15 DREAMY NEW HOTELS
TAKE AN INSIDE PEEK AT THE GLAMOROUS HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD WE CAN’T WAIT TO STAY AT WHEN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RESUMES
While international travel has been on hold, the world’s hottest holiday destinations have been quietly opening a dazzling array of breathtaking new hotels.
When it comes to sheer numbers, the pandemic barely seems to have registered: more than 2500 new hotels opened around the world in 2020, with a further 2800 openings expected by the end of 2021.
Just because your passport is gathering dust, doesn’t mean your imagination should, too. Here’s a quick guide to the most extraordinary new hotels for your must-visit list, when budgets and borders allow.
1 BUAHAN, A BANYAN TREE ESCAPE, BALI, INDONESIA
It has no walls or doors, just epic views over rainforest, river and rice paddies. Bali’s next big thing in accommodation comprises 16 open-air villas, each with a private pool deck, set deep in the mountain landscape near Ubud. Set to open in December, the resort’s back-to-nature theme extends to an open-air spa, bar and restaurant featuring a zerowaste, predominantly plant-based menu. ESCAPE.BANYANTREE.COM
2 THE RITZ-CARLTON MALDIVES, FARI ISLANDS, THE MALDIVES
Nothing says “Maldives” like an overwater villa – especially when it comes with its own private infinity pool and personal butler. But what might surprise you at the new RitzCarlton is there’s a significant Australian influence, too. Its striking circular design is thanks to the late revered Aussie architect Kerry Hill, while the resort’s opening general manager is also Australian. RITZCARLTON.COM
3 ME DUBAI, UAE
In a city where futuristic design is everywhere, ME Dubai still manages to turn heads. The only hotel in the world with both exterior and interior designed by the legendary architect Zaha Hadid, it opened last year after more than a decade in the making. Outside, it appears as a giant mirrored cube with a hole in it, while inside, the hotel is loaded with marble and sleek curves. MEBYMELIA.COM
4 THE GOODTIME HOTEL, MIAMI, US
One glance at the decor and a name-check of the owners (Pharrell Williams of “Happy” fame and Miami nightclub mogul David Grutman) confirms this hotel’s name is no empty promise. Think Art Deco-inspired design, bold prints, pastels and flourishes like a pink rotary dial phone in every room. For the ultimate happy vibes, head to the Instafabulous pool or skip out to the exclusive beach area just for guests. THEGOODTIMEHOTEL.COM
5 ZANNIER HOTELS BÃI SAN HÔ, VIETNAM
It’s not just the pristine private beach or the generous villas surrounded by lush rice paddies. It’s the details: freshly caught fish served at the beach grill; hand-picked antiques. This luxury resort is putting a secluded peninsula in off-the-beaten-track Phu Yen province on the global map. Seventy-three villas inspired by the traditional architecture of local tribes are dotted around the hillside on the sprawling 98ha site. ZANNIERHOTELS.COM
6 CHEVAL BLANC PARIS, FRANCE
In case anyone needed another reason to visit Paris, here it is. The Cheval Blanc opened this month, injecting modern luxury to a heritage building on the banks of the Seine and Paris’ oldest bridge, Pont Neuf. Inside you’ll find marble bathrooms, a Dior Spa, fine dining and a glamorous pool, but really, it’s all about the views. Each room has either large bay windows or a balcony overlooking the river, city skyline or Louvre Museum. CHEVALBLANC.COM
7 FOUR SEASONS TAMARINDO, MEXICO
Built into the cliff on a private peninsula on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, this soon-to-open resort is located within a 1200-ha natural reserve. There’s 10km of coastline to explore, three swimmable beaches, hidden coves to snorkel, and an oceanfront golf course. Then again, if you’re lucky enough to score one of the cliffside suites – each with their own private lap pool – we doubt you’ll want to venture far, anyway. fourseasons.com
8 CAPELLA BANGKOK, THAILAND
Thailand may be best known to holidaymakers for its islands and beaches, but luxury hotel chain Capella is turning the spotlight on a new waterfront – Bangkok’s bustling Chao Phraya River. The only hotel in the city to offer unobstructed water views from every room, it features floor-to-ceiling windows in each of its 101 rooms, suites and villas, some with private plunge pools. CAPELLAHOTELS.COM
9 EXPLORA EL CHALTEN, ARGENTINA
Beneath towering mountains in the Patagonian Andes, Expedition company Explora’s new lodge is due to open in December. It’s designed primarily as a base for trekking, climbing and glacier hiking, but with views this spectacular, you could be forgiven for staying in to simply gawp at the scenery. While you’re at it, treat yourself at the in-house spa and indulge in cuisine devised by Argentina’s top restaurateurs. EXPLORA.COM
10 HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, JAPAN
From the moment you set eyes on the restored 300-year-old Japanese gate that marks its entrance, it’s clear the Mitsui is not your average hotel. Located opposite Kyoto’s World Heritage listed Nijo-jo Castle, the property blends history with modern design. It features a thermal spa fed by on-site natural springs, rooms inspired by traditional Japanese tea rooms, and a 1300sq m courtyard garden. HOTELTHEMITSUI.COM
11 XIGERA SAFARI LODGE, BOTSWANA
Although not officially a new resort, a massive refurbishment by its new owners has given Xigera a complete, art-focused and ecofriendly overhaul that sets it far apart from its 1980s origins. A standout addition is the
Baobab Treehouse, a 10m-high sculpted sleepout located 1km from the lodge that lets guests spend a unique night under the stars. XIGERA.COM
12 THE JOHRI JAIPUR, INDIA
It serves up high chai by day, cocktails by night – and cutting-edge style, 24/7. Jaipur’s new boutique hotel sits within the World Heritage-listed city’s jewellers’ bazaar. Celebrating its location, each of its five individually decorated suites reflect a different coloured jewel – ruby, sapphire, emerald, gold and pearl. A vegetarian restaurant completes the package. THEJOHRIJAIPUR.COM
13 CAMP SARIKA AT AMANGIRI, US
No one does camping quite like Aman Resorts. The latest addition to the exclusive Amangiri resort in Utah is a campsite comprising 10 canvas-topped pavilions – each with a private plunge pool and fire pit – clustered around a pool, restaurant, lounge and spa. The dramatic desert surrounds are ripe for adventure, including hiking, canyoning and the newly-installed Cave Peak Stairway, a 122m-high, 120-step thrill-walk promising mesmerising views. AMAN.COM
14 NOMAD LONDON, UK
A stay at this Covent Garden address would once have been less than luxurious, but NoMad has turned a former courthouse and police station into THE place to be in London. Highlights of the boutique brand’s first hotel outside the US include a restaurant within a greenery-inspired glass-ceilinged atrium, and suites that are both eclectic and elegant, including marble mosaic bathrooms. THENOMADHOTEL.COM
15 SANTORINI SKY, GREECE
If there’s anything that could make the Greek Islands even more idyllic, it’d probably be a stay at this boutique resort. Perched atop the highest peak on the island of Santorini, its villas feature indoor and outdoor showers, a private terrace and jacuzzi. It’s also home to the Sky Dome, a transparent bubble-tent where guests can spend the night star-gazing.