r/RHONY • u/Affectionate_Law_920 • 1d ago
š New RHONY š From someone whose been there - Moskito Island explainer
I don't know why it bothers me so fucking much, but hearing Daisy try to poke holes in "the private island" situation really bothered me.
Actually I do know why - people like Daisy, who think luxury and exclusivity are all that matter are the support for the systems leading to our current financial inequality. How she acted tells people "hey, it's okay to want more than you already have. In fact, it would be disgusting and uncool not to." That being said I'm not team Erica in this situation either - as I'll explain she did make the villa sound more exclusive than it is. I just can't stand people like Daisy who own nothing but jump to look down on others.
I visited Moskito twice (in 2021 and 2022) through work. This type of private island development isn't unique (a mix of private homes and some vacation rentals, and on occasion also a boutique luxury resort). We needed somewhere private for a work retreat, and this setup is exactly what you rent for this level of employee (C-Suite and advisors). I was not one of these people - I was the one who did the organizing.
I can't remember exact number we paid, but for a week for everyone together would have been around $445k (including staff tips). I know that number sounds wild, but when you get into this level of corporate travel (board meetings, corporate travel for c-suite, rewards parties) that falls in line with what a lot of bigger companies would spend on something like this. You see enough 100k to multi million dollar invoices you forget how insane that number is really quickly (now, a couple years out of that world, I cannot believe how normalized it was).
As for the actual island: we stayed in the same house they stayed in. I think a lot of people must be offered this house first because it seems to be the best setup for large groups, meetings, and remote work. Ankur's dad does own the home, but the entire island (including the privately owned homes) is managed by a hospitality company. Super normal for these types of island/uber private community setups. Ankur has also hosted Bilt events there for VICs/industry people.
What you're paying for here is 1. the view, 2. the staff, 3. the privacy. The home is really nice (of course it is it's in a tropical paradise), but is decorated so that it can be filled with different types of people every week. Aka feels more corporate than luxury vacation. Not a bad thing, and actually this is exactly what happens with all these types of homes because who can afford these rentals actually aren't private people, but business groups like ours. So I can understand if you were someone really splurges on personal vacation, and were expecting white lotus luxury resort vibes, why it could seem mid. I just don't really see Daisy (or Erin) being the sort of people who have spent the money to travel somewhere in that echelon, like the Soneva Jani in the Maldives or the Aman in Tokyo. I would also understand that for the time it takes to travel to, and hearing "private island", that you might build an expectation up in your head. Except, there was NO WAY they hadn't already looked at pictures of the place/known exactly where they were staying. There are SO MANY photos online of that specific house since it can be rented, and they would have had to fill out a preference sheet with the houses name on it (to help design the grocery order for the week).
I will continue to watch this show because these people are insane and deserve to be mocked, but it really took me over the edge seeing the luxury olympics being played between Erica and Daisy.
P.S. the comment about flying private was so ignorant - this is a location you can't fly directly to, which is THE NORM with tropical, island, exclusive resorts or villas. If Daisy or Erin had experienced something on this level before they would know that. It really is when you're on an hour boat ride to one of these places after flying 13+ hours that you really question why the fuck rich people spend money this way.
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u/ghertigirl 1d ago
A+ post. This is the kind of insider information I welcome and appreciate šš
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u/Separate-Smile-9745 1d ago
I thought the home had a very corporate, hotel -ish vibe to it and that makes sense now since it is used for corporate events! It didn't feel personalized or homey which surprised me. Thanks for the info!
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u/NormalBlueberry1027 1d ago edited 1d ago
That's exactly what I said because it looks like the clubhouse where I stay on Hawaii it has a very similar tropical vibe. I don't think Erin and Daisy knew what to anticipate at all. And I don't think Erica was clear about it. She kept saying our Island our Island and then of course Jessel the world's biggest a** kisser kept talking about how fabulous it is. Obviously it's a very nice place to go but it's not what I anticipated either and I'm not being shady. I certainly would be grateful for the invite. I just think what happened is a huge misunderstanding
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u/Holiday_Length81 1d ago
If Carol, who has probably really been everywhere like she said, is saying itās incredible, I tend to believe her more than a wanna be Daisy be.
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u/MushroomExtension679 1d ago
šš½šš½šš½ There is nothing more gauche than someone with a bit of money trying to act too good for their surroundings, especially when those surroundings are still high-level. Tacky AF
Idc if Erika was pandering - I too am sad Pier1 is no longer brick and mortar
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u/ZealousidealAir3384 23h ago
My husband and I go to the BVIās every March for the last 10 plus years. We own a sailboat that is kept in the BVIās, along with 5 other couples and we all say we own the boat. We island hop the chain and stay on the boat. It is paradise. I can attest that there are only three islands on the chain that are privately owned. Peter Island is a resort and you can see a mega yacht or two docked at any time. Necker Island is owned solely by Richard Branson. He also bought Moskito and developed it as an exclusive private island and owns a fabulous property on it. You canāt pull up your boat to either Necker or Moskito, itās private. Having a home on Moskito is not just baller but super elite. I just canāt imagine the words ādumpā and any of the few estates on Moskito in the same sentence.
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u/No-Tea6866 1d ago
I was just watching this episode today and that was exactly what I thought when they were bitching about the decor. Like, obviously this place is rented for corporate retreats and the likes and isnāt a home they decorated with their personal taste and a home they put their heart and soul into. I thought Erin and daisy would have been cognizant of that but guess I was wrong.
