly notice it’s where style meets nature and hospitality.

Andaz Mayakoba’s 214 guestrooms feature stylish amenities and a refined collection of artisan décor. Rooms and suites overlook crystal clear lagoons, mangrove and resort gardens, the golf course, or spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.

Andaz Mayakoba offers luxury accommodations that immerse you into the local culture and arts, access to a beautiful white sand beach, two swimming pools - one in each of the lagoon and beach areas of the resort, access to a world-class golf course, Mayan rituals at Naum Spa, plenty of outdoor activities and incredible gastronomy experiences.

This review is based off of our personal stay in September of 2020. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at Andaz Mayakoba, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (confirmed within 24 hours, if available), $100 resort credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

Andaz Mayakoba is a hidden gem in the Cancun/Playa del Carmen area as it offers relaxation, a chance to connect with nature and more.

Our Room

During our stay at Andaz Mayakoba, we were upgraded to a Beach Area Suite. While we stayed in a suite for our stay, it’s worth calling out that all of the guest rooms have a furnished terrace, stocked mini bar, walk-in rain shower, double-sink bathroom, Bluetooth speaker, robe and flip flops, individually controlled air-conditioning, blackout curtains, Nespresso coffee maker and a flat screen TV.

The Beach Area Suite is 1,100 square feet and features one king bed, a private terrace with plunge pool, a lagoon view near the beach and a spacious workspace.

The Beach Area Suite is a true one bedroom suite that offers a separate living room and bedroom. The living room features a sleeper sofa, Nespresso Coffee Maker, mini fridge, workspace, and a TV.

The bathroom in our suite was quite spacious although it’s quite long and skinny. The bathroom features a double vanity and walk-in rain shower.

Andaz Mayakoba features local toiletries in reusable containers in an effort to be a little more eco-friendly.

The private terrace with plunge pool makes for the perfect place to drink your morning coffee, spend and afternoon lounging with your significant other or a place to enjoy a nightcap.

Amenities

Andaz Mayakoba features a beach club & two resort pools, Naum Welness & Spa, four on-site restaurants, KIMBO Kids’ Club, and plenty of water & land adventures.

Pictured above is the lagoon area pool which was closed during our stay in September of 2020 due to COVID and the resort keeping guests to the beach area.

The fitness center pictured above is the permanent fitness center, but it was closed during our stay in September of 2020 due to COVID. Andaz Mayakoba has taken several pieces of cardio equipment along with the free weights over to the beach area and have setup a temporary fitness center. Even the make shift fitness center offered plenty of equipment to get a socially distanced, masked workout in.

Dining

Andaz Mayakoba features Cocina Milagro (main restaurant located in the lagoon area), Tinta del Pulpo (all-day poolside Mexican & International cuisine located by the beach area pool), VB (vegan options located by the beach area pool), Sotavento (Mediterranean beach grill), and Casa Amate (Signature Dining experience located in the lagoon area next to the spa).

During our stay we dined at Tinta del Pulpo for breakfast and for an afternoon snack.

For breakfast we had the Croissant sandwich and the Chilaquiles. When in Mexico Chilaquiles are always a good idea for breakfast.

VB (short for Vegan Bar) is one of Andaz Mayakoba’s newest food & beverage outlets and let us be the first to tell you, the vegan fare they are serving up is delicious. We tried the rice balls salad, the corn caesar salad, and a few other items.

We also dinned at Sotavento for dinner on our last night and this Mediterranean grill on the beach offers the perfect way to end the day with the ocean breeze. We indulged in the capresse salad, steak and the roasted onions with blue cheese.

If you’re looking for the ultimate dining experience, talk to the concierge about setting up a private dinner on the beach. We had a private candlelit dinner on the beach for our anniversary and it was one of the most romantic things we have ever done.

Here is an insider tip for you. If you’re looking to truly experience all that Mayakoba has to offer and immerse yourself into the three ecosystems that exist within the 620 acres of the complex, then you should take the Mayakoba connection. Andaz offers an eco-tour aboard the Mayakoba connection which is a 30 minute boat tour through the lagoons of Mayakoba.

We were even lucky enough to arrange to have a morning eco-tour with breakfast served on the boat. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast while watching a myriad of indigenous species of birds, fish and mammals.

Service

Andaz Mayakoba and their staff truly treat you like family when you’re at the resort. Each time we had a meal the waitstaff truly made an effort to get to know us. By our last day we were so sad to leave because it felt like we were leaving part of our family behind.

