Travel News: 18 Openings, Renovations, and New Trips to Book This December

Exploration and wellness go hand in hand on Lindblad Expeditions’ new Base Camp Baja voyages. Created in partnership with Exhale, this new itinerary will explore Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida in the Sea of Cortez, aboard the 30-cabin National Geographic Sea Bird.

Seven departures, beginning in December 2017 and extending through January 2018, include a mix of fitness classes, such as Core Fusion Barre, Bootcamp, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), and Power Yoga classes with activities like hiking and snorkeling. Hour-long neck and shoulder massages will be offered prior to evening cocktails, while exhale Chill Yoga classes will be offered in the evening, alongside group guided meditation.

From $1,990 per person based on double occupancy for the 3-night voyage, and $2,650 for 4-night voyages; expeditions.com.

Qorokwe Camp, the newest Wilderness Safaris Classic Camp, debuts this month in the private, wildlife-rich Qorokwe Concession in Botswana’s south-eastern Okavango Delta. The camp will feature just eight tented suites and one spacious family suite with its own splash pool.

Additionally, the main area overlooks a scenic lagoon and boasts a dining area, lounge, library, bar, and infinity swimming pool. The concession has water all year round, allowing for terrific game viewing during every season. Guests can explore the concession’s diverse landscape on day and night game drives and nature walks led by highly skilled guides, as well as mokoro and boating activities. 

From $846; wilderness-safaris.com.

South American adventure specialist Quasar Expeditions has introduced new private helicopter tours over the Ecuadorian Andes and cloud forests. Get a bird’s eye view over Ecuador's picturesque towns and landscapes.

Flights range from 35 to 90 minutes, and on each trip travelers can choose from four different personalized services: breakfast in an extinct crater; an exclusive tour through Hacienda Herreria, home to a private collection of Spanish colonial art; a tour of Quito including an exclusive visit to the rooftops of the Santo Domingo Church; or a visit to the pioneering rose farm, the Flower Village.

From $400; quasarex.com.

Forty years ago, One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius made its debut as the first resort in the One&Only collection. This December, the iconic property reopens after an extensive, year-long renovation.

The cool, contemporary, beach-inspired aesthetic will weave through every public and private area. Guests will be able to venture off-property to experience Mauritius like never before with a menu of curated activities that includes expeditions to explore the colorful marketplaces of Port Louis, eco-trekking, skydiving, dining at a volcano, yachting, photography expeditions, and Harley Davidson touring. In addition to introducing Villa One, a secluded home with clear views of the Indian Ocean, One&Only Le Saint Géran will be unveiling private residences in 2019.

From $950; oneandonlyresorts.com.

West Hollywood’s celebrated Design District gets new design-forward digs when La Peer Hotel opens its doors mid-January. Tucked between famed Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, the hotel oozes elegance with leather walls, white oak flooring and bronze columns.

Icelandic-born designer Gulla Jónsdóttir hand-selected paintings, photography, and poetry for each of the 105 rooms and suites. A fourth-floor penthouse will also feature Jónsdóttir’s own furniture collection. Casey Lane, chef and owner of the Tasting Kitchen in Venice, California, will oversee the Italian trattoria, Viale Dei Romani. Guests can soak up the sun at the outdoor patio bar and pool, hidden away behind olive trees and a vertical garden.

From $450; lapeerhotel.com.

Watching the migration in the Serengeti is high on many travelers’ bucket lists. The newest camp from luxury safari specialist Sanctuary Retreats moves with the migration to guarantee incredible wildlife viewing.

Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp in Tanzania will have three set locations throughout the year based on the migration path. Each of the camp’s ten tents can be packed up and moved in a style evocative of the pioneering explorers of the 19th century.

A contemporary take on the classic camp style, the canvas tents feature vintage luggage, easy chairs, and handcrafted cabinets and desks, all designed to be perfectly portable. The camp will open in the Southern Serengeti (December 2, 2017 – March 31, 2018), move to the Central Serengeti (May 26, 2018 – July 15, 2018), and then Northern Serengeti (July 29, 2018 – November 15, 2018).

