The Best New Hotel Openings Across The Globe In 2018

From one of the late Zaha Hadid’s final projects in Macau to a lavish design-driven effort in Shanghai from Bvlgari, to the Nobu brand’s hot opening in Marbella, here are the best new hotel openings of 2018. 

FAIRMONT MALDIVES SIRRU FEN FUSHI

Photo Credit: FAIRMONT MALDIVES SIRRU FEN FUSHI

“Sirru Fen Fushi” means “secret water island” in Dhivehi, the local language of the Maldives, which is apt considering that each of the 120 luxury villas (all with their own special something, from glamping barbecues in the tented jungle villas to luxury baths in a private tropical garden) at this breathtaking new Fairmont property are totally private. Even cooler: The hotel hosted the first coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation, created by underwater naturalist and artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

Expect to see some serious marine life here, including turtles, bottlenose dolphins and even a manta ray cleaning station in the crystal-clear waters of the 600-hectare lagoon. Make sure to partake in memorable experiences, like sunset fishing aboard an authentic Maldivian dhoni, jewelry or dreamcatcher-making at an on-site art studio, getting a sweat on with the Maldivian Warrior Workout, which makes use of the island’s natural gym equipment such as coconut dumbbells and driftwood planks, or even giving back by participating in coral-restoration efforts, turtle-release programs and by planting coconut trees.

Unit 2B Faamdheyrige, Orchid Magu, Male Maldives, Maldives, Shaviyani Atoll, 20209

ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE 

Photo Credit: ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE

One&Only Nyungwe House, located on the edge of the Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda, is an idyllic eco-retreat perfect for those that want a curated once-in-a-lifetime trip. Your airport transfer—a luxury SUV or helicopter ride—sets the tone for the trip. Upon arrival, guests will find that every room and suite has been architecturally designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape, with furnished balconies that open up to lush flora, with awe-inspiring views of the working tea plantation and forest beyond.

Unique elements of your stay include the ability to work up a sweat in the outdoor gym; close contact with species like the rare mangabey monkey; holistic therapies inspired by the local culture; special and sumptuous picnic lunches designed for those who want to explore nature via a trek, bike ride or canopy-walk; and private dining with items from the chef’s personal garden. And best of all, this is a place where you can give back. Get your hands dirty by working the land, building a fence or tending to animals at this sustainable resort, which operates fully on solar energy. One&Only Nyungwe House opens in October.

Gisakura, Nyamasheke Nyungwe Forest Reserve, Rwanda

HÔTEL LUTETIA

Photo Credit: HÔTEL LUTETIA

Hôtel Lutetia has a certain pedigree. Originally opened in 1910 by the wealthy and entrepreneurial Boucicaut family, the founders of the world’s first high-end department store, Bon Marché, the hotel revealed its sensitive and transformative restoration by The Set in July, bringing true glamour and sophistication back to the Left Bank.

Stay and walk in the footsteps of the iconic St. Germain elite, such as James Joyce, who wrote Ulysses here, as well as regular guests Serge Gainsbourg, Miles Davis, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, but indulge in the modern updates that will please the most discriminating of guests. Those include the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Center, a 56-foot-long hotel pool (a rarity in Parisian hotels), a stellar fitness center, jazz and cigar bars, and, come September, a reimagining of the storied Brasserie Lutetia overseen by Gérald Passedat, who holds three Michelin stars for his Marseilles eatery, Le Petit Nice.

45, boulevard Raspail, Paris, 75006 France

BVLGARI SHANGHAI

Photo Credit: BVLGARI SHANGHAI

The word “Bvlgari” evokes supreme luxury and fashionable intention, and in every sense, its new Shanghai property—which opened in June just minutes from the iconic Bund—lives up to its name. This five-star hotel experience is best indulged by booking the 4,000-plus-square-foot Bvlgari Suite, a dramatic three-bedroom, five-bathroom residence with black oak floors, ivory paneled walls, custom-made Chinese cabinets, heated toilets, a private spa treatment room, gym, a backlit onyx bar and a green onyx bathroom with a Brera Jacuzzi, which is only accessible by private lift.