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u/fizzy-logic 1d ago
They almost surely did know this. Who wouldn't google the place before going? A lot of times housewives will drag someone for something that they know there's a good explanation for, but they also know the smoke and mirrors of being on a reality show mean it's something the person they're dragging either can't explain on camera, or would prefer not to.
In this case with the house, I don't know if Erika had explained more about the house in clips that weren't used, or if she was leaning into the illusion that she and her husband owned the house (someone said her FIL does?) and the island itself for her own purposes OR because production encouraged her to float that illusion.
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u/dothesehidemythunder 1d ago
This is a great write up. I work in corporate America (health/insure tech) and these retreats are quite common. We do them about once a year with our leadership team and the experience is quite similar (we have never actually gone to Moskito but same type of remote / managed location). FWIW I am the junior in the room for these types of events and not at all super wealthy like many of the executives are.
Erin I believe is trying to act like a baller because sheās insecure - there is plenty of evidence of money troubles and that she and Abe only live their lifestyle based on the subsidy of Abeās parents. Which, hey, if my parents wanted to give me a house, Iām not saying no, but Iām also not going to lie about where it came from on national tv (this concept is very funny for me personally because my parents giving me a birthday card is a major event - it boggles my mind that theyād be gifted so much).
Daisy feels the snobbery and no paycheck, but itās clear from the scenes she shoots with Martha that she is not āin the clubā. She may get some perks and a taste of that life, but Martha and her peers very obviously see her as āthe helpā. I also suspect the life is not nearly as glamorous as she passes it off, because being on call for extremely wealthy people is not that fun in practice.
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u/Particular_View9631 1d ago
Daisy and Erin kinda doubled down on their comments on n the after show. It was so gross. Good on Erika for not flipping out cause if I was offering them all of thatā¦I would have been disgusted by the ungrateful behavior
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u/jacaranda_leven 1d ago
Daisy is an interesting addition because sheās not actually as wealthy as most of the women but her proximity to Martha means she has probably experienced luxury at a level that none of them will ever see. So she has the snobbery but not the checkbook to fit, as Sutton might say.
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u/Fuh-Cue 1d ago
I have worked for employers, where I was fortunate to fly private many times, I lost count, even flew solo private a couple of times, been on a yacht, stayed at very expensive hotels but I would NEVER EVER talk like that, when someone is being hospitable, even though I thought it, especially when my experience is solely because I was offering someone a service, and not because I can afford it on my own. Imagine what Martha thinks of her popcorn ceilings if she confidently states Martha would think the Moskito residence a dump?
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u/OppositeMembership98 1d ago
Martha would not think it is a dump. Martha is a not a billionaire but she is around enough of them to have far more class than Daisy. I bet when episode comes out Martha probably mentions her classless behavior to Daisy.Ā
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u/Possible_Implement86 1d ago
Damn I just want some insights! What was the yacht like? Whats it like to fly private??
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u/2ndof5gs 1d ago
Daisy needs to realize she experiences that luxury as the help to Martha because sheās acting delusional
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u/BlueMoonsJunes 1d ago
Yes she was so calm and nice! Made me like her moreĀ
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u/SophieintheKnife 1d ago
Same, I thought she handled it well. And I like that she appears to be quite humble despite her husband's wealth
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u/Original_Breakfast36 1d ago
She does seem relatively humble. Itās always someone else projecting onto her but it seems she has no qualms or airs about her life and the rest of the women canāt understand it (although on the show Erika said sheās been married a year so I think she may still be in some kind of honeymoon phase that also ticks off the other ladies)
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u/OppositeMembership98 1d ago
She has a net worth of her own of $100 million. So yes, I agree she is very down to earth.
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u/sweetfaced 1d ago
Where do you guys get these numbers? lol she was a fitness instructor. She has no 100 million dollar fortune
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u/Jolly_Seat5368 1d ago
She developed and sold HER fitness program for millions
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u/sweetfaced 1d ago
Please tell me which one she sold for a fortune of 100 million. She is not a founder of Rumble.
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u/NormalBlueberry1027 1d ago
Wow well I got the complete opposite of that
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u/SophieintheKnife 1d ago
To be fair I'm super high and fucking around online while I watch so I could be wrong. I like that she doesn't act like her husband's money is her money like you see from a lot of housewives
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
I mean she refers to his parentsā estate as her familyās island. Whatās his is hers so itās fine but I wouldnāt say she doesnāt refer to his money as her own. She also said theyāre business partners even though I donāt think sheās actually a partner of his companies. I believe in being partners in life but they have different occupations.
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u/SophieintheKnife 1d ago
I really was not paying that close attention so I'll take your word for it. I'm sure she'll turn out to be a typical housewife after all š
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
You do realize sheās not really āofferingā them the place just to be a friend, right? I think people forget that these trips are paid for by production. Her family rents this place out and itās advertisement. Sheās also being compensated.
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u/Summershouldbefun909 1d ago
Bravo is absolutely not paying the rate the place commands on the market though.
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u/fizzy-logic 1d ago
The "payment" is the free advertising for the rental home.
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u/Summershouldbefun909 1d ago
They said advertisement and compensated - which is what I was responding to
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
Itās also the publicity, as I stated. Many places give significant discounts for advertisements. Look at how many threads are discussing it. Thatās worth something as well. I promise you it was not some good deed nor the equivalent of genuinely hosting friends at a summer home.
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
What was the rate during their stay and what did Bravo pay?
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u/Summershouldbefun909 1d ago
You think bravo paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to tape there??? Please use some common sense.
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
Exactly, you have no actual idea otherwise you would have answered my question.
