By Natasha Dragun, CNN
From Singapore to Norway, there are plenty of reasons to plan your next trip around a fabulous hotel opening its doors next year.
Part of the Times Square building in Saigon, Reverie Saigon has an Italian design, a helipad and a fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragons. (CNN)
Here are 11 of them.
The Reverie Saigon (Saigon, Vietnam)
Opening: January 2015
Part of the new Times Square building in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, this lavish lodging doesn’t cut corners.
The 286 rooms and suites have been fitted out by four of Italy’s finest interior designers and come with elaborate chandeliers, jeweled beds and velvet curtains.
Cantonese food is dished up by a Michelin-starred chef, there’s traditional Italian in a dining room named after Romeo and Juliet (R&J), a deli and one of the longest bar counters in HCMC (reportedly the length of a city block).
You can arrive in one of the property’s fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragons or, if you’re short for time, chopper in — the hotel has its own helipad.
The Reverie Saigon, 22 Nguyen Hue, Ben Nghe, Saigon, Vietnam; +84 8 3920 9520
Mama Shelter (Los Angeles)
Opening: February 2015
Philippe Starck may have been responsible for the design of existing properties in the Mama Shelter portfolio, but the French interiors celebrity passes the baton to Thierry Gaugain for the brand’s Los Angeles property.
Located in a 1923 building and one-time hotel in Hollywood (supposedly a favorite of Jimi Hendrix and Eva Gardner) the property’s 70 rooms will feature the same design flair of sister properties across France and Turkey.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to take the company’s word for it — no photos have yet been released of the secretive new property.
In addition to a ground-floor restaurant and bar, the hotel will offer dining and drinks on a rooftop patio.
From here you’ll enjoy unbroken vistas of the nightlife along Cahuenga Boulevard, the Hollywood ArcLight (one of the largest movie theaters in the city), Amoeba Music and, every Sunday, the Hollywood Farmers’ Market, which is a block away on Selma and Ivar.
Mama Shelter, 1557 Wilcox Ave., Los Angeles
Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)
Opening: March 1, 2015
Cyclone Ita devastated this petite Great Barrier Reef island when it hit in April 2014.
Almost 12 months down the track, and following a massive rebuild and remodeling effort, the isle and its resort have set a re-opening date.
From March, guests will have access to Lizard Island’s understated, barefoot luxury once more, with new resort additions including a standalone two-bedroom suite, The Villa, which comes with its own plunge pool, wraparound deck, and views of the Coral Sea.
The Pavilion now features a separate lounge offering ocean vistas, and the Sunset Point Villas now have more plunge pools.
Inside are design nods to the reef, with an earth-tones palette complemented by pops of coral, blue and gold.
A dedicated wine and cheese room has been added and the island’s spa has been relocated and expanded to include a dedicated manicure and pedicure room.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the spectacular diving and snorkeling, with some of the world’s most dazzling marine life steps from your room.
Lizard Island, Lizard Island National Park via Cairns, Australia; +61 3 9426 7550
Park Hyatt Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Opening: March 2015
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Stone Town, the historic heart of the East African island of Zanzibar, offers a dramatic backdrop for the soon-to-open Park Hyatt Zanzibar.
The rich culture and heritage of this Tanzanian island — an important trading hub for spices during the 19th century — is reflected in the hotel’s design, with its 67 rooms spread over two buildings.
One of them is the 17th-century Mambo Msiige, a beautiful Zanzibari mansion enveloping a peaceful courtyard and featuring intricate carvings.
Oceanfront rooms and suites offer shimmering views of Dhow Harbour and the Indian Ocean, a view also found from the beach-side infinity pool.
Other diversions range from an Anantara Spa to Zamani Residence, the hotel’s restaurant designed to pay homage to a traditional family residence by allowing guests to enjoy meals in different areas, including a library with a veranda, the living room and the main dining room, with a terrace and residential-style kitchen.
Park Hyatt Zanzibar, Shangani Street, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania; +255 24 223 1234
Anantara Tangalle Resort & Spa (Tangalle, Sri Lanka)
Opening: mid-2015
One of two Anantara hotels opening on Sri Lanka’s picturesque southern coast in 2015 (the other being the Anantara Kalutara Resort & Spa, welcoming guests from late 2015), Tangalle Resort & Spa sprawls over 18 hectares in Tangalle, a beach-side town around 80 kilometers east of the historic fortified city of Galle, and within easy reach of several national parks.
Design is inspired by traditional Sri Lankan architecture, with high-pitched thatched roofs, local artwork and artifacts, hand-carved furniture and plenty of breezy open spaces dotting groves of coconut palms.
The 152 guest rooms include 32 pool villas, which the hotel is billing as being the first of their kind in the country.
Facilities include a selection of restaurants and bars and an Anantara Spa.
Residences will be on offer for those who want to truly make the resort a home away from home.
Anantara Tangalle Resort & Spa, Tangalle Bay, Sri Lanka
Patina, Capitol Singapore
Opening: mid-2015
Patina Hotels & Resorts’ flagship hotel is spectacular.
The brainchild of Singapore’s Kwee family — who also own the city’s Capella, Conrad, Regent and Ritz-Carlton hotels — the Patina occupies two heritage-listed buildings: the Capitol Building and Stamford House.
Part of a bigger redevelopment project transforming the old Capitol Movie Theatre, the 157-room hotel has two huge names attached to it: Pritzker Prize-winner Richard Meier and notable interior design company Jaya International Design, which conceptualized the beautifully laid out accommodations, including Wellness Suites and Art Suites.
Other features range from a library-lounge and saltwater relaxation pool to a state of the art fitness center and signature restaurant and bar.
Patina staff double as concierges — a concept designed to tap into the creative skills of employees and have them provide personal experiences for guests.
Patina, Capitol Singapore, 15 Stamford Road, Singapore
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