From the moment we arrived, to getting us checked-in and our luggage delivered to our room, everyone we encountered at this resort was super helpful and accommodating.

How are they handling COVID?

How is Andaz Mayakoba handling COVID? They are following all state and local government regulations and Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment. All of the staff were wearing masks and they were enforcing that guests have their masks on while moving through public areas. And there were tons of hand sanitizing stations setup throughout the resort for guests safety and convenience.

Andaz Mayakoba a pretty large resort and with COVID they had made a few changes that was different from our previous stays.

• The biggest differences were the permanent fitness center was closed and there was a temporary fitness center setup at the beach area next to Tinta del Pulpo.

• Lagoon area rooms, pool and all amenities were closed including the the Spa, Casa Amate and Cocina Milagro.

• The check-in process was completed at Tinta del Pulpo rather than the Santuary where you get dropped off at.

Overall Impression

Andaz Mayakoba is an inspiring, vibrant & modern destination. And that’s why Andaz is the perfect place to experience modern Mexico through vibrant decor, colorful local artwork, unique experiences and authentic cuisine give you a taste of Mayan culture.

If you haven’t been to Mayakoba, it’s the perfect place for relaxation, adventure, wellness and to experience authentic Mexican culture. Mayakoba is home to a spectacular stretch of white-sand beach overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Andaz Maykoba with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining, daily breakfast for two, a confirmed room upgrade, and a welcome amenity.

Thompson Nashville Review

Our Verdict

Thompson Nashville Review

The Thompson Nashville is rather new to the city. The hotel first opened their doors in 2017 . While the Thompson Nashville isn’t considered a boutique hotel since it has 224 rooms and suites spread out over 12 floors, it still feels very intimate, warm and cozy. And the location in the Gulch is the perfect escape from Broadway where it’s 24/7 hustle and bustle.

The Thompson Nashville offers luxurious accommodations and great food and beverage outlets including Killebrew Coffee, L.A. Jackson and Marsh House.

This review is based off of our personal stay in July of 2020. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at the Thompson Nashville, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (confirmed within 24 hours, if available), $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. And for stays through March 31, 2021, receive the third night free. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

And for a limited time get the 3rd night free. Must book by March 27, 2021 for stays between January 1, 2021 - March 31, 2021. And as a Live Luxe Travel Co. client you’ll receive complimentary valet parking* when booking a Thompson or Executive suite or receive a double room upgrade* when booking a Neighborhood view room. (*Valid for stays of 2 Nights or more). See all Hyatt Privé offers here.

If you are looking for top notch accommodations in the Music City, then the Thompson Nashville is exactly what you are looking for. This industrial modern hotel is the perfect place to kick up your feet after a day of exploring this southern city or a night out on the town.

Our Room

During our stay at the Thompson Nashville, we were upgraded to an executive suite due to low occupancy rates during our stay. Even though we had a suite for our stay, it is worth noting that all of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, warm wooden floors, wallpaper from Flat Vernacular, as well as custom-designed rugs from a one-off collaboration between Tailor Made Textiles and Eskayel.

As soon as we opened the door of our suite, we were greeted by elegant touches that mix Nashville heritage with modern design. The rooms are very balanced with tons of natural light, texture and high quality finishes.

The executive suite is a true one bedroom suite that offers a bedroom equipped with a door and a separate sitting area. The executive suite has a shared wall between the sitting area and bedroom that features a breezeway (almost like a double-sided fireplace without the fire) that can be closed off via a sliding door. This was a nice touch because it allows the sitting area and bedroom to be connected or disconnected from one another.

The bathroom in our room was absolutely gorgeous. One entire wall of the bathroom featured white subway tile from floor to ceiling, which makes a bold statement. And the hand painted tile on the floor was a nice unique touch that one can appreciate. The bathroom featured a big cast iron free standing tub, a double vanity, large walk in shower and separate water closet.

Amenities

While the Thompson Nashville doesn’t have a pool, they make up for it in many other ways. One of our favorite things about this property is the rooftop bar and restaurant, L.A. Jackson, which offers sweeping views of the city.

The Thompson Nashville has an on-site 24 hour fitness center that is located on the second floor. The fitness center isn’t the biggest hotel gym we have seen considering the number of rooms, but it has enough cardio and weight equipment to get a good workout in. The gym features 3 ellipticals, 3 treadmills, 2 Peloton bikes, free weights and a couple of weight machines.

