Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024

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The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow, Derbyshire

The sixth Duke of Devonshire won this country inn at cards in 1830, said Claire Wrathall in the FT. A 20-minute walk from Chatsworth House in the Peak District, it has just been revamped with the keen involvement of William and Laura Burlington, the heirs to the dukedom. The designer Nicola Harding has brought a lively new look to the rooms (jaunty striped fabrics, antique furniture, chunky modern lamps). The two restaurants offer "highly accomplished" cooking using local ingredients. And there's lots of lovely art on the walls, much of it modern or contemporary – the Burlingtons are also "avid" collectors of ceramics.

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Doubles from £200 b&b; cavendishhotelbaslow.co.uk.

Carlton Cannes, France

The Carlton in Cannes "has always been at the centre of film industry razzmatazz", and a recent revamp has only enhanced its "glamour", said Lanie Goodman in Condé Nast Traveller. In the "show-stopping" lobby, original ceiling frescoes have been revealed, and the brass lift buttons are gleaming again. Cinephiles will love the "white-on-white" decor in room 623, where Hitchcock filmed the seduction scene with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief. But the hotel has much to offer besides its "storied past" – including an excellent beach club, Cannes' largest infinity pool, a "hi-tech" fitness centre and two excellent restaurants. Doubles from about €330; carltoncannes.com.

Son Bunyola, Mallorca

It's been a year since Richard Branson reopened this 16th-century finca in Mallorca's wild Tramuntana Mountains as a 27-room hotel, and it has proved a great success, said Rick Jordan in Condé Nast Traveller. Its setting is spectacular – with "teetering" sea views – and the interiors have been beautifully restored, with "Riviera stripes" and "lobster pinks" in public areas and more restful tones in the rooms. There are also three villas with private pools. The main restaurant serves excellent "vegetable-forward", farm-to-table food; there is also a large pool, a tennis court, and a pebble beach that's usually pretty deserted. Doubles from €600; virginlimitededition.com.

Highland Base, Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland

This new "off-grid retreat" lies in the heart of Iceland, in a silent landscape of "snowdrift-blanketed peaks", glaciers and lava fields, said Stephanie Rafanelli in Condé Nast Traveller. Getting to it is "a mission", especially in winter, but for "adventure extremists" it's worth it for the activities on offer, which include cross-country skiing and hiking. The hotel, which looks like "a Nordic minimalist space station", has 28 rooms, six pod-like lodges, and some A-frame huts. There are geothermal baths, too – great for admiring the Northern Lights "after dinners of Arctic char and warming shots of Brennivin schnapps". Doubles from £285; highlandbase.is.

Jannah Lamu, Lamu, Kenya

The Kenyan island of Lamu is a "bohemian hot spot", known for its beautiful beaches and "crumbling" mansions. Newly opened by hotelier Anna Trzebinski, Jannah Lamu occupies a traditional building in Shela village, says Catherine Fairweather in Condé Nast Traveller. It has three twobedroom suites and a onebedroom penthouse that is "a honeymooners' dream". Its "breezy" spaces combine traditional design – painted beams, four-poster beds, polished-plaster floors – with contemporary touches. There's a scented walled garden and three wooden dhows for "day trips to distant dunes and islands".

Suites from £430 b&b; jannahlamu.com.

Puqio, Arequipa, Peru

This new, safari-style tented camp is a great base from which to explore Peru’s "show-stopping" Colca Valley, said Megan Spurrell in Condé Nast Traveller. Guides lead treks and horseback rides to see preInca sites, spot wildlife – including condors and llamalike vicuñas – and to watch the sunset over the canyon (the world’s second-deepest, after its neighbour, the Cotahuasi). The camp’s eight tents have double beds, wood-burning stoves, and terraces with outdoor tubs and showers. The food is "on a par with Lima’s best restaurants", and draws on local ingredients such as coca leaves and sanky (a cactus fruit). Doubles from £650; puqio.pe.

