Every year, a fresh crop of sensational hotels pops up across the globe. From a family-friendly Hawaiian resort to a wine lover's paradise to a newly renovated Palace of Versailles château, here's a preview of the most anticipated grand hotel openings to put on your radar in the new year, even if the visit has to be a little further into the future.
Related: 20 Cities Where You Can Score Five-Star Hotels at Three-Star Prices
Calistoga, California
Wine lovers can unwind at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Napa Valley, a one-of-a-kind wine country resort with an on-site winery (overseen by respected vintner Thomas Rivers Brown) in an organic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. Nestled in the historic town of Calistoga, the resort's 85 farmhouse-chic villas, all with a fireplace and private terrace or balcony, offer views of hundreds of acres of lush vineyards, framed by forests and mountains. Guests can participate in the winemaking process, guided bike tours of the region, savor tastings, or dine in the exclusive barrel room for the ultimate grape-to-glass experience.
London
In the heart of the West End in legendary Leicester Square, The Londoner is remarkable in scale, yet manages to retain a decidedly boutique-like atmosphere. The 16-floor, 350-room London landmark will be one of the world's deepest buildings — it's got six subterranean levels with restaurants and bars, leisure facilities, ballroom and banquet halls, a spa, and two cinemas. Aboveground, each guest room boasts a unique view of the cityscape, and a rooftop bar with fire pit caps the experience.
Riviera Beach, Florida
The 153 guest rooms and 34 grand luxury suites of the Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences has — not to mention its 11 penthouse residences with private rooftop terraces — feature floor-to-ceiling windows to help visitors appreciate the oceanfront acreage of Palm Beach County's idyllic Singer Island. This is an oasis where personal assistants structure wellness plans for guests and are available 24/7 via app, text, call, or FaceTime. Relax at the infinity pool or in a private beach cabana, or partake in programs such as group or private yoga classes, guided meditations, cooking classes, or treatments at a four-story spa.
Related: 25 Surprising Ways Travel Has Changed Over the Past Decade
Harads, Sweden
Clear your head with a stay at Arctic Bath, an unconventional hotel and wellness oasis in the heart of Swedish Lapland. Inspired by the surrounding forests and timber industry heritage, the Scandinavian hotel's main building, restaurant, private cabins, and various cold and hot baths and saunas resemble a floating log jam in the river. Embrace the local open-air coldbath culture under the northern sky for a truly invigorating arctic experience. You'll feel revitalized from the inside out as you take in the surrounding elements — maybe even the Aurora Borealis coloring the skies.
Related: 15 Best Places to See the Northern Lights on a Budget
Kamuela, Big Island, Hawaii
Situated on sacred land on the majestic Kona Coast, the family-friendly, 32-acre Mauna Lani is graced with royal fish ponds, natural lava plains, lush tropical gardens, and alluring beaches. Contemporary rooms and suites, private bungalows, restaurants with locally sourced seafood, three pools, a signature spa, a wellness haven, an onsite cultural center, and enriching programming — from culinary classes to moonlight storytelling — make this the perfect place to discover the true meaning of "ohana" (the Hawaiian word for family).
Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Facing the Caribbean Sea from a white-sand beach, the modern, 553-room Now Natura Riviera Cancun is inspired by its jungle surroundings — with a grotto bar and lush landscape peppered with waterfalls and fish ponds filled with colorful, exotic species. Even the on-site spa is designed to look like the region's striking cenotes, or swimming holes. Play at the water park, relax in the infinity pool, or float down the lazy river, then take in stunning views from a private terrace or balcony. This resort also offers a wealth of kid- and teen-centric activities, such as a Rollglider aerial ride and splash pool, and the travel desk can help plan excursions to explore local caves or islands, ancient Mayan ruins, Pyramids of Tulum, and other ecological and archeological adventures.
New York City
Aman is a hotel group known for enchanting hotels in remote settings, but with Aman New York it produces a sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan, including 83 rooms and suites (and, on the upper floors, 22 homes). Housed within the gilded grandeur of the Crown Building at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, the hotel will feature luxury amenities including a wraparound outdoor terrace overlooking Central Park, a three-story spa — with an indoor swimming pool surrounded by fire pits and daybeds — and a subterranean jazz bar, wine library, Italian and Japanese restaurants, as well as spaces for dining and drinking.
