The dog and cat ambassadors at luxury hotels and resorts make a career of being cute Gillian Rhys Kléopatre the Burmese cat at Brenners Park hotel, part of the Oetker Collection, in Baden-Baden, Germany. Animal ambassadors are boosting the brands of luxury hotels and resorts around the world.
Haru was one of the Hyatt Regency Hakone hotel s most loved members of staff. The black Labrador was the first resident dog at any Hyatt property, and greeted guests in the lobby of the Japanese hotel. He wore a staff name badge pinned to a scarf in the hotel s colours - and has proven irreplaceable.
We all have a lot of living to do next year. Places to go, pools to swim in, room service on which to dispose income. One of the few great experiences of 2020 for me was a stay at the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular in the old town of Palma, Mallorca, during that weird, late summer period when going on holiday was a roll of the dice, with arbitrary changes brought in at the stroke of midnight to make life immensely inconvenient, and flights violently expensive.
My stay was glorious â everything was perfect, from the high ornate ceilings to the best croquetas on Earth, served next to the rooftop pool overlooking the basilica. Iâd been looking forward to visiting its sibling property in Santanyi, Can Ferrereta, but opening plans were put on ice around the same time we all put our masks on, in spring. I still stayed in Santanyi on that trip, but in an Airbnb. My favourite beach in the Balearics, Cala Llombards, was close by; a quiet cove with water as clear as Vichy Catalan, and
10 New Luxury Hotels Opening in 2021
Photo: Shutterstock.com.
After travel was largely put on hold this year, many are expected to take those once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list trips in 2021. Here’s 10 luxury hotels to keep on your radar.
Aman New York, New York
The luxury brand known for its wellness offerings will head to New York City in the spring. The hotel will have of 83 guestrooms and suites, which start at 750 square feet and each have a functioning fireplace. The nearly 25,000-square-foot Aman Spa has rooms dedicated to consultation, examination and therapy, while the Wellness Center will have seven spa treatment suites and two Banya and Hammam Spa Houses. Each Spa House has its own private outdoor relaxation terrace with hot and cold plunge pools. Guests will also have access to Aman’s signature fine-dining Japanese restaurant, a wine cellar available for private wine tastings and events, and a jazz club.
Itâs fair to say that a blast of winter sun has never been more appealing. Thankfully, destinations such as the Caribbean, the Maldives and Dubai have emerged as beacons of holiday hope in recent months. Not only do trips to these places mean no quarantine on return to the UK, but many simply require the now routine evidence of a recent negative PCR test to visit.Â
For many reasons, fly-and-flop holidays and resort hotels are well-suited to these times. Holidaymakers may feel more comfortable limiting their movement and staying in self-contained villas often found in the likes of the Maldives. In addition, as some places such as Mauritius and Barbados require guests to stay put at their hotel for various lengths of time, choosing a large resort with all-inclusive options makes sense. On a basic level, after this exhausting year, lying on a beach and sipping cocktails is an enticing proposition.Â