In the heart of Milan, right inside Palazzo Venezia, a popular square known for its rich history and iconic design, Grand Meliá’s latest five-star hotel overlooks 360-degree city views. Within walking distance of Castello Sforzesco, Brera, and Via Montenapoleone, Palazzo Cordusio Gran Meliá is surrounded by luxury boutiques and gourmet experiences within Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.

Stepping into this palace, you’re greeted to a classical allure with a 19th-century stone designed by the famous architect Luca Beltrami. Onsite, you’ll find four different gastronomic destinations to explore throughout your luxurious stay. Surrounded by a lush interior garden, Giardino Cordusio sets the perfect scene for an Italian aperitivo accented by huge chandeliers. Its signature cocktail, Negroni Alfresco, is a must-try here. Prominently onsite is also SACHI, the Japanese experience on the terrace overlooking Duomo Square and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, led by chef Moon Kyung Soo. Here you’ll find local and seasonal produce within its artistic Japanese dishes. Isola stands as the hotel’s flagship eatery on the rooftop, offering some of the best homemade pasta in the heart of Milan by combining the rich culinary traditions of Sicily, Sardinia, and Capri. The view is almost as good as the food here.

The grand hotel offers 84 luxury rooms and suites all exuding palace-styled grand windows and warm natural lighting, some equipped with private balconies fit for a traveling king or queen.

WHY NOW: Having opened in December 2023, be one of the first guests to step into Grand Meliá’s first luxury accommodations in Milan.

One&Only One Za’abeel, a magnificent vertical masterpiece recently opened in Dubai, UAE, is the hottest spot to add to your must-visit travel list.

Launching with a spectacular weekend extravaganza in February that included a glittering guestlist of international superstars, One&Only One Za’abeel has established itself as the talk of the town — and the world.

Not only is it a luxurious, world-class resort, but it’s also home to an architectural marvel – a suspended culinary destination known as The Link.

The Link is Dubai’s ultimate day-to-night foodie destination, home to globally renowned chefs with multiple culinary concepts, including Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, sophisticated French dining, vibrant Levantine and Arabic menus, inventive nightlife, and more.

On the rooftop of The Link, you will find the most breathtaking feature at the One&Only One Za’abeel: Tapasake, the UAE’s longest infinity pool.

Floating above the impressive Dubai cityscape, you can soak up the sun, dine on delicious Nikkei cuisine, and enjoy cocktails from the glamorous swim-up bar in the sky. True paradise.

Why Now: One&Only One Za’abeel is one of the newest luxury destinations in the world.

On the serene Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is the newest property of the Minor Hotels.

In this idyllic destination, the resort feels intimate, with a collection of only 176 beach-front villas and overwater villas. There are daily DJ sets, moonlit dance parties on the beach, and otherworldly excursions around the aquamarine Indian Ocean. Borrow a snorkel set, jump into the sea from your overwater villa, and peruse the house reef where you may swim with black tip sharks, hawksbill sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, parrot fish, and more. Enjoy a glass of bubbly with your toes in the sand at the Veuve Clicquot beach. Unwind at the AvaniSpa with a vinotherapy treatment of hot wax from a red wine candle to soothe your muscles after traveling quite far to reach this slice of paradise. If you’re feeling sporty, there’s an on-site gym, tennis and badminton courts, complimentary yoga classes, and sound bowl healing. At Smuggler’s Shack, which has the largest collection of rum in The Maldives, get my favorite drink, the Shark Tooth with cherry, lime, lemon, and white rum.

Why Now: Opened in May 2023, the Island of Fares is the place to stay in the Maldives to unwind in a modern, fun-centric atmosphere that attracts a young crowd of international travelers. Throughout 2024 there will be coveted events including an upcoming music festival in the summer and an adults-only month in September.

Tucked along the bustling streets of Singapore’s cityscape is an urban oasis that feels worlds away. The Singapore EDITION brings opulence to new heights. Enter the grandeur of a sleek marble lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows crowned by a gold dome ceiling. A few steps further, you’ll find a lush indoor garden adorned with hundreds of live plants.

As a wellness haven, the hotel offers plenty of spaces to find your zen. Perched between two buildings, the rooftop pool offers sweeping skyline views and a unique feature: a glass-bottom view revealing the garden courtyard below. The Spa beckons with relaxing treatments, thermal pools, and saunas. Even the guest rooms are designed with pampering in mind, featuring both a luxurious bathtub and separate rainfall shower, and custom Le Labo toiletries.

Indulge your senses at FYSH, the acclaimed on-site restaurant with a sustainable and seafood-focused menu. Then, descend into Punch Room, the cobalt-blue speakeasy nestled on the hotel’s lower floor.

Why Now: This is the first EDITION property in Southeast Asia since opening its doors in November 2023. With its lavish relaxation spaces and quietly central location, it’s the perfect stay to find a slice of serenity in a metropolitan city.

The concept of “third places,” those social spaces outside work and home, is becoming increasingly crucial for young people seeking connection. Remote work and nomadic lifestyles are on the rise, and traditional country clubs are being replaced by members-only social clubs that cater to this new generation.

Gravity Haus is a prime example, offering a “Soho House for adventure travelers.” This rapidly growing hotel and social club chain caters specifically to skiers and outdoor enthusiasts. Places like Vail, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Jackson Hole, Tahoe, Aspen, Moab, and Winter Park all provide lodging, restaurants, gear rentals, co-working spaces, and exclusive member events. While anyone can book a room, members enjoy discounts and priority access to amenities. Sustainability, wellness, adventure, and style are core values for Gravity Haus, and they are evident throughout all their locations.

