New hotels in 2019
From unbelievable bling to brilliant bargains, plan a trip to these spots
FANCY a stay in a floating bedroom in Edinburgh or relaxing on a private island off Panama? Take your pick from stunning hotels opening in 2019.
IKOS ARIA, GREECE
Indulge in Greek island luxury, Ikos Aria’s svelte white-walled design abuts a private sandy beach. À la carte menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs, spa, heated pool. Every room faces the sea. Where: Dodecanese isle of Kos, with its Corinthian columns and coves. Check in: Mid-may.
Unique Selling Point: Unusual “Dine Out” concept – guests can eat at local restaurants as part of all-inclusive package.
Best for: Sociable families.
Price: From £230 (R4 125) per room a night. ikos-aria.com
GRAND PARK HOTEL, CROATIA
A take-it-easy vibe pervades this seaside hideaway. Chic rooms; spa pools with marina views; 12 tennis courts. Where: Rovinj, on Istria peninsula, famous for its truffles, olive oil, wine. Check in: April.
USP: Bistro, bakery, seafood bar; Croatia’s largest champagne selection. Best for: Foodies.
Price: From £155 (R2 779) per night. maistra.com
LE REFUGE DE SOLAISE, FRENCH ALPS
“France’s highest hotel” won’t fully open until next December, but the Savoyard restaurant, 24-person penthouse and dormitory debut. Plush furnishings; majestic mountain vistas. Where: Val d’isere.
Check in: February.
USP: Access via the slopes and new Solaise gondola – real seclusion.
Best for: Skiers with a big budget. Price: Exclusive dormitory use £1 140 a night; Double beds in dormitories £145 a night, including breakfast. lerefuge-valdisere.com
ISLAS SECAS RESERVE & LODGE, PANAMA
Panama is seeing a surge in new luxury lodges thanks to its booming economy, none more exciting than Islas Secas. Where: Secluded, totally private
Pacific archipelago 32km offshore. Check in: January.
USP: Discreet luxury in thatched-roof villas, each with sea-facing plunge pool. Sophisticated cuisine; scubadiving; whale-watching.
Best for: Foodies and nature lovers. Price: From £1 570 per room. islassecas.com
KACHI LODGE, BOLIVIA
First permanent luxury digs at the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats. You will stay in bubble domes.
Where: Off the flats’ northern edge. Check in: February.
USP: Food overseen by La Paz restaurant Gustu, a philanthropic project. Hike to the Tunupa volcano’s crater, inspect eerie cave mummies. Best for: Affluent adventurers.
Price: £1 540 per room a night. kachilodge.com
NANNAI FERNANDO DE NORONHA, BRAZIL
Wood-and-thatch bungalows designed in an earthy, romantic style. Seafood restaurant and spa on site.
Where: Unesco-protected, Fernando de Noronha lies 354km east of the mainland. Castaway beaches; crystalline waters; Dutch forts.
Check in: Summer.
Best for: Castaways.
Price: From £500 a night including breakfast. nannai.com.br
SIX SENSES LODGES, BHUTAN
Luxury lodges across Bhutan each with a spa and healthy food.
Where: Five different valleys of the enigmatic “Dragon Kingdom”.
Check in: May.
USP: Archery competitions, highaltitude trekking, Buddhist monasteries teetering on Himalayan ridges.
Best for: Wellness seekers.
Price: Suites from £1 180 per night, including full board, a driver and a guide. sixsenses.com
HOSHINOYA GUGUAN, TAIWAN
Taiwan’s first luxury hot-spring resort with traditional ryokan inns. A haven of peace; Japanese-taiwanese fusion food; Zen-style duplex rooms. Where: Guguan, a mountainous valley south of Taipei City.
Check in: June.
USP: Low-alkaline waters, reckoned to boost blood flow, circulation and metabolism.
Best for: Work-weary adults.
Price: From £342 per room a night, including breakfast and dinner. hoshinoya.com/guguan
MUJI HOTEL GINZA, JAPAN
Where: Ginza, Tokyo’s main shopping district.
Check in: April.
USP: Hotel with 79 typically paredback rooms at fair prices on top floors of a new, 10-storey Muji concept store. Best for: Muji fans.
Price: From £80 per room a night. hotel.muji.com
SILVERSANDS, GRENADA
43 sleek rooms plus three distinctive restaurants and a rum bar. DJS play on the sand at night, and guests can arrange scuba diving or waterfall visits. Where: Right beside Grand Anse’s ivory-white beach.
Check in: This month.
USP: 100m pool is Caribbean’s longest. Best for: Design-conscious; honeymooners.
Price: From £535 per room a night, with breakfast. silversandsgrenada.com
THE FARMSTEAD, SOUTH AFRICA
This new safari lodge in Greater Kruger National Park sees three massive suites share a pool; four-bedroom villa has own safari vehicle and guides, plus even larger pool. Everyone can use spa, gym and waterhole-facing deck. Where: Part of the Royal Malewane estate in the Thornybush Reserve. Check in: June.
USP: Guides are some of Africa’s finest; Kruger reserve teems with animals. Best for: Safari fans.
Price: Suites from £2 830 per night, including full board, activities. theroyalportfolio.com