Dining

Be prepared to eat some delicious food during your stay at the Thompson Nashville. There are 3 food and beverage outlets on-property including Killebrew Coffee (delicious coffee & pastries), Marsh House (signature restaurant that focuses on sustainably sourced seafood & southern-fused cuisines), and L.A. Jackson (indoor-outdoor rooftop bar & restaurant that serves up custom craft cocktails and small plates).

During our stay we flocked to where the locals hangout on our first night to try out L.A. Jackson. And we would definitely recommend you give it a try. The views combined with the custom craft cocktails, frosé and beer selection make this the perfect spot to grab a few drinks and some food. Do yourself a favor and try their signature frosé and burger!

Unfortunately during our stay, Marsh House was closed so we didn’t get to try the food, but we did get to peek at the space and get a feel for the ambience.

And lastly if you’re a coffee snob, you will love Killebrew, not to mention that you don’t even have to leave the hotel to grab that perfect cup of coffee! And if you’re looking for something quick and good for breakfast try their breakfast sandwich.

If you’re like us, sometimes you don’t want to leave your room to get food, and that is just fine since there is also the option of ordering room service. Since there is no restaurant to get breakfast at in the hotel, we ordered room service breakfast on our second morning.

We placed our breakfast order the night before and it arrived right on time just as we had arranged for. You would be surprised how many hotels can’t get room service breakfast right or forget to bring half of what you order.

Service

From the moment we pulled up at valet to the moment we stepped foot in the hotel, we were greeted by friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff. Not sure if it’s just a southern hospitality thing or if the employees at the Thompson Nashville really like their job, but everyone was so friendly.

When staying at a 5-star property you expect a high-level of service and that is exactly what you will find at the Thompson Nashville.

How are they handling COVID?

How are hotels handling COVID? This is a big question on every travelers mind right now including ours. The Thompson Nashville isn’t operating as normal, but at a new normal.

The most important thing to note is the Thompson Nashville is adhering to all state and local government regulations and Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment. All employees were wearing masks, there were hand sanitizer dispensers in the lobby and there was signage and markings on the floor in all common areas to encourage social distancing.

There were plexiglass partitions up at the front desk to protect guests and staff during the check-in process. And if you’re like us we used the mobile check-in option in the World of Hyatt app to minimize contact necessary during check-in.

The first night of our stay when we went to L.A. Jackson for drinks and dinner, there was a 15 minute wait to get a table. They took our phone number and texted us when our table was ready. In addition to being required to wear a facial covering when walking to and from your table, the host was also taking patrons temperatures with a touchless thermometer to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

Overall Impression

If you’re looking for luxurious accommodations in Music City in a well sought out neighborhood away from the main attractions of the city then look no further than the Thompson Nashville. This boutique hotel makes for a great home base to explore the city and a serene escape when you return for the night.

From the accommodations, to the food to the staff, our stay was flawless, even while traveling during these unprecedented times.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book the Thompson Nashville with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and a welcome amenity.

Park Hyatt New York Review

Our Verdict

The Park Hyatt New York offers luxurious accommodations in a home away from home along with an incredible fitness center & spa facilities plus white glove five star service.

This review is based off of our personal stay in December of 2019. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at the Park Hyatt New York, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (if available), $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. Plus through September of 2020, they’re offering a 3rd night free on Hyatt Privé reservations. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

If you are looking for an escape in the middle of bustling New York City, the Park Hyatt New York is just that. You might even forget you are in New York City unless you look out the window.

Park Hyatt New York

There are so many options when it comes to luxury hotels in New York City, but they all have something a little different to offer. The Park Hyatt New York is in a great location, just two blocks from Central Park, close to the 57th Street Subway Station and across the street from Carnegie Hall.

The Park Hyatt New York is a rather boutique with only 210 guest rooms on 15 floors including 92 luxurious suites. All of their rooms feature a work desk, separate soaking tub and rain shower, commissioned artwork in guest rooms and a built-in TV in the bathroom mirror.

Our Room

During our stay at the Park Hyatt New York, we stayed in a one bedroom city view suite. This 1,000 square foot escape in the heart of midtown offered panoramic views of 57th street with a glimpse of Central Park.

From the moment you open the door to this premium suite, you will be amazed by the upscale materials, expansive living area, separate bedroom and gorgeous spa-like bathroom.