Eliamos, Kefalonia, Greece

Kefalonia is one of the few Greek islands served by direct flights from the UK, but until now, it didn't have any hotels as "smart" as the best on Santorini or Mykonos. The recent opening of Eliamos has changed that, said House & Garden. Built from the local honey-coloured stone, its 12 spacious suites and villas sleep up to seven, and are set in "lavender-scented" gardens above a quiet beach. Some have private pools and kitchens, offering the freedom of a holiday let – but there's also a restaurant serving superb modern Mediterranean cuisine, as well as a shared pool, a spa and a gym. Doubles from £529 b&b; eliamos.com.

Hacienda de San Rafael, Andalucia, Spain

An 18th century farmhouse in the "agricultural heartland" of Andalucia, Hacienda de San Rafael opened as a family-run hotel in 1992, said Pamela Goodman in Condé Nast Traveller. "Aristocratic and grand" is the impression you might get as you approach, but guests are greeted "like long-lost friends". Among the 20 rooms are three thatched casitas and a pool villa, and there are three other pools in the gorgeous gardens. It's so lovely that "the temptation is to stay put", but Seville and Jerez are nearby, and there are activities on offer, including riding and sherry tasting.
Doubles from about £450; haciendadesanrafael.com. 

The Siam, Bangkok

It only opened a decade ago, but with its superb interior design and "lush" riverside setting, The Siam feels like "a portal to a bygone Bangkok", says Chris Schalkx in Condé Nast Traveller. Mid-century heirlooms – vintage Pan Am posters, "tattered" travel trunks – share its marblefloored hallways with a fine collection of older antiques. Recent refurbishment has kept the suites and private villas with pools looking fresh, and the Thai restaurant – which occupies three "ancient teakwood houses" – offers good food and "classic Thai hospitality". The hotel is not ideally located for the city's "postcard sights", but for peace and "timeless beauty", it is unrivalled. Doubles from £600 b&b; thesiamhotel.com.

Round Hill, Jamaica

With its traditional local architecture, charming service and "pastoral" setting above a secluded beach near Jamaica's Montego Bay, Round Hill has changed little since its 1960s heyday, says Charlie Hobbs in Condé Nast Traveller. John F. Kennedy, Ian Fleming and Paul McCartney were among the guests back then. These days, fans include Ralph Lauren, who owns a villa here and had a hand in a recent makeover – not least in the 36 rooms, with their clean white decor and pink and navy accents. There are also 27 villas, as well as a pool, tennis courts, a large spa and two restaurants, the flagship serving Caribbean cuisine. Doubles from $590; roundhill.com.

Castle Elvira, Puglia, Italy

Built in the late 19th century, this castellated mansion has recently been restored in superb style and opened as a hotel by its British owners, says Simon Gage in Metro. Set in landscaped grounds near the historic town of Lecce (only ten minutes' drive from the Adriatic), it has "lavish" but "playful" interiors, featuring an eclectic mix of modern and vintage furnishings and flamboyant contemporary art. There are ten airy rooms spread across the castle and a series of renovated outbuildings; and a swimming pool, a Bechstein grand piano, and a restaurant serving excellent Pugliese home cooking. Doubles from about £425 b&b; castleelvira.com.

Hotel The Mitsui, Kyoto, Japan

This five-star hotel in Kyoto is located on the site where the Mitsui family of merchants-turned-industrialists lived from the late 1600s to the 1940s, says Rebecca Misner in Condé Nast Traveller. It then fell out of the family’s hands, but the Mitsui corporation bought it back in 2015, and built this 161-room hotel, which combines “design-forward” elements with sensitivity to the site’s history. But what makes it such a pleasure are the “cosseting touches” – from the neatly folded pyjamas that appear at turndown, to the sprawling underground spa, with its soaking pools. This place is a real “haven”. Doubles from about £800; hotelthemitsui.com.