Why Now: Young adventurers crave connection and social clubs provide that missing piece. Gravity Haus capitalizes on this by offering locations in highly sought-after destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. Their memberships offer a perfect blend of perks, style, and a focus on sustainability – all essential for today’s conscious traveler. With Jackson Hole’s location having just opened in November 2023, be one of the first connected adventurers.

Finding a quiet reprieve from the bustle of Tokyo may seem like a difficult feat — that is, until now. Launched in September 2023, TRUNK (HOTEL) Yoyogi Park represents the city’s newest boutique hotel opening, offering a serene slice of heaven from the chaos of Japan’s capital city. Tucked away in the city’s Tomigaya neighborhood, the 25-room property offers direct access to the urban greenscape of Yoyogi Park, as well as breathtaking views from Tokyo’s only heated outdoor rooftop pool, which is located next to a serious top-floor cocktail and oyster bar to boot.

In addition to direct park, pool, and rooftop access, what sets TRUNK (HOTEL) Yoyogi Park apart is its impeccably curated décor, as well as its commitment to sustainability and support of local businesses. Each room is outfitted with custom furniture and neutral color schemes, with interior and exterior design spearheaded by Tokyo-based Keiji Ashizawa Design. In-room amenities are made from local/organic ingredients and companies, including tumblers made from recycled tile scraps and black rubber TRUNK-branded flip-flops, the latter of which guests are encouraged to take home. At TRUNK Yoyogi Park, the vibe is elevated relaxation with, in the words of the property, an emphasis on “urban recharge.” The cherry on top? The perfectly crafted pizza at the hotel’s on-site, dog-friendly trattoria.

Why Now: Book your stay at TRUNK this spring to be one of the first to experience the hotel in its inaugural year, and what better time than peak cherry blossom season? Plus, enjoying an outdoor heated rooftop pool is a lot more pleasant when the weather’s warm.

Billed as Micronesia’s first floating resort, the luxurious Four Seasons Explorer launched its first sail in November 2023. Floating through Palau’s crystalline waters, the 11-room ship offers enriching excursions for divers, snorkelers, and explorers alike. In addition to diving, guests can participate in watersports, bird-watching, and shore excursions to view ancient cave paintings or multiple WWII sites.

For divers, this is a luxury yacht dream with all the amenities at a bucket-list destination known as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world. The Explorer has a built-in five-star PADI Dive Centre with custom-designed dive boats, tenders, wetsuits, and all the high-end equipment and gear. Away from crowds, divers can discover 500 coral species (four times that of the Caribbean), 1,400 fish species, and a thriving shark population at the world’s first shark sanctuary.

Travelers can embark daily for their preferred trip duration. Onboard, find everything you need with large communal spaces: a spa, lounge, bar, sundeck, and indoor/outdoor dining areas. The all-inclusive meals are a highlight, with set menus featuring Asian-inspired dishes and local specialties like sweet and tender clam. The 11 sunny and spacious rooms are a private oasis with laundry service, fresh fruit, strong Wi-Fi, and thrice daily cleaning. The best part might be the on-board videographer who shoots all your activities, including stunning underwater dive footage so you’ll have plenty of content for the gram.

Why Now: The opening of this floating resort cements Palau’s status as a newly-emerging travel destination. The Four Seasons Explorer is the first global upscale brand to open in Palau, and the upcoming Four Seasons Palauan resort will open in 2026.

Abercrombie & Kent’s new mobile, tented camp offers awe-filled Kenyan excursions, including an early-morning, bird’s-eye hot air balloon safari over the sleepy Kenya savannah, sundowner cocktails with giraffes overhead, and a private 4×4 game drive tracking a fresh lion kill of an African buffalo.

The 12 cabanas are set up right in the middle of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve — one of Africa’s richest wildlife regions named for the local residing tribe. You’ll want for nothing as your camp includes Wi-Fi, butler and laundry service, in-room showers, and flush toilet bathrooms. Even though the experience is more hotel than glamping, the camp is set up exclusively for each trip and leaves no trace after it finishes and packs up. Last July, it launched as an exclusive-use camp for private groups and opened in 2024 to mixed group trips.

Why Now: The spotlight is on Kenya and Masai Mara this year with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of The Lion King‘s release of the spin-off film Mufasa: The Lion King. A&K’s founder, Geoffrey Kent, led the safari that inspired the original Lion King, so there’s no better tour to explore iconic film locations like the Masai Mara and Pride Rock.

Just over an hour outside San Francisco and minutes from Point Reyes National Seashore lies the recently renovated and reopened Lodge at Marconi. Nestled within the 62-acre Marconi State Historic Park and overlooking Tomales Bay in Marshall, immersing yourself in nature is easy here, with hiking trails straight out the door. Inside you’ll find a tranquil atmosphere with rooms boasting tall ceilings, earthy tones, and a touch of retro charm – all mercifully free from TVs, promoting true relaxation.

But the Lodge at Marconi offers more than just stunning scenery – its history is as captivating as its surroundings. Built in 1913 by Guglielmo Marconi, the “inventor of the radio,” the Lodge has seen fascinating transformations, first as staff housing for The Marshall Receiving Station – before the military briefly took over the property – then the rehab-turned-cult Synanon took over residency until 1984, when the state of California took ownership. Today, the Oliver Hospitality Group has meticulously restored the property with a multi-million dollar, 17-month long renovation, blending its rich past with sleek 70s-inspired design and modern comforts throughout 45 new guestrooms and suites.

Why Now: The location is unlike anything else in this area — directly in the middle of the serene and otherworldly 62-acre Marconi State Historic Park and just minutes from some of the most stunning landscapes in the United States. With hiking trails straight from your doorstep, this property is truly unique and the definition of a respite.