Our personal favorite thing about this room was the large picturesque windows that offered sweeping views of the city as well as the luxurious bathroom and closet.

As you probably already know, the Park Hyatt New York features Le Labo toiletries which happen to be a personal favorite. The Tubereuse 40 fragrance was a nice change from other Park Hyatt properties we have visited like Park Hyatt St Kitts, Park Hyatt Washington D.C., and Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme,

The bedroom featured a king bed surrounded by a wall of windows on two sides with thick up-scale curtains that opened with the push of a button.

Amenities

If you are looking for an escape in the heart of New York City, the spa, fitness center and pool at the Park Hyatt New York will give you some serenity.

The pool area at the Park Hyatt New York offers a place to rest, relax and recharge. In addition to a large pool that is suitable for swimming laps or just taking a leisurely swim, there is also a separate Jacuzzi and a steam room.

If you’re like us, getting a good workout while traveling is essential. The fitness center at the Park Hyatt New York will give you the space, the machines and the technology to get a good workout in. The gym featured plenty of cardio equipment along with Peloton bikes (something we now judge hotel gyms by), a Mirror (interactive full-length mirror), self-powered treadmills, and plenty of weights.

While we didn’t have any services performed at the spa, from the reviews we have read and guests we spoke to, it’s top notch just like everything else at this property.

Dining

The Park Hyatt New York features one restaurant called The Living Room. The Living Room serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, afternoon tea, and light bites + cocktails.

The Hyatt Privé breakfast benefit can be used at The Living Room or through in-room dining. Since our trip to New York was quite relaxing, we didn’t feel like getting ready to go to breakfast each morning, so we ordered breakfast from an iPad in our suite.

Within minutes of placing our order for breakfast, the phone rang and a member of the in-room dining team was calling to confirm our order. When breakfast arrived the next day, the order was 100% correct (it surprising how many hotels mess up room service breakfast). And the breakfast was hot, another challenge with in-room dining.

The in-room dining experience we had at the Park Hyatt New York was the best in-room dining experience we have ever had. What made our in-room dining experience was the quality of the food, the fact that it was served hot and the service.

The Park Hyatt brand is known to be ‘Masters of Food & Wine’ and that is exactly the experience we had at the Park Hyatt New York.

Service

If you’re looking to be treated like royalty or a celebrity, then book a stay at the Park Hyatt New York. From the moment you walk up to the hotel entrance on 57th street and are greeted by the friendly bell staff you will feel like you are at a home away from home.

There are two things that truly make a hotel experience memorable and that is the actual hotel itself and the level of service that they provide. The Park New York delivers a guest experience that is truly unique and memorable.

The check-in process was super easy and the front desk agent explained our Hyatt Privé benefits and answered our inquiries.

Overall Impression

Besides being immersed in the action of New York City, the Park Hyatt New York won one of 2018’s most luxurious hotels from Forbes. The luxurious environment, friendly staff, excellent food and drinks and hotel amenities make the Park Hyatt New York a must stay property when visiting New York City.

The commissioned artwork all over the hotel also adds to the experience of staying at this five star hotel. Everything in the Park Hyatt New York is chic and elegant and the interior is filled with polished marble and stone that promotes a sense of calm and soothing.

Our stay at the Park Hyatt New York was during the holidays, and the lobby was decorated very elegantly, just as one would expect.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book the Park Hyatt New York with Live Luxe Travel Co. through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining or at the spa, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and welcome amenity.

Alila Villas Uluwatu Review

Our Verdict

The Alila Villas Uluwatu. offers luxurious accommodations, a picturesque pool with a great view of the Indian Ocean and five-star white-glove service. This review is based off of our personal stay in September of 2019. And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at the Alila Villas Uluwatu, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

If you are looking for an ultra luxurious, yet eco-friendly stay in Bali, then the Alila Villas Uluwatu is just what you are looking for. Not to mention that all of the Alila Resorts in Bali are now part of of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and World of Hyatt.

The Alila Villas Uluwatu are perched on-top of a cliff that overlooks the Indian Ocean, making for an incredible setting at this luxury resort.

Alila Villas Uluwatu

The Alila Villas Uluwatu is not the newest resort in Bali, as it opened about 10 years ago. But let us tell you from our first hand experience, the resort is in excellent condition and you will probably think that it is brand-new. The common areas and the villas both have been extremely well maintained.

