When planning the perfect getaway for the clean slate of 2022, our favorite new venues—and an exceptional cruise experience—offer plenty of enticements.
The dreamy pool and lounge at Six Senses Ibiza.
Dreamy locales and ambitious plans wait for no one, even pandemics. So, while some of our travel itineraries were paused for a year, design and hospitality teams plotted the next big openings worldwide. These five gems deliver the proverbial goods in style and over-the-top amenities. Let the planning begin.
Suites at Six Sense Ibiza overlook Xarraca Bay at the northern tip of Ibiza.
Conceived by renowned architect and developer Jonathan Leitersdorf, this year-round 116-room destination nestled along Xarraca Bay on Ibiza’s northern tip feels like a Hollywood set—which happens to have world-class attractions that include everything from farm-to-table dining to wellness programs. The property’s design includes unique cave suites built into cliffs, and larger groups will find village residences for any length of stay. “By channeling the destination’s unique sense of community and celebration, we’ve created a truly transformative environment where guests are invited to meaningfully connect with nature [and] discover the elements that make Ibiza unlike anywhere else in the world,” says Leitersdorf, who notes the property is powered by renewable energy (up to 51% at any given moment), boasts zero waste and has eliminated single-use plastics.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club’s culinary program benefits from local sourcing, including the catch of the day.
Gourmands will love HaSalon Ibiza, the resort’s flagship restaurant led by chef Eyal Shani. The menu sources organic, seasonal ingredients, and Shani’s dishes reflect Ibiza’s plant-based dining heritage with items like whole roasted cauliflower and tomato entrecote atop giant hot focaccia dressed in ricotta clouds. Don’t overlook Shani’s 50-seat chef’s table in the shade of 100-year-old olive trees. The resort’s wellness programs also shine, with workshops, bespoke skincare concoctions and a 12,900-square-foot spa that houses a salon, steam room, hot bath, fitness studio and rooftop yoga platform. Six Senses also offers complimentary water activities like snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddleboarding and even underwater guided meditation. After chilling here, book a quick boat excursion to the mystical Es Vedrà island. From $880 per night
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
Set to open later this fall, the resort promises transformational experiences for guests on more than 300 acres. One head-turning perk for travelers: Aurora Anguilla is one of the first in the industry to offer access to private planes exclusive to the resort, allowing guests to get to and from the property in first-class comfort from key markets in the United States.
Sunrise over Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, which is situated on more than 300 acres with a Greg Norman Signature-designed championship golf course.
Among the many lures is a crown jewel for golfers—an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature-designed championship course, the only one on the island. The idyllic links provide the holy grail of memorable rounds, including challenging and dramatic holes and stunning ocean views. Before or after playing the course, the Golf Club and its spacious practice facility is a magnet for those who want to work on the nuances of their game. Also perfect for families or those who are new to the sport and cherish a quick round: a nine-hole Signature course, also designed by Norman.
After many years in New York City, chef Abram Bissell—who led the kitchens at The Modern and Eleven Madison Park, earning two and three Michelin stars, respectively—moved to the island to create the resort’s culinary program. The menu honors Anguilla’s food history by incorporating ingredients grown on, caught and raised around the island. Bissell marries these traditions with his take on new American cuisine, complemented by the resort’s own hydroponic farm and orchard. Each day, Bissell will find inspiration from the daily harvest of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Sorana Spa also offers a holistic approach to wellness with a range of luxe services and treatments. From $999 per night
The Retreat sun deck aboard Celebrity Beyond.
Sailing the Mediterranean in spring 2022 and the Caribbean in fall 2022 is Celebrity Beyond, the newest Edge Series ship from Celebrity Cruises. The new ship features 17 decks and a longer, taller and streamlined profile.
The vessel’s Martini Bar graces the Beyond’s Grand Plaza.
With 1,646 staterooms, a Nate Berkus-designed Sunset Bar and the first restaurant at sea (Le Voyage) by chef Daniel Boulud, Celebrity Beyond takes luxury on the sea to a new level. Accommodations include Edge Villas (two-story suites with private plunge pools), Iconic Suites (the largest rooms in the fleet with remarkable views) and the Edge Stateroom (the entire living space becomes the veranda). The AquaClass Sky Suites also combine stateroom experiences with the brand’s laudable wellness experiences and amenities found in The Retreat—a two-story sun deck and a gorgeous resort within a resort.
