Romania is firmly on our 2022 watch list, and the opening of
Bethlen Estates has us making a beeline for Transylvania. The
village of Cris has been in the Bethlen family – who built its
imposing medieval castle – for over 800 years. The plan to open up
this lush woodland area to visitors has been in the works for quite
some time, with mother-and-son duo Gladys and Nikolaus Bethlen
running the show. The property comprises a series of renovated
Saxon cottages, a manor house and other stylishly renovated
dwellings (think kilim rugs, local crafts and original wooden
beams). Meals are taken in the cosy central barn, or in your
individual residence, and the Transylvanian wine tastings in the
cellar are unmissable. Want to venture further afield and
experience the untouched beauty and staggering biodiversity of the
Transylvanian countryside? Raluca Spiac’s travel company, Beyond
Dracula, is the best in the business when it comes to bespoke
itineraries offering off-grid experiences.

The Bamford family’s expansion into the Cotswolds is set to
continue with the acquisition of beloved Oddington pub The Fox.
While the venue’s homey atmosphere and hearty grub (the Sunday
roasts are justifiably legendary) are set to remain, eight comfy
rooms imbued with Carole Bamford’s signature brand of rustic
country chic will open upstairs. The tidy, honey-hued villages of
this part of the UK are straight out of a Beatrix Potter book, and
ideal for a road trip. We recommend booking into the soon-to-reopen
Fox and spending a few days hiking through the surrounding pastoral
landscape, enjoying spa treatments at Daylesford’s exquisite
Haybarn Spa, shopping at Amanda Brooks’ meticulously curated
boutique Cutter Brooks, in nearby Stow-on-the-Wold, and sandwiches
at the Broadway Deli.

Opening June 2022

The Highlands’ glorious playground hotel has come to Edinburgh.
Expect all of the tartan trimmings and topline service you’ve come
to associate with the original at Gleneagles’ new Edinburgh
outpost, with a few twists. Set to open in March, the Gleneagles
Townhouse is intended to feel like an old-world club in which to
sit, sip and savour. Now, on to the twists: the property will
operate as a lively (decidedly non-stuffy) private members club,
but all 33 bedrooms will be available in a hotel capacity for
non-members. And, given that the hotel is located within the former
Bank of Scotland building, each space is articulated with
outstanding architectural features and seriously luxe amenities.
Plush bar, panoramic rooftop and fabulous restaurant aside, we’re
keen to sample the holistic wellness offerings at the
state-of-the-art gym – namely, the cryotherapy chamber and infrared
sauna.

South Africa’s newest property is about to take the safari
industry by storm. The Homestead (set to open in the Nambiti
Private Game Reserve later this year and taking bookings now) has
sustainability at its centre. Expect a fleet of all-electric
vehicles, structures built using ironstone, a locally sourced
natural material, rainwater tanks, solar panels and innovative
French drains that drive vital nutrients back into the soil. All 12
luxury suites are, in a word, palatial. Still, we’re most excited
to sit with a sundowner in the main lodge, an elevated structure
with a sprawling viewing platform perched over a busy watering
hole. And while the game viewing at Nambiti is legendary, The
Homestead’s experiences push past classic game drives to include
animal photography workshops, cooking classes, off-grid camping,
and the option to participate in local sustainability initiatives.
Better yet, the property is a (relatively) quick whizz from Durban,
Johannesburg and Pretoria and, blessedly, the area is
malaria-free.

Opening winter 2022

It’s no secret that we love a good restoration project. From the
beauty inherent in preserving a building’s original features, to
the satisfaction of seeing the judicious addition of some
contemporary edge, we’re hooked. In summer 2022, Casetta (also
behind San Diego’s The Pearl Hotel, Palm Springs’ Casa Cody and
LA’s Marina Riviera) is set to wow with the opening of Hotel Willa,
located in laid-back Taos. Since moving into the former Indian
Hills Inn back in 2019, the boutique hotel group has teamed up with
The Paseo Project – pioneers of community-led art – to create a
space that offers both style and comfort. Interiors – by our
favourite Los Angeles design studio, Electric Bowery – make
whitewashed walls and Scandi influences seem like last year’s news.
Here, rooms feature rustic terracotta tiles, earth-tone fabrics and
a smattering of covetable oak-wood furnishings. Roll over, Sante
Fe: this is New Mexico’s hottest hangout for 2022.

Opening summer 2022

Does Soho House ever rest? Set to throw open its doors in
February 2022, this new Wedgewood-Houston outpost will pay homage
to Nashville’s musical heritage. Formerly a sock factory, the
property is designed to offer guests a real sense of being part of
a community rather than just a check-in/check-out vibe. Its 47
spacious, loft-style rooms are characterised by vintage furnishings
and hand-crafted pieces designed by local artisans. Guests will
have access to the on-site health club, with its fabulous outdoor
yoga terrace, wellbeing space, sauna and steam room, and the
outdoor swimming pool is just as suave and sexy as those of its
sister clubs. Snag a lounger or sit at the poolside bar and indulge
in some serious R&R – and don’t miss the cutting-edge
laser-projection space.