The Ailia Villas Uluwatu is committed to sustainability and you can definitely tell that while you are on property. From the filtered water in glass bottles in your room to the sustainable gardens located on property and the use of recyclable materials, the Alila Villas Uluwatu is going above and beyond to be committed to sustainability.

The whole experience of this 5-star resort including the service and staff, the food, the accommodations and the amenities, you will feel extremely spoiled and if you’re like us, you won’t want to leave.

Our Villa

During our stay at the Alila Villas Uluwatu, we stayed in a 1 bedroom pool villa. The resort is built on a hillside, so the lobby, pool and restaurant are located on the lowest level while the villas are located up several terraces, which create incredible views from all of the villas.

Let’s just talk about how big these 1 bedroom pool villas are. They are just over 3,000 square feet counting the outdoor living space. Yes, you read that right. This is probably bigger that some people’s homes.

The rooms have everything you could possibly need to have an incredible and relaxing vacation. The villas feature an outdoor private pool and cabana, an outdoor shower, an indoor walk-in shower and a jetted bathtub.

The style of the villas is extremely modern with a lot of clean lines and an open concept. But they also feature a lot of warm touches with the use of fabrics and wood materials making it feel cozy and inviting. The villas also have large glass sliding doors that when opened up disappear into the walls and allow you to bring the outside in.

One of our favorite things about staying at Alila hotels is the Alila Living bath products. These natural, organic range of therapeutic skin care products are designed for both ‘him and her’. These bath products are some of our favorite because they are free from parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, petrochemicals, synthetic substances and artificial colors or fragrances.

AMENITIES

When you are in Bali, you might be looking for a beach. The Alila Villas Uluwatu is perched upon a cliff, so the beach is about 650 stair steps down a cliff. But if you aren’t looking for a beach, the infinity edge pool offers incredible views of the Indian Ocean and the perfect oasis to relax.

We did decided to hike down to the beach one morning instead of working out. And let us be the first to tell you, it’s quite a workout. Going down wasn’t too bad. But our legs were pretty shaky by the time we got back to the top.

There is of course staff at the pool to help you get setup with chairs, a cabana, take food and drink orders or anything else should you need.

After we got situated in our chairs at the pool, about 10 mins later a staff member brought over what appeared to be a picnic basket with cold bottled water, sun tan oil, sunscreen and facial mist. It was definitely a nice touch!

Spa Alila is located right next to Warung restaurant and you should definitely plan on booking at least one treatment during your stay. Spa services are more affordable in Bali, not to mention the estheticians provide excellent service.

The spa is setup quite a bit differently than your normal spa with treatment rooms. They are multiple spa villas and your services are performed inside your own villa that is equipped with a treatment room, restroom, shower and changing area.

DINING

The hardest part about staying at the Alila Villas Uluwatu was deciding where to dine between the two restaurants they have on property, The Warung serves Balinese food and CIRE serves East-Asian food. Both restaurants had incredible food. And the nice thing is that you can order off of both menus at either restaurant.

During our stay we enjoyed breakfast everyday at CIRE. CIRE mixes it up when it comes to your typical hotel or resort breakfast. Breakfast is served tapas style with a menu that changes daily. This was nice because you can try many different things and experience many different cuisines and flavors.

Also during our stay we were able to enjoy lunch at CIRE which offers an incredible view of the pool and ocean.

One of the best dinners we had while staying at the Alila Villas Uluwatu was at Warung. Warung is one of the best Balinese restaurants in Bali. There weren’t many people staying at the Alia during our stay, but Warung was extremely busy each night as locals and guests from nearby resorts came to dine here.

SERVICE

Be prepared to be completely spoiled here! The staff is incredible and makes you feel like you are at your own home. Each villa is assigned a butler upon check-in who attends to your every wish until you leave. Our butler, Ruben, was incredible! We ordered iced coffee one afternoon through room service and Ruben was the one to bring it to us. Needless to say, your butler is there to take care of anything and everything you might need during your stay.

It was also incredible how they knew when we weren’t in the room. Never once during our stay did we return to our villa being serviced.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The Alila Villas Uluwatu is an eco-friendly zero-waste luxury resort located in one of the most picturesque places in Bali. While there aren’t a lack of luxury accommodations in Bali and especially in the Uluwatu area, there isn’t anything quite like the sense of being you get while staying at the Alila Villas Uluwatu.