From $595; sanctuaryretreats.com.

The Explorer’s Passage is offering a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Antarctica with Sir Robert Swan. The British explorer was the first person to walk to both poles, and the February 27 sailing departs one month after Swan and his son are scheduled to return from the South Pole Energy Challenge, a 600-mile walk to the South Pole powered solely by renewable energy.

The 14-day Climate Force itinerary, created in partnership with 2041, Swan’s foundation dedicated to the preservation of Antarctica, includes 12 days at sea and a visit to the renowned Vernadsky Research Base. On board, guests will participate in workshops that blend leadership development, climate change training, and sustainability education. Experts on glaciology, geography, and wildlife will conduct lectures, and Swan and his son will share stories from their recent expedition.

From $17,795; explorerspassage.com.

Incredible dive spots, Mayan ruins, lush rainforest, and dreamy beaches have long lured travelers to Belize. This December, two new resorts up the hotel game. It’zana Resort + Residences will open December 15 with 16 deluxe suites and two beachfront suites. The resort’s Great House, a Hemingway-inspired gathering place, is the heart of the 20-acre property, and features a reef-to-table restaurant and Rum Room, with one of the largest selections of rum in the country. An additional 32 resort suites including two penthouses will come online through 2018, along with 46 waterfront residences (from $325; itzanabelize.com).

Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club opens this first week of December in Ambergris Caye. The resort, set on 60 tropical acres, includes 205 cottage and villa-style rooms and a town-like area with dining and shopping options (from $357; mahoganybayvillage.com).

Acclaimed designer and architect Bill Bensley debuts Shinta Mani Angkor, the flagship property in his new luxury hotel portfolio, the Bensley Collection. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, guests are fast tracked through immigration and whisked away to the secluded, ten-villa compound. Each two-level Art Deco villa spans two pavilions and features Bensley-designed beds with custom tailored, Khmer-inspired bedsheets.

Bensley Butlers attend to guests' every whim, from a poolside barbecue to a sky bed so you can sleep under the stars. Guests can feel good about their stay; a portion of every room rate is donated to the non-profit Shinta Mani Foundation, which supports health, education, and development programs for the less fortunate in the community.

From $450; shintamani.com.

Blanket Bay Lodge, New Zealand’s ultimate mountain escape, debuts a new Owner’s Villa this December. The South Island lodge is set at the north end of Lake Wakatipu on the edge of one of the greatest alpine wilderness regions in the southern hemisphere. The Owner’s Villa is located off of its own private driveway.

The main house boasts two large bedrooms, including a master bedroom with a large stone fireplace, wooden floors, and uninterrupted views across Lake Wakatipu towards the Humbolt Mountains. A main lounge and dining area have lake views. An elevated Studio has two bedrooms and is surrounded by gardens and connected by a walkway through the courtyard. Guests can choose to enjoy meals prepared by a private chef or dine in the main lodge’s dining venues.

From $17,700 fully staffed; blanketbay.com.

The opening of the Fontenay in Hamburg marks the city’s first new luxury hotel in 18 years. Located on the tranquil banks of Lake Alster, the fluid-like, white porcelain tile exterior mirrors the rippled lines in the water and surrounding parkland. The 131 rooms and suites each have a private balcony.

Michelin-star Swiss chef Cornelius Spienle will oversee the gourmet restaurant. A rooftop spa and pool area has views of Lake Alster and features several relaxation areas, including a Prestige Vichy bed, a Finnish sauna with city views, and an aroma-quartzite steam room.

From $420; thefontenay.de.

Four Seasons Hotel Megève opens its doors December 15, in time for the 2017-2018 ski season. The brand’s first mountain destination in Europe is conceived as a modern interpretation of the traditional alpine mountain resort. Located directly on the Mont d’Arbois ski slopes, the Four Seasons is the only Megève hotel with its own in-house ski concierge and ski valet service.