Opening early 2022

Following the buzz of No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath, brothers
Tristan, James and Tom Guest have set their sights on shaking up
the North’s boutique game. With a prime location, just a short
stroll from York Minster, this Grade II-listed Regency townhouse
(formerly The Grange) is poised to become the UK’s 2022 staycation
hotspot. Sprawled across three floors are 39 individually designed
rooms and three state-of-the-art suites, all kitted out with
top-notch Egyptian cotton bed linen and pantries stuffed with
irresistible snacks. Linger over expertly prepared seasonal dishes
in the excellent restaurant and book a heavenly massage at the
in-house spa.

Set on its own private beach on Mykonos’ eastern edge, Cali
makes for the ultimate Grecian getaway. The accommodation comprises
40 villas, each of which flaunts its own private pool, plus a
swanky patio. Guests incoming? Arrange for one of the property’s
Michelin-starred chefs to pop over and rustle up some Mediterranean
magic that’s guaranteed to impress. It’s a challenge to peel
yourself away from the 110m infinity pool, we know, but if you do,
we suggest heading out on one of the hotel’s yachts or speedboats
to explore the neighbouring islands of Tinos and Paros.

Opening summer 2022

Once again, architect Frida Escobedo has come up with the goods.
The 22-room Boca de Agua is an eco-conscious design tour de force.
We’re not talking about swapping plastic straws for metal ones
here, either: all materials used in the build, including the
shimmering limestone, have been sourced from the immediate local
area, in a bid to lower environmental impact. And the hotel’s
ethos? That nature is essential for human wellbeing. We’re
sold.

Opening October 2022

Lake Como will forever be that gem that glistens the brightest
in Italy’s crown. If you’re lucky enough to have stayed at Grand
Hotel Tremezzo (or have it pinned on your travel bucket list),
you’ll be as eager as us to welcome its little sister, Passalacqua
– an 18th-century villa surrounded by olive groves. After
undergoing a major refurb, the 24-suite hotel’s amenities will
include an open-air-cinema and a lakeside tennis court more
impressive than Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

Opening June 2022

Sitting pretty on the island’s northern coast, the opening of
Alila Dailt Bay Sabah beachfront resort is on the horizon and we
can hardly contain our excitement. Offering 152 rooms overlooking
the powder-sand beach, this is the sort of place you’ll never want
to leave. With a handful of restaurants, a sky lounge, library and
wedding chapel all on hand, there’s not much you won’t be able to
do here.

Opening summer 2022

The wellness trend continues to go from strength to strength in
2022, and we’re certainly not complaining – especially if it looks
like toasting marshmallows around an open fire. Enter, Life House –
the affordable and hip hotel group known for hosting the coolest
DJs and upcoming artists. Situated in the heart of the Berkshire
mountains, a 1970s-era lodge will spotlight literary legends who
have passed through or had an association with Lenox, including
Herman Melville and Fanny Kemble, with writing desks and
typewriters on hand to satisfy those on the hunt for a writer’s
retreat. After bashing out a chapter or two of your future
bestseller, hit the library lounge for a blockbuster cocktail or
two.

Opening spring 2022

The newest addition to Shoreditch’s line-up of slick stays, this
258-key bolthole from Jacu Strauss (of Sea Containers London and
Pulitzer Amsterdam fame) will stand in place of former East End
stalwart Ace Hotel from February 2022. Expect a calming creamy
palette of neutral tones in bedrooms, accented by one-off vintage
pieces and exposed concrete walls that nod to the surrounding
area’s industrial-chic attitude. The hotel’s arrival will also
bring with it the largest grouping of restaurants and bars under
one roof in Shoreditch: that’s three bars, a restaurant, a coffee
shop and a fresh seafood take-out hatch, to be exact. And the best
news of all? Legendary drinks craftsman Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr
Lyan) will be setting up shop at Seed Library, a laid-back basement
bar beneath the hotel. We’ll see you downstairs.

Opening February 2022

This 200-year-old Capri icon has been reimagined by the Reubens
Brothers, in collaboration with interior design wizard Francis
Sultana. Now a 50-bedroom, all-white vision on Italy’s most
sought-after coastline, Hotel Palma will offer its guests a rooftop
restaurant and bar, high-end spa and clutch of couture boutiques,
as well as a new beach club slated to be the island’s coolest
coastal hangout.