The only down-side to the Alila Villas Uluwatu is perhaps the location as it is pretty isolated without much around it. There is a nearby beach club, but otherwise you’re pretty limited unless you do a day trip off property.

EXTRA PERKS

And don’t forget, when you book the Alila Villas Uluwautu with Live Luxe Travel Co. through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining, daily breakfast for two and a welcome amenity.

Thompson Seattle Review

Whether you are looking for an awesome hotel for a weekend in Seattle or are just visiting for one night, The Thompson Seattle is an excellent choice. Located right by Pike’s Place Market, this swanky hotel is very modern and makes you feel right at home.

THOMPSON SEATTLE

The 158 room, twelve story boutique hotel which opened in the summer of 2016 features floor to ceiling windows with incredible views of Pike's Place Market and the waterfront. The first floor of the hotel is home to restaurant Scout PNW and the hotel has a rooftop bar and lounge, the Nest.

The Thompson Seattle is one of the best located hotels in Seattle. Centrally located next to the historic waterfront quarter of Downtown Seattle, the hotel is a short walk from Pike's Place Market. The Thompson Seattle is located within close proximity to excellent Downtown Seattle shopping, restaurants and the monorail which connects downtown to the Seattle Space Needle.

The package we booked included a room upgrade, free breakfast at Scout PNW, two cocktails at the Nest and one-way transportation from the airport. When we arrived at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport just before noon on Saturday, our driver was waiting for us. It's about a twenty minute drive from the airport to the Thompson Seattle.

When we arrived at the hotel, the modern was modern, yet elegant and inviting. We were told our room would be ready within thirty minutes so we took the opportunity to grab a quick breakfast at Biscuit Bitch, located directly across from the Thompson Seattle (it's worth the wait - trust us).

THE ROOM

After breakfast when we arrived in our room and we were pleasantly surprised to see that we had been upgraded to a corner suite. The room had an incredible view of of Pike's Place Market and the waterfront (even through the low clouds).

The suite was warm, yet modern and featured two separate rooms, a bedroom and living room. The room also had two full bathrooms.

The living room had several chairs, a comfortable couch, coffee table, flat screen television and minibar.

The bedroom had an extremely comfortable king size bed with two night stands. For the proximity to a busy area of Downtown Seattle, we didn't notice an excessive amount of street noise which definitely made for a good night of sleep.

Both bathrooms had that industrial modern look with a vanity, walk-in shower and toilet. The bathrooms were quite functional however felt a bit sterile and cold compared to the rest of the room. But the design was still aesthetically pleasing.

Thompson Hotels including the Thompson Seattle have a special line of toiletries curated from D.S. Durga. The toiletries were top notch. They did have a slightly more masculine scent than most hotel toiletries (matching the feel of Thompson Hotels).

DINING

One of the best features of the Thompson Seattle is the NEST, a rooftop bar and lounge.The NEST boasts itself as the highest rooftop bar and lounge in Seattle. We did enjoy a late night cocktail at the NEST.  The drink was great and the views are outstanding. The space is on the smaller side and about half of the rooftop bar and lounge is dedicated to an outdoor patio which is unusable a good chunk of the year.

The next morning we went down to PNW Scout for breakfast. Breakfast was the only meal we had at PNW Scout but it was honestly less than stellar. For a five star hotel, the on site restaurant left a little to be desired. Service was fairly slow, our meals weren't great and the bacon that was served with both of our entrees looked like it came from a truck stop and should have never been served at a restaurant of this caliber. After we said something about the bacon, they brought us out another order of bacon which wasn't much better. The manager, who was chatting with a guest right next to our table, noticed the bacon and the replacement order of bacon yet never once bothered to check on us. We were definitely disappointed in the breakfast and service.

AMENITIES

While we didn't get a chance to try it out, the Thompson Seattle does have a gorgeous, state of the art fitness center that is open 24 hours a day. The fitness center has floor to ceiling windows overlooking 1st Avenue. There is no pool or hot tub at the Thompson Seattle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Other than breakfast, we enjoyed our stay at the Thompson Hotel. The location of the hotel is perfect and the room and bathroom couldn't have been better. The hotel service was also what you would expect from an upper end hotel. And as great as the rooftop bar was in November, it's likely incredible on a sunny day in the summer.