Versailles, France
Right on the grounds of the world-famous palace of Versailles, guests of the Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle can step back in time to the Age of Enlightenment and the reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Steeped in 18th century history, the collection of 14 luxury suites and a restaurant and bar with authentic decor has been beautifully restored near Versailles' famous Hall of Mirrors, overlooking the famous Orangery and the Lake of the Swiss Guard. Dine on haute-French cuisine inspired by the Napoleonic era, take a dip in the indoor pool, take a boat down the canal, or wander the gardens and palace on a private guided tour.
Agadir, Morocco
Situated on an immaculate stretch of the Atlantic coast, the Fairmont Taghazout Bay is the first luxury waterfront resort of its kind in Morocco. The 1,500-acre beachfront property features 150 spacious hotel guest rooms and suites in addition to 52 luxury residential villas, all with breathtaking ocean views. Its bold architecture, blended with Moroccan colors and textures worked into the design, are a nod to local culture and Berber heritage, creating a welcoming environment for guests. It's next to a 27-hole golf course and offers more than 27,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa with fitness facilities, and variety of culinary options.
Related: 30 of the World's Most Iconic Hotels
Chicago
Nobu's newest outpost finds a natural home in the West Loop, one of Chicago's renowned culinary hubs. Situated on Randolph Street, also known as "Restaurant Row," the hotel brings stand-out food and beverage offerings through its signature Nobu restaurant, Sushi Bar, and new-concept Nobu Rooftop, featuring an indoor lounge and outdoor terrace with splendid views of the city skyline. The architecturally impressive hotel and its 115 guest rooms and suites, state-of-the-art fitness center, and tranquil indoor pool, lit softly by glowing black lanterns, blend old-world Japanese art influences and the ultra-modern.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
On the shores of the Dominican Republic's Juanillo Beach, the 375-suite Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is the newest all-inclusive resort for all ages in the private Cap Cana community. Guests of the oceanfront sister resort to the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana can indulge in exclusive and family-friendly amenities such as sprawling infinity pools with swim-up bars, a water park with a lazy river and slides, floating swim-up suites, unlimited dining and drinks at six restaurants and five bars, an outdoor theater, and a world-class fitness center.
San Pedro, Belize
Alaia Belize, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel, is slated to open on Ambergris Caye, the largest of Belize's coastal islands. The 20-acre Caribbean beachfront community features a hotel as well as two- and three-bedroom condominiums and oceanfront villas available for ownership. The resort offers unrivaled access to prime snorkeling and scuba diving destinations, including the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. An on-site dive shop and tour center can help arrange epic adventures — from snorkeling, diving, or even skydiving over the Great Blue Hole to exploring ancient Maya archaeological sites.
Related: The World's Most Remote Hotels
Boka Bay, Montenegro
In the heart of Boka Bay, One&Only Portonovi is Dubai-based One&Only Resorts' first foray into Europe, a coastal haven in Montenegro framed by misty mountains and the crystalline Adriatic Sea. From 140 Venetian-inspired rooms and villas, each with balconies, six mountain-view pools, and four distinct dining and drinking venues — each with their own spectacular views — guests can marvel at beautiful, fjord-like surroundings. The secluded resort also features a private beach, al fresco yoga, serene courtyards, tantalizing and fresh local fare, and a world-class spa.
Hvar, Croatia
The full-service, five-star Palace Elisabeth is a first for Hvar, Croatia, and in the heart of the town poised above city hall with spectacular views of the harbor and main square. The hotel is a landmark dating back to the 13th century, when it was a duke's palace, and the property's 45 guest rooms are newly renovated to preserve its stunning Venetian and Austrian architectural elements — now with a stylish restaurant and bar, an indoor swimming pool, terraces, and a spa with locally inspired treatments.
Bangkok, Thailand
The 299-room Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River is an urban sanctuary in the city's bustling creative district surrounded by galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés. Hotel highlights include mesmerizing indoor-outdoor public spaces, hotel-wide art displays, tropical gardens, outdoor infinity pools with panoramic river views, a spa and fitness center, and a range of dining and drinking options. Guests can experience the pulse of the river and neighborhood with private boat tours and after-hours gallery and street food tours.