Aside from blowing raspberries all over our travel plans, the pandemic also put pins in The Harper's opening. Previously billed as one of the UK's hot hotel openings in 2020, it decided to hang back in order to open with a bang. Arriving in the pretty village of Langham - just a mile down the road from Norfolk's beauty-pageant queen Blakeney - its 32 bedrooms and spa (with all the trimmings: jacuzzi, sauna, light-filled indoor pool) have transformed the brick-and-flint barns that once housed a successful glass-blowing business. You'll find nods to its industrial past in the exposed brick, original oak-beams and blazing fire pits serving up places from their outdoor grill. We expect that the London escapees commonly found brooding on Norfolk's beaches will be first in line.

Opening early 2021

From the guys that brought us Wales' cult glamping sites, this is Fforest's first foray into a solely brick-and-mortar bolthole. Spread over two warehouses, the 23 bedrooms - all overlooking the River Teifi - draws influence from the town's rich naval history. Historic features will be retained throughout joined by sketches of tall ships that cover limestone walls. The Albion is pitching up in the middle of Fforest's existing campsites, you'll find one on a 200-acre farm and a smaller, more intimate site teetering behind Penbryn Beach - the ideal place to bed down on a multigenerational family road trip.

Opening early 2021

Undoubtedly London's most anticipated hotel opening since The Ned and from some of the same guys - sans Soho House - behind it. Adding to its outposts in LA, Las Vegas and New York, the Sydell Group has taken over the old Bow Street Magistrates' Court and police station (custody cells will become bedrooms) in the centre of Covent Garden. Some 1,600 works of art will be on show - the theme of this NoMad will explore the cultural connection between London and New York - while four restaurants and drinking dens include a pub serving Mexican sharing plates, so you can tick off that "substantial meal" rule with your booze. People familiar with the NoMad in the US will recognise the interplay between grandeur and whimsy with design details such as the huge glass atrium dripping in foliage that'll double up as a main restaurant, while 91 bedrooms mix mid-century pieces with flashy (but not tacky) grandeur (read: golden bathtubs). The promise of late-night conversations with mixologists in the sultry basement cocktail bar are perhaps the only thing that'll drag us back into the tourist throngs of Covent Garden.

Opening early 2021

It's no secret we're big fans of everything The Newt does. From its cider deliveries that kept us suitably merry through summer picnics and the winter wine hampers that have helped us get sloshed through the festive season, to getting the keys to our grand Georgian-inspired suite overlooking the impressive Somerset estate that still gives us chills, The Newt has thrown the stuffiness out of the traditional country house and, well, made it cool again. Branching out to include a more low-key offering in a secluded corner of the estate, The Farmyard will offer 17 rooms in the former cider mill and cheese barn. Of course, there will be a garden-to-grub menu to showcase the ground's incredible produce, too. For those who didn't manage to snag a room in 2020's summer staycation spot of choice, we suggest getting in early for this one.

Opening summer 2021

There's a townhouse trend trickling through the streets in the UK; The Mayfair Townhouse recently flung open its doors; there's Henry's Townhouse, the former home of Jane Austen's favourite brother, in Marleybone; Beaverbrook Townhouse ventures into Chelsea and, national treasure Gleneagles will open a 33-bedroom townhouse and members' club overlooking St Andrews Square in Edinburgh for its first city venture.

Opening autumn 2021

Coming for the crown of Cavos Tagoo, these sugar-cube suites (25 in total, with two villas) stagger down the cliff towards Ornos Bay guaranteeing both sunrise and sunset views from each room - a rarity usually reserved for superyachts found bobbing in the Aegean. Supposedly modelled on a traditional Mykonos village - arguably the most bougie we've ever seen - every room has its own private pool (the only hotel in Mykonons to offer this), an al fresco shower, terrace for entertaining and Sonos surround sound. Forget Nammos, this is your newest post-Scorpios party pad.

Ibiza’s laid back little sister is upping her game next season. Famed for its pared-back beaches lined with snack-and-go chiringuito beach shacks, hippie market and islanders that have no idea who Wayne Lineker is (though have most certainly posed on Ocean Beach with him), Formentera has a selection of accommodation that’s usually limited to a few well-kept Airbnbs. Fourteen rooms sit on 7km of raw, undisturbed beach in keeping with the island’s fuss-free, organic charm. Think wood-carved sinks, whitewashed walls and rattan accents. Technically, Casa Formentera managed to squeeze in a few guests last season, but as it was as stop-start as our own holidays, we’re giving them a second shot in summer 2021 – we hope.

"Suspended above a crocodile-infested river on the edge of Kruger National Park" sounds like the start to an Indian Jones film or a predicament Eliza would face in an episode of The Wild Thornberrys, but it's actually the newest safari lodge to open in South Africa. Paying homage to bygone explorers and occupying the same spot that was responsible for delivering the first guests to the park back in the 1920s, the stationary train-cum-hotel will adopt a permanent position on the Selati Bridge above the Sabie River. Cramped train carriages and crisp-filled drinks trolley this is not - 31 glass-walled rooms, local artwork and freestanding tubs overlooking the park characterise the interior while a swimming pool overhangs from the platform. Have a dip while watching crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and elephants visiting the watering hole below.

