Inspiring your next adventure

Hideway...

at Sandals' newest Caribbean property

Sandals, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Having made a name for itself in the Caribbean (with nine resorts in the region), Sandals will open its latest property on the powder-white sands of St Vincent in the spring. The 20 hectare hideaway will offer an impressive collection of two-storey villas, each with a rooftop lounge and outdoor bathroom. Opening with 12 dining concepts as well as private villa catering, Sandals will rely almost entirely on local agriculture, serving fresh produce from its herb gardens, local fish and meat from the neighbouring cattle farm. Opening March 2024; sandals.co.uk

Relax...

at a wellness haven on the Yucatan Peninsula

Xela, Tulum, Mexico

The Mexican hotel collection Namron has opened its fourth luxury property, Xela (pronounced shell-ah) on Tulum Beach. With terracotta walls, organic wooden pergolas and minimalist wabi-sabi design, the 12-room hotel is an exclusive hideaway with a strong focus on wellness in this vibrant part of Mexico. The property itself was once a private villa built and owned by a Belgian designer and an avant-garde British artist. Now, following a renovation, the property remains as a relaxed indoor/ outdoor haven, with suites orientated towards the Caribbean Sea. Alongside the hotel is the Valise Spa, centred around Mayan spirituality and healing through treatments, rituals and meditative breathwork. In keeping with the laid-back tone of Xela, guests can come here to unwind or reconnect with a series of treatments and fire ceremonies. Opened November 2023; xelatulum.com

Reconnect...

with nature at a jungle retreat

Our Habitas, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

The sustainable, nature-centric hotel brand Our Habitas opened its first property in Costa Rica in 2023. Located on the southernmost tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, steps from Santa Teresa’s powder-white beach, the new hotel promises to immerse you in nature – think rattan textures in thatched huts tucked beneath swaying palm trees. Upmarket yet laid-back, the hotel will offer guests sunset bonfires, horse-riding on the beach, meditation classes and mountain biking through lush jungles during their stay. Opened December 2023; ourhabitas.com

Escape...

to a Maldives hotel isolated from the world

Soneva Secret, Maldives

Sustainable resort brand Soneva, which has properties in the Maldives and Thailand, is opening a new hotel in the glittering waters of the Maldives’ Haa Dhaalu Atoll in early 2024. With 14 overwater villas, Soneva Secret is only accessible by boat, isolated wholly from any other civilisation. The largest (and most impressive) stay is the sprawling Crusoe Reserve, a two-bedroom thatched villa of 1,108 square metres, which has a vast wraparound deck and a retractable roof for stargazing. Each water-top villa has its own private chef, as well as a guardian and assistant, who work to create personalised itineraries and experiences during your stay. Opening January 2024; soneva.com

Nestle...

between tropical foliage and gin-blue waters in Grenada

Silversands Beach House, Grenada, Caribbean

Situated beneath a verdant canopy, Silversands Beach House is slated to open in the first quarter of 2024 on the powder-white sands of Portici Beach. The contemporary property has just 28 keys and has a similar whitewashed, minimalistic design language to its sister property, Silversands Grenada. The Beach House, as its name suggests, is a more secluded sanctuary for those looking to immerse themselves in nature, nestled between lush foliage and palm trees and clinging to the dramatic stone bluffs of southern Grenada. Each of the contemporary villas has been designed with an indoor/outdoor concept – you can step directly from your bedroom onto the sand and into the water just a few metres away. Opening early 2024; silversandsgrenada.com

Jet off...

to the world’s only frozen lake polo tournament

St Moritz Snow Polo with Flexjet, Switzerland

St Moritz is the cradle of snow sports and the original Alpine ski resort. The town itself springs from the pages of a storybook, with turreted hotels overlooking a frozen lake – and it remains the resort of choice for well-heeled skiers. Many arrive by private jet, with the town just a 10-minute drive from Samedan Airport. Flexjet owners can fly in from Farnborough Airport in the UK, a 90-minute journey in an Embraer Praetor 600 or Gulfstream G650. It’s superyacht style service at 10,000-plus metres. While many come here to ski, one of the biggest events of the year is the Snow Polo World Cup. This bonkers tradition is the brainchild of hotelier Reto Gaudenzi and is the only polo tournament in the world played on a frozen lake. Eight ponies in snowshoes go hoof-to-hoof across the frozen lake, kicking up flurries of snow in pursuit of a bright orange ball, as players in white breeches jostle with bamboo mallets. Six teams, each named after an illustrious sponsor, compete over three days as fur-clad spectators look on from the grandstands fuelled by Glattfelder caviar and Perrier-Jouët champagne. Those in town for the weekend can stay at the Kempinski Hotel and may be tempted by Via Serlas – an A to Z of designer shops – or to drop in for a polo clinic with internationally renowned Malcolm Borwick. His “off-horse” demonstration will have guests mallet-swinging and galloping across the ice (and each lesson is signed off with dram of Royal Salute whisky). Snow Polo World Cup, 26 to 28 January 2024; flexjet.com

Unwind...

in superyacht comfort on the Amazon

Aqua Expeditions, Peru

One of the only superyacht-level river cruisers on the market, Aqua Nera has launched four new sailings into the Peruvian Amazon. With 20 cabins available as a single charter and itineraries designed to immerse in nature, the cruiser now has more capacity to carry you up the Amazon in comfort. The Peruvian Amazon is home to nearly 1,900 species of birds and 500 species of mammals, and during the expedition, guests will likely come across pink dolphins, caimans and anacondas in the river, as well as sloths and monkeys in the canopy above. Guests can unwind after their action-packed day in the boat’s spa, cinema or gym. From February 2024; aquaexpeditions.com

Immerse...

yourself in a rustic-chic oasis on a secluded Greek island

Gundari, Folegandros Island, Greece

Dramatic, slow-paced and wild is the order of the day at the lesser-known Greek island of Folegandros, which lies just 22 nautical miles north-west of Santorini. The 32-squarekilometre island will in 2024 see the opening of Gundari, a luxurious all-suite property that has executed the rustic-chic vibe with enviable flair. Accessible from Santorini by either the resort’s helicopter, the resort’s boat or your own yacht, Gundari is designed to immerse you in the ancient, raw tones of the island with brutalist architecture and natural materials. With a holistic approach to wellness, there is also a cliff-edge subterranean spa that offers healing therapies based on the traditions of the Ancient Greeks and using with the wild, native herbs and tonics of Folegandros. Opening summer 2024; gundari.com

Rejuvenate...

after partying the night away at an Ibizan hideaway

Beaumier Petunia, Ibiza, Spain

Petunia will reopen in 2024 with a full makeover. Overlooking the magnificent island of Es Vedrà on Ibiza’s south-west coast, Petunia is a quiet escape away from the island’s famous party scene, designed to instil a sense of peace with its Mediterranean garden and whitewashed walls – think billowing linen curtains and natural wooden furniture. The hotel also has a strong focus on well-being and offers an extensive spa menu that can be personalised depending on your individual needs. Opening 2024; beaumier.com