Opening summer 2022

We can’t remember the last time Soho’s sultry streets took on a
new hotel, so it’s no surprise that we’re more than excited about
the neighbourhood’s latest opening, Broadwick Soho. Billed to
launch in late 2022, it’s the Sicilian-inspired terrace restaurant
we’ll be making a beeline for at aperitivo hour. Marrying the
gritty glamour of Seventies Soho with the opulence of an eccentric
British townhouse, Martin Brudnizki’s first foray into hotel design
is as good as they come, bringing a fresh beat to the ever-warm
embrace of London’s liveliest corner.

Opening late 2022

Greece has always done well on the eco-hotels
front, but this latest opening on the less-explored island of Syros
has really kicked things up a notch. The hotel’s comprehensive
environmental regeneration programme includes everything we’d
expect from a
sustainable property: think zero single-use plastics,
synthetic-down duvets and fresh food made from local, organic
produce, with all waste being composted in the back garden. In
addition, a carbon-offsetting scheme will see a tree being planted
for each and every guest, who’ll then be able to watch their tree
grow from home via a live webcam set-up in the hotel’s “baby
forest”. We’re pretty hyped up about this one, and that’s before
you’ve even got us started on the hotel’s artist-residency
programme and permanent exhibition space.

The world’s first fully carbon-neutral hotel, room2 Chiswick calls itself a “net-zero hometel”. What does that actually mean, you ask? Well, in simple terms, the hotel is an impressive 89 per cent more energy efficient than the average UK bolthole. But what really sets the hotel apart from the rest of the sustainable crowd is how they’re going about this. For starters, there’s a bug hotel, beehive and 200 tonnes of soil and wildflowers on the roof. Then, there’s the bespoke in-room food waste bins (the hotel has a zero-waste policy), ultra-efficient lighting and low-flow pressure showers to brag about. All sounding a bit too clinical? Don’t worry. Somehow, brothers Robert and Stuart Godwin – the brains behind the brand – have managed to sneak in local artisans from the area, imbuing each of the 86 bedrooms with its own creative spirit to sex up sustainable stays as we know them.

Located on one of the world’s most beautiful shorelines, Cap
Karoso is an eco-conscious complex of 47 rooms and 20 villas on the
Indonesian island of Sumba. The hotel’s story began with a deep
reverence for Marapu culture at its core. After visiting the island
on holiday, Parisian couple Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara became so
entranced by its beauty that they sought the permission of 600
locals to request ancestral approval for the retreat’s
construction, which was granted. This same respect will continue to
be paid to local culture throughout the project, with an on-site
community agricultural school and artist-residency programme that
will invite contemporary artists and designers from around the
world to collaborate with local artisans.

Opening autumn 2022

Hotelito by MUSA – an 11-bedroom bolthole – rests on one of the most pristine beaches we’ve ever laid eyes on: picture marble-white sands fringed by dancing palms and a labyrinthine jungle we’d happily get lost in. With the judicious use of tropical hardwood and local stone ensuring that the building merges seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, it’s little wonder this Mexican newbie has made it into the Design Hotels network. Crafted with creatives in mind, each of its standalone live-work studios has been purposefully designed so that you can work on your craft and live just upstairs. And if you’re still not sold, there’s also a saltwater bio-pool, bike park and beach club to bounce around in.

Abidjan’s first boutique stay, this Design Hotels property
pitches itself as a business hotel, although, honestly, we’d just
as happily make the trip for a holiday here. Set right in the thrum
of the economic capital, the hotel’s light-filled bedrooms and
wooden furnishings make for a nurturing space in which to
decompress in peace, but don’t think for a second that this is your
typical run-of-the-mill business stay. Bedrooms, bistro and bar all
sing with style and boast funky art deco flourishes – think
powder-pink dining chairs and gold palm trees hanging from the
walls – and the hotel even has its very own radio station.

Opens February 2022

The first hotel to launch under the name of Janu, Aman’s soulful (and more affordable) new little-sister brand, this visionary Montenegran property is only a five-minute drive from the original Aman Sveti Stefan. Sitting pretty on the ruggedly romantic Adriatic coast, just east of the Med, the property’s stellar views of the sweeping Bay of Kotor, island of Sveti Nikola and Budva in the distance are what have us really sold. Set to be a sanctuary for “social wellbeing”, the hotel’s focus will be on fostering connection and personal fulfilment, be that through group mindfulness classes, treatments in the swish Janu Spa or working up a sweat in the cutting-edge gym.

Often touted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world,
Trancoso‘s
spellbinding sands have lured yet another coastal crash pad to its
shores in the form of hotel Fasano Trancoso – the latest offering
from the Fasano Group. Sensitively designed in harmony with nature
by contemporary architect Isay Weinfeld, the hotel’s 40 whitewashed
wooden bungalows are stretched across 300 hectares of beach, 100
hectares of which is an idyllic environmental preservation
area.