Extra Benefits

And when you book with Live Luxe Travel Co. through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll get complimentary extras like a $100 property credit, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade at the time of booking and a welcome amenity.

Andaz Scottsdale

Our Verdict

Updated June of 2020: After seven stays at the Andaz Scottsdale, and staying at many other resorts across the Scottsdale area, we continue to be a big fan of the Andaz Scottsdale Resort. It provides a true opportunity to relax by a pool, enjoy a yoga class or sip on a deliciously crafted cocktail. But what makes this resort is the staff. The staff at the Andaz Scottsdale is incredible and they truly make the stay memorable.

And don’t forget, if you are planning to stay at the Andaz Scottsdale, book through Hyatt Privé to take advantage of exclusive complimentary extras like a confirmed room upgrade (if available), $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity. Plus through March of 2021, they’re offering a 3rd night free on Hyatt Privé reservations. To request Hyatt Privé rates, just visit liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive.

MID-CENTURY RESORT WITH A SPANISH & DESERT FLAIR

We are a big fan of the Andaz brand of hotels and resorts and stayed at the Andaz West Hollywood over Christmas and the Andaz Papagayo (see our review) this past January. Hyatt describes it's Andaz brand as boutique hotels and resorts located in dynamic urban and leisure destinations worldwide with a lively local art scene. Essentially Andaz Hotels and Resorts are Hyatt's take on an upscale lifestyle resort or hotel. And The Andaz Scottsdale Resort definitely definitely lived up to the Andaz brand's image.

LOCATION

The Andaz Scottsdale is located just 5 minutes from Old Scottsdale and in a great area of the city with several nearby restaurants and bars. But the Andaz Scottsdale does offer complimentary shuttle service in their Telsa to Old Scottsdale.

You'll arrive at the "Guest House" and you'll be instructed to leave your car with valet parking (valet parking is included in the resort fee).

You won't find a formal check-in desk at any Andaz Hotel or Resort. But instead you'll arrive to a lounge area where a guest services representative will check you in on an iPad (or with COVID precautions you can do online check in and completely skip the check-in progress). During check-in, we were offered a glass of wine or glass of lemonade and we also indulged in a complimentary Fairytale Brownie (made in Phoenix).

OUR ROOM

The resort features beautiful landscaping and our room had a great view of Cambelback Mountain. The modern industrial rooms feature two terraces, one out front and another completely private terrace on the backside of the room.

As soon as you enter the room, you’re in the main bedroom. We had one king bed and a couch along with a huge 65" television.

Beyond the bedroom is a hallway with a closet and minibar. And one of the great features of the Andaz brand is that the minibar is complimentary (except alcoholic beverages). The fridge and minibar get replenished daily with bottled water, soda and snacks.

Beyond the hallway and the minibar was the bathroom. The spa like bathroom was HUGE and featured a long vanity with one large sink and plenty of counter space. And there was also an extra large walk-in shower and separate toilet room.

The shower was uniquely huge and featured dual shower heads. And the entire room and particularly the bathroom had a mid-century yet southwestern feel.

TURQUOISE POOL

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort has two main pools, the Turquoise Pool and an Adult only pool near the Spa.  The Turquoise Pool has incredible views of the surrounding desert. Our only complaint, but it's nothing you don't expect in the Arizona summer, is that the concrete around the pool gets extremely hot.

Needless to say, we enjoyed quite a bit of time at the pool sipping on Moscow Mules and enjoying the inflatable pool toys.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort only has one restaurant (other than the bar at the Turquoise Pool). We enjoyed happy hour, coffee and breakfast at the Weft & Warp Art Bar and everything we tried was delicious. Weft & Warp is known for their avocado toast - just an insider tip. And we were a big fan of the steak breakfast tacos.

And we also enjoyed an incredibly good burger, fries and ice cream sandwich at the Turquoise Pool.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort is an incredible property, has great amenities and the staff ensured the service was impeccable. We can't wait to return to the Andaz Scottsdale Resort. In fact we are already planning our next trip back later this year.

The resort is luxurious, comfortable and makes for a very relaxing and enjoyable stay. While we wish the resort featured a few more food options, the Weft & Warp Art Bar offered a good variety of items on their breakfast, snacks and dinner menus. Plus we found several great food options at the Turquoise Pool. But as we said above, the staff is what makes this property.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book the Andaz Scottsdale with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Hyatt Privé partnership, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit to use on dining or at the spa, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and welcome amenity.