Lunuganga, Sri Lanka

Regarded as "the father of tropical modernism", the architect Geoffrey Bawa (1919-2003) spent 50 years developing this "otherworldly estate" near Sri Lanka's southwest coast as a home for himself. It's a "wonderland", says Harriet Compston in Condé Nast Traveller, now managed as a ten-bedroom hotel by the local Teardrop Hotels group. Furnished with antiques and objets Bawa found on his travels, the rooms are "sublime". So too are the gardens, with their well tended lawns, "emerald" rice paddies and huge old trees. There's a new swimming pool, and a verandah restaurant serving modern Sri Lankan cuisine.
Doubles from £312 b&b; teardrop-hotels.com. 

La Posta Vecchia Hotel, Ladispoli, Italy

A Renaissance palazzo set beside the sea 40 minutes from Rome, La Posta Vecchia was owned by John Paul Getty, before becoming a hotel in the 1990s. Following a year-long renovation, it's more magnificent than ever, says Tatler. Its 19 rooms and suites feature an opulent mix of antique and modern furnishings; and some have "spectacular" sea views. Chef Antonio Magliulo recently won a Michelin star for his modern Italian dishes,  which draw heavily on produce from the hotel's own gardens. The grounds are beautiful, and there's a good small museum of Italian art and Roman artefacts found on site. Doubles from £365 b&b; postavecchiahotel.com 

Husk, Suffolk

Husk was launched in 2021 as a Friday- and Saturday-night supper club in a converted barn in Suffolk. Last year, owners Joey O'Hare and Katy Taylor added four spacious and stylish bedrooms, says Laura Jackson in The Times, making this a great place for a peaceful weekend, just 20 minutes by car inland from Southwold. Joey's modern European cooking is excellent, and is served with "bold", mostly organic wine pairings. Rooms (in another barn) have "eclectic" antique furnishings and an air of "soothing Scandi calm", and there's a natural pool and a two-person sauna. Doubles from £434 b&b, with supper club for two; huskthorington.co.uk

South Lodge, Horsham

This Victorian country house hotel hit the news last year when sous chef Tom Hamblet won MasterChef: The Professionals. He has since taken residency as head chef at one of its restaurants, Camellia, says Sherelle Jacobs in The Daily Telegraph, where he will be in charge throughout March. His menus have just the right amount of "zany panache", and the hotel also has another excellent, Michelin-starred restaurant, The Pass. The 88 rooms are spacious, with "splashy" wallpaper and "sumptuous" bathrooms, and there's an "immaculate" spa, and extensive grounds with views of the South Downs. Doubles from £415 b&b; exclusive.co.uk.

Penmaenuchaf, Wales

This "handsome" old hotel in southern Snowdonia is midway through a makeover, says Pamela Goodman in Condé Nast Traveller. Since it came under new ownership in 2022, the designer Nicola Harding has brought her "trademark use of bold colour and pattern" to four attic suites; the remaining rooms will be revamped this year.

There's also a new chef, Thomas Hine, whose five-course tasting menu (using local ingredients) is "a revelation". The hotel has "fine" gardens and is a great base for hiking, and for trips to the pretty nearby towns of Dolgellau and Barmouth – with its sweeping beach.

Doubles from £230 b&b; penmaenuchaf.co.uk.

Holm, Somerset

Nicholas Balfe's "inventive cooking" at Levan, his bistro in south London, has fans including Olivia Colman and Richard Ayoade. In 2021, Balfe opened a farm-to-fork restaurant in Somerset, says Susan d'Arcy in The Times, and it has proved such a hit that he has recently added seven "calming" rooms. Holm occupies a "sturdy" former bank building in the pretty village of South Petherton, and the style in the rooms is "ethereal English pastoral", with a "dusting" of mid-century minimalism. The dining room has a "pared-back contemporary coolness", and at £59, the six-course tasting menu is a bargain. Doubles from £145 b&b; holmsomerset.co.uk.

Ett Hem, Stockholm

In the decade since it opened, Ett Hem has become a "fixture" on the Stockholm scene, says Tatler, its interiors an enduring lesson in "upscale hygge chic". Created by the British designer Ilse Crawford, they feature a "harmonious mix" of mid-century modern and antique furniture, as well as "artful masonry", "roaring fires", and mood lighting. There are 22 bedrooms, of which the Attic Suite, with its roll-top bath, is most desirable, and three new long-stay apartments. Mealtimes are "pleasantly vague" – guests simply "drift up" to a communal kitchen table and graze on "whatever the chef has whipped up that day". Doubles from £294; etthem.se. 

