Travel News: 16 Openings, Renovations, and New Trips to Book This February

Adventurers can now experience Alaska’s Denali National Park without sacrificing comforts like a fireplace, sauna, or great wines. The late Alaskan bush pilot Don Sheldon dreamed of building a cabin on the park’s border. Fifty years later, his children have realized his vision with Sheldon Chalet. The hexagonal, five-bedroom structure sits at nearly 6,000 feet, perched atop a “nunatak” (a rocky outcrop) looking out at Ruth Glacier. Customized adventures range from skiing and glacier trekking to overnighting in an igloo and aurora borealis viewing. From $2,300 per person, all-inclusive or $25,000 for a buyout; sheldonchalet.com.

Sweet Bocas, a three-floor, seven-bedroom villa in Bocas del Toro, Panama, has announced a partnership with pro-surfer Terry Simms. The acclaimed California wave rider and owner of Terry Simms Surf will offer private instruction and customized training retreats at the 20,000 square foot private island estate. The Caribbean side of Panama offers waves for every ability, from sandy beach breaks to reef points. The main surf seasons runs from November to March, and there is a secondary season from June to August. When guests need a break from paddling, they can snorkel, fish, sail or relax on a secluded beach. Seven-day retreats for up to 12 people from $125,000, all-inclusive; sweetbocaspanama.com.

Music City’s hotel scene keeps getting hotter. The latest addition, the Holston House, is part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville within an iconic 88-year-old art deco building, Holston House is steps from the music hot spots that line the city’s iconic Honky Tonk Highway. The 191 rooms and suites blend rustic elements, such as sliding barn doors, with modern touches like marble tiling. Guests can dine on pork belly biscuit sliders, Nashville hot chicken, and other Southern-inspired fare at Tenn restaurant and sip on artisanal cocktails at Bar Tenn. A rooftop bar is set to debut this March. From $250; holstonhousenashville.hyatt.com.

Ketchum's former Clarion Inn has reopened after a significant $4 million remodel as Hotel Ketchum. The 58-rooms have all new mountain chic furnishings, and some feature fireplaces and balconies with views of Bald Mountain. Guests don’t have to worry about traveling with gear. An on-site garage allows guests to borrow equipment, including snowshoes and bikes. After a day on the slopes, guests can relax in the outdoor heated pool and oversized sauna or stretch out with a yoga class. An artisanal coffee shop and a locavore-focused restaurant are due to open this fall. From $200; hotelketchum.com.

The Ranch, a California-based spa boot camp with a celebrity following, will open its first international pop-up in the Italian Dolomites this August and September. Six week-long programs will be hosted at the renowned Hotel Rosa Alpina. Limited to just 20 guests, each week will combine alpine hikes through the UNESCO-listed Dolomite mountains with strength training, yoga, meditation, and daily massages. The Ranch culinary team will collaborate with the Rosa Alpina chefs to craft a menu of locally grown, plant-based fare, such as spinach and zucchini lasagna with macadamia nut “ricotta” cheese and mushroom ragu and polenta. Guests will also have access to Rosa Alpina’s award-winning spa, which boasts a Finnish sauna, steam bath, and indoor pool. One-week, all-inclusive from $8,500; theranchmalibu.com.

Minor Hotels has launched a fleet of five next-level river cruising vessels that will sail the Mekong. The flagship of the fleet, the 13-cabin Bohème, will offer two or three-night sailings between Chiang Rai, Thailand, and the ancient Laos capital of Luang Prabang. Itineraries include jungle treks, visits to the famed Pak Ou caves, mountain biking, cooking classes, and yoga. For a more intimate experience, Gypsy is an ultra-exclusive two-cabin cruiser perfect for one or more nights along the Mekong and can accommodate up to four passengers. For shorter day trips around Luang Prabang, Nomad provides couples with an exclusive romantic getaway for sunset cruises; Play is a floating lounge ideal of private events, and Monsoon is a scheduled touring shuttle to the Pak Ou caves. mekongkingdoms.com

Award-winning filmmaker and visionary conservationist Dereck Joubert has dreamt up a wild new conservation initiative to save Africa’s big cats. Ride for Lions, a four-day mountain bike safari from Great Plains Conservation, allows groups of no more than 10 to pedal through the 500-plus mile wildlife migratory corridor between the Amboseli to the Chyulus in southeastern Kenya. Departures will take place in May, allowing cyclists to see incredible wildlife and also meet with Masaai elders and engage with conservationists along the ride. Money raised through participation will increase the size of this critical wildlife corridor and will go toward livestock compensation for local farmers. From $15,000 per rider for a five-night experience; rideforlions.com.

