Many countries around the globe are now welcoming visitors again, with travel restrictions beginning to ease.
There is even a host of stunning new hotels and resorts to tempt travellers overseas, from a Mayan-inspired newcomer in Mexico and Michelin stars in Majorca to an uber-cool addition on the Cote d’Azur.
RAINBOW ROMANCE AND RAINFORESTS IF YOU LOVE THE LONG HAUL
The LUX* Grand Baie in Mauritius, pictured above, is set on a gentle lagoon and boasts 116 suites
Sun, sea and yet more sun is up for grabs in Mauritius at the sparkly new LUX* Grand Baie which has serious appeal for both families and couples.
Designed in her trademark gentle hues by Kelly Hoppen, it’s set on a gentle lagoon, with 116 suites that can be configured in different sizes and complement this Indian Ocean island’s French-accented charm. A seven-night break starts at £3,610pp, including direct flights, breakfast and transfers with the Inspiring Travel Company (inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk).
Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya was opened on January 15, and exudes honeymoon appeal. Away from the packed Cancun end of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, you’ll get easy access to ancient ruins and rainforests but also delightful modernity in the shape of an expansive spa, eight restaurants and miles of white sand. Doubles from £460 room-only (hilton.com/en/hotels/cuncici-conrad-tulum-riviera-maya). In spring, there will be an all-inclusive Hilton near you with BA Holidays that offers package deals (ba.com).
Guests at the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, pictured, get easy access to Mexico’s ancient ruins and rainforests
The lobby of the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya. It opened this month and exudes honeymoon appeal.
In Barbados, the 02 Beach Club & Spa has a brilliant position; the village of Oistins – famous for its weekly fish fry – is just across the water. With powdery white sand and hot pink sunloungers, it’s in a good place to soak away your stresses. A week starts at £1,899pp, including flights, transfers and all-inclusive accommodation (virginholidays.co.uk)
The new Sandals will open in Curacao for couples on April 1. While the all-inclusive luxury concept of luxury is intact, some tweaks have been made.
The pub is gone, and in come a floating restaurant and bar on a wooden Dutch vessel and street food-style snacks. This will enhance Sandals commitment to romance. A week’s all-inclusive stay starts at £2,449pp, with flights and transfers (sandals.co.uk).
While the all-inclusive luxury concept of Sandals still exists on Curacao’s Dutch Caribbean island, Curacao (shown in rendering), there have been some improvements.
A week’s all-inclusive stay at the new Sandals starts at £2,449pp, with flights and transfers. Below is an illustration of one of these rooms.
Orlando, a convenient flight from the UK that is always sunny and easy to reach by plane, has been an attraction for British visitors. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will open on March 1st, and fans will soon be grabbing their lightsabres. This two-night experience has dedicated cabins, food at the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, Jedi training and – it’s promised – out- of-this-world entertainment. Rates to be confirmed (disneyworld.co.uk/destinations/ star-wars-galactic-starcruiser).
With the World Cup in Qatar this year, the poshest fan bases have to be the Katara Towers with Fairmont and Raffles (katarahospitality.com) in joined twin towers, while Rosewood is housed in a tower designed to look like coral reef.
Dubai can be reached in 45 minutes by road. However, there is not one skyscraper visible. Ras Al Khaimah is the UAE’s northernmost emirate. It will host the Anantara Mina Al Arab Resort. Overwater villas are the best accommodation, as they can be surrounded by mangroves. Rates to be confirmed (anantara.com/en/mina-al-arab-ras-al-khaimah).
When the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser opens, fans will get out their lightsabres (pictured in mockup here)
Open to the elements: Pictured is a bedroom at the windowless Buahan in Bali, which has new levels of sustainability
A pandemic isn’t going to stop Asia from innovating. The Postcard chain continues to pep up stays in Sri Lanka and Goa with a growing portfolio of stylish but budget-minded places to stay (postcardresorts.com). In Thailand, the Khao Yai region is one of the country’s best kept secrets; a Unesco World Heritage Site with both national parks and vineyards. Bill Bensley, an interior designer and eco-minded personality created the InterContinental Khao Yai. Luxury accommodation has been made possible by 45 restored train carriages. Rates tbc (ihg.com/ intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/khao-yai).
Bali remains an innovative hub. Banyan Tree will debut a Buahan concept hotel that is more sustainable. It’s built entirely from recycled wood, while food is sourced from a 25-mile radius. A ‘no doors, no windows’ design dispenses with air-con and offers views across the paddy fields. Half-board doubles from £527 (escape.banyantree.com).
WELLNESS, WHITEWASHED IDYLLS FOR THE SHORT-HAUL
The Cote d’Azur, pictured, will truly be a hotspot this summer thanks to the recently opened Maybourne Riviera, set on the rocky hillside
Striking: The Maybourne Riviera has infinity pools, world-class wellness spas and three restaurants from some of Europe’s top chefs
The Med heats up every spring. From the owners of Claridge’s and the Connaught comes the Maybourne Riviera. Perched above the Cote d’Azur, it has infinity pools, world-class wellness spas and three restaurants from some of Europe’s top chefs, but all this beauty will have a hefty price tag. Doubles from £800 a night (maybourneriviera.com).
The 19th Century Hotel La Palma, on Capri’s island, is its biggest competitor. It opened in April. The Oetker Collection has 50 rooms and a stunning beach club. Rates tbc (oetkercollection.com/hotels/hotel-la-palma).
Majorca tops my Med wishlist, particularly with El Vicenc’s April arrival. El Vicenc offers both infinity- and swim-up pool options, as well as 34 guest rooms and a Michelin star chef. You can find this part of Majorca in a remote cove close to Cap Formentor. There are bicycles available for loan and you have the option to rent them. Doubles from £242 (elvicenc.com).