Broadwick Soho, London

From its "fabulously overdressed" doormen to its flamboyant rooftop bar, this new Martin Brudnizki-designed boutique hotel in London's Soho is a "mega-camp" delight, said Mark C. O'Flaherty in The Daily Telegraph. In its restaurant, Dear Jackie, an upmarket clientele perches on "giddy floral upholstery" while supping on good, classic Italian cuisine. Lifts decked out with Murano glass mirrors sweep you up to the bar – and the party continues in the guest rooms, which are not "for minimalists" and "definitely sexy". Soho has become staid over the years, but this is a place where you can still write off the next day "in style". Doubles from £595 b&b; broadwicksoho.com.

Langdale Chase, Lake District

Built for the widow of a Manchester businessman, this Victorian pile beside Lake Windermere has been a hotel since 1930. Recently reopened following a refurbishment, it is a fitting match for its "sublimely beautiful" setting, says Sherelle Jacobs in The Daily Telegraph. Public spaces are "gloriously gothic without being oppressive", and the modern British cuisine in the dining room is "immaculate". Rooms are furnished in elegant "country- style"; and many have astonishing views. There are other fine hotels on Windermere's shores, such as The Samling and the Gilpin, but you won't regret choosing this one. Doubles from £290 b&b; langdalechase.co.uk.

Casa Chablé, Mexico

Caribbean beach resorts don't come more remote or peaceful than Casa Chablé, said Tatler. This new addition to Mexico's Chablé hotel group sits beside a stretch of "powdery" white sand in the vast and wondrous Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a 35-minute speedboat ride from the town of Tulum. New developments here are banned, so it occupies the pleasingly petite footprint of an older nature retreat, and has just ten rooms – five in the main house, and five in beachfront villas with whitewashed walls and dark sapodilla wood floors. The "shack-like" restaurant is overseen by Jorge Vallejo of Mexico City's Quintonil (ranked ninth on the list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants). It's a wonderful place to do very little, but there is plenty to do if you want to, including birdwatching, snorkelling, and fishing. Doubles from £592 (US$754) b&b; chablehotels.com.

&BEYOND Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan

The tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan has no shortage of luxury hotels, but this new one offers more carefully arranged outdoor activities than some. Its main lodge is a traditional Bhutanese structure tucked away in woodland on the Mo Chhu River, said Tatler, with views over "vibrant green" rice terraces. There's a cosy bar-lounge filled with historic objects such as prayer wheels and arrow quivers, and a large swimming pool, a yoga pavilion and a full spa. Guests stay in two small houses and six spacious tented suites, each with a bath tub and indoor and outdoor showers. The restaurant serves global dishes and gourmet spins on Bhutanese classics, and activities include archery, white-water rafting, and wonderful hikes to remote lakes and mountain-top monasteries. Doubles from £725 (US$923), full board; andbeyond.com.

The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Saudi Arabia

Located on its own private island, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort is "accessed via boat or seaplane", said Lindsay Judge in Harper's Bazaar Arabia, and is "reminiscent of some of the world's most exclusive island destinations". Opening in January, the property will feature a collection of 90 overwater and beachfront villas, five restaurants, a signature spa and children's club. From £1,060 (US$1,338) per night; marriott.com 

Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr al Bahr, Morocco

In the heart of Morocco's "City of Lights", said Travel Market Report, this historic property is often referred to as the "palace by the sea" and was once a sultan's summer home. Opening in early 2024, the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat at Kasr al Bahr spans 12 acres and several buildings with 204 guest rooms and suites, seven restaurants and lounges, a spa and several outdoor pools. fourseasons.com 

