If all goes well, we will slowly begin the process of returning to normalcy in 2021. That means, we may be able to finally get back to checking vacation destinations off our travel bucket list.
If you have travel on the brain for 2021, these sleek new luxury hotels will be opening up just in time for your vacay.
USA
Opening February 1, 2021. Located between the emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay, Hotel Effie Sandestin was designed to welcome all guests of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort to an experience that exemplifies genuine southern hospitality and exceptional service wrapped in comfortable luxury. The hotel features 250 well-appointed rooms and suites, an upscale spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the only hotel rooftop pool and lounge on Florida’s Emerald Coast.
Opening January 2021. Welcome to the Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, a defining and iconic beachfront resort located in North County, San Diego, just 28 miles north of San Diego International Airport. To the discerning traveler, this will be the quintessential Southern California beachfront destination that delivers authentic and one-of-a-kind personalized experiences in a world-class, barefoot luxury setting.
Opening 2021. Six Senses New York is a key element of The XI – two unique, twisting towers designed by world-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels in an unparalleled location in between Manhattan’s Hudson River and The High Line. Guest rooms and suites are contemporary in style, offering every modern convenience wedded to a calm ambiance of natural-hued fabrics and furnishings.
Europe
Opening March 2021. The iconic Hotel Ritz, Madrid is set to open this spring as Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid, following the most extensive restoration in its 110-year history. The hotel, which was designed and built under the supervision of legendary hotelier César Ritz, first opened its doors in 1910. The restoration will significantly enhance the hotel’s facilities and services while maintaining its unique character, encapsulated in the Belle Époque style of the original building. The re-design of the public spaces has focused on restoring the hotel’s many fine interior architectural features, while incorporating a number of valuable artistic pieces from the property’s collection, including crystal chandeliers, antique paintings, and sculptures.
Opening 2021: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will open its first hotel in Istanbul (with another one scheduled to open in 2022) with 130 guest rooms and suites boasting panoramic views of the Bosphorus. As one of the most luxurious hotels in the city, it will feature world-class fitness and wellness facilities with the most modern training equipment for movement and fitness, and a luxury spa with holistic spa treatments, beauty services, and a traditional Turkish hammam experience.
Asia
Opening in early 2021. (Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan) Guests will be able to partake in one of Japan’s most unique stays ever by spending a night at the iconic Hirado Castle in Nagasaki Prefecture – Japan’s first-ever castle stay. Previously open for guest stays as a one-off event in 2017, the event experienced a positive reception, and the decision was made to turn it into a long-term offering starting 2021. The castle is in Hirado City, and is ranked #20 out of the Top 100 Castles in Japan thanks to its rich cultural surroundings and is considered a key symbol in Nagasaki.
Opening January 2021 (Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan). KAI Kirishima will be the 17th property for the KAI brand and will be the second property in the Kyushu area, following KAI Aso in Oita Prefecture. The property is located on the hillside of Mount Takachihonomine and is inside the Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, where the natural environment is preserved. On a sunny day with clear skies, a panoramic view of the Kinko bay in Sakurajima can be seen from the guest rooms.
Opening in early 2021 (Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan). Beppu is an area famous for its hot springs, where it is a place that has the most number and amount of hot springs in Japan. KAI Beppu will be located in a place with a scenic view of the Beppu bay and will be designed by Kengo Kuma, who focused on reenacting the liveliness of a hot spring town whilst keeping a serene atmosphere for a unique experience and relaxation.
Opening in Q2 2021. Patina Maldives, designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, offers 90 beach and water villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms, all of which embody a harmony of sanctuary and stimulation. Accompanying the villas, the resort also offers 20 Fari Studios. Patina appeals to a new generation of travelers who seek meaningful connections with themselves and the world around them. The property is accessible in 50-minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport.
Opening in March 2021. ZAZZ Island Maldives is part of the ZAZZ Escapes Collection and will be located in the South Ari Atoll, which is just a 25-minute seaplane from Velana International Airport. The resort will be home to 101 overwater and beach villas including 24 H2O Pool Villas with a private pool and sea lagoon access, as well as six restaurants and bars and the ZSPA wellness center.
Caribbean
Opening 2020. Kimpton Kawana Bay Resort will be Grenada’s newest 5-Star hotel. With its beachfront location and magnificent views over Grand Anse Beach and the Caribbean Sea, it is set to become one of the Caribbean’s leading hotels.
Rosewood Le Guanahani, St. Barth
Opening Spring 2021. Ideally situated on a private 18-acre peninsula overlooking Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac on the island of St. Barth in the French West Indies, Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth will reopen its doors in Spring 2021. The resort will offer 66 guestrooms, suites, and villas, as well as a range of updated amenities including a distinct beachfront dining, a new pool, a Rosewood Explorers children’s club, fitness center, tennis court, and more.