A stay here also includes 24-hour private butler service and transportation in a Maserati limousine. Additional highlights of an overnight include a personalized wellness program at the Workshop Gymnasium courtesy of fitness master Lee Mullins; an outstanding spa with a skylight wall that recalls the grandeur of a Roman bath; and cuisine courtesy of Chef Niko Romito, who holds three Michelin stars for his Reale restaurant in Abruzzo.

33 North Henan Road, Shanghai 200085

ROSEWOOD LUANG PRABANG

Photo Credit: ROSEWOOD LUANG PRABANG

Escape from it all at Rosewood Luang Prabang, a luxury hideaway within an idyllic hilltop forest in north central Laos. This is a place for the extremely private: This small yet mighty hotel that opened in March has just 23 accommodations, all of which are situated adjacent to a river or waterfall, or float above the ground amongst the treetop foliage (and also highlight the tropical landscape of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Each room is unique: the Riverside Villas, Waterfall Pool Villas and luxury Hilltop Tents variously include their own private swimming pools, oversized balconies, outdoor wooden bathtubs, authentic artifacts and antiques inspired by the interests of travelers who might have stayed at the property a century ago. Guests may discover newspaper clippings and illustrations from the early 1900s, vintage Kodak cameras and croquet mallets circa 1900. Our recommendation is to travel here in the fall: In addition to experiencing the best of Luang Prabang, from a visit to an elephant sanctuary to cruises down the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, guests will also be treated to October’s Festival of Lights, a truly special celebration in the region.

Ban Nadueay, Laos

COMO UMA CANGGU

Photo Credit: COMO UMA CANGGU

In February, COMO became the first brand to open a luxury hotel in the hipper-than-thou Echo Beach area on Bali’s southern coast. The bohemian resort town of Canggu, a coastal village lapped by the Indian Ocean, is truly a surfer’s paradise: It’s home to some of Bali’s best breaks, which the hotel has capitalized on by partnering with wave masters Tropicsurf to offer both pros and amateur bros the 360 Endless Summer experience.

While hitting the waves is truly the reason to go, there are plenty of additional ways to enjoy a stay—namely, its COMO Shambhala Retreat, which specializes in hands-on healing and holistic treatments inspired by modern science and ancient Eastern practices. Stay in one of the epic penthouses―you’ll have your own personal butler.

Jalan Pantai Batu Mejan, Echo Beach, Canggu, Kabupaten Badung 80361, Bali, Indonesia

MONTAGE LOS CABOS

Photo Credit: MONTAGE LOS CABOS

One of the hottest openings of the year is the Montage Los Cabos. Located on 39 quiet acres of beachfront between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, this luxury resort on Santa Maria Bay can boast that it provides access to one of the only swimmable beaches in the region. The new 122-room and 52-residence hotel resides in the stead of the iconic Hotel Twin Dolphin, which in its heyday was the private hideaway for Hollywood luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and John Wayne. In its modern-day reincarnation as the Montage, there is still that quietly chic glamour, but in a totally modern, laid-back and unpretentious way.

Guests will love the 40,000-square-foot full-service spa, which is outfitted with garden lounges, steam rooms, jetted hot and cold plunge pools, a hair salon, nail studio, a state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studio, as well  treatments that incorporate native materials, such as the Mezcal Renewal Massage. There are three pools, two tennis courts and an 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, which debuts this fall. The resort has also formed a partnership with celebrity nutritionist Kelly LeVeque, which offers guests seasonal menu options to stay on plan and maintain a healthy regimen while traveling.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

FOUR SEASONS RESORT SEYCHELLES AT DESROCHES ISLAND

Photo Credit: FOUR SEASONS RESORT SEYCHELLES

The most wonderfully constant thing about the Seychelles is its weather: Located just five degrees south of the equator, this Indian Ocean locale enjoys tropical temperatures year-round. And while the 82-degree average is reason alone to visit this East African archipelago, the serenity of the Four Seasons Resort and its home of Desroches Island is a close second. Every water-specific activity is available here, th it’s most famous for its fishing and diving, as well as housing the world-famous diving destination the “Desroches Drop.”

