2018 is shaping up to be quite the year for travel. Thanks, mostly, to the amazing roster of luxury hotels opening up – including one on Leonardo DiCaprio’s desert island. Whether you’re looking to travel to the far away Indian Ocean or stay local on the East Coast, this is your bucket list of must-visit hotels.
Baha Mar, Bahamas
Spring 2018
We’ve been talking about Baha Mar for a while and they are giving us no reason to stop doing so. The past year saw lots of movement at the massive luxury property with the opening of Katsuya, Filia and Shuang Ba – the island’s first authentic Chinese restaurant. This year, the Rosewood Baha Mar will open its $4.2 billion dollar beachfront doors including 2,300 suites, multiple private pools, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, and casino cabanas. Also, the Bahamas is now finally Zika-free!
W The Palm, Dubai
Fall 2018
Jumeirah’s first AWAY Spa is on its way via W The Palm. Slated for an original 2016 opening, W The Palm has almost finished putting the final touches on its 283 guest rooms -102 of them suites, five being WOW suites and two being Extreme WOW suites – think Presidential suite but way way more style. The hotel will feature eight contemporary dining and lounge concepts, more than 2,500 square meters of meeting and event space, and a business center. These offerings will be complemented by the W brand’s signature service promise, Whatever/Whenever, providing guests whatever they want, whenever they want it.
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Summer 2018
The new 65-story mixed-use tower at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur will boast a 209 room guest hotel as well as a 250,000 square foot luxury retail space on the sixth floor called The Shoppes at Four Seasons Place. Expect luxury focused brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and more. In addition to 242 Four Seasons Private Residences and 27 Serviced Apartments, the hotel will feature a 520-seat Grand Ballroom, reserved for private events. Executive Chef Dickerson will be overseeing the Hotel’s six restaurants and lounges, including Yun House, a Chinese restaurant, The Lounge at Four Seasons, the Pool Bar & Grill, and the stylish cocktail bar, Bar Trigona.
Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla
Late 2018
Belmond Cap Juluca, Anguilla will reopen in November following a complete renovation – the first property to be fully re-imagined under the brand’s new strategy and vision. The resort boats its own private waterway and headland that is lush with laid-back luxury including a sea view infinity-edge pool, ‘disappearing spa’, rustic beach bar ‘The Cap Shack,’ and elegant restaurants including PIMMS, Cip by Cipriani and more.
The new spa is called the ‘disappearing spa’ because it is designed to seamlessly blend into the landscape – is the only spa of its kind on the island to offer intimate access to nature away from resort life. A private cove housing 113 newly appointed guest rooms and suites, all with large private verandas or balconies, ensure guests have an exclusive experience.
Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah Beach, Dubai
Late 2018
A second Mandarin Oriental is readying itself in Dubai. This one, set on Jumeirah Beach, will feature 200 rooms with 12 over-the-water villas and a private VIP suite complete with its own entrance. An infinity pool offers stunning views and is of certain significance: water is intrinsic to the hotel’s design – the pool organically flows down toward the beach and was conceptualized by Kuala Lumpur-based design firm DesignWilkes. Signature restaurants ensure a stellar dining experience and a private dock makes it easy for yachts to get comfortable.
Blackadore Caye, Belize
Fall 2018
Leonardo DiCaprio owns one of the most exclusive island retreats in the world and he is opening it for business. Blackadore Caye, located in beautiful Belize, behind the world’s second largest barrier reef, is where the Oscar winner – who also happens to be an advocate for greener living – wants to create to the most eco-friendly luxury development ever.
The island is completely powered by renewable energy and all aspects of its design are intended to increase the biological health of species on the island and in the waters around it. Blackadore Caye’s destination project, designed by Jean-Michel Gathy (Cheval Blanc Randheli, Amman Venice, The Chedi Andermatt), will house a luxury hotel as well as ‘off-the-grid’ accommodations: 36 bungalows and 36 residences all made of sustainable wood and reclaimed materials. Also, the island is home to a research station that educates guests on climate change and a 104-acre wildlife reserve.
Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua
Summer 2018
Steps from the center of St. John’s in Antigua you will be Hodges Bay Resort & Spa. Hodges Bay is the first Antiguan property to join the Elegant Hotels’ portfolio of luxury hotels. The $100 million creation offers luxe accommodations including multi-bedroom villas one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and a three-bedroom penthouse with its own infinity pool and private butler. On-site dining, a swim-up bar, a luxury spa with an advanced Swiss technology hydro pool, rooftop bar, and VIP poolside cabanas add to the ambiance.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Desroches Island
Early 2018
The Four Seasons has long been associated with luxury and the new five-star Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is no different. Here, guests can choose from over 60 luxury resort villas, all with private pool and beach access. Some are designed to replicate a designer tree-house, perched on stilts on the jungle hillside or nestled amid greenery close to the beach. Traditionalists might appreciate the six-bedroom room villa instead, designed to offer uninterrupted Indian Ocean views, spacious living areas and an expansive wooden deck area that can accommodate the whole family or groups of friends traveling together. The remainder of the hotel is designed and inspired by traditional Creole style, embracing the lush surrounding tropics. Additional amenities like a salon, spa, 24-hour in-villa dining, concierge service, and beach side access make it a must visit.
Zuri Zanzibar, Tanzania
Mid 2018
A member of Design Hotels, the Zuri Zanzibar Resort is a stunning luxury resort set in East Africa. Suites and villas offer stunning views while some bungalows are set within the tranquil tropical gardens of Tanzania. Well-known designers Jestico + Whiles are responsible for the design which will feature environmentally friendly architecture including a mix of contemporary and curated local furniture as well as African artwork. Outdoor showers and expansive private terraces give guests the best of indoor/outdoor living. The property also features an infinity pool, diving center, and spice garden.
NoMad Los Angeles, California
Early 2018
A bit of NYC heads to LA thanks to the opening of the NoMad Los Angeles. Set in the historic Giannini Building in Downtown LA and inspired by Italy, the hotel houses 241 rooms, a signature restaurant head by chef Daniel Humm and run by restaurateur Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park), library and bar and rooftop pool. The site was originally called Giannini Place, and was once the bank of Italy, so the design of the place is impressive. French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia was commissioned to create a space that both evoked a sense of grandeur and style. He fully restored the venue’s gold and blue Italianate ceiling and outfitted each room with original artwork from design studio be-poles.
The Celino South Beach, Miami
Mid 2018
The glass bottom pool overlooking the ocean is certainly going to be an insta-worthy draw for the new 132-room boutique Celino South Beach Hotel. Situated on Miami’s iconic Ocean Drive, guests will indulge in Latin-inspired charm they call ‘Floridita’ – a fusion of 1940s Miami Beach glamour with undertones of simple, classic Floridian accents. Think pink palms, birds of paradise, vintage custom loaner bicycles and amenities including culinary experiences by Charles Khabouth of Ink Entertainment.
Six Senses Bhutan, Bhutan
Late 2018
The long awaited Six Senses Bhutan is now set for a late summer 2018 opening. It takes some time to design a place like this. The resort features five luxury lodges encompassing just 82 suites – all consciously built into their natural environment with a distinctive eco-friendly design created by Thai architects Habita. Each of the five locations was identified with a specific and appropriate theme, so that as guests move between them they experience a journey through all senses. Think farmhouse, jungle, and ruins, just to name a few.
Hotel Luteita, Paris
Spring 2018
Originally opened in 1910 by the family, the historic Luteita has a long and storied past. James Joyce wrote Ulysses here and Picasso, Matisse, and Miles Davis were regulars. The reopening is the hottest talk in town. The Set Group is behind it all and has enlisted French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte to create an Art Nouveau space housing 184 rooms which includes five signature suites and two penthouse suites with private access to generous terraces boasting an unrivaled 360-degree view of Paris. There is also a Skhasha spa, cigar bar, a jazz bar and the return of the Lutetia Brasserie under the supervision of three Michelin starred Chef Gérald Passedat.
COMO UMA CANGGU, Bali
Spring 2018
Bali’s longstanding reign on the top of everyone’s travel wish list is solidified with the addition of the COMO UMA CANGGU hotel to the stunning Echo Beach. The hotel’s design is a collaboration between Asian and Italian designers Koichiro Ikebuchi and Paola Navone and is anchored by the COMO Beach Club – a place the brand describes as a “distinctly modern take on the traditional surf shack, that will be a place to gather with family and friends to enjoy an eclectic global menu and a soundtrack of live acoustic musicians and DJ sets.”
Taking full advantage of the hot surf scene here, the hotel has partnered with Tropicsurf to offer beginners and experts a chance to learn to surf or learn some new techniques. Afterward, settle into one of 119 rooms, suites, or apartments including penthouses with rooftop pools and a COMO Shambhala Retreat spa.
