20 Exciting New Hotels on the Summer 2015 Radar

The Location: A secluded beach in Cabo San Lucas.

The Rooms: All the white-on-white you expect from an oceanside resort, plus freestanding copper-leafed bathtubs, wing-tipped leather headboards, and binoculars for whale watching.

The Highlight: A restaurant by Enrique Olvera, who has long taken inspiration from the Sea of Cortez for his menus at Cosme and Pujol.

The Location: The hotel occupies a historic Japanese inn on the grounds of Kyoto's Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site on the city’s far west side.

The Rooms: The five-star reimagining of a ryokan, it includes Japanese screens, blonde wood-framed patios, and onyx desks—along with high-speed Wi-Fi and all the modern conveniences.

The Highlight: Ryokans offer the most authentic experience of Kyoto, but they’re rarely equipped to handle the many requests of American (or non-Japanese speaking) travelers. Here, guests get the best of both worlds.

The Location: Sanctum is poised to be the most upscale opening in Myanmar’s pagoda-filled Inle Lake region.

The Rooms: Monastic yet sophisticated, with inlaid mahogany furnishings and stone-tiled bathrooms.

The Highlight: The staff will coordinate days visiting temples, seeing the area’s magnificent stupas, and shopping at Inle’s over-water markets.

The Location: Four 18th-century buildings that offer easy access to of-the-moment neighborhood Brera, the financial district, and the city’s prime shopping avenues.

The Rooms: More Italian in style than Asian, in subdued shades of gray. Book a suite, where the all-marble bathrooms are so spacious that they have double vanities, oversized soaking tubs, and chaise lounges.

The Highlight: Al fresco dining in a lovely shaded courtyard, with food by Antonio Guida (who earned two Michelin stars at his previous restaurant, Il Pelicano, in Tuscany).

The Location: A prime waterfront spot in Miami’s mid-beach area, within steps of the Edition and the Thompson (two locally-beloved hotel hangouts).

The Rooms: All 426 rooms are a study in natural materials, with salvaged driftwood lining the walls, polished concrete floors, geological-inspired art, and terrariums on the bedside tables. White sand Atlantic views add that signature South Beach flavor.

The Highlight: A welcome kit filled with healthy snacks and a parting gift of plant seedlings speak to the brand’s eco-chic sensibility—as does its fleet of Teslas.

The Location: The luxury brand’s Italy debut (and first European resort) is on Isola delle Rose, a private island off the coast of Venice.

The Rooms: Stay in the main hotel and you’ll get floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the canal—or the property’s 40-acres of gardens. A more tucked-away experience can be had in the 20 La Maisonette suites, with private pools and patios that are nestled among ancient olive groves.

The Highlight: The largest spa in Venice, with a hammam, indoor and outdoor pools, and nearly 6,000 square feet of space for bespoke and classic treatments.

The Location: Smack dab in the middle of it all, it overlooks Millenium Park and its newly-christened sibling, Maggie Daley Park.

The Rooms: Designed by Roman and Williams, they nod to the building’s heritage as the once-Chicago Athletic Association, with furniture accents that cleverly evoke pommel horses and monkey bars.

The Highlight: An action-packed rooftop bar, as well as the city’s first Shake Shack.

The Location: 24 boutique casitas and 12 guest suites in the Sacred Valley, one hour north of Cusco.

The Rooms: Exposed rafters, hand-woven blankets, and fireplaces add to the rustic appeal; Wi-Fi, plush bathrobes, and the most intuitive service in the region lend unparalleled comfort.

The Highlight: Access to the many cultural riches of Urubamba—from the lesser-explored ruins at Ollantaytambo to the Pisac and Awanacancha craft markets.

The Location: Five canal houses overlooking both the Herengracht and Singel canals.

The Rooms: Masculine and cool, with supple mahogany leather headboards, gold-painted hexagonal mirrors, and industrial accents. How you know you’re in Amsterdam, and not the UK where this brand is based? Bright accent walls painted in Vermeer blue.

The Highlight: Amsterdam’s most stylish new hotel is also incredibly affordable: rooms start at just $100.

The Location: A still on-the-cusp section of Hollywood (where the Dream and Thompson hotels will also be opening their doors).

The Rooms: Burt and Ernie lampshades on either side of the bed speak to the quirky aesthetic.

The Highlight: Knowing that this affordable French boutique brand—with its reliably whimsical design schemes and excellent F&B offerings—is finally expanding to the U.S. Up next: Detroit and New Orleans.