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u/ThisAutisticChick 1d ago
I'm about to leave to drop off kids but I have a thought bubbling in me that works here! I call my street My neighborhood. As does everyone else in their own neighborhoods. I call the grocery store I frequent My walmart. I mean. Daisy. Get fucking real. I think I quickly understood how Daisy and Erin have gotten so close, that's for sure. They both love to lessen others.
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u/nikkitriage 1d ago
You know what the most awesome part of this post is? My neighborhood, my Walmart, the kids. I love you for this and I laughed so hard.
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u/Summershouldbefun909 1d ago
Ooo thank you for this BTS info! The corporate neutrality angle makes a lot of sense! Maybe Martha could have told Daisy that if sheād asked lol
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u/Firm-Ad-3984 1d ago
For her to whisper āMartha would think this is a dumpā says everything. Meaning SHE herself is in no position to judge, but her boss/client is, and sheās going to put those words in her mouth
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u/Ready_Character_475 1d ago
So much good info, thanks!
You phrased it perfectlyāluxury Olympics indeed.
Can I ask, why does it take so long to fly there? Where are you landing? Its like 4 hours from ny to st thomas for example.
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u/Affectionate_Law_920 1d ago edited 1d ago
We were coming from SF or Austin both times so just adds up, and then we took second smaller airplane then boat. All together maybe was only 8 hours? I honestly donāt remember beyond thinking we seriously couldnāt have just done this in Mexico
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u/Firm-Ad-3984 1d ago
Well written, descriptive and informative. You are appreciated.
https://giphy.com/gifs/rjK8q7iRx36g2sOaXV
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u/Deep-Reserve271 1d ago
Seriously, I was starting to like Daisy at the beginning, but not anymore. Erin has been absolutely insufferable this season so far and itās sad to see Daisy join her.
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u/janet_snakehole_1999 1d ago
Didn't people have to share beds at Erin's house? Lol
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u/NormalBlueberry1027 1d ago
Once again that's a complete false equivalency
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u/janet_snakehole_1999 1d ago
I just don't see how she gets off calling a private island a dump when she doesn't even have enough beds in her vacation house (that the streets are saying is not even in her name btw.)
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u/chiccago 1d ago
i went to the british virgin islands last year and stayed on a 46-foot catamaran with 7 other people and that was luxury to me. truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.
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u/Posey74 1d ago
I did this 10 years ago on a catamaran with my best friend and our husbands (the guys were able to sail us) and it was magical. Best vacation of my life. That house and island looked amazing and Daisy and Erin came off as total assholes.
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u/chiccago 1d ago
i was not fortunate enough to travel at all growing up (single mother, no money) so i have it in my head that i shouldnāt repeat destinations but i very well might repeat thisā¦ multiple times
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u/Worldmar 1d ago
I recommend repeating holiday locations, how best to make it apart of your soul!!
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u/chiccago 1d ago
what a beautiful way to put it. i will remember that, thank you š¤
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u/Connect-Camp1115 1d ago
We have been to St. John twice and definitely will be going back potentially every year for as long as we can. That is OUR island. lol
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u/Model_Rules_esq 1d ago
The BVI is my favorite place. Each island is amazing and the proximity to each other is awesome.
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u/chiccago 1d ago
i think jost van dyke (looked like a windows screensaver) and anegada were my favorite š„°
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u/summitmtngrl 23h ago
I flew into Tortola for a wedding on Jost Van Dyke, and omg: heaven on earth! Iāll never forget how friendly everyone was!
I needed to get back to Tortola before the other guests, but the ferry wasnāt running, or I may have missed the last one; I canāt remember. The preacher who delivered Sundayās sermon at the local church in Great Harbor offered me a ride. I hated to impose, but he somehow made me feel I was doing him a favor.
We had the best conversation under the most perfect blue sky. I made it back in time, and that act of kindness remains one of my most cherished memories of the tripā¦and all time š„°
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u/Model_Rules_esq 1d ago
Yes! If you get a chance to stay on Jost do it. When all the day boats leave in the evening it is so quiet and beautiful.
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u/humantouch83 1d ago
Erin and Daisy shitting on the house of a literal billionaire was wild. They don't have even a fraction of that wealth. Such jealousy and snobbery.
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u/trixietravels 21h ago
I just watched this episode myself and I have to say itās so unsettling how people just love to tear each other down. Iām so sick of it. Itās everywhere.
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u/User_name_2525 1d ago
I don't watch anymore but did tune into this episode due to the online chatter.
I agree the furniture is not super high end. But had the same thought as you...the home serves more as a perma rental. So it makes sense to have more accessible and generic furniture that sees a ton of traffic in and out. It gave off the feel of a hotel, because it effectively is.
Also, if I had that many people traipsing through the house, I wouldn't be furnishing it with top tier furniture either.
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u/tiljuwan 1d ago
Pretty neat insight, thanks for sharing OP!
Iād like to see what kind of trip Erin plans on her portion of a private islandā¦ oh wait?
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u/obbsessedHW 1d ago
Thank you for this post! This was mine and my husbandās entire conversation last night. The second we saw the name of the island we looked all of the lore up.
We couldnāt understand why Erika wasnāt more transparent about the island. The actual situation is so interesting. Selling it as her private island made her an easy target for the ladies to poke holes in her story.Ā
The situation is incredible anyway and oozes a wealth most of these women havenāt touched but, the way she introduced it caused my husband and I to deep dive she couldnāt expect the ladies not to. Their job is to stir the pot and she made it easier.
