Phan Mai Trang, Travelers seeking romance and relaxation regularly head to the Maldives, but those looking for a complete transformation should seek out the new JOALI BEING, a nature-immersive, wellness-focused retreat. The Hanoi outpost is an ideal choice for first-time visitors to the city, thanks to one of the most convenient locations of any high end property in town. At the excellent restaurant, Faula, chef Daniel Zeilinga uses herbs, vegetables and edible flowers from the property's biodynamic gardens for modernist takes on Piedmontese classics, like a carpaccio of local veal with anchovies and chicory sprouts. This year, our guide to the essential openings (and reopenings) of the past year took us to 35 countries in pursuit of the unforgettable. The golf touches are hardly subtle here: carpets woven with dimpled latex balls; a grandstanding portrait of Old Tom Morris, golf's original Tiger Woods. In a region with many opportunities for adventure, from swimming with whale sharks to snorkeling reefs that once dazzled Jacques Cousteau, the hotel provides a stylish home base and respite at the end of a day. Mangrove trees and mineral clay banks also frame the resort along the Bacalar lagoon. The room itself felt like an elevated sea shack, and featured special touchesartwork by Sean Spellman, delicate Noguchi light sculptures, and Le Labo bath products among them. But this hotelwhich debuted its two-year, reportedly $150 million redo last yearis anything but stuffy. chiawa.com; doubles from $1,460. And despite the remote setting, the staff produces culinary wonders from the open kitchen, including a delicious curried mangrove crab and a wild-granadilla martini, thanks to an organic vegetable garden and the bounty of the sea. The club's restaurant was perfect for a leisurely lunch that included spaghetti alle vongole and a glass of crisp Pinot Grigio. The faade is made of silky black granite trimmed with gold leaf; the entry is a gorgeous Art Deco fantasia, with enormous framed mirrors and elaborately detailed elevator doors. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. Taking cues from the swirls of wind and waves, he designed overwater villas that are sleek and circular yet somehow at home on the water. Rebecca Rose, If Italy's elegant, truffle-rich Piedmont region is still an upcoming destination, then the little-visited Dolcetto di Ovada wine country in its southeastern corner is a veritable dark horse. Most rooms have balconies and deep soaking tubs, and guests can surely find a treasure at By George, the tiny boutique, which carries things like face glitter, vintage Rolexes, and Dries Van Noten swimwear (for those late-night dips in the courtyard pool). The latter is where you'll find the 122-room Kaimana Beach Hotel: a newcomer to Waikiki's hotel scene that gave its Mid Century building a fresh, modern touch up. A tall annex building, which looks somewhat like a vertical barn, houses Nordelaia's funky bar, bistro, and restaurant. The property also offers woodcarving lessons in the regional style, temple walks, monk-led zazen meditation, and cycling in the surrounding hills. The contemporary Southern feel extends to the elegant guest roomswhich range from traditional queen rooms to the 700-square-foot Premier Suiteand serve as the perfect home base for exploring the French Quarter and beyond. In an effort to offset CO2 emissions, fruit trees are planted around the world (one for each guest who checks in), and the entire property is run on a private solar-powered grid. The 164 rooms and suites lean heavy on both elements, with wide entryways, expanses of white oak, curvaceous furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Now the brand has reopened the more intimate, spacious Splendido Mare nearby. On the southern side of Lovango Cay, home to the hotel, restaurant, and "village" popular with day-boaters, guests can lounge in a cabana by the 70-foot infinity pool or grab a cocktail and some oysters at the bar. casadilanga.com; doubles from $515. The indoor-outdoor hot-spring baths and spa also invite maximum relaxation, but if you're ready for something new, the superb staff offers dozens of activities for every age. In true New Orleans style, the food and beverage options are paramount. But if that seems too busy, guests can retreat to their rooms, which have roaring fireplaces (a few have soaking tubs, too). Managed by hoteliers from nearby Ischia, it occupies a privileged position on the cliffs just outside the town of Amalfi. (Owner Taavo Somer has