Opening early 2021

Everytime we try to recommend a not-too-far-for-New-Yorkers countryside escape, the Catskills continues to draw our attention with a new offering. Cementing the fact that it really is the new Hamptons is the latest hotel opening by reality real estate broker Steve Gold. Pivoting from selling plush pads to celebs, The Aurum is set out to become a wellness hub with nods to ancient Roman spa culture - expect huge stone hammans and lots of hot-spring-inspired soaking tubs. Three accommodation types will spread out across the 131-acre forest laying at the foot of the Mount Tremper mountains. Thirty-six rooms will live in the totally refurbished lodge first built in 1902, with a further 20 rooms with private gardens and, our personal favourite, 12 glass-fronted mountain bungalows with s'more-melting firepits, showers and hot tubs. We expect the people on Steve's celebrity Rolodex will be big fans.

Opening autumn 2021

We've become a little bit more familiar with this end of the Jubilee line since The Stratford Hotel (and it's Zen roof gardens) opened last year and we realised that there's more to this regenerated hub than Westfield. Launching in spring 2021, The Gantry will be part food hall, part hotel and part late-night event space. We can't decide what we're more excited about: another destination to eat through or the opening of the highest rooftop in east London.

Opening Spring 2021

The brains behind the beloved Aman group, Adrian Zecha, is breaking away to launch his first hotel on the Japanese island of Ikuchijima - often likened to Greece's Ionian - in collaboration with Japanese hospitality group Naru Developments. Set in a revamped, 140-year old Japanese compound, Azumi Setoda will put a modern spin on the traditional ryokan. As with all of Adrian's former Aman projects, we can expect this one to be the pinnacle of luxury.

Opening 1 March 2021

Transforming stationary trains into places to bed down is the unexpected hotel trend of 2021. Adding to the Chattanooga Choo Choo resurrection that's seen a distillery, boutique fitness studio and a smattering of got-to-pre-book restaurants open inside a historic terminal is Life House Chattanooga. Its collection of luxury Pullman train carriages have been restored, refurbished and turned into private suites - we're getting Queen's Gambit mixed with Miuccia Bianchi Prada vibes. Elsewhere, the historical terminal has ramped up its Beaux-Arts style and added a recording studio, cinema and lobby so grand we're likening it to Gatsby's palatial East Egg home.

Opening spring 2021

Pharrell Williams has been busy this year. Alongside his latest Adidas sneaker drop and launching his first skincare line - that we're unashamedly planning to stockpile - he's also adding "hotel curator" to his resume. Talking about his partnership with night-club mogul David Grutman, Williams (in a recent interview with Vogue) likened the seven-floor, 266-room waterfront hotel to "waking up in a Wes Anderson film". With a recording studio, third-floor deck and outdoor gym, the duo hope to add the Williamsburg effect to the otherwise overlooked Washington Avenue. One to watch.

Opening...in time for Art Basel's return

In summer 2021, Chateau Denmark is making good on its intent to shake up London's identikit hotel scene of velvet sofas and lobbies scented with artisan coffee. Instead, it'll mix grit, glam and a bit of faded rock 'n' roll. A who's who of Top of the Pops once pounded Denmark Street's pavement: The Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Ziggy Stardust. Chateau Denmark builds on the area's history of creative expression and counter-culture with 55 "sleep it off" rooms scattered across 16 characterful buildings in and around Denmark Street. Expect psychedelic interiors, Vivienne Westwood-inspired leathers and maxi-bars to ramp up the mischief.

Opening summer 2021

The average, one-bedroom house in the UK is 46sq m - a fact we're reminded of every time we sneak past our housemate's living-room-turned-bed-room on our way to the bathroom. The seriously sexy and sustainable Sussurro has six bunglaows that each span 92sq m. Let that sink in a moment. Better yet, it's powered by renewable energy, is plastic-free and on the shores of Mozambique's most beautiful beach. Add to that the fact that these lodgings are built using only locally sourced materials, showcase thoughtfully collected artisan pieces from Africa and have private waterfront verandas designed for practising morning yoga or meditation. The best bit? The sunken bathtubs overlooking the grounds.

Opening January 2021

Nestled in the west of the island, we're making tracks to this new Ibizian bolthole as soon as summer lands. Designed to offer guests an environment to relax and reenergize - seriously, OKU translates to inner space - mattresses seemingly paint your silhouette, morning yoga session encourage you to stretch out and the ocean views will have you shaking off your WFH fatigue in seconds. Pick between dreamy swim-up pool rooms, splash out on the penthouse or snag the four-bedroom villa for a multi-gen getaway.

Opening May 2021

By late-spring our favourite brand of urban hotels is set to open its doors in Rome. Honouring typical Hoxton-fied decor, the newbie is situated in the heart of the Parioli district, which makes for leafy parks and local run delis as neighbours. Rooms (192 to be precise) will fuse Italian design with a contemporary pizzazz - picture marble-clad walls, exposed beams and a smattering of brass detailing. If you're dreaming of catching some italian rays as much as we are, you'll be pretty glad to know some rooms come with a private outdoor terrace. Snag a cocktail and soak the day away, we won't judge.

Opening late-spring 2021

Set to fling open its doors for the first time this summer, Kisawa Sanctuary is a pioneering eco-resort that's fusing sustainability with high-tech design. You'll find 22 bungalows spread across some 300-hectares of palm-fringed coastal land, with each bolthole coming armed with its own private beach, open air-deck and infinity pool - seclusion is guaranteed. The world's first 3D-printed retreat, founder and philanthropist Nina Flhor is paving the way for more thoughtful design. The hotel has been constructed in harmony with the surrounding land, while over a 1000 local artisans have played a part in bringing the sanctuary alive. Spot their mastery in the African art, textiles and intricately woven thatched roofs.

Opening summer 2021