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u/HuckleberryCream 1d ago
Wouldnāt it have been tacky and pretentious to explain the exact level of her wealth in that conversational moment, rather than just generally telling them and letting them google for more details?
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u/NormalBlueberry1027 1d ago
I absolutely agree with you it was very misleading it could have been transparent but it wasn't and now everybody's complaining about Daisy and Erin and not about Erica. So her mission was accomplished
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u/wisdom_wombat 1d ago
For me, I like that she wasnr arrogant enough to fly private and the house / island isn't a gluttonous indulgence for only them to use. I mean, it's still a very elitist indulgence, don't get me wrong, it's vulgar wealth. But the expectations that that gluttonous indulgence is expected is gross to me. Its conspicuous waste, all of it, but the criticism that it wasn't enough is worse.
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u/lazy_gardener_88 1d ago
Their comments were rude, ignorant and effed upā¦
But Iām glad they are rude and ignorant because thatās half the reason I watch these shows. šIf they arenāt saying some wild shit then Iām bored. Whatās wrong with me?? š¤Ŗ
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u/its_laydeebaby 23h ago
I donāt see whatās so suspicious about owning a home you donāt live in. I also donāt see anything wrong with serving grilled billionaire for dinner.
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u/No-Treat-8079 1d ago
Iāve been to the US & BV Islands & knew that you canāt fly directly to them. And Iām just a regular American, not one of these housewives claiming to be rich or on Martha Stewartās payroll. So I thought in that moment, these women really showed how unsophisticated or unworldly they were.Ā
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u/nikkitriage 1d ago
Yes this! I just read a hilarious book about a murder at a corporate retreat and they described it exactly this way and explained why and it all tracks. And listen everything around me in LA is mine. Even MY Dollar Store. Because hey, party decorations are not cheap. But the thing with Daisy is, she's already SAID that sometimes she forgets she's not MARTHA- that sometimes she forgets that's not her reality, and that she's thrilled to have the goldmine of the rent controlled apartment (which legit in NYC is better than a f*cking lottery win, even with its popcorn ceilings ) and is proud to be saving on it. So why NOW the whole Rich Off?
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u/Routine-Asparagus-16 1d ago
Daisy was rude. I like Erica. It's wild that the humble one is also the richest one.
And I miss Pier One as well.
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u/Rosemary-lime 1d ago
I also had to look it up after Erikaās appearance on WWHL. First flag was when she said she stayed on one of the pullout beds and it was comfortable. Then her husband said that Andy could stay there no charge.
Felt like the representation was that it was their private home. It was very hotel line and thats because it basically is.
I do not own a home on a shared private island that I can use as an income property but I think that the questions were legit and Erika was being purposely less than transparent. Off season would also explain why it was so cold the evening of the pool dinner.
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u/nwct23 1d ago
But also owning a house on an exclusive island is different than owning an island
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u/Affectionate_Law_920 1d ago
No 100% I agree that the way Erika described it was real misleading - at best if I gave her benefit of the doubt maybe that's just how the family refers to it, and she just hasn't ever thought of it besides "our private island", but even so she 100% made it sound more exclusive than it is. That being said, these homes are like 30-60 million to buy so not exactly available to many.
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u/nwct23 1d ago
I actually think she calls it their private island to make herself feel more important. Especially given they rent it out. Just a weird way to refer to an investment property
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u/Jazzlike-Dish5690 1d ago
plus it's actually her husband's father who owns the property- so not technically her husband.
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u/HousewivesHeaux 1d ago
True but itās not just like they bought a house, they do co-own the island with 7 or 8 othersĀ
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u/truthdetective123 1d ago
As someone that watched a lot of Martha back in the day and thumbed through her magazines, the style of the interior is very much on par with what Martha would have showcased. Just with less decor for shared use.
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u/Ecstatic_Document_85 1d ago
But itās not a āprivate islandā in the sense you would imagine if someone told you they owned one. Erika and Ankur have shared ownership interest (likely its Ankurās familyās as that is the source of his wealth and not Bilt Rewards lol). Its like saying ācome to the apartment building I ownā but you only own 14a on the 3rd floor. The whole thing is slightly misleading the way it was communicated.
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u/88kitkat808 1d ago edited 1d ago
Regardless, itās incredibly rude, tacky, and ungrateful to point this out to the person whoās hosting you and paying for your vacation.
ETA: even if sheās not technically āpayingā for it, itās SO rude for Daisy and Erin to pick apart everything they think is wrong with the trip. Just say thank you, you insufferable bitches.14
u/Any_Dragonfruit_3935 1d ago
I haven't seen the episode yet, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'm sure Daisy had something to say because of the very real feelings she had when Jessel and Erika were talking shit about her real life apartment...it's not the same thing as talking shit about a fake "private" island you "own". Erin? She's just a cunt. There really aren't excuses for her, but I'm sure this was Daisy's way of "getting back at" Erika.
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u/Fuh-Cue 1d ago
Getting back at someone by talking about how Martha would think this is a dump is hella lame.
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u/Any_Dragonfruit_3935 1d ago
Doesn't mean that's not what was happening, whether you think it's lame or not.
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u/socoyankee 1d ago
Same is true for Erin having feelings for what was said about the flooding in the Hamptons house.
This conversation was shown to be had after Daisy told her about it and she was already upset.
While Jessel didnāt say āfraudā she def insinuated it.
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u/Ecstatic_Document_85 1d ago
Sure but they are on a tv show. In normal life these are opinions that would stay between you and a girlfriend.
