The Best New Hotels of 2015

Check out our Sri Lanka package suggestion here. Remember, we can also prepare tailor made packages to Sri Lanka and other destinations.

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Hotel La Semilla, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

This diminutive gem is the antithesis of all that’s flashy (and sometimes trashy) about Playa del Carmen, a club-filled resort town on the Riviera Maya. Alexis Schärer and his wife, Angie Rodriguez, left their jobs at big-name hotel companies and returned to Rodriguez’s hometown to open the nine-room La Semilla. Whitewashed wooden floors combined with vintage treasures from Mexican flea markets, like wrought-iron bed frames and wingback chairs, lend a stylish, rustic-chic feel. The couple is a welcoming presence in the shaded breakfast nook each morning, offering guests insider tips, from restaurant recommendations to nearby hidden cenotes.

Have a look at our suggestion for a trip to Mexico here, perhaps it’s a good starting point for your made-to-measure trip in the region!

Maalifushi by Como, Maldives

Over-the-top luxury isn’t hard to find in the Maldives; it’s the family-friendly vibe at Maalifushi by Como that sets it apart. A serene lagoon safe for children, a kids’ club with an outdoor cinema, and snorkeling and picnic excursions keep everyone happy. Babysitters allow parents to slip away for a morning yoga session (in a waterside open-air pavilion), a surfing lesson (there are legendary breaks nearby), or a hot-river-stone couples massage (the spa suites hover over the water). The relaxed ambience extends to 65 sprawling overwater bungalows and beachside villas (the latter a better option for little ones), sustainably built with native balau wood and traditional thatched roofs.

You want Maldives? We have you covered!

Wilderness Safaris Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia

Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, named for the centuries of shipwrecks on its rugged shores, has traditionally been a place for only the most intrepid of safari-goers. Enter Wilderness Safaris’ Hoanib Camp, a desert oasis along the Hoanib River that is luring a new set of travelers to what feels like the end of the earth. Accessible only by chartered plane, eight sprawling tents are decorated with African textiles and oversize, canvas-covered chairs that face the undulating Kaokoveld Desert. Even in this unforgiving climate, it’s common to see signs of life near camp, from oryx and elephants to desert-adapted lions.

Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard, London

Even Londoners are coming in to gawk at the views from the Shangri-La, on floors 34 to 52 of the Renzo Piano-designed Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe. More than a thousand feet above the city, iconic sights like the Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral are laid out like a miniature movie set, whether you’re ordering a sundowner at the intimate GŎNG Bar, doing laps in the infinity-edged pool, or peering out the floor-to-ceiling windows from one of the 202 guest rooms and suites. Down on the ground, you’re in the heart of the city: the Tate Modern, Borough Market, and buzzy Bermondsey Street are just a short walk away.

Sanchaya, Bintan Island, Indonesia

It’s surprising how long it took for luxury to arrive on the Indonesian island of Bintan, an easy 45-minute ferry ride from Singapore known for its white-sand beaches and world-class golf courses. The Sanchaya has become a magnet for city dwellers in need of a quick escape: nine suites and 19 villas, strung along the waterfront, call to mind French Indochina with claw-foot tubs, canopied beds, and wraparound terraces. The spa pavilion is surrounded by a garden of healing plants used for treatments. Come dinnertime, choose between Thai street food by the pool, market-fresh seafood in the dining room, or—if some indulgent snacking will do the trick—an in-room flight of cheeses and chocolates.

Click here for our Indonesia suggestion! Changes to our package suggestions are not only possible, they’re encouraged!

Vines Resort & Spa, Mendoza, Argentina

For all its world-class wining and dining, the Uco Valley’s hotel offerings have been largely lackluster. That’s why the 22-villa Vines Resort, set among 1,500 acres of private vineyards, is such a welcome addition. The rooms are stylish configurations of rough-hewn stone fireplaces, outdoor soaking tubs, and private patios facing staggering Andean peaks. The restaurant, Siete Fuegos, is becoming a destination in its own right: native chef Francis Mallmann’s menu is centered on the traditional wood-fired asado, which turns out expertly grilled Argentinean steaks and hearty empanadas. Guests hoping to try their hand at wine making can join the fall harvest, or blend Malbecs, Merlots, Cabernet Francs, and Syrahs with expert winemakers.

For the full list visit here.