Best of...

The Best New Hotels of 2018: Indagare Picks

When compiling your travel dream lists for this year, don’t miss these exciting hotels, slated to open throughout 2018. From luxe beachfront villas and rugged safari camps to a highly anticipated debut on Paris’ Left Bank, here are our picks for the hottest newcomers.  Our trip designers can help plan an exciting itinerary around any of the Best New Hotels 2018: Indagare Picks. Contact our team to get started. 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]Awasi lodge iguazu in Argentina The Awasi Iguazú in Argentina is a jungle retreat just minutes from the famous waterfalls.[/caption]

Iguazú Falls, Argentina: Awasi Iguazú

Set in a stunning location on the banks of the Iguazú river, the latest Awasi property sits in the heart of the rainforest, 20 minutes away from the famous waterfalls. The resort contains 14 eco-friendly private villas with plunge pools, and guests can enjoy socializing at the bar and restaurant in the main lodge. Each villa includes a private guide and four-wheeler, so visitors have the freedom to craft their own daily itineraries. Opening: Early 2018

Shanghai, China: Amanyangyun

Conceived to save a historic village in the Jiangxi province and its surrounding camphor forest from destruction by the Chinese government, Amanyangyun is the latest Aman to open in China. The property encompasses 50 centuries-old homes that were transported piece-by-piece over 400 miles. Hundreds of local craftspeople painstakingly restored the structures and created the magical resort over the course of a decade. Opening: Early 2018

Related: Q&A with Photographer Roger Fishman

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]Porch at The Rosewood Luang Prabang The Rosewood Luang Prabang offers exquisite views and easy access to the UNESCO World Heritage city.[/caption]

Luang Prabang, Laos: Rosewood Luang Prabang

Rosewood’s new luxury encampment in Laos combines the meditative peace of being in lush, virtually untouched forests, amidst winding rivers and waterfalls with prime access to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. Accommodations range from tented camps to private villas with pools. Guests can choose from a variety of experiences, like visiting an elephant sanctuary or the Sense spa, for meaningful immersion into an ancient landscape, without sacrificing modern indulgences. Opening: Early 2018

Related: Indagare Picks: Romantic Escapes

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]Pool and cabana at the Four Seasons in the Seychelles The Four Seasons is located on a private island in the Seychelles.[/caption]

The Seychelles: Four Seasons Private Island Desroches

The introduction of connecting flights through the UK and Paris this spring will make the remote island destination of the Seychelles much more accessible to travelers. The Four Seasons, which already has one property on Mahé, is opening a resort on Desroches Island, an exclusive tropical sanctuary with miles of white-sand beaches. This private island retreat is a 35-minute flight from the main island of Mahé, and it welcomes honeymooners and families alike with a wide range of secluded accommodations; there are 71 bungalows, villas and suites to choose from, and most are equipped with their own pools. Opening: Early 2018

Paris, France: The Lutetia

The Left Bank landmark of the Boucicaut family—creators of the first modern department store, Le Bon Marché—the Lutetia has a gilded history, including over a century of being a Parisian hotel mainstay. When it opened in 1910, the property turned heads with its fashionable Art Deco style and was frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Henri Matisse. This spring, the Lutetia will experience a grand reopening after a three-year renovation and restoration and will be a welcome addition to the city’s hotel scene. It is also expected to join the elite ranks of “palace” hotels, of which there are only 10 in Paris. The Lutetia will be the answer for Paris visitors who want to stay on the Left Bank, but in a five-star hotel with spacious rooms.

Savannah, Georgia: Perry Lane Hotel

Inspired by the classic Bull Street Mansions of Savannah, the Perry Lane Hotel will be an elegant and welcome addition to the city’s limited luxury hotel offerings. The rooftop pool and bar, with views of Forsyth Park, is sure to attract buzz, as is the boutique property’s restaurant and art collection. Its 168 rooms are decorated in an eclectic style that blends Southern colonial touches with dark wood, modern pops of color and fabrics like velvet.

Related: Just Back From...the Seychelles

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]The Blue Lagoon in Iceland The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland's most popular attractions.[/caption]

Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most iconic attractions, drawing travelers with its ethereal geothermal pools. This year, those looking for a crowds-free experience can find it at the Retreat at Blue Lagoon, a modern hotel with a 43,000-square-foot spa carved into the lagoon’s volcanic rock. It boasts a robust treatment menu, 62 sleek suites, gourmet dining experiences and private access to nearly 10,000 square feet of thermal waters.