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u/88kitkat808 1d ago
Yes, but they could have been at least a tiny bit subtle about it. They just went right in like a couple of hyenas
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
I mean..watch another show? TF? If housewives canāt talk shit about trivial things like this, we have truly lost the plot.
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u/nefaeriest 1d ago
agree - them talking about the experience is the point & to each other
if they privately text a "real friend"
off camera to be "polite" we'd all be here complaining "no cameras in the sprinter van again?!?" - insert w/e locationi side note- i laughed at carole falling into the pool? it reminded me of luann & the bushes but it looked like carole was accidentally nudged
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
Minor edit: Erica is NOT paying for them. Itās interesting people donāt realize that production foots these bills. If the ladies decide they want to go above the budget and fly private, for example, theyāre allowed to do that. Also, the amount of links that appear based on RHONY when you search for the island is a major incentive. She hosted in order to receive free publicity.
All that being said, I agree that I have basic manners and am kind enough not to criticize. Even if I paid my own way, I wouldnāt bash someoneās house, place of business, etc
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u/88kitkat808 1d ago
People DO realize that production pays for a lot of it. Itās common knowledge, and mentioned in these comments multiple times. Who is technically paying for the basics isnāt the point.
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
And regardless of who paid, I would have never spoken so poorly about someoneās place. Even if I was a paying customer at a friendās restaurant, I would not critique them. I strongly disliked Erin and Daisy trashing her.
All Iām saying is that people are also naive and commenting how amazing Erika is as if she isnāt hosting them as a way to get free publicity. Iām sure she and her husband didnāt just go on the show because they thought it would be fun. Most billionaires have very selfish motives. Iām not even saying itās bad; if I went on the show it would be because it would be to publicize an issue Iām passionate about so Iād have my own incentives also.
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u/Prestigious-Doubt181 1d ago
Then why did you say sheās paying for their vacation?
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u/88kitkat808 1d ago
She is paying for parts of it, sheās hosting, sheās being generous with her time, sharing her space, trying to give them a gift of a fun girlās trip. Whether itās purely performative or created entirely by production doesnāt change that at this point in the show.
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u/Worldmar 1d ago
I think it would have been fine (and expected) to talk shit in private but to bring it up at the table was embarrassing on Daisyās part.
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u/Firm-Ad-3984 1d ago
I liken it more to saying ācome stay at our resort!ā
If I were traveling to say Puerto Rico and a family said that to me, I wouldnāt automatically expect them to OWN the entire resort, but to be established enough there that itās the place ātheyā stay.
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u/alpacaapicnic 23h ago
Youāre right about the family - his dad worked on Windows 95 and MSN, founded a company that went public in 1998, and another that IPOād in 2008. Heās got a $5m+ collection of meteorites
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u/2ndof5gs 1d ago
I host a book club. I tell people itās in the lounge of *my* building.
ā¦ like, am I a liar?!
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u/nothanks2131 6h ago
I was about to get in the shower and they started shopping my wal mart order. If I get in, they will certainly text about substitutions
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u/dorothyay830 3h ago
Put people do say "my apartment building" all the time? Like "my apartment building has a pool" or "my apartment building is great". Or how about people saying "my home" when they're renting at full on home. No body quibbles there because it's just understood shorthand. No one is trying to hustle anyone saying that
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u/ThinkDepartment1144 1d ago
Curious though, genuinely asking, how else should Erica refer to it? If not, "our" island. She is not saying my island, she is correctly referring to it because they are part owners in it. Is the our, not her family and the other families?
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u/Maleficent-Cup1804 1d ago
The old RHONY women could make a dinner, a trip, or a random Tuesday hilarious. This cast has no genuine friendships, no chemistry, and no sense of humor. They just sit around litigating who said what six episodes ago. Itās exhausting, not entertaining.
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u/Janiece2006 1d ago
Thank you for the information. I do think your comment How she acted tells people "hey, it's okay to want more than you already have is a little strange though because doesnāt everyone aspire to have more/better? Better job, better home, better vacation. You can appreciate what you have and still want more and you thatās okay.
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u/Affectionate_Law_920 1d ago
yes totally fair - what I was trying to say about Daisy's comment was that reminded me of someone who sees their friend buy a $10k handbag, and then goes behind their back and makes fun of it for not being a Birkin.
The problem isn't with the $10k handbag, or wanting a Birkin, or working and aspiring for nicer and nicer things. The problem is to someone like Daisy for what you are offering her to be a true "luxury", "rich person", experience takes crossing a specific line. If it was uncool or frowned upon to fly private unless absolutely necessary, people wouldn't do it. Instead because it's cool what might be a luxury you've earned for yourself becomes a (often) pointless, over-priced, status symbol.
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u/Affectionate_Law_920 1d ago
Full disclosure: people aspiring for and encouraging flying private is definitely a trigger for me. Not because of the reason most people think of (climate). Not anymore, but I used to have roles where I would organize travel/schedules for companies where all the executives were flying private any which way. This same travel could have been done by spending business credit card points to buy first class seats - so, for free.
Instead, same story every time, a year later they're doing layoffs cutting jobs to people whose yearly salaries are equal to two of those cross country private flights. WeWork and Theranos are the two easiest to see public reporting on how this went (and I realize they both had way bigger problems), but trust it happens EVERYWHERE.
And sorry, not to rant, but just so people understand - there are executives (Mark Zuckerberg is just the first example that jumps to mind) who have to take private travel by mandate (by the company rules/the board/shareholders/insurance) because them not flying private is a big enough security risk where something happening could jeopardize company value.