A rendering shows the poolside sun loungers at the 19th Century Hotel La Palma on the island of Capri
Hotel La Palma, shown in a rendering, promises Italian glamour with just 50 rooms
Bay of plenty: El Vicenc’s view over the bay, nestled at a rugged Majorcan cove. There will be a Michelin star chef in the restaurant and only 34 guest rooms.
In Ibiza Old Town, the Gran Hotel Montesol – once a billet for Orson Welles – is ready for a new generation to fall in love with it.
The hotel has been renovated and now boasts 33 rooms with private balconies. There is also a roof-top restaurant serving Jewish-Spanish Fusion food. Doubles from £114 (granhotelmontesolibiza.com).
Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort opens in the spring, with just 37 rooms, every room with a private terrace and hot tub or swimming pool, all keeping to Santorini’s whitewashed charm.
Above all, there’s a private beach and an accent on chilling on Greece’s most Instagrammed island. Rates TBC (seabreezesantorini.com).
![Half-board doubles at HVAR [PLACESHOTEL], pictured, which is set to open in May, are priced from £94](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/21/08/53018603-10405541-Half_board_doubles_at_HVAR_PLACESHOTEL_pictured_which_is_set_to_-a-165_1642754165787.jpg)
HVAR Half-board Doubles [PLACESHOTEL], pictured, which is set to open in May, are priced from £94
Cashel Palace (pictured in a rendering) has seaweed baths, treatments from Bamford or Biologique Recherche
Cashel Palace has a spa that is perfect for those who have been on a windy hike to the Rock of Cashel.
HVAR is legal in Croatia [PLACESHOTEL]It will open May 1, on Hvar, the beautiful, buzzing island. It’s designed to be utterly flexible.
If you don’t get up for breakfast, you can use that credit for lunch or dinner or carry it on to the next day. Half-board doubles from £94 (valamar.com/en/hotels-hvar/ hvar-places-hotel).
A key prescription for 2022 is serious spas. In Tipperary, Cashel Palace has seaweed baths, treatments from Bamford and Biologique Recherche – ideal for recovering from a blustery walk to the Rock of Cashel – plus 42 bedrooms and full Irish country-house charm. B&B doubles from £283, including breakfast (cashelpalacehotel.ie).
MODERNITY AND MUSEUMS ON A QUICK CITY BREAK
The room in the 25Hours Indre By is a delight and will be open in Copenhagen in March.
Pictured is one of the 243 art-filled bedrooms at 25Hours Indre By, which is housed in a former china factory
I was reminded of how wonderful a Berlin city break is by a December trip. The novelty of packing everything in a weekend to go to museums, restaurants, and people-watching.
The charming new 25Hours By in Copenhagen is a great place to start city-hopping again. It opened its doors in March. This hotel is a landmark in the city, having been a former china factory and student building.
The hotel now has 243 rooms with artwork, a beautiful garden and a restaurant, cafeteria, and bar in the basement. B&B doubles from £119 (25hours-hotels.com/en/hotels/copenhagen/indre-by).
In a rendering of the InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace, which opens October, it is shown in an old fin-de-siecle house that was once home to the US Embassy.
A rendering of one of the rooms at The InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace. It boasts “seriously large proportions”.
One of the balconies in Mama Lisbon’s’stylishly-budget’ Mama Lisbon is shown here. It opened last week.
Mama Lisbon offers an all-day dining experience (pictured), a rooftop bar with double deckchairs, and 130 rooms.
Paris will get a few lovely hotels including one Delano. Rome, however, will see a quartet.
InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace opens October. This fin-de–siecle mansion, which was the US embassy’s residence, has grand proportions with views of the Via Veneto. Rates tbc (ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/rome/romra).
A rendering shows the courtyard at Six Senses’ new 95-room hotel on Piazza di San Marcello, Rome
An 18th-century palace is home to the Six Senses, which can be found near the Trevi fountain. Below is an illustration of one of these rooms.
The Bulgari jewellery and fashion house is also opening a hotel in Rome (shown here in a rendering) – expect marble, polish and a lot of confidence
Rosewood opens a 99-room hotel at Petersplatz, the center of Vienna. One of the bathroom renderings is shown in this image
An illustration of one Rosewood suite. The new hotel will offer views over the city’s copper roofs and onion domes
Aman New York is shown in this rendering. It will offer serenity, a rooftop pool, and three floors of spa.
The Civilian Hotel in New York has a bar that just opened.
Six Senses opened a 95-room hotel at Piazza di San Marcello in the 18th Century, next to Trevi fountain. The rooftop bar will be surrounded by an organic garden.
The Bulgari jewellery and fashion house also opens a hotel in its home city – expect marble, polish and a lot of confidence. Rates tbc (bulgarihotels.com/en_US/rome).
There’s more history when Rosewood opens a 99-room hotel in the heart of Vienna on Petersplatz, moments from the cathedral and Mozart’s house and with views over the city’s copper roofs and onion domes. Rates tbc (rosewoodhotels.com/en/vienna).
New York keeps on pulsating. The Ned NoMad (thenomadhotel.com/new-york/) will blend hotel guests with club members when it opens this summer near Madison Square Garden, and Aman will provide serenity and a rooftop swimming pool plus three floors of spa.
Rates TBC (aman.com/resorts/aman-new-york). In the meantime, Civilian off Broadway has just opened and aims at making things more affordable but still keeping high style.
Different rates are available depending on the facility you choose, like daily housekeeping and gym access. Doubles from £101 (civilianhotel.com).