Take a break from being a water baby to find inner peace at the Circle of Connection Spa, where a team of therapists welcome guests to awaken intention every morning and express gratitude every night. Yoga programs with in-house yogi Ganga Sadhuka include Hatha, Nidra, Meditation, Pranayama and Ashtanga in a dedicated pavilion or on the beach; there is also a fully equipped fitness studio for weight and cardio training, as well as an open-air floodlit tennis court for the more physical and less esoterically inclined.

Desroches Island, Iles Amirantes, Seychelles

NOBU HOTEL MARBELLA

Photo Credit: NOBU MARBELLA

The Nobu Hotel Marbella is distinctively designed for young-at-heart grown-ups—a playground of sorts for adults. Book the stunning, 2,690-square-foot Nobu Suite, which feels like a private villa thanks to four bedrooms, four bathrooms, four private entrances and a Jacuzzi at this chic hotel, which is located on the swish “Golden Mile” in Southern Spain, just steps from the sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. A highlight of any Nobu hotel is the fabulous fare created by namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and the Marbella property is no different. Indulge in Matsuhisa’s signature dishes, from rockfish tempura to black cod miso, as well as unique items inspired by Andalusia—all prepared by the brand’s first female executive chef, Eleni Manousou.

An additional benefit of staying at the hotel, which opened its doors in March, is the ability to order Nobu’s cuisine from room service. By day, make sure to check out the on-site Six Senses Spa—which includes hydrotherapy and cold plunge pools, experience showers, an herbal steam room, sauna and hamman—as well as health and wellness facilities such as 10 mixed-surface tennis courts, an equestrian center and a poolside health bar that offers detox juices, electrolyte-enhanced mocktails and ginger shots. As an added exclusivity bonus, all guests receive priority access to both Nobu and La Suite, Marbella’s most exclusive club.

Principe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602 Marbella, Málaga, Spain

KATIKIES MYKONOS

Photo Credit: KATIKIES MYKONOS

Katikies Mykonos is a postcard come to life. Located on the beach of Agios Ioannis in Mykonos, this Leading Hotels of the World member truly captures the essence of chic seaside living. Aside from its epic scenery—the hotel is built amphitheatrically with direct sea views—there’s a lot to love and even mroe to do at this charming five-star property, which officially opened its doors in June.

At this ideal Grecian paradise, have a day of rest and relaxation at the property’s A.Spa, which features spa suites named after Greek goddesses (our favorite: “Iris,” the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods); enjoy some bubbly libations at the Seltz Champagne Bar; swim in an infinity pool that overlooks the sea beyond; and indulge in classic Byzantine cuisine with modern twists of Greek gastronomy at Mikrasia, a restaurant that tempts guests with fare inspired by the royal court.

Agios Ioannis, Mikonos 846 00, Greece

MORPHEUS HOTEL

Photo Credit: MORPHEUS HOTEL

The Morpheus Hotel, an ambitious project created by the late, great Dame Zaha Hadid, finally opened its doors on June 15 at City of Dreams, Macau, as the world’s first free-form, exoskeleton-bound, high-rise architectural composition. The Pritzker Prize-winning architect absolutely created a one-of-a-kind marvel in Morpheus, both inside and out. The latter features 28,000 tons of structural steel—four times the amount of wrought iron used to build the Eiffel Tower—while the former includes a slew of world-exclusive firsts.

Morpheus is the first hotel in the world to feature an entire floor dedicated to two Alain Ducasse restaurants—Alain Ducasse at Morpheus and Voyages by Alain Ducasse, as well as the Voyages Bar; the first partnership between Maison Pierre Hermé Paris and a hotel property in Greater China with The Universe of Pierre Hermé; the first in-house Spa Butler concept; and its unique Snow Garden installation—it is the first spa concept in the world to feature real snow. There is also the Sky Pool, located a dizzying 40 stories high, 12,000 square feet of exclusive retail space, with brands including Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne and Repossi, as well as original artwork from the likes of KAWS and Shinji Ohmaki.

Estr. do Istmo, Macau