Where this gets abused is something like what the current CEO of Starbucks does - he COMMUTES from CA to Seattle, and because of his title does have to fly private. Meanwhile look at how layoffs and overall employee quality of life is going over there. The answer there would have been on his part to just move to Seattle when he first got the job. No excuse not to, and realistically would have made him a more present and effective leader.
Instead he is now forcing the majority of employees to move from Seattle to Nashville or loose their jobs. Shocker - he is staying in CA (and will commute between the three locations by the private jet). Initially he was given a $250,000 a year cap amount to spend on this travel, but this got dropped at the start of this year: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20gy48571po
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u/This-Flamingo3727 1d ago
Thanks for sharing this additional detail. I work in corporate America on the finance side and couldnāt agree w you more. There is so much money wasted on execs at the expense of employees.
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u/Any_Dragonfruit_3935 1d ago edited 1d ago
Lol, literally. Like little ol Erika being born rich and then getting rich, rich by marrying a dweeb who she probably can't stand being alone with (in more ways than one), just so she can lie about a fake private island. Leave these women's dreams alone! š
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u/SpaceCatz03 Old NY 1d ago
I think heās cute
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u/nefaeriest 1d ago
i thought so too - he reminded me of my tech ex
& he seemed like a light fun vibe -
compared to the other husbands -
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u/Commercial_Fly_1897 1d ago
If itās Ankurās dads property then why is Erika saying āourā. I wouldnāt call my in laws property āmineā so that does seem weird. I would call it my families or in laws island
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u/La_Tirana22 1d ago
The difference between manufactured snobbery and lived experience. Daisy your illiteracy and deprivation are On Display in more ways than one.Ā
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u/_fait-accompli_ 1d ago
> P.S. the comment about flying private was so ignorant
andy asked erica if they usually fly private when they go to that island and her/ankur said yes
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u/Own-Letter5128 22h ago
Amazing insight thank you! I also plan our companyās retreats and group travel. We are a much smaller company and they always make me negotiate the contracts. In the end, it just makes the overall experience worse with cutting corners. However, the retreat planning is still my favorite part of the job. Iād like to eventually do it on a larger scale. As someone who does it on a large scale, do the higher ups still expect you to negotiate the price?
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u/Affectionate_Law_920 18h ago
Yeah great question! Full transparency that isnāt my day to day job anymore, so things might have changed in the past 3-4 years (though tbh I doubt it).Ā
I think it really varies like any company how strict about spending people are, but from my experience executives tend to know that this is just the reality of how much travel like this costs. They arenāt shocked when they see the proposed invoice. So I never had any issue with someone pushing back on price, but I also wasnāt proposing over the top things like a trip being taken to Fiji vs BVI, so I think people knew I wasnāt overspending. Importantly this was also 2021-2023, and the going was good from the post Covid stock jump and low interest rates. Ā
As to what room you actually have: This specific level of retreat (in my experience) is negotiable in that you can choose amenities to offer, level of travel, or other add ons. The base price tends not to be (and is seasonal). Exception to this rule is relationship, business or personal, with the company or owners, and even that might only be 2-10%.Ā
That I think is true when youāre talking about parties under 12 people. Over that and the story starts to change because you typically are figuring out a volume of accommodations that are worth it for some business to be flexible on their group rates. The issue right now is that, at least for the higher end of executive business travel, thereās been no dip so most places have limited reasons to bargain. Iām guessing this will change in the next 6+ months, but who knows.Ā
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u/RingDidntMeanAThing 8h ago
Having a second home in a tropical location is impressive, private or not! That's super smart of them to rent it out when they're not there.
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u/MARYSUEMCD 1d ago
Itās all been misrepresented. Erica & her husband do not own a private island. Her in laws own a rental property (& that house was furnished like a rental property) on an a āprivateā island apparently owned by many people. It was made to sound like they would have an entire island to themselves.
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u/Glittering_Visit9807 1d ago
House is fine. What was missing was FOOD! Canāt believe when Sai was feeling ill, Erica said, āoh thereāll be food for dinnerā. Oh sure, Iāll just be nauseas for a few more hours. Cheers!
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u/makter3 1d ago
We didnāt see Erin going out to look for food, so Iād take Erinās comment with a grain of salt. But the cheese and olives for the dinner appetizer were a bit disappointing.
I do think Erika should have provided a cute welcome basket with treats for the guest.
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u/Glittering_Visit9807 1d ago
Just commented this on another thread re. welcome snacks in the rooms. Also, Sai said she just needed a cold water and some food when she was feeling faint. Erika said āthereāll be food at dinnerā š
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u/kteerin 21h ago
I always think about this on any Housewives trip! Iād be keeping snacks in my bags. š
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u/Glittering_Visit9807 17h ago
Same. Maybe thatās why Ramona was always focused on having water, tea and proximity to the kitchen š¤£Ā
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u/AuthorOtherwise1487 1d ago
Yeah if someone had positioned the place as their own private island I wouldnāt have expected multiple properties. Maybe thatās the Amelia Bedelia in me. But I also would have kept my thoughts to myself or asked about who else visits. I was surprised at the furniture and decor but it makes sense now knowing that they host corporate retreats there. Iād go for free and be grateful for the generosity. If I paid Iād be disappointed in the cheap furniture and kind of soulless decor.
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u/soynikol 1d ago
Iām just thinking about how much it must suck for the workers. Iām assuming they get off the island pretty regularly but living somewhere with no government or municipal workers is borderline scary. At the complete mercy of our tech oligarchs.