turned the property's remaining half into a nine-hole membership course open to hotel guests.) Laura Itzkowitz, Italy's Piedmont is home to some of the greatest wines in the world (Barolo, Barbaresco) and some of the greatest food (white truffles, anyone? In those heady days, Palermo was as fashionable as the French Riviera, and out on the garden terraces of the Igiea, you would have been tripping over royalty and film stars, the influencers of their age. oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi; doubles from $540. The result: pared-back, sustainably minded structures that demonstrate a respect for nature and the region's architectural vernacular. For all of its historical reverence, though, the Biltmore feels modern and fresh, thanks to Therese Virserius, the founder and principal of Virserius Studio, the lead interior designer of the project who collaborated with Phoenix- and Los Angeles-based PHX Architecture. But Borgo Santandreaone of the few five-star properties to open on this stretch in the past decadefits right in. Spread across the six-acre grounds, the 51 guest rooms, suites, and cottages have William Morrisfabric headboards, fireplaces, andsweet relief!nary a workstation in sight. The result is a visual feast humming with personality. Chadner Navarro, Florence is home to fashion brands like Salvatore Ferragamo and Emilio Pucci, the menswear trade show, Pitti Uomo, and a vibrant craft workshop scene, all of which puts it on par with Milan as Italy's best shopping city. At night, Margie's Haas restaurant refuels adventurers with hearty dishes like bison poutine and venison sausage. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The theme continues in the 149 guest rooms, where animal print chairs meet psychedelia-inspired rugsand where the views (of either the Hollywood Hills above Sunset Boulevard on one side, or the vast expanse of L.A. on the other) offer just as much visual stimulation. It's a short walk to the lively center of Taorminafilled with shops, restaurants, historical sitesand a funicular that takes you down to the sparkling sea and beach clubs in less than five minutes. Lila Harron Battis, Conveniently perched in the historic main square, the 100-room Cloudveil captures the destination's ski-centric modern energy. The Post House has long served as the neighborhood inn, offering seven rooms for travelers seeking a quiet respite within walking distance of Shem Creek. Trained spa practitioners implement the signature holistic health and well-being philosophy, developed by Chiva-Som, according to individual needs. Authentic but unobtrusively chic. All of it is interspersed with desert blooms and the majestic, endemic Saguaro cacti. The overall look is largely thanks to Martin Brudnizki, the interior architect and designer known for his wildly colorful aesthetic and theatricality (as seen in previous projects that include Annabel's, the legendary private member's club in London). The Place's identity is also firmly rooted in community. Take a cooking class with him, and learn to make tajarin, the classic pasta of Piedmonte; tour the gardens with Luigi Merlo, the property's charismatic head gardener; arrange for a truffle hunt in the woods; and, of course, indulge in a bottle from the property's remarkable cellar. During my stay, kids were flocking to Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program, which offers hands-on education about oceanic life. Alexander Lobrano, Adjacent to Toronto's bustling King Street West entertainment strip, the 1 Hotel is a study in modern coola nature-themed oasis with (literally) thousands of plants and a sustainability-minded ethos. It is an architectural wonder: the veranda looks out on old-growth trees; the foyer rises to a stained-glass cupola; arched windows meet 15-foot ceilings and flood breakfast with sunlight; and the five guestrooms are finished in lime-washed walls and earth-toned furnishings. Heather Greenwood Davis, Vicente Cisneros and Fausto Zapata, the founders of Mezcal El Silencio, have brought spirit-forward tourism to Oaxaca: they set their six-room hotel in a working distillery. Bienvenue to the opulent, 14-suite Le Grand Contrle, which is located in a former hunting lodge on the palace grounds. Guests can partake in an herbal tea-making workshop, guided hiking and mountain biking, and even a caretaking session with the resident camels. Even before the Four Seasons opened after years of planning, the brand knew it had to earn its keep. At dusk, kaftan-clad guests drift up to the open-air bar for spicy margaritas and painterly tapasmyzithra cheese with blood orange, grilled cauliflower with turmeric mayo. The structure dates back to 1889, and the combination of brightly painted accent walls, pinstriped furnishings, and narrow, winding hallways makes the place feel homey and lived in. Snag a west-facing room with floor-to-ceiling windows, or head 13 stories up to Bar Julian and watch mammoth container ships from far-flung ports slide quietly past, day and night. Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey, If there's a Vietnamese phrase to describe Capella Hanoi, it's "tinh t/ tinh lc." All of these luxe details have earned it the distinction of being a Relais & Chteaux property. Pilar Guzman, On a recent visit to Elusa Winery, operated by Napa legend Thomas Rivers Brown, I wandered five acres of vines as I sipped a 2018 Sauvignon Blanc; got a special taste of a young red in the tank room; and headed deeper into the cellars to try Elusa's excellent 2012 estate Cabernet Sauvignon. This is coffee country, so guests can visit local growers and take part in tastings; rooms are equipped with kettles and coffeemakers from trendy brand Fellow, along with beans picked within a five-mile radius of the hotel. rosewoodhotels.com; doubles from $1,240. At the top of a steep hill, the Inness team had set out puffy snow tubes for sledding. chevalblanc.com; doubles from $1,549. acehotel.com; doubles from $269. Caf Coco, the lobby lounge, is like a living room. Hacienda AltaGracia is spread out over 180 lush acres, where guests are encouraged to build their days around interactions with naturewhether that means a session in the treetop canopy walk, mountain-biking through the jungle to a nearby waterfall, or a Pilates class in a thatched-roof palapa. Interiors are unapologetically western and inspired by nature, but hardly clich: a 10-foot-long boulder draped with hand-stitched leather (reminiscent of a saddle) acts as the check-in desk; hallways are festooned with screens playing whimsical videos of bears frolicking in the snow; a massive stone slab running up the lobby staircase evokes the adrenaline rush of rock-climbing; and wood beams reclaimed from a 19th-century dairy barn are now mantles in the guest rooms. Occupying the third floor and stretching four city blocks are La Plume (the hotel's excellent Franco-Japanese restaurant and bar) and all 82 rooms and suites. Seventy-three acres of prime riverfront on the Hudson, a few minutes from downtown Kingston. The soft thwack of a golf ball outside your bedroom. The wellness center, meanwhile, specializes in Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic techniques. Il Ristorante, helmed by Niko Romito, is a prime example. Breakfast is delivered to your cabin, and dinner at the restaurant highlights the local bounty. The trip ended with an evening cruise aboard a private pontoon; the camp's flickering torchlight is the only thing that distracts from the soundlessness of the riverine realm after the sun sets behind the ancient jackalberries. marriott.com; doubles from $285. Four dining options range from a comfy caf and bakery to fireside post-prandial cocktails, either indoors or on the terrace. Within the 700-year-old walls are lush gardens filled with native plants and palm trees; two swimming pools; and 48 suites, all of which have views of either the starkly beautiful Rajasthani countryside or Barwara village, which lies a three-hour drive south of Jaipur. maybourneriviera.com; doubles from $870. Palisociety's retro-luxe style seamlessly absorbs the casual vibe of the Pacific Northwest through the original hardwood floorscentury-old wonkiness intactleading to spacious rooms outfitted in an artfully mismatched color scheme of rich, dark greens and minty blues. turtlebayresort.com; doubles from $679. belmond.com; doubles from $570 per person. Arrive hungry for the 20-course omakase feast at the tiny sushi bar at the in-house restaurant, Fuji Grill. The enormous cliff-top space has been sensitively designed to fit in with the island, using local materials for the buildings and the gardens are filled with homegrown herbs of vegetables, so that it feels fully integrated, as opposed to a chain brand clumsily dropped on a rock. On the northern side of the island, accessible by jeep or a rugged hike, Crescent Beach is a wild area that looks out toward Congo Cay, a bird sanctuary. With its cathedral ceiling and a few simple furnishings, my room felt mind-cleansing, and over a snowy weekend I spent long hours reading on an ample linen-covered couch that faced the landscape. A glittering pool is tucked away in a private nook of exposed-brick walls. ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $659. Upstairs, the postmodern rooms are more spacious than at some of the brand's other locations, with western-facing rooms getting a distant view of the Statue of Liberty. Laura Itzkowitz, A former office building on the Right Bank's Avenue George V is now home to Bulgari's newest hotel. Co-curated by studios in London and Genoa, it's a mix-up of heirloom details like iron-framed four-poster beds with warm modern details inspired by a back-to-nature aesthetic. (You'll often find the hotel's general manager, Ha'aheo Zablanone of the few hotel GM's of Native Hawaiian ancestry in the statechatting with guests here). Rachel Howard, Rebrands of beloved hotels often trade too much of the property's original essence for cutting-edge glitz and corporate uniformity. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In the evening, we joined fellow guests at the Farmhouse, a newly built take on a classic country manse, for board games and billiards. The hotel is a short walk (or an even shorter ride with one of the Loutrel's complimentary bicycles) from the candy-colored houses of Rainbow Row, busy King Street, and the Battery. Among the major changes include a sweeping new lobby area: the walls were replaced with windows that overlook the beach, and now include a bar and lounge, Off the Lip (with nightly live music acts) as well as Surf Housea lifestyle concept store and gallery space that showcases local Hawaii designers, plus surf gear, apparel, and accessories for sale. I spent mornings surrounded by it on my balcony, which seemed to extend into the sea like the prow of a yacht. Designer Anna Trzebinski built her home in the Langata suburb 30 years ago but only recently decided to share it with strangers. They collaborated with architect Alejandro D'Acosta to create the spaces, which include an indoor/outdoor dining room with a "grand table" hand cut from a 17-ton slab of basalt. A short walk away is the main house, which continues the Japanese-Scandinavian aesthetic with oak furnishings and a double-sided fireplace. Spread across the second-floor auditorium, the Alice (Norton, dentist and theatrical director) features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and her original piano. The hotel also represents a more modern Switzerland that has pulled away from the chocolate-box chalet lookthe design is a melding of Art Deco principles, with the Belle poque-era Kursaal ballroom as the spectacular centerpiece. Kasia Dietz, Town-house hotels continue to pop up all over London, especially in central neighborhoods like Mayfair and Chelsea. The library is packed with some 4,000 books. The resort is one of the late wellness guru Henri Chenot's largest and most dazzling spa outposts in Europe, offering a mix of both cutting-edge medical regimens and more traditional massage and skin treatments. star 1964 town ss northern cape zealand 1st nz michael Look out for the summer opening of the indoor swimming pool. But here, wellbeing feels utterly self-indulgent as opposed to self-denying, with food so delicious you won't even notice you're detoxing. And that feeling of warmth extends to the hotel staff, who exude genuine friendliness, as well as Caldo Verdechef Suzanne Goin's Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. The ocean is a big draw, of course, but for those who prefer the pool, the swimming area has been redesigned in an infinity-terraced layout. aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $1,039. And New Mexico makers like Whiskey & Clay, which crafted the dishware, showcase the region's creative talent. At Hotel Saint Vincent, Texas hotelier Liz Lambertwho introduced the hipster-hotel concept to places like Austin's South Congress Street and Marfabrings her signature sense of nostalgia to the Big Easy. Housed in a restored 19th-century family villa that once hosted traveling painters and academics, the hotel has retained its residential feel with 18 spacious rooms outfitted in a gentle palette of creams, taupes, and warm grays. The building has been furnished with a tasteful blend of modern furnishings and antiques. Intimate, dusky-lit rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping linen curtains to block out the midnight sun, and copper light fixtures and pale ash furnishings complete the crisp Nordic feel. It's on-site restaurant Pere