OPENINGS
Good news dept: More spectacular properties are opening or reopening across the world
OCEANA SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA
Oceana Beach Club Hotel has opened now as just Oceana, the newest offering from LXR Hotels and Resorts, after a total renovation under the watchful eye of renowned interior designer Anna Busta. Tucked away in the exclusive residential area of Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue, it resembles a private beach home but is close to everything this vibrant area offers. All services are exclusively for guests of the hotel.
MELIÁ KOH SAMUI SURANTTHANI, THAILAND
If Thailand has been on your list for a family holiday, this new luxury beachfront resort Meliá Koh Samui, located on Choeng Mon Beach on the Gulf of Thailand might be of interest. Just opened and they are offering family packages, to ensure a family holiday can be had by all. With kid’s workshops, Kid’s Club “Kidsdom” and outdoor playground and mini waterpark to entertain the youngsters while the adults can go to the spa, sunbathe on the beach or by the pool, and maybe have a cocktail.
RECENTLY OPENED
TOKYO EDITION TORANOMON TOKYO, JAPAN
The Tokyo Edition Toranomon opened in October. Housed within Tokyo World Gate, the new 591-foot high, mixed-use skyscraper in the center of Tokyo. The design of the lobby and public spaces is inspired by Buddhist temples. The entertainment areas, 206 rooms, bars and restaurants are sumptuously decorated in black, blue, gold and jade colours, inspired, they say, by precious stones and rare elements, and are woven in with natural materials including oak, walnut, bronze, glass and silk, all creating a unique design in keeping with Japanese culture.
IBIS STYLE NAGOYA NAGOYA, JAPAN
Staying in Japan, in November the Accor group opened the super stylish and elegant Ibis Style Nagoya, the capital city of the Aichi Prefecture. The hotel is close to the Yanagibashi Central Market, the renowned food market buzzing with food stalls and restaurants. GM Takenisa Gunji says the hotel “captures the local spirit of our neighbourhood with a stylish and creative personality. Near the train station and local market, we believe this new hotel will become a favourite base among local and international guests to explore the city.”
DOCKSIDE INN AND SUITES ORLANDO, FLORIDA
In December Orlando Florida got a new Universal resort – Universal Endless Summer Resorts opened Dockside Inn and Suites joining its’ sister hotel Surfside Inn and Suites. With 2050 guest rooms and two-bedroom suites (more suites than rooms so perfect for a family), restaurants and bars, beach with the sunset and benefits to their three theme parks, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal’s Volcano Bay. At the end of the day if the kids aren’t exhausted go to the pool and they can splash around while you have an evening aperitif. Escape to the beach and keep the kids happy all day long.
REOPENINGS
VILLAS AT ROSEWOOD DIX BAY BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
In December 2020, in the British Virgin Islands, Exclusive Resorts reopened their resort tucked away on 500 acres of tropical paradise. Family-friendly eight person villas, and there only six, with everything you want, need and probably desire, offering privacy and glorious views of the Caribbean. All available with contactless service from the mobile app, and complimentary golf carts to go exploring — or just create havoc — plus tennis, or a sunset cocktail cruise, should you be feeling social.
LITTLE KULALA NAMIBIA
Wilderness Safaris desert retreat Little Kulala reopened in December after a total refurbishment. Located in the Kulala Wilderness Reserve, with direct access to Sossusviei’s red dunes in the Namib Desert. it looks and feels the same as it did, only refreshed and now the 11 suites and whole resort is 100 percent powered by a state-of-the-art solar energy system, leaving the lightest footprint in this private wilderness reserve.
SANCTUARY KUSINI TANZANIA
Sanctuary Kusini reopens, the only permanent camp in the very remote south of the Serengeti in Tanzania. The camp is the perfect venue to watch the Great Migration in May and June, of East Africa’s massive herds of zebra and wildebeest as they pass through, but it’s also a special place just to watch wildlife on the grassy plains all year round. The 12 beautiful tents all have wooden floors. The Sanctuary is a support of the Serengeti Cheetah Project and encourages guests to join in finding and identifying cheetahs.
COMING SOON
MANGO HOUSE SEYCHELLES
Due to open April 2021 Mango House located in the south of Mahé, overlooking the Anse La Mouche bay. For that dream family holiday there is a cluster of up to 13 rooms with an elevated terrace pool. Beachfront villas and rooms, three pools, canoeing or kayaking if you want to play on the water, or snorkeling to view the extraordinary underwater life of the Indian Ocean. And yes, a fitness center and spa, before you hyperventilate, although, you know, maybe just take a walk or run barefoot on the beach.