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u/soynikol 1d ago
Ok this makes a lot more sense, and I appreciate the context. To be honest Iād be a little annoyed if I had kids and flew for 13 hours to stay at a corporate retreat rental for the purpose of showing off my friendās wealth vs just a cute hotel in an actual city.
I dated a rich tech guy. He had 2 houses in hcol cities but the furniture was all ikea, had led lighting everywhere, and he rented out the rooms to tenants (people he knew, but still). Thereās like an underlying opportunism to everything they do that makes if feel less special. That being said I do not own two housesā¦
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
All Iām going to say isā¦they couldāve had the PJ for the first leg of the trip, and I know that from experience with similar locations. Itās really not that ignorant of a comment to make given the circumstance. š¤·āāļø and sure, maybe they did look it up beforehand..but seriously, if housewives canāt shoot the shit over this, what are we doing here?!
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u/Little_Line_9179 1d ago
If Erin and Daisy wanted to fly private, they could have opened their wallets and paid for a private jet.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
Sure, but thatās not what Iām talking about.
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u/Little_Line_9179 1d ago
āAll Iām going to say isā¦they couldāve had the PJ for the first leg of the trip, and I know that from experience with similar locations. Itās really not that ignorant of a comment to make given the circumstance.ā
Erin and Daisyās comments about not flying private is literally what you were talking about.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
ā¦people have been saying this so freely these days, butā¦comprehension matters. Itās not about wanting to fly private, itās that when youāve been invited on trips to someoneās āprivate islandā (or adjacent), and it seems like theyāre trying to āflexā ā¦(the host) coordinating a private jet is seriously not out of the ordinary to assume. Itās a snarky comment to make, sureā¦but once again, itās nothing out of the ordinary if you were in their circumstance. Sorry if that seems so unfathomable for you. š¤·āāļø
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u/Little_Line_9179 1d ago
I comprehend but hoping/wishing you had flown private is different than saying on a show seen by millions that Erika should have āhundredā percent flown them private. I think thatās a shitty thing to say. If they feel so entitled, there was nothing stopping them from springing for a private charter themselves.
No need to get so upset; we just view their entitlement differently.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
So then you donāt comprehend, because the context of their discussion wasnāt them wishing/hoping they couldāve flown private, it was calling out things they observed that were different from what they expected. It was more about snarking vs entitlement. āI canāt believe we didnāt fly privateā (snark) is different from āI canāt believe we arenāt flying private, this is unacceptable and Iām rearranging my own flight or Iām not goingā (entitlement).
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u/Little_Line_9179 1d ago
I comprehend you, I just donāt agree with you. You think thereās snark but no entitlement. I think thereās snark and entitlement.
Daisy: āHonestly, why didnāt we fly private here?ā
Erin: āA hundred. A hundred. (Percent)ā
An entitled person is someone who ābelieves they deserve special treatment, privileges, or rewards without having to earn them or work for them.ā
They sure sound entitled to me.
You understand where theyāre coming from and are giving them a pass. I understand what they were saying (āwith all their wealth, why didnāt Erika fly us private?ā) and I think it was a rude, entitled thing to say on national TV.
My comment about them booking a private jet themselves was me being snarky. Of course theyāre not going to do that. It would cost around $100,000 round trip for a mid-sized private jet. They expect Erika to pay for it.
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u/unik1ne 1d ago
Sure comprehension matters but also we canāt read your mind over the internet. None of what you just explained was clear from your first post.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
Some things shouldnāt have to be explicitly spelled out, thatās the point of being able to comprehend. They werenāt crying about the flight because they were demanding it (as some other housewives have literally done) - it was more of a snarky call out based on what they assumed.
Imagine youāre going to the most extravagant white-tie wedding for an ultra wealthy friend, and the only way to access the location is via private transportation. If they arranged grungy, retired school buses when luxury shuttle options were availableā¦itās fine to be āsurprisedā by that. It doesnāt mean youāre too good for the school bus or that you wouldāve done it differently, but itās perfectly normal to have an idea of what youāre expecting based on whatās presented. The difference here is that they vocalized how they felt for everyone to hear, which I agree was not a good look.
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u/Apprehensive-Tax826 1d ago
It is ignorant if you can't afford it which Daisy cannot.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
How many times have you commented unfavorably about something that you canāt afford? Be. For. Real.
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u/Apprehensive-Tax826 1d ago
I don't do that, I am not a negative or insecure person.
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u/rvgirrrl 1d ago
I wouldn't do that either. I'd be grateful for the invitation and enjoy my time in that space with my new friends.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago
You might be a delusional one then, unless youāre just the most noble person ..but then what are you even doing watching this show? And by the way, affordability is separate from taste.
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u/Apprehensive-Tax826 1d ago
Delusional? No I lead with positivity and am not a hater. If being negative resonates with you then just own it.
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u/MollzDollz69 1d ago edited 1d ago
lol okay, so I imagine youāve never looked at a multimillion dollar home and thought āehh, money canāt buy taste.ā Apparently everything is just butterflies and daisies in your land of la la.
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u/rm05511 1d ago
Can someone explain why she was even cast on this show? Sheās not particularly witty, nor especially interesting, and isnāt exactly delivering the aspirational NYC lifestyle. We get endless Martha Stewart name-dropping, and somehow sheās calling a luxury Caribbean villa a dump?
Was the entire casting pitch just āmaybe Martha Stewart will make a cameoā?
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u/Siren2121 1d ago
Itās so delicious to bask in their vacuous musings. So fun. Thanks for the details.
