Soneva Jani
Medhufaru Island, Noonu Atoll, Maldives

Here’s a new concept that’s sure to start gaining more traction: “intelligent luxury”. The latest Soneva launch will embody the brand’s ethos thanks to the combination of high quality services, lavish luxury and sustainable building materials. Set within a lagoon and abundant with island foliage, Soneva Jani is an idyll for morning yoga, coastal cycling trails and visits to the resort’s Eco Centro, where guests can encounter the local marine life. When the night falls, each and every master bedroom gives a glimpse of the starry sky, thanks to retractable roofing that glides back at the touch of a button. For star gazers there’s even more appeal, thanks to the in-resort observatory – keen eyes can spy Orion, the Southern Cross, the Bear and more constellations with the sound of the lagoon wildlife rustling and chirping in the background.
www.soneva.com/soneva-jani

Angsana Villas Resort Phuket
Phuket, Thailand

This 48-villa and suite resort debuted in August as the latest branch of the Banyan Tree family. Room types range up to three- and four-bedroom villas with fully stocked kitchenettes and large balconies for dining, hosting and sun soaking. The villas sit within verdant gardens and also provide private swimming pools where you can build up an appetite for a meal at the al-fresco Panache Restaurant, which dishes out Asian and international cuisine by the resort’s main pool. Guests will also have access to the adjacent Angsana Laguna Phuket and its Xana Beach Club, award-winning Angsana Spa and restaurants – there’s a complimentary shuttle service between the two resorts. Golfers will also be right at home with a range of courses in the area, including the nearby Laguna Golf Phuket.
www.angsana.com

dusitD2
Khao YaiPak Chong District, Thailand

Khao Yai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just a two-hour drive from the bustle of central Bangkok, and it’s now home to the new dusitD2 “next generation” concept hotel, which sits on the fringe of the park, offering an amazing vantage point for dynamic activities like hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, biking, and… feeding the local alpacas. The pet-friendly hotel is likely to be a huge hit with travelling hipsters, restless millennials and anyone looking to mix active rest with scenic beauty and excellent hotel service. The best place to drink in those views is the outdoor swimming pool, where guests can splosh and imbibe their beverage of choice. The hotel opened its doors in August but there’s still an introductory offer for anyone ready to travel this month – the “D2 Debut” deal also includes credit for rock climbing.
www.dusit.com/dusitd2/khaoyai

Wynn Palace
Cotai, Macau

Las Vegas stalwart Steve Wynn has cut the ribbon on his latest opening in Asia’s gaming capital. The property takes a commanding position in Cotai, the heart of the island’s tourist hub, and is packed with elaborate and unique features such as the eight-acre Performance Lake and fountain show where 1,195 water jets shoot eight million gallons of water into the air in more than a dozen intricately choreographed musical performances. On the inside, flowers play a key role with two huge floral sculptures dominating the South and North Lobby Atriums, which use a total of 100,000 real flowers that move in time to a musical score. Art lovers will marvel at the thousands of works of fine art, assembled over a six-year period and worth more than US $125 million – including a quartet of rare porcelain Qing-dynasty vases.
www.wynnpalace.com