From luxury eco escapes to chic city breaks, here are the new hotels to travel to in 2020
W MUSCAT, OMAN
The latest beachfront W Escape, and the most recent addition to Oman’s luxury resorts, is like nothing the sultanate has seen before. A technicolour spectacular of artistic Omani heritage fused with the W’s vibrant and contemporary aesthetic, decor is wild and inventive – leaving no space for design wallflowers. With three diverse dining destinations, and an enormous 1800sqm beach-front pool offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Oman, W’s iconic WET experience has already become the focus of Muscat’s dance-focused day/nightlife, hosting the first Candypants party in Oman. If you prefer to relax, the Escape’s AWAY Spa, inspired by the ancient ritual of stargazing, allows guests to unwind under a bejewelled night sky with the intimacy of cave-like comfort. Wmuscat.com
CEMPEDAK PRIVATE ISLAND, INDONESIA
For the eco-tourist looking to leave their overflowing inbox behind, the new adults-only Cempedak Private Island, 14km off the coast of Indonesia, is where the conscientious luxury seeker comes to commune with nature. Nestled into their jungle habitat, the beach and sea view villas – all constructed from bamboo with ‘alang alang’ grass roofs – each come with their own private pool, around which pangolins, silver leaf monkeys and hornbills pay a daily visit. Sustainability is key to the island’s ethos, with no single use plastics allowed, and the majority of produce is sourced from their farm on Bintan – all free-range, naturally. The tranquil Rock Spa offers holistic, traditional treatments, while a tipple or two at the Dodo Bar is de rigueur come sundown. Cempedak.com
ONE & ONLY PORTONOVI, MONTENEGRO
A current travel hotspot, Montenegro will next year see the launch of the picturesque One & Only Portonovi – the first One & Only resort in Europe. Located in Boca Bay, surrounded by mountains and the Adriatic Sea, the resort promises to bring One & Only’s exceptional standards of luxury to the small country, through elegant design, unrivalled wellness facilities, and as always, unforgettable food. Celebrated chef Giorgio Locatelli will open Sabia by Giorgio Locatelli, serving up healthy Italian cuisine with a focus of fresh seafood and vegetables, making this one of the most exciting hotels to open in 2020. Oneandonlyresorts.com/portonovi
EMERALD MALDIVES RESORT & SPA, MALDIVES
Opened just in time for 2020, the family-friendly Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa is located on Fasmendhoo Island in Raa Atoll, an area known for some of the most diverse marine life in the world with one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. The resort boasts 120 villas situated on a wraparound reef, which means manta rays, turtles and exotic fish are only ever a few footsteps away. Inside, the contemporary villas designed by architect Edward David Poole, showcase modern marble finishings blended with tropical artwork and bold bursts of colour. Offering PADI courses, a spa on a private island and four fantastic restaurants — including the first and only South American restaurant in the Maldives — there is something to keep the whole family entertained. Emerald-maldives.com
LOTTE HOTEL MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Conveniently located on Novinskiy Boulevard at the heart of Moscow’s financial and shopping districts sits Lotte Hotel Moscow, a newly-opened five-star property with 300 rooms. Decked out with plush interiors fusing traditional furnishings with a modern twist, tactile velvet with flashes of animal print mix with crystal chandeliers and polished parquet floors. Home to two new dining destinations, one Japanese and Ovo restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Carlo Cracco, the Lotte is set to be the place to stay in Moscow, offering the perfect city break hotel for a 2020. Lottehotel.com
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL BANGKOK, THAILAND
“Dramatic… intimate… charismatic,” is how architect and designer, Jean-Michel Gathy describes the new Bangkok addition to the Four Seasons family at Chao Phraya River. The new 2020 hotel boasts, high ceilings and glass walls that bring the exuberance of this irrepressible city to the urban waterfront resort, while the contemporary Art Space showcases work by modern Thai artists. With two infinity pools, a complimentary kid’s club and an urban spa among the five-star facilities, their BKK Social Club looks set to become the new heart of the city’s cocktail scene. Open now for bookings commencing February 1, 2020. Fourseasons.com
ANANTARA ULUWATU BALI RESORT, INDONESIA
The Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort re-opens with 72 newly- refurbished luxury suites, private pool villas and penthouses, perched atop a cliff with the rolling waves of the Indian Ocean below. Traditional Balinese craftsmanship is infused with Anantara’s dedication to easy luxury with outdoor Jacuzzis and rain showers, plus marble bathrooms in the penthouses, whilst in the spa garden pavilion treatments fuse local spices and botanicals for a relaxing wellness experience. Anantara.com
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- Words by Natascha Hawke & Lucy Wildman