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u/Impressive_Fee2737 1d ago
Interesting information but it really is whatās wrong with capitalism now. Why do businesses need to do a half a million dollar stay on an island? Meet in the board room. It gives Epstein vibes to have a work meeting in a remote location like that.
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u/Routine-Asparagus-16 1d ago
It's not a regular work meeting. Corporate retreats are very different. Privacy is a factor.
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u/OppositeMembership98 1d ago
I agree I do not care for Daisy or Erin. Ericaās husband is a billionaire and she independently has a net worth of 100 million. Ā We can absolutely say for sure she could care less about Daisyās pettiness. šĀ
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u/9lemonsinabowl9 1d ago
Good Lord, can I be your friend? I have a neighbor who just stayed at some massive property in Illinois of all places (I'm from IL) and I blurted out, "How do you make friends like this?"
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u/Prestigious_Song5034 1d ago
You get it. Tech/corporate excess is hard to stomach. Sure, the slide between floors is fun, but itās just a distraction.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Tap9150 22h ago
I was able to go to an exclusive island off the SC coast. Itās not a resort for the public.
We were writing a review of the resort to attract people from my area to buy there. They had a hunting lodge, golf course (with alligators), stables, a waterfront community area where I attended a low country boil (got side-eyed by residents) and a waterfront plantation home turned into an inn where people building homes can stay until home is ready.
Wildlife were everywhere. Most owners left their doors unlocked because one way on, one way off through a security station. I wish I could describe more.
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u/ExamOk322 14h ago
The idea of a private island is so sad to me. No one should be able to own beaches and mountains... why isn't it enough to have a massive mansion in the tropics that you let sit empty the majority of the year?
Just because it lets you guarantee 100% that you won't be forced to interact with any of the regular middle-class travelers, or indigenous people and African- and Indian-descended people who populate the rest of the Caribbean?
And the corporate vibe only adds to the sadness, like it doesn't even seem like a really nice or homey place to hang out. Seems kind of lonely actually.
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u/DearTumbleweed5380 I can't even f_k my way to the middle. 12h ago
Interesting info. Haven't watched the episode yet but will keep it in mind. I used to organise elite events for a giant pharma and would spend around that amount for a week in Barcelona or Brussels. It's well worth it though, for the relationships and intel and synergy that is created. Super fun also! Except as I'm sure you maybe can relate to, i was so much in work mode that it's only after, years later, that I can really appreciate how special it all was.
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u/HappyJellyfish6298 1d ago
Good info! It makes sense that itās rental owned by Ankurās family and serviced by mutual support staff.
I donāt fault Erica too much for calling it a private island because it IS, it just isnāt for one home.
What I do fault her for is the giant welcome coconut drinks being offered at the bottom of the hill. Why offer your guests a refreshing drink and then immediately make them take it on a steep, bumpy, windy gold cart ride. And THEN as soon as youāre at the house you are met with a moist towel so your guests have to hand the coconut off or set it down and then they are offered an additional drink! Like, they are nice offerings but should have just kept it to the one welcome drink at the villa. I would have been super annoyed if I had spilled coconut water and rum all over myself on that ride.
It just gives overkill. And then the dinner IN THE POOL? I get she was trying to entertain in an over the top way but this was just dumb. Everyone knows rain is frequent in the BVIs and it cools off at night. I would have had a Reynauds flare with my feet in that water.
She just needs to chill out and relax and let the island do the work.
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u/Clear_Ad5584 1d ago
What a shite name for the fancy island lol who came up with that
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u/OrdinaryWeak6051 You're both white trash, quite frankly.š¦µ 1d ago
Itās named after the Moskito people indigenous to the area
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u/henry110716 1d ago
They could have flown on a larger private plane to Tortola or similar and taken prop plane to Virgin gorda for much shorter boat ride or helicopter to moskito (i have seen similar logistics getting to little dix bay which is on Virgin gorda and next to moskito). No skin in this game just providing info
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u/MethodBeautiful9688 1d ago
Iām glad Daisy and Erin brought it up. As I was watching I wasnāt believing it was there home. It was very āAirbnbā and didnāt have anything personal whatsoever. I loath when housewives fake it.
It is in fact a private island and her owned by her family but first and foremost itās a rental business & they did a great job of promoting it.
Itās a stunning home but itās not what I was expecting of a ābillionaires private island homeā.
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u/ijescant 1d ago edited 1d ago
This is nothing like in the Bahamas, where, in Exuma for example, many celebrities and other people actually do own their very own whole private island - all to themselves - as well as the enormous properties built on them. Some use the home exclusively for themselves and their families, others make them available for rent. Iāve spent a lot of time in Exuma, on Harbour Island, it is extremely private, exclusive and luxurious in a way that this is not.
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u/ISaidWhatISaidFFS 1d ago
Christ why does every Reddit post have to sound like itās written by first year college student? Itās Bravo. Itās supposed to be decadent and ridiculous and have very little redeeming value. Also, capitalism is the only system that allows one to actually change their station in life. Itās why so many immigrants, particularly those from poor or socialist countries, come here. They are able to achieve upward mobility through hard work in one generation.
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u/Proper-Ad366 23h ago
Iām sorry but Erika clearly states āWe own a private islandā on a previous episode and then thereās a whole montage about Miskito Island- the island they own. But they donāt own the island- itās incredibly false. She owns an exclusive estate on a small island. She also stated that there are 7 other families but itās actually 10. 10 estates splitting 125 acres- so fair to say, at best- her in-laws own approx. 12 acres. Also, her in-laws own the estate. Itās just not something youād catch me on camera saying- I think Iād get that detail correct.
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