FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUWAIT AT BURJ ALSHAYA
Kuwait City, Kuwait
The name may be a bit of a mouthful, but so is what guests will find inside, as the hotel is positioning itself as a dining destination with four restaurants and lounges that are likely to become hotspots upon opening this month. Dai Forni, in particular, with its penthouse-level views and Italian menu served indoor and al fresco, will be the place to book. With sophisticated guest rooms and 67 suites – the latter of which are some of the largest to be found in the diminutive country – there’s also a two-level spa, with 10 private treatment rooms as well as suites for hammam and psammotherapy treatments – a lengthy Greek-inspired healing ritual where a heated bed of alpha-quartz sand relieves aches and stress. The hotel’s most compelling feature however, will delight water-loving guests. As only hotel in Kuwait City with both an indoor and an outdoor pool, the design of the indoor pool will steal your breath – lined with deep indigo stone, with grey limestone archways and lanterns glowing above – it’s a showstopper.
JABALI RIDGE
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Imagine being surrounded by 150,000 square kilometres of pristine African nature while based amid stylish, rustic-luxe accommodation with all the modern comforts – this is Asilia’s newest safari-camp destination, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking one of Ruaha’s most prime spots with lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo all densely populated within close proximity. Exclusive with a mere eight suites and one private house, each features a private outdoor lounge and stunning views indoor and out. Embarking on game drives, night drives and walking safaris, all led by expert guides, guest will have the chance to see one of the planet’s largest elephant populations – and you can snap away till your heart’s content, as all vehicles are equipped with charging facilities. Resting up between activities is easy enough as well, thanks to king-sized beds, a swimming pool and spa.
HOTEL CALIFORNIAN
Santa Barbara, California, USA
A pretty sight in Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with Moorish vibes, this urban, Pacific-seaside property is a reincarnation of the original built in 1925, which eventually fell into disrepair after World War II. Opening again this month in a neighbourhood now revitalised – steps away from Stearns Wharf and the new Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation – the hotel is ready to host the elite throughout its paseos, gardens, open plazas and rooftop deck with 360-degree views. All in all it’s spread across three buildings – The Californian, The Mason, and The State – which house 161 guest rooms and suites, a Moroccan-inspired spa, a designer boutique, and two restaurants – one of which can help put together a seasonally curated beach picnic. Guest rooms and suites boast ocean and mountain views and Moorish-themed interior design by celeb-designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
ALMANAC BARCELONA
Barcelona, Spain
The first in what is planned to be a collection of taste-making luxury hotels, Almanac Barcelona comprises 91 keys in one of the city’s prime locations: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, on the doorstep of shopping, restaurants, bars and museums. Inside, grey, beige and gold tones, with accents of oak and walnut, and marble from Ibiza, lend an atmosphere of warmth and refinement to the space. Rooms and suites boast ample space (starting from 30 square metres), with a select few vaunting private balconies and terraces, but many more featuring a unique bowed-window design that opens up views to the outside. An exclusive guests-only rooftop terrace and pool is ideal for sundowners-with-a-view before heading to Línea, the hotel’s Mediterranean brasserie, for dinner served alongside regional wines and Jerez sherry.
www.almanachotels.com/barcelona