JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Venice, Italy
Do you imagine Venice with crowded walkways and flocks of tourists snapping away at every conceivable landmark? Think again. Isola delle Rose (Rose Island) is an oasis of calm and also happens to be the address of the new JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa. All rooms and suites are bathed in natural light and the two-bedroom villa offers a truly luxurious experience, just a 15-minute boat ride away from Venice’s central island. Guests can sample fresh, Italian fare at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Dopolavoro, but for a real foodie experience, the on-site culinary school offers hands-on classes where you can learn some secrets to cooking authentic Venetian fare.
Rosewood at Baha Mar
Nassau, The Bahamas
This five-star escape on Nassau’s picture perfect Cable Beach is just one of several new properties that comprise the Baha Mar megaresort. Styled as a British colonial enclave, the hotel has five beachfront villas as well as a further 185 beach-view rooms and suites, all due to open March 27. With a full array of leisure activities, the hotel offers guests the chance to encounter authentic local cuisine as well as indulge in the Sense spa. While the hotel’s suites are the largest on the island, each of the four-bedroom villas offer premium luxuries, with private pools, Bahamian art and furnishings throughout, and exclusive services such as a private chef, butler and personal assistant.
Titanic Deluxe Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Titanic Hotels will open its second Berlin hotel this month when the Titanic Deluxe Berlin opens at the Französische Straße, just footsteps away from Galleries Lafayette. The former magazine building and German State Opera costume house has been completely refurbished to give room 189 guest rooms and 14 suites — including five duplex options. When it comes to dining, a bar and patisserie neatly complement the Beef Grill Club by HASIR and, being centrally located, the hotel is surrounded by a litany of other eateries and nightspots. Another highlight is the 1,000-square-metre spa, which spans two storeys and includes a Turkish hammam, gym and wellness area.
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Bangkok, Thailand
This 354-room hotel sits adjacent to Lumphini Park in one of the world’s most dynamic capital cities. From the 550-seater ballroom to the outdoor pool, the hotel is a refuge from the chaos outside, but the hotel is also an immaculate vantage point from which to embrace central Bangkok. The hotel exudes elegant simplicity with its Thai architecture, hand-painted silk ceilings, and peaceful gardens. In a city well-known for its dining scene, the hotel doesn’t disappoint, offering seven [says 11 on site] restaurants and bars — so it’s a good job there’s a 24-hour health club also on site to help you burn off the added calories.
Sunrise Kempinski Hotel
Beijing, China
Peeking over the horizon, this 306-room hotel rises 21 floors, appearing like a glowing sun after two years of work from a team of some 9,300 construction workers. Based in the heart of Yanqi Lake, Sunrise Kempinski Hotel is located at the base of the Yanshan Mountains, not far from the the Mutianyu Great Wall, Hongluo Temple and Qinglong Gorge. Aside from the beauty of the natural surrounds, there’s much to distract guests with an array of activities including water sports, golf, horseback riding, and even skiing. The building’s design, which uses 20 vertical warps to conceptualise an oriental sunrise, is said to represent cooperation and harmony.
Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Kyoto, Japan
Japan’s first Luxury Collection Hotel promises an authentic ryokan-style experience, but perhaps with a few more mod cons than one would find in a traditional inn. The 39-key hotel can be found in Kyoto’s western Arashiyama district Togetsukyo Bridge and occupies a section of the peaceful Tenryuji Temple grounds, a World Heritage-listed site. The hotel maintains historic elements throughout, including two original structures: Enmei-kaku (built in 1899) and Hasshoken, which dates back to 1910. Both are currently undergoing extensive renovations and will ultimately house a restaurant and café.
10 Karaköy
Istanbul, Turkey
As if Karaköy wasn’t already on the map, fast-becoming one of Istanbul’s hippest districts, this Morgans Original luxury boutique should help spread the word. In a city known for amalgamating the best of West and East, this hotel is a hybrid of history and modernity. Originally built in Neoclassical style, the property has been reimagined and designed in collaboration with award-winning architect Sinan Kafadar, who has brought a contemporary vibe to the dynamic energy of Karaköy. 10 Karaköy includes 71 guest rooms and spacious Loft & Loft Terrace Suites, in addition to the top-floor Penthouse, the latter of which boasts stunning views. The Penthouse’s terrace is an ideal setting for special events, and private dining.
The Serras
Barcelona, Spain
If you’re an art lover or simply appreciate legacy then this could be your luxury Barcelona boutique. The Serras has debuted in Picasso’s original studio and is the first five-star hotel on the waterfront in the centre of the city. The chic establishment hotel occupies the same space where the artist painted Ciencia y Caridad (Science and Charity) in 1897. The building itself dates back to 1846 and maintains the original Neoclassical façade designed by Francesc Daniel Molina, though the rest of the hotel, with its 30 rooms and suites, has assumed a more updated aesthetic. The interiors come courtesy of Spanish designer Eva Martinez, who has blended Catalan style with a modern New York-esque vibe.
www.hoteltheserrasbarcelona.com
Sant Francesc Hotel Singular
Mallorca, Spain
Palma’s old town has welcomed an elegant property that is suitably at home among its historic surroundings. The exterior reveals a former manor building but the interior is anything but dated, with original artwork that sits alongside chic furnishings and other contemporary flourishes that extend all the way up to each private balcony. Finish each day in La Torre Suite, which offers a king-size bedroom, living room, and a 20-square-metre private terrace that boasts a stunning view of the cathedral, old town, sea and the Tramuntana Mountains. But first, sip chilled champagne and signature cocktails on the hotel’s rooftop terrace after you’ve roamed the plaza and Sant Francesc basilica below.
Sanctum Inle Resort
Inle Lake, Myanmar
With arches and cloisters that reference a monastic lifestyle, guests can enjoy a contemplative experience at Sanctum Inle Resort as they explore one of Asia’s most intriguing destinations. The hotel’s top-of-the-range Sanctuary Suite offers 150 square metres of peaceful space, a mood reflected in the on-site Sanctuary Spa. Experience local flavours at The Refectory restaurant, which boats a substantial menu of fresh noodles, soups, and curries hailing from the greater Myanmar region. The resort’s location on Inle Lake places travellers in the heart of one of the world’s most fascinating waterborne communes, with its thriving fishing industry, villages of stilted wooden houses and floating market.