Boston-based ski apparel brand Alps & Meters has opened a store at the St. Regis Deer Valley, fulfilling the needs of men looking for timeless, tailored ski gear with a technical edge. The 600-square-foot space, located on the second floor of the hotel at the top of the funicular, will sell everything from 50s and 60s inspired knitwear to anoraks modeled on the fortified garments of the 10^th Mountain Division alpinists. The boutique will also host après ski fetes over the course of the season and weekly events for Deer Crest Club and St. Regis resident owners. Alps & Meters plans to launch its first Spring Collection early exclusively at the St. Regis Deer Valley in time for Sundance. alpsandmeters.com

COMO debuts its third property on the south coast of Bali. Set on six-mile long Echo Beach, Uma Canggu is primed to be a surfer’s paradise with access to some of Bali’s best waves. A partnership with Tropicsurf will appeal to both beginner and veteran surfers. Before heading into the ocean, guests can warm up with yoga or pilates at the COMO Shambhala Retreat; post surf-session, a signature COMO Shambhala massage will revive paddle-weary muscles. Accommodations at the 119-room resort range from rooms and suites to one- and two-bedroom residences and three-bedroom duplex penthouses with private rooftop pools. From $250; comohotels.com.

The hit global beach club concept, Nikki Beach, opens its newest location in Port Ferdinand, Barbados. The island’s first luxury beach club property sits on 1.4 acres and mimics the brand’s signature look of white with wood accents. All white sunbeds and VIP cabanas will anchor the space. Unique seating options include catamaran-like lounges that jut out over the ocean and oversized pool beds that line the surf. Nikki Beach will bring its sought-after musical culture to the island with resident DJs and musicians and an in-house saxophonist, percussionist, and violinist, among other musicians. Culinary highlights include an on-site rotisserie and locally caught seafood. nikkibeach.com

Travelers can now visit the three corners of South America’s Golden Triangle exclusively with Awasi. The South American brand earned a reputation for its personalized adventures at its lodges in the Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine. Awasi Iguazú, the brand’s third and newest property, is set on the banks of the Iguazú river, just 20 minutes from the world’s largest waterfalls. Like all Awasi lodges, each room has its own guide and 4WD so guests can customize excursions, like hiking and wildlife viewing. Built on stilts for minimal environmental impact, the 13 villas and one master, two-bedroom villa, are nestled throughout the jungle, and each boasts a private plunge pool. Chef Aarón Castillo Tellerí has Michelin experience, and his menu will elevate jungle ingredients.  From $760, all-inclusive; awasiguazu.com.

Acclaimed wellness destination, Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa, has debuted 22 new, super-private suites on the westernmost part of the resort. Named the Retreat, these unique accommodations, ranging from studios to four-bedroom villas, feature unrivaled views of the Sonoran Desert, plus a soaking tub, indoor-outdoor shower, and a private patio with a hot tub and fire pit. Exclusive wellness amenities available only to the Retreat guests include custom aromatherapy diffusers, sleep-enhancing snacks, in-room massage services, and a journal. From $855; miravalresorts.com.

Paradise Beach Resort's intimate cluster of 7 thatch roof villas has made it a go-to Caribbean getaway for travelers who crave a spacious stay. Now, the Nevis property has added five Beach Houses, a rarity in the Caribbean. Raised on stilts over the resort’s private beach, the Beach Houses will offer views of both the sea and neighboring St. Kitts. The Beach Houses are all two bedrooms, one room with a four poster king bed and a second room with two twin beds. Guests reach them via a leafy trail leading directly down to the beach. At the spin of a ship captain’s wheel, the drawbridge staircases descend to the sand, acting as each home’s private beach deck. From $1,495; paradisebeachresort.com.

Rome’s main shopping drag, pedestrianized Via del Corso, has a fashionable new stay.  Set in a meticulously restored 17th-century palazzo, the Elizabeth Unique Hotel is sure to lure design lovers with its couture fabrics and antique wallpapers. Each of the 33 rooms is furnished with curated art pieces, canopy beds, and boiserie-style frames. Guests can escape the bustle of the city and sip an apertivo by the reading room’s fireplace or enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s urban garden. From $450; ehrome.com.

Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia, has been all the buzz the past few years, earning comparison to Berlin in the 90s. The city finally gets its first five-star hotel with the opening of Stampa. The five-story sister property to the hip Rooms Hotel Tbilisi is housed in the same Soviet-era printing press. The framework is shot through with nostalgic references to the 1930s, and rediscovered printing paraphernalia will be the centerpiece of the basement bar. Trees and foliage dominate the atrium at the center of the hotel, which is crowned by a glass-bottomed roof-top pool. A ground-floor casino and fine dining Georgian restaurant are both primed to be hits with guests and locals. From $300.

Ryokans, traditional Japanese inns, are typically found in the countryside. But this month Mexico City debuts an urban spin on the Japanese stay, with Ryokan MX. Located in Cuauhtémoc neighborhood, at the heart of Mexico City’s Little Tokyo area, the hotel blends Japanese design elements with Mexican culture. The 10 room residence is furnished with tatamis (natural fiber mats), fusumas (sliding doors), and tables with tea sets. A dramatic sculptural façade inspired by origami marks the transition to an open patio featuring a Japanese garden and a terrace overlooking the city. Onsens, Japanese-style tubs, are the main draw of the spa and guests can customize their own omakase meals. From $250; ryokan.mx.