Must-visit new hotels to book in 2018

Just when you thought luxury travel couldn't get any more extravagant, the latest wave of hotels and resorts has truly taken opulence to a whole new level.

From lavish mountain retreats in Bhutan to secluded island getaways in the Seychelles, there’s a destination to suit every type of discerning traveler.

Here’s our curated list of stunning new hotels to consider for your 2018 travels:

InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown

This fresh addition to Los Angeles’ luxury scene makes an impression with its 70th-floor sky lobby, offering unparalleled panoramic views of the city as soon as you arrive.

Every one of its 889 upscale rooms features Instagram-worthy sights of Los Angeles, from the iconic Hollywood sign to the endless Pacific Ocean horizon.

With stylish, LA-inspired design and a variety of dining and drink options—including Spire 73, the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere—you’re in for a stay at the trendiest hotel in downtown LA.

InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, 900 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017; +1 213 688 7777

Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island

Desroches Island offers a truly untouched, serene retreat, making it the perfect choice for the Four Seasons’ latest luxury hideaway.

Opening in early 2018, this new resort will offer 71 exquisite accommodations, including bungalows, villas, suites, and expansive multi-bedroom residences.

The atmosphere will be effortlessly chic with a castaway-inspired design, featuring open-plan spaces and private plunge pools just steps away from the Indian Ocean.

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, Desroches Island, Seychelles; +416 445-5050

Six Senses Bhutan

Set to open in August 2018, the eagerly awaited Six Senses Bhutan offers a truly unique take on luxury resorts.

Unlike most luxury resorts, Six Senses Bhutan is spread across five separate lodges in different locations, each contributing to the overall experience.

Each lodge will feature its own distinctive theme: for example, the Punakha lodge will be housed in a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse, while the one in Bumthang will immerse guests in a “forest within a forest” atmosphere.

Beyond its breathtaking settings and innovative design, guests will enjoy signature Six Senses luxury, including opulent rooms, gourmet dining, a world-class spa, and infinity pools with stunning views.

Six Senses Bhutan; +66 2631 9777

The Shore Club, Turks & Caicos

With six luxurious villas and 106 sun-soaked suites, each featuring spacious terraces with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Property features include four swimming pools, a natural wellness spa, and a kids' club with its own treehouse. Who says a remote island escape can't be family-friendly?

The Shore Club, Long Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos; +1 649 3398000

W Las Vegas

W Hotels’ highly anticipated entrance into the dazzling world of Vegas lives up to the hype.

Opened in March 2017, this stylish property dazzles with 289 art-filled rooms and the chic Living Room bar, serving some of the finest craft cocktails on the Strip.

A highlight: The hotel's signature Extreme WOW Suite, designed by rock legend Lenny Kravitz, features red velvet and marble décor, along with panoramic views of downtown.

W Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV, 89109; +1 702 761 8700

Baglioni Resort Maldives

The Italian luxury hotel group’s debut tropical island property is one to keep an eye on.

Set on the secluded Maagau Island in the Dhaalu Atoll, this eco-conscious resort will feature 96 stylish whitewashed villas that combine timeless Italian sophistication with a relaxed island atmosphere.

Other standout features include a pool, three restaurants—focused on Italian flavors, of course—and a beachside bar, perfect for enjoying a sunset aperitif.

Baglioni Resort Maldives; +39 02 36661966

The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan, China

Nestled in the lively Jingan District, just steps from the Natural History Museum, St. Regis' newest property offers the perfect base for exploring Shanghai—though you may never want to leave.

The hotel features six exceptional restaurants, an organic spa with a heated indoor pool, and 436 opulent rooms, each adorned with decor inspired by the grandeur of Chinese palaces.

The hotel’s crowning jewel? The Presidential Suite – a sprawling 7,000-square-foot, three-story penthouse with a glass ceiling and unparalleled views of the skyline.

The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan, 1008 Beijing West Road, Shanghai 200041, China; +86 21 6257 9999

Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, London

Following successful launches in Asia and the United States, Nobu Matsuhisa’s fifth hotel – and his first in Europe – may just be his most stylish yet.

Opened in July 2017, the 150-room London hotel is sleek and modern, with feng shui-inspired design, minimalist furniture, black marble, and sultry mood lighting – and that’s just the lobby.

Beyond its design, the food is exceptional: at the onsite Nobu restaurant, guests can enjoy Matsuhisa’s famous dishes like black cod miso and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño.

Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, 10-50 Willow Street, London EC2A 4BH, UK; +44 207 683 1200

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Australia

With a rooftop club lounge, three bars, and an outdoor infinity pool with stunning views of Darling Harbour, the Sofitel is a much-needed gem in Sydney’s hotel scene.

Each room boasts sleek, contemporary design, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of Sydney’s skyline.