Ubu, nestled between the bar and Aloni, serving meze spreads and deconstructed "saganaki" cheese boards with brick-oven-fired flatbread by day and seafood bolstered with house-made sausage by night, all accompanied by hand-selected Greek wine, no matter the time of day. fourseasons.com; doubles from $1,395. Julia Eskins, One of the most enduring symbols of Iceland's Nordic culture is the varahive-shaped piles of volcanic stones first made by Vikings in the ninth century as markers to help navigate the barren landscape. But the standout amenity is those views. On the wooded site of a former bluestone quarry, Piaule brings the outside inits 24 one- and two-bedroom cabins are raised on stilts and have floor-to-ceiling windows, giving the impression of being perched amid the trees. pinecay.com; doubles from $1,525, all-inclusive. Lorne Duquesne, When Puku Ridge reopened last year after a complete overhaul, the property set a new standard in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, where luxury lodges are few and far between. Elizabeth Rhodes, If you close your eyes and picture a perfect beach vacation, chances are you're thinking of somewhere like Marram Montauk. Guests wander in and out from the beach, and the immaculate staff adopt a discreet and casual approach to hospitality. Others head to the spa for a CBD massage or visit the recovery room, which is equipped with leg compression sleeves and infrared blankets. John Bowe, The Rosewood brand's South American debut in Brazil's largest city is fittingly splashy. The Mediterranean restaurant, Strawberry Moon, offers a feast for the eyes, too, with a retro palette of blue and pink, rattan and gold. It's a place both for travelers who are looking for a design-forward stay without breaking the bank and for locals who want to co-work over cold brews. The showstopper at the Oetker Collection's first hotel in Switzerland isn't its handsome interiors that include parquet floorsand white marble bathrooms, though. Instead of rising above its sandy surroundings, the property's low-slung, rough-hewn buildings (made with limestone excavated on site) are seamlessly integrated into the terrain. Heather Greenwood-Davis, There's so much history packed into Florence that finding an airy respite from it all can be harder than it seems. The best way to start a day is to bring a fresh pot out to the patio, from where, if the clouds cooperate, you can see Volcn de Agua in its perfect, conical glory. Guest rooms and cottages are dressed in a neutral palette of varying shades of cream, blue, and white that feel like a reflection of the landscape outside, and little touches (coffee table books about desert architecture, potted cacti, geometric wall patterns inspired the property's architecture) offer endless visual appeal. From art tours of cutting-edge studios to investment workshops with entrepreneurs, the list of activities is refreshingly outside of the ordinary. Brandon Presser, Hidden behind a forest where rare Rothschild's giraffes congregate is a property set to transform the hospitality landscape of Kenya's capital city. Selena Hoy, Visitors to this hotel will feel like they've stumbled out of a time machine: it occupies a restored 14th-century hilltop garrison that was once owned by a Rajasthani royal family. It's also a short walk over the bridge to downtown Guerneville, a quirky enclave with plenty of dining options and bars. aubergeresorts.com; doubles from $799. Sara Lieberman, In the hills of Saint-Tropez, the 19th-century Chteau de la Messardirewith its domed cupolas and turrets overlooking Pampelonne Bayis like a dream spread across 25 acres. The Tasman is Marriott's first Luxury Collection property in Australia and bridges three separate downtown buildings: a renovated Georgian-era hospital, an Art Deco office building, and an angular, ultramodern glass extension called the Pavilion. alilahotels.com; doubles from $720. The hotel reflects the natural surroundings of the areaOkitayama Park and the Tenjin Riverwith a landscape design infused with water, dotted with cedar trees, and anchored by century-old stone lanterns that have been repurposed from former temples.Influenced by the Rinpa school of art, the resort continues to foster budding artists. DumaTauwhich means "the lion's roar" in the local Setswana languagelies on the migratory path of dozens of species, from big cats to rare birds, and many of them pass within sight of the lounge spaces and pool deck (making early-morning outings unnecessary). Alia Akkam, From my