With just 55 spacious accommodations, including 14 suites, most with a fireplace and balcony, the hotel offers a highly personalized ski escape. After a day on the slopes, guests can unwind in one of the largest spas in the French Alps and dine at two-Michelin star restaurant Le 1920.

From $1,000; fourseasons.com.

The slogan of the new QT Queenstown, “Mother nature meets modern design,” couldn’t be more spot on. The 69-room design hotel overlooks Lake Wakatipu and South Island’s spectacular Remarkables mountain range. Perched on the top floor, the Remarkable King room is worth the splurge for the incredible views across the Southern Alps and its stand-alone tub and Juliet balcony.

An ideal adventure base, QT Queenstown has its own ski room and the concierge team can assist with arranging adventures ranging from heli-skiing to hiking. Reds Bar serves local wines and creative cocktails and has a prime location to catch the sun set behind the mountain peaks.

From $562; qthotelsandresorts.com.

KAI Alps reemerges from a massive, nearly two-year renovation December 21. Located three hours by train from Tokyo, this luxury ryokan is situated by Omachi Hot Spring in northern Nagano, the gateway to the northern Japanese Alps. The inn reopens with 48 minimalist rooms spanning two buildings.

Guest rooms and hot spring areas are lined up under the snow country arcade walkways known as “Gangi” and have incredible views of the Alps and the snow melt feeding into the river. Bath halls feature indoor and outdoor baths, the latter of which offer views of larch forests and mountains. Dinners consist of multi-course kaiseki meals featuring hyper-seasonal ingredients.

From $205; kai-ryokan.jp.

The Sydell Group opens the LINE DC, an East Coast counterpart to its hit Los Angeles hotel, the LINE LA. Housed in a renovated, neoclassical church with 60-foot vaulted ceilings, millwork and brass detailing, the hotel features 220 guest rooms, a live broadcast radio station, and a rooftop with sweeping views encompassing the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral.

The LINE DC is primed to be a foodie hotspot with drinking and dining options from Spike Gjerde (James Beard’s Best Chef Mid-Atlantic in 2015), Corey Polyoka of Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, and James Beard finalist Erik Bruner-Yang of Maketto.

From $268; thelinehotel.com.

Guests of One&Only Cape Town now have a unique opportunity to experience the new Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) with a privately curated tour with Joao Ferreria, one of South Africa’s leading gallerists for contemporary artists and art collectors.

The Artfully Luxurious package includes two tickets to Zeitz MOCAA and privately curated half-day tour, a cocktail master class and a half-day excursion to the Lalela project to see the transformative power of art education in South Africa. Guests will also be treated to a five-course, wine-paired dinner at Nobu Cape Town. Rooms will be outfitted with an easel and acrylics so if guests feel inspired during their stay, they can take brush to canvas.

From $1,031 per night with a minimum two-night stay; oneandonlyresorts.com.

The 30-room Ingleside Inn makes its debut December 15 after a major renovation and a management takeover by San Francisco-based PlumpJack Group. The re-imagined Inn will honor its 1920s roots and Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Each guest room features custom-made headboards, bespoke furnishings, period-appropriate lighting, Spanish-style rugs, and mint-tiled bathrooms. The bar at Melvyn’s Restaurant has been restored and the venue now boasts reupholstering furniture and the addition of striped awnings and an updated patio.

From $229; inglesideinn.com.

After acquiring more than 10 acres of additional beachfront property along Xpu-Ha Beach, Hotel Esencia has expanded with 11 spacious new suites. Located between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, the boutique hotel feels like a hidden gem.

Six beach suites sit directly on the sand with unobstructed sea views, and five jungle suites are less than 25 meters from the sea. All of the new suites feature double bathtubs and private terraces. Chef Dimitris Katrivesis, an alum of El Bulli, will helm the restaurant, fusing Greek and Spanish influences with traditional flavors and seasonal ingredients.

Jungle Suites from $775; Beach Suites from $1,280; hotelesencia.com.