The Location: Midtown Manhattan, the new “it” spot for luxury hotels in the city.

The Rooms: A T+L reviewer said the 114 rooms were like “a glass of champagne—quiet celebration released in tiny refined bubbles.” 

The Highlight: Bling everywhere—in the most glamorous and tasteful of ways. Need we say more?

The Location: This swath of the Masai Mara served as the backdrop for Out of Africa.

The Rooms: 30 tents, spread between two separate campsites, show an appreciation for African crafts, from Nairobi-made canvas to Masai-inspired brickwork.

The Highlight: Epic wildlife sightings, of course—some via hot air balloon. Another perk: Access to gorgeous beaded jewelry by a group of African women who have a small studio (and gift shop) on the property’s grounds.

The Location: Central enough to have across-the-street views of the Burj Khalifa (and its fun-to-watch fountains).

The Rooms: All of its 296 rooms are spacious and filled with luxurious materials (think marble-clad bathrooms and supple leather upholstery), but the Maharaja Suite and Presidential Suite push the envelope in a city already known for its over-the-top opulence. What to expect: sprawling terraces, floor-through layouts, and private yoga rooms.

The Highlight: Discreet and intuitive service, including personal butlers—a consistent point of distinction for Taj hotels.

The Location: 100 acres of forested countryside in Oxfordshire, roughly an hour and a half’s drive from London.

The Rooms: 40 brick-faced cabins will come in different sizes and configurations, all with lakefront views. The interiors themselves are shrouded in secrecy but we’re expecting airy spaces with exposed beams, rustic country furnishings, and just a hint of industrial edge.

The Highlight: Programming that feels like summer camp for adults, including a football pitch, “crazy golf,” horseback riding, and an oversized Cowshed Spa.

The Location: Mozambique is one of Africa’s emerging travel hotspots, and this resort on the Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected marine reserve as-yet untouched by tourism, is its new crowned jewel.

The Rooms: 10 “casinhas,” two cabanas and one casa, play off the island’s colonial Portuguese history, with terracotta floors and louvered windows overlooking the Indian Ocean.

The Highlight: Traveling with good conscience. The company is undergoing a rigorous effort to restore endemic flora and fauna to Benguerra Island, and is helping local communities balance the needs of a fishery-based economy with marine conservation.

The Location: The Palm Springs icon—a celebrity hotspot in its original incarnation more than 60 years ago—has been reborn, with three acres of desert land.

The Rooms: Midcentury modern bungalows with outdoor showers, by designer-to-the-stars Steven Hermann.

The Highlight: Following in the footsteps of serious Hollywood royalty (think Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable), who stayed here in the 1950’s.

The Location: On the edge of Piazza Navona in the heart of Rome; a 20 minute walk to culinary epicenter Trastevere.

The Rooms: Housed in a 16th-century palazzo, the ten suites have rough-hewn patina walls, original well-worn tiled floors, oak beams, and 1930s to 60’s period pieces (parchment beds, bar trolleys) by design legends like Guglielmo Ulrich and Giò Ponti.  

The Highlight: The brass-and-mirror-walled bar draws the neighborhood’s creative crowd with art installations and a well-curated wine list from small Italian producers. 

The Location: A beautiful bay a half hour’s drive from Tangiers or an hour and a half from Casablanca, it’s a perfect gateway to Chefchaouen (the famed Blue City) and the UNESCO-protected Andalusian town of Tetouan.

The Rooms: Moorish villas, all with private pools and freestanding bathtubs.

The Highlight: Incredible shopping. All of the cities within driving distance have markets that rival the Marrakesh medina—with far fewer tourists. The sprawling spa, with rose-petal filled pools and gilded sitting areas—is a close second.

The Location: Cliff-top villas in Nusa Dua, a stretch of pristine white sand beach in Southern Bali.

The Rooms: Suites start at 1,000 square feet, but the even more expansive, two-story villas are the reason to go—they have rooftop daybeds, 360-degree views, sundecks, private pools, and a mix of Balinese and ultra-modern furnishings.

The Highlight: The property is surprisingly kid-friendly—you can try on Balinese costumes for a locally inspired photo op or learn about the local marine ecology with programming by Jean-Michel Cousteau.

The Location: It takes up the top floors of the Times Square building in Ho Chi Minh City’s central business district.

The Rooms: Frette linens, mercuried glass wall panels, tufted velour headboards, Chopard spa amenities: every inch of this hotel has been handcrafted by master artisans and luxury purveyors.

The Highlight: The views. The Reverie will have the highest vantage point out of all the city’s hotels.