Nestled in the lively Darling Harbor, the hotel places you at the heart of the action, while keeping you away from the crowded Opera House and Harbor Bridge areas.

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, 12 Darling Drive, 2000 Sydney, Australia; +61 2 8388 8888

Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Maui

Located on 16 acres of peaceful property at the serene northern end of Ka’anapali Beach, Maui's newest resort offers travelers a tranquil escape in one of the island’s most vibrant areas.

The oceanfront villas, available in up to three-bedroom configurations, come with fully equipped chef's kitchens, making them ideal for families and large groups.

With three pools, a variety of top-notch dining options, and a market where guests can buy fresh meat and produce to grill by the pool, you may never want to leave.

Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, 45 Kai Malina Parkway, Lahaina, Maui, HI, 96761; +1 808 662 6300

Sable Alley, Botswana

A part of the Natural Selection safari camps in Botswana and Namibia, Sable Alley – which opened in 2017 – is known for its sleek, eco-friendly design and panoramic views of a lagoon frequented by hippos and elephants.

The 12 stylish tents, elevated on wooden platforms, feature spacious verandas facing the game-rich landscape, indoor-outdoor showers, and all the (solar-powered) comforts of a luxury stay.

You won't be spending much time indoors. Set in the heart of the vast, 500,000-acre Khwai Private Reserve, the camp offers unmatched game-viewing across diverse landscapes, all in peaceful, tourist-free seclusion.

Sable Alley, Botswana; +27 11 807 1800

Timbers Kauai, Hawaii

With a two-level infinity pool, beach club, multiple dining options, and a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, Timbers Kauai – opening on June 1, 2018 – is set to be the most sought-after luxury vacation spot on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

The 47 luxurious residences, ranging from 1,600 to 4,900 square feet, will feature earthy, Hawaiian-inspired design, spacious lanais (balconies), and floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

Nestled within the 450-acre Hokuala oceanfront resort community, the resort is just steps from Kalapaki Beach, offering the perfect base to explore the untouched beaches and waterfalls of southern Kauai.

Bonus: You can actually stay here if you wish.

Timbers Kauai, 3351 Hoolaulea Way, Kauai, Hawaii 96766; +1 808 720 6817

Hyatt Centric La Rosière, located in the French Alps, marks the first Hyatt Centric property in France.

Opening a ski resort in the French Alps is an intriguing move for Hyatt Centric, a brand more known for its trendy, millennial-driven city hotels.

However, with its wide array of activities—like being the only resort in the area to offer heli-skiing—and its prime location just steps from the ski lifts, restaurants, bars, and shops of La Rosière, this resort, which opened in December 2017, is definitely worth exploring.

Also on the must-see list (before the crowds catch on): three hot tubs, a 2,500-square-foot spa, and a cozy bar with a fireplace offering mountain wines.

Hyatt Centric La Rosière, Les Eucherts, La Rosière, Montvalezan - Savoie, France, 73700; +33 479 04 1234

Pod Times Square, New York City

After three hugely successful Pod Hotels across New York City, this trendy chain is set to debut its newest—and arguably best—hotel in Times Square in January 2018.

What truly sets this hotel apart are the Pod Pads: 45 spacious extended-stay suites with kitchens, available at monthly rates that are comparable to a standard Manhattan one-bedroom apartment (with none of the hassle of a long-term lease).

Additional perks include a lively tiki bar, an Italian-American eatery, and a guest lounge offering sweeping views of the city’s west side and the Hudson River.

Pod Times Square, 400 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036; +1 844 763 7666

AYANA Komodo Resort, Flores

Nestled on the lush island of Flores, just an hour’s flight from Bali, the AYANA Komodo Resort offers the ultimate tropical retreat.

Each of the 201 rooms at the resort will offer breathtaking views of Waecicu Beach and a private pier, complete with a scenic bar and a floating deck.

The resort's impressive amenities include three stunning swimming pools, a chic rooftop bar, four gourmet restaurants, and, perhaps most spectacularly, its own private cruise ship to explore the island in complete luxury.

AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach, Flores; +62 361 702 222

Montage Los Cabos, Mexico

While Los Cabos is already home to many luxury resorts, the Montage – opening in spring 2018 – is a highly anticipated addition to the area’s breathtaking coastline.

Nestled on the tranquil waters of Santa Maria Bay, this resort offers one of the few swimmable beaches in Cabo, thanks to its protected location (many nearby beaches are too hazardous for swimming due to strong currents).

What sets this resort apart is its sleek, minimalist design, a rare style in Cabo. By incorporating native desert materials and seamless indoor-outdoor spaces, the Montage exudes understated luxury that highlights its stunning natural surroundings.

Montage Los Cabos, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico; +52 866 551 8244