The Lana, Dubai, UAE

The Lana, Dubai, the Dorchester Collection's first property in the Middle East, will open its doors on 1 February. With architecture by Foster + Partners and "stunning interior spaces" designed by Gilles & Boissier, said Maureen Jordan in Harper's Bazaar, the hotel will have 225 guest rooms and suites, The Lana Residences and "culinary delights" by Michelin-starred chefs Martin Berasategui and Jean Imbert and world champion pastry chef Angelo Musa. From £735 ($928) per night, room only (including taxes); dorchestercollection.com

Atzaró Okavango Camp, Botswana

Slated to open in March, the "luxury" Atzaró Okavango Camp will be set within a private concession in northern Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, said Dorine Reinstein in Travel Weekly. Offering 12 suites, with two designated as private-use villas, the suites will be equipped with "plunge pools", open-air "star beds" and "decks that overlook the lagoon and waterways". From $700 (£554) to $1,500 (£1,187) per person, per night during the peak season; atzaro-okavango.com 

Ara Maris, Sorrento, Italy

Offering views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, this new resort is just steps away from Sorrento's Piazza Tasso. With 49 guest rooms the five-star Ara Maris was designed by Italian studio Spagnulo & Partners, said TTG Italia, and its "flagship" will be the "large relaxation area" with swimming pool and solarium, "surrounded by greenery". Launching in March, the hotel will also have the Lumi Sky Lounge, located on the top floor terrace. aramarishotel.com 

Voaara, Madagascar

New "barefoot luxury resort" Voaara will consist of "tropical-style" bungalows and villas, said Ben Thomas on Sleeper. Located on the island of Sainte-Marie off the northeast coast of Madagascar, Voaara will initially launch in March with just eight bungalows and one three-bedroom villa. Once complete there will be 45 keys in total. From $495 (£392) per night; voaara.com 

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, England

This "intimate new addition" to the Mandarin Oriental portfolio will open in the spring on "historic" Hanover Square in London, said Breaking Travel News. The hotel will feature 50 "sleek and discreet" rooms and suites, plus 77 private residences, an urban spa and the first namesake Akira Back restaurant in the UK. From £925 ($1,168) per night, room only; mandarinoriental.com

Rocco Forte House, Milan, Italy

Building on the success of Rocco Forte House Rome, said Salon Privé Magazine, this new establishment will be "nestled" on Milan's Via Manzoni within a "beautifully restored" 19th century palazzo in the renowned Quadrilatero della Moda neighbourhood. Opening in summer 2024, the property will have 11 unique apartments. roccofortehotels.com 

TreeDwellers, Oxfordshire, England

It's one thing "going on a woodland walk", said Amy Houghton in Time Out, but how about spending a few days "fully submerged in the forest". In the Cotswolds, you'll soon be able to "do just that". In March, TreeDwellers is launching a collection of seven "amazing treehouses" within Cornbury Park, an ancient woodland more than 1,000 years old. Each of the "curved, futuristic" properties features a fully functioning kitchen, living space with wood-burning stove, and one or two en suite bedrooms, as well as an outdoor shower on the private terrace. From £210 per night, minimum two-night stay; treedwellers.com

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, Austria

Austria's "historical" Hotel Schloss Fuschl will reopen in 2024 under the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts brand, said Christina Jelski in Travel Weekly. Situated on the banks of Lake Fuschl, just outside of Salzburg, the hotel occupies a "former castle dating back to the 15th century". Rosewood Schloss Fuschl will feature 98 guest rooms, including 46 suites and six chalets, as well restaurants and lounges and an Asaya spa with indoor and outdoor swimming pools. rosewoodhotels.com

The Newman, London, England

The first hotel from international hospitality management company Kinsfolk & Co will be located in London's Fitzrovia. Due to open in winter 2024, The Newman will feature 81 rooms and suites, a European brasserie, cocktail bar, and a "wellness floor", said Boutique Hotelier. Guest rooms will showcase a "contemporary Art Deco aesthetic" and some will have private balconies. The rooftop floor comprises a "signature suite with private terrace" and "when taken as a whole, offers exclusive use of the floor as a spacious four-bedroom suite". thenewman.com