The new cruise ship’s sleek wellness zone is known as The Spa.
Other highlights of the new vessel include the reimagined Rooftop garden (a collaboration between designer Kelly Hoppen and architect Tom Wright), which features cantilevered float pools that extend over the water’s edge. Passengers also will flock to the Martini Bar—part of the ship’s Grand Plaza—and The Spa, a luxe sanctuary with the SEA Thermal Suite, a fitness center, F45 fitness classes, a Women in Wellness program and state-of-the-art treatments. Departure date April 27, from $2,599 per person
Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel
The staggering beauty of the Ligurian Coast sets the tone for the new Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel.
Intimate and cinematic, this Portofino, Italy, hideaway recently reopened after a complete renovation overseen by Festen Architecture. The design combines a mix of contemporary and traditional charm, and each detail reflects the legacy of this time-honored fishing village and the beauty of the Ligurian Coast—with the glam of la dolce vita.
Designed by Festen Architecture, Splendido Mare’s 14 rooms offer spectacular views and come dressed in rich Italian fabrics.
Each of the property’s 14 custom-designed rooms, outfitted with Italian fabrics by Rubelli and Loro Piana, features local architectural hues like sea green, amber and terra cotta. ARTIQ curated Splendido Mare’s 100-piece art collection that includes dramatic photography, abstract pieces and commissioned work by Italian painter Gabriele Cappelli.
The Spendido Mare design team took inspiration from the hues of Portofino and its trove of historic architecture—all ripe for exploring on foot.
DaV Mare, the resort’s signature restaurant, benefits from the Cerea family’s legendary hospitality standing as creators of Da Vittorio. Standout dishes like paccheri alla Vittorio, risotto with pesto, and Santa Margherita shrimp pair perfectly with the open-terrace setting as guests (glass of Italian red in hand) watch the sun sink over Portofino Harbor. The property’s staff also will arrange customized experiences like a trip along the Italian Riviera aboard a gozzo (fishing boat) or a sailing excursion along the coastline to San Fruttuoso Bay. Other options include dives in the clear waters of Punta Chiappa or, for something more sedate and no less wonderful, a picnic lunch of fresh seafood prepared by the team at DaV Mare. Half-day excursions entail trekking along the picturesque trails of Monte di Portofino led by a botanist guide or embarking on the 7 ½-mile Path of the Kiss that meanders from San Rocco to San Fruttuoso. From $655 per night
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, which opens later this year in Napa, offers guests a selection of 78 open-air cottages amid a 700-acre vineyard.
With a vineyard pedigree that stretches back to the 19th century, Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, is set to open in late 2021 with 78 open-air cottages and suites among the hills of a storied estate. Stanly Ranch Winery, which has produced critically acclaimed wines for decades, is the perfect 700-acre setting for a respite that combines the star-filled skies and the solitude of Napa with a gastronomic Valhalla.
Soaking tubs await in the Stanly Ranch cottages.
The modern farmhouses feature open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows and large doors that open to private terraces equipped with fire pits. Suites, which can accommodate up to eight guests, are bathed in neutral colors and house materials like oak, black metal detailing and leather.
Each accommodation boasts open floor plans with large doors that open to private terraces.
Chef Perfecte Rocher—an elBulli alum who has wowed guests at Los Angeles’ Smoke.Oil.Salt and Seattle’s Tarsan I Jane—leads the charge at The Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rocher will incorporate Napa Valley ingredients through his fermenting and grilling wizardry. Because Stanly Ranch sits at the crossroads for cycling through the valley, it’s the perfect pit stop when exploring Napa. The resort’s team also will curate experiences focused on food, wine, culture and adventure sports. After an exhilarating day, indulge in customized spa treatments designed to help restore, or plan a weeklong detox retreat with world-renowned visiting wellness practitioners. From $1,000 per night
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