corner suite at the Maybourne Riviera, I could see three countries: the Ligurian coast of Italy to the east; Monaco to the west; and all around me, the coves and cypresses of southern France. Nowhere is the Mediterranean more palpable than at Ceto, the property's fine-dining restaurant from Italian-Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco (best known for his restaurant in nearby Menton, the Michelin three-starred Mirazur). The interiors display works from local makers. The sunset is best savored from the rooftop bar. The hotel is also ready to fill seemingly any requestdown to the Peloton bikes ready for in-room appointments. Guests get VIP access to the castle twice a dayin the morning, before the crowds arrive for a romp around Marie Antoinette's hamlet, and in the evening, after they've left, for a private tour of the apartments. rosewood.com; doubles from $824. The club's membership model focuses on diversity and inclusion rather than exclusivity, which seems to guarantee a dynamic environment. joali.com; doubles from $1,499. More than 150 years later, during another epidemic, another visionary woman transformed the red-brick Italianate building in the Lower Garden District into a different kind of sanctuary. thehythevail.com; doubles from $699. While the property's 88 rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, it's the common spaces that beckon. Wellness and renewal are central themes of the 11-room hotel, with offerings like hypnotherapy, sound bathing, equine therapy, and massage techniques that incorporate botanical-infused oils mixed in Sterrekopje's own apothecary. With a delectable locavore menu designed by top Argentine chefs Pablo Jess Rivero and Guido Tassi, Explora founder Pedro Ibez followed the same model as at his six other hotelsall of which are unostentatious luxury base camps for exploring remote natural wonders. The buildings they choose are often situated on quiet residential streets, and the people you pass are more likely to be nearby home and apartment dwellers rather than tourists. A $15 million gut renovation is built around a cantilevered building overlooking the ancient Mossman River, home to all kinds of wildlife, including platypuses. Nina Ruggiero, Etreo is a love letter to Mayan history, sustainability and local artisansall of which, remarkably, feels authentic rather than gimmicky. The resort makes the most of an A-list staff of practitioners, therapists, and nutritionists dedicated to the four "pillars" of mind, skin, microbiome, and energy. casasilencio.com; doubles from $848. Elizabeth Cantrell, If discovering the "real Charleston" feels ever-fleeting, start by crossing a few bridges. It's an ideal finale to a trip through the greater Okavango region, since it's designed with rest and relaxation in mind. It's a complete reimagining of a once rustic retreat, made up of a new eight-tent property on a scenic overlook, where leathery elephants cool themselves in a lagoon below. Decorations range from deeply personal to playful, including a clutch of ostrich eggs dangling above the bar. Traditional whitewashed walls and oak furniture made by Italian artisans are complemented by natural French linens with pops of blue, red, and yellow. marriott.com; doubles from $535. In the green-shuttered main building, a lounge clad in Sister Parish wallpaper is the entry point for Little Fern, the tony resort restaurant, and Harry's Bar, a moody salon where paintings of sea captains glower down as you sip your gimlet. Lindsey Tramuta, Built in 1910 at King Alfonso XIII's request, the hotel was designed by famed hotelier Csar Ritz. The hotel draws on Tochigi Prefecture's deep woodworking tradition for its elegant, minimalist design, which uses local cedar, Kanuma-style wood latticework, and Nikko-style woodcarving. Sculptural lamps draw attention to the lofty ceilings, several of which are covered in original frescoes. Under a tented ceiling swagged in pink and a room dotted with potted palms, guests have seemingly the entire city before them through floor-to-ceiling windows as their evening entertainment. Fortunately, at Kalesma, travelers get all of the European glamour with none of the thumping house music reverberating through Mykonos town. sussurro.co; doubles from $1,023, all-inclusive. And off-property, the Rosewood can organize excursions to gorgeous beaches and a historical tour of the island. Next door is the city's new conference hall, Harpa; both it and the Edition are framed by Mount Esja and the steel-gray Atlantic.