Edinburgh, Scotland: Fingal Royal Yacht Britannia

Anglophiles and fans of The Crown are already excited about Scotland’s newest hotel. A 1964 lighthouse-steamer, the MV Fingal, will dock next to Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Yacht Brittania, which lives in Edinburgh. The ship has been retrofitted to become a hotel with 23 rooms and duplex apartments designed in an Art Deco-meets-maritime style. The floating property invites guests to escape into the glamorous past of sea travel. Opening: Spring 2018

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]Cabanas on the private beachfront of the Four Seasons Costa Palmas, Cabo. Cabanas on the private beachfront of the Four Seasons Costa Palmas, Cabo.[/caption]

Los Cabos, Mexico: Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Montage and Nobu

In 2018, the hotspot Los Cabos is getting an upgrade with four new stylish properties. Located on a private coastline, the Four Seasons Costa Palmas resort complex—which includes a marina, a village and beachfront residences—offers pristine views and fresh terrain in a destination that can sometimes feel crowded. Meanwhile, the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio, which is responsible for such resorts as Mandapa in Bali and Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, is adding a fourth property: the oceanfront Zadún, which emphasizes tranquility with private villas featuring plunge pools. Finally, Nobu’s first Mexican hotel is also slated to open on Cabo’s beachfront this year, and a new Montage resort will be unveiled at Santa Maria Bay with one of the area's only swimmable beaches. Opening: Four Seasons – 2018, Ritz-Carlton – early 2018, Nobu – 2018, Montage ­– May 2018 

Mana Pools, Zimbabwe: Great Plains Tented Camp

Zimbabwe offers some of the best views of Victoria Falls—as well as wild landscapes and Big Five safari routes that have been traversed by only the most intrepid travelers. Recently the country has received more attention with the resignation of President Robert Mugabe, and now is the time to explore while it still sees few crowds. The Great Plains Conservation Group, which also operates in Botswana and Kenya, has secured land for two new luxury tented camps in the Sapi concession on the eastern border of Mana Pools National Park. This area is home to the country’s largest populations of hippopotamuses and crocodiles, as well as other big game like lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, leopards and buffalos. One camp will be situated along the Zambezi River, while the other will be set inland—offering travelers who visit both a variety of amazing viewing opportunities. Opening: June 2018

Related: The Top Ten: Multigenerational Trips

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"]Three women on dock on lake at Blackberry Mountain Blackberry Mountain, courtesy Ford Yates.[/caption]

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong: Rosewood Hong Kong

This year, the Rosewood will open its first hotel in Hong Kong in a prime location on the Victoria Harbour waterfront on Queen’s Road Central. Occupying 43 floors of a multi-use tower, the luxury retreat will boast 413 rooms and 186 residences for longer stays that are designed in a sophisticated, modern style with mirror accents and pops of color. The property will also offer eight different dining options and a fitness center with a swimming pool, as well as a center for the Rosewood's innovative holistic wellness program. The tower is already considered to be one of the next iconic landmarks of the Hong Kong skyline. Opening: September 2018

Rio Palena, Chilean Patagonia: Eleven Experience Fishing Lodge

From the pioneering adventure travel company behind such top-notch properties as Deplar Farm and Scarp Ridge Lodge, the Eleven Experience Fishing Lodge in Chile will thrill fishing enthusiasts and adventure-lovers. Situated in a secluded valley along the Rio Palena, the lodge will offer premier access to excellent trout fishing. The lodge limits the number of guests to eight per week, which ensures that everyone gets personal attention from the expert guides. Opening: December 2018

Smoky Mountains, Tennessee: Blackberry Mountain

The highly anticipated bigger and wilder sequel to the Indagare-adored Blackberry Farm, Blackberry Mountain is set amongst 5,200 acres of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. The property will have 19 private stone cottages, traditional cabins or multi-bedroom homes and will feature a seemingly endless selection of outdoor adventure activities, spa treatments and farm-to-table dining experiences. Blackberry Mountain is a 90-minute drive from the Blackberry Farm sister propertyOpening: Early 2019

Related: Blackberry Farm

Our trip designers can help plan an exciting itinerary around any of the Best New Hotels 2018: Indagare Picks. Contact our team to get started. 

More Inspiration

Plan Your Trip With Us

We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities.

Get In Touch

Welcome back,
log in to Indagare

Not a member?

Forgot Password

Enter your email and we’ll send you a link to reset your password.

Type the first 3 letters to begin