OPENINGS

 

 

WAVE HOUSE EL ZONTE, EL SALVADOR

 

 

 

  

El Zonte, a coastal town in El Salvador, is home to a new Wave House, the first luxury condo hotel in the town. El Zonte is known as ‘Bitcoin Beach’ — not sure if that has anything to do with its black-sand beach — and is about an hour from San Salvador. 

 

The property has studios, two bedroom or three-bedroom suites, 19 residences in total.  The studio suites have views of the ocean, the two and three bedroom suites give you a choice of ocean or mountain views but all have balconies or terraces. The décor and design integrates local artists and materials and has an art gallery in the lobby. An outdoor infinity pool overlooks the Pacific with cocktails available. Cocktails make an infinity pool special, let’s be honest. Otherwise it’s just a pool where the water goes to the top. There’s a rooftop deck taking advantage of having an ocean to look at. There’s a wellness area for a Jacuzzi and cold plunge, brrrr, and a biomechanics gym! Whatever that is. 

 

If surfing is your thing, or you want to learn, well here you can!  

 

https://mywavehouse.com/

 

 

  

ST REGIS PALM BEACH, ARUBA

 

 

 

 

From black sand beaches in El Salvador, now  to white sand beaches in Aruba! Marriott has opened a St Regis in Palm Beach, that features their first ever St Regis casino — Las Vegas eat your heart out (as in, you’re not Aruba). 

 

The resort’s designers and architects took inspiration from the island’s Dutch Caribbean culture. There are 252 guestrooms, 52 of which are beautiful suites, and six wining/dining options: Akira Back is an oddly named rooftop restaurant with great food and views, Eskama offers a Caribbean experience — hard to miss there, and in fact a bit redundant, since they are literally in the Caribbean — and Nuba is a pool and beach side restaurant. You will find me there! I mean, if you’re looking. 

 

There are two pools with private cabanas, a fitness center and spa, a Children’s Club — presumably a place to park the kids, not a lending library of whippersnappers — and meeting and events space. Which, seriously, you don’t care about.

 

https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/auaxr-the-st-regis-aruba-resort/overview/

 

 

  

RECENTLY OPENED

 

 

DELAMAR MYSTIC CONNECTICUT

 

 

 

 

Located on the shores of the Mystic River in the quaint New England seaside town of Mystic, the Delamar Mystic is a boutique, waterfront luxury hotel. The interior design is inspired by New England’s nautical heritage, with artisanal furnishings, ships’ deck prisms and vintage maps. 

 

The hotel has 31 guestrooms and suites. They offer complimentary breakfast, valet and a restaurant and oyster bar. The valet is just a loaner. And there’s the Corinthian Cottage, a private two storey house, with a kitchenette, living room with a fireplace and powder room on  the first floor, and upstairs are 2 king bedrooms — one with a fireplace and a master bedroom with a lovely big bathtub. Remember bathtubs? That’s luxury right there.

 

https://www.delamar.com/hotels/delamar-mystic/luxury-hotel-mystic

  

 

 

REOPENINGS

 

 

W MALDIVES FESDU ISLAND, MALDIVES

 

 

 

 

It’s back! Yippee you say, but what is? The W Maldives on Fesdu Island is what, reopened March 1st with a new design and, they hope, an even better guest experience (although you did kind of have us at “The Maldives” to be honest). At the center of this transformation is an above and below the water design philosophy, mixing the surrounding ocean and the beautiful natural landscape with modern architecture and interiors. Each villa, of which there 77, whether suspended above the lagoon or on the beach, is designed to create a feeling of escape, but with all the modern necessities. Wining and dining is covered with FISH, SIP, FIRE and WET Deck. Yes, those are the names. 

 

FISH serves fish line caught by local fishermen. SIP takes inspiration from Latin America, where each dish is paired with signature cocktails, all as you watch the sunset — sounds interesting. Mind you, cocktails at a bus stop sounds interesting to us. We like a drink here at WONDERLUST. FIRE is beachfront BBQ. WET Deck is poolside and serves snacks and cocktails all day and night! 

 

There is a full calendar of programs and events. If sea water is your thing – and, seriously, let’s hope it is, because you are very comprehensively in the middle of the Indian Ocean — then the DOWN UNDER Dive Centre and WAVE Water Sports Centre have you covered. And, yes do not fret — we can always sense when you start to fret — there’s the AWAY Spa, and the FIT Fitness Centre. 

 

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mlewh-w-maldives/overview/

 

 

 

COMING SOON

 

 

UNDER CANVAS COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE OREGON, USA

 

 

 

 

In Washington’s White Salmon River Valley, on 120 acres along the Columbia River Gorge, Under Canvas is opening its first Pacific Northwest location in May. The area is renowned for its beauty, if you like views of snow-capped mountains, famous waterfalls and just a few wineries. Who doesn’t? It is just a one-hour drive from Portland along the Columbia River, and the drive itself will be one to remember. 

 

The property is 45 minutes from Mount Hood and within 10 miles of 10 vineyards. The tents are safari style canvas tents, on private decks with king-size beds, bathroom with a flushing toilet — we’re talking camps here, so that’s worth mentioning — and a gas fireplace. This is Glamping not Camping. The Adventure Concierge is at hand to help you discover what the area has to offer, including rafting, fishing, hiking, and skiing. Wining and dining is West Coast influenced and you are in the land of wine and craft breweries. Open seasonally only, May 29 to October 27

https://www.undercanvas.com/camps/columbia-river-gorge/