Author name: Aleks Bond

Preferred Hotels & Resorts unveils eight new 2026 openings across its Legend and L.V.X. collections, including The Newman London, Romègas Hotel Valletta, The Cooper Charleston, Gran Hotel Claridge Granada, Palais Jamaï Fès, Serras Sevilla, Pendry Mexico City and The Stelle Park City. Each property strengthens the brand’s focus on culturally rooted, design-led luxury

Along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, AMAALA is redefining luxury yachting. With Triple Bay Marina accommodating superyachts, quiet uninhabited islands, year-round sailing, and eight thoughtfully placed resorts, it offers space, privacy, and understated elegance. Guests can explore vibrant coral reefs, enjoy sustainable hospitality, and experience a coastline where calm, warm waters and meticulous design combine to create a truly exceptional escape

Discover Iceland’s winter like never before, from steaming lagoons carved into lava fields to highland lodges perched among volcanic peaks. Blue Lagoon Iceland and Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base blend geothermal indulgence, Nordic design, and folklore-driven experiences. Guests can soak, explore, dine, and stargaze, immersing themselves in a landscape where dramatic natural beauty meets refined comfort and cultural authenticity

On Turkey’s Aegean coast, Lujo Hotel Bodrum introduces a private in-villa dining programme where haute cuisine meets nutritional science. Guests in the Sunset Presidential, Pina, and Citrus Villas enjoy bespoke menus crafted by private chefs, blending local seasonal produce with longevity-focused ingredients. With panoramic sea views, heated pools, and tailored wellness experiences, the resort redefines luxury for the health-conscious traveller

The Ruby Group, led by CEO Michael Struck, opens Ruby Giulia in Rome, transforming a former Ministry of the Interior building into a 164-room design-led hotel. With interiors inspired by 1970s cinema, a rooftop terrace, and seamless integration into Monti’s artisan streets, Ruby Giulia offers modern travellers a Lean Luxury experience. The brand’s partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts ensures global booking access and loyalty rewards

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style at Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel. Towering above the city, the five-star hotel offers sky-high cocktails in the 23rd-floor Observatory, refined four-course dining in the Seahorse, and panoramic views that make an unforgettable way to welcome 2026

Just three hours from London, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon offers a weekend of elemental luxury. From The Retreat’s lava-carved suites and Michelin-starred dining at Moss, to Silica’s intimate geothermal lagoon and Kerlingarfjöll Highland Base’s adventurous escapes, mineral-rich waters, dramatic landscapes, and design-led serenity shape every moment. A destination where wellness, indulgence, and the volcanic landscape converge

Step aboard hand-crafted phinisi yachts and explore Indonesia’s most remote corners with Silolona Sojourns’ new individual cabin bookings. Founded by Patti Seery, the company offers journeys from ancestral rituals in Sumba to whale shark encounters in Cenderawasih Bay, balancing cultural immersion, marine wonder, and unhurried days at sea. Discover volcanic landscapes, pristine reefs, and traditions preserved for generations, all with effortless luxury and expert guidance

Captain’s Choice revives Qantas’s iconic 1947 Sydney-to-London route with modern luxury, taking travellers through Singapore, Colombo, Cairo, and Rome aboard a privately chartered Airbus A330. Curated experiences include after-hours Vatican tours, private dinners by the Pyramids, and Singapore Airshow access. Small groups, tailored itineraries, and seamless service transform aviation history into an immersive journey of discovery, culture, and indulgence

AMAALA redefines coastal luxury on the Red Sea. With world-class yachts, private villas, and eight first-phase resorts, it offers uninterrupted sailing, bespoke wellness, and intimate encounters with marine life. Developed by Red Sea Global, every detail from serene spas to curated cultural experiences is designed for indulgence, privacy, and connection to the desert, the sea, and the natural rhythm of this extraordinary destination