Travel News: 17 Openings, Renovations, and New Trips to Book This March

Castello di Casole has become the seventh property in Belmond’s dreamy Italian Icons hotel portfolio. One of the largest private estates in Italy, the historic castle hotel sits within 4,200 acres of farmland, vineyards, and olive groves in the heart of Tuscany. The hotel’s 39 suites blend rich and rustic touches, such as period antique furnishings and original stone floors, with many featuring private gardens. Located in the vaulted wine cellar, the spa could double as a museum with its restored stone walls and Etruscan artifacts. Belmond plans to invest $9 million in a phased refurbishment of the hotel over four years, including the addition of two new villas. Pricing upon request; castellodicasole.com.

St. Bart’s is slowly coming back after Hurricane Irma swept across the island last fall. Villas and resorts closed due to damages are beginning to reopen and look better than ever. Villa Marie St. Barth, known for its colorful Caribbean-meets-colonial plantation décor, welcomes back guests March 2. Set high above Colombier Beach, the property reopens with two stylish new villas decorated with tropical fabrics and polished woods and earthy touches like hand-woven cordage and bamboo. Villa Saline consists of one room and one suite with a Jacuzzi and Villa Flamand has a living room and one master suite with a private swimming pool. Bungalows from $492; Villas from $1,662; saint-barth.villamarie.fr.

The only resort set on Lombok’s Nipah Bay, 7 Secrets Resort and Wellness Retreat is the ideal escape to unplug and recharge in privacy. Upon check-in, guests are welcomed with a head-and-shoulders massage and aromatherapy to lull them into vacation mode. Each of the 24 rooms feels like an Indonesian temple and looks out onto either the gardens, mountains, or ocean. Rooms feature traditional architecture, open-air bathrooms, private terraces, and Jacuzzis and are serviced by private butler. The beachfront location puts incredible snorkelling steps away. And the spa goes beyond massages and facials, offering everything from stress recovery treatments to detox diets. From $750; 7secretsresorts.com.

Billionaire American businessman Tilman Fertitta is behind the high-tech, high-touch Post Oak Hotel, opening this month in Houston. The 250-room hotel has brag-worthy features, including the largest ballroom in Uptown, a multi-level Rolls Royce showroom, and a private helipad. Guests can enjoy minibars stocked with artisanal snacks and drinks from Dean & Deluca. Six dining venues including the state’s first outpost of Mastro’s steakhouse and gastropub. From $409; thepostoak.com.

The new villas at Tryall Club in Montego Bay are perfect for guests who crave extra space and privacy but don’t want to sacrifice resort amenities. Both the four-bedroom Aqua Bay villa and the five-bedroom Quinntessential Villa come with its own private staff and amenities including a private gym with Peloton bikes, a zen garden, a putting green, and a private pub. Villa guests also enjoy access to the Tryall Club's recently renovated championship golf course, award-winning tennis club, private beach club, and dining venues. From $18,000 per week; tryallclub.com.

QT Melbourne hotel has partnered with Los Angeles-based yoga brand Bender to introduce its first-ever pop-up yoga series. Set to launch March 3, “Yoga in the Sky” will take place on the hotel’s rooftop. Some of the city’s top DJ’s will spin house music to classes taught by Bender’s team of cult yoga instructors. The high-energy vinyasa classes will be geared to both beginner and experienced yogis. Post-flow, participants will be treated to Noah’s Creative Juices. 70-minute class from $30; qthotelsandresorts.com.

Its mesmerizing white landscape and amazing wildlife make Antarctica a photographer’s dream. Now, amateurs can take photos like pros when they sail with Silversea. The luxury expedition cruise specialist has introduced its new My Photo Academy on sailings to Antarctica aboard Silver Cloud. Guests will learn how to take and edit pictures like a pro on itineraries designed to maximize opportunities for shooting. With both private and group lessons, guests can learn to master the art of digital photography through the Academy, which provides specialty workshops for both beginners and skilled shooters. Among the topics covered is an introduction to photography, social media, and the use of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop software tools. Expedition voyages to Antarctica are offered from November through February. 10-day voyage from $9,540; silversea.com.

New York City’s trendy Serafina Restaurant Group debuts its first-ever hotel concept this month in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The oceanfront Serafina Beach Hotel is just five minutes away from Old Town San Juan in the city’s hip Condado district. Each of the 96 rooms has floor-to-ceiling windows and beach-chic interiors. At the heart of the hotel is aMare, a sexy, Italian-influenced seafood restaurant. Guests who can pull themselves away from the oceanfront infinity pool and cabanas can have the hotel’s experience concierge coordinate off-site adventures such as kayaking through the bioluminescent bays and exploring the El Yunque Rainforest. From $225; serafinabeachhotel.com.

Fresh off of a room redesign, the Peninsula Beverly Hills has announced a new partnership with BMW of North America. Beginning March 1, guests will have access to the hotel’s new fleet of BMW vehicles, including the latest BMW 7 Series, BMW 5 Series, and BMW X5 models. Guests who book a suite as part of the revitalized “Suite Ride” package can enjoy complimentary use of a BMW for the duration of their stay. Visitors wishing to use the hotel’s complimentary chauffeured service will be driven anywhere within the local Century City and Beverly Hills area, while those who wish to get behind the wheel will be offered the use of a complimentary BMW based on availability. Rooms from $595; suites from $1,550; beverlyhills.peninsula.com.

Hotel Mamá is the latest boutique stay in Palma, the capital of Mallorca. Set within a 19^th-century building, the hotel’s 32 rooms are decorated in five styles, such as Garden and Roman, and eight suites boast views of the famous Plaza De Cort. Works by Sean Scully, Wendy Artin, Charles Maze, David Rochline, Marie Banier, and Eva Jospin are on display throughout the four-floor property. Guests can sun on a central patio or the rooftop pool during the day and at night, and watch films in the hotel’s private cinema. A small spa offers hammam-inspired therapies. Dining options include Café Mamá, offering classic brunch dishes and traditional cocktails and a Japanese restaurant. From $310; hotelmama.es.

A joint project involving the French government and entrepreneur Frederic Jousset has transformed an existing relais into a 55-room countryside hotel. Set deep in the Loire Valley, Relais de Chambord is the only hotel on the romantic Châteaux de Chambord estate. Jean-Michel Wilmotte, whose notable work includes La Réserve Ramatuelle and the Mandarin Oriental Paris, is responsible for the elegant architecture and interior design. Suites have views of either the river or the majestic château, which is just a short walk away. Guests can cycle to nearby vineyards, boat the river, get pampered in the spa and indulge in classic French fare and top regional wines at Le Grand Saint Michel restaurant. From $200; relaisdechambord.com.

Nobu’s newest hotel outpost is sure to be the place to see and be seen this summer in Marbella. The 49-room, adults-only hideaway is located on the Golden Mile that links Marbella’s old town to glamorous Puerto Banus. Guests have access to an exclusive stretch of beach and a secluded swimming pool where DJs start spinning each day at sunset. When it’s time for R&R, guests can escape to one of the sea-facing, garden-shaded treatment rooms at Six Senses Spa Marbella. Reservations will be in demand, but hotel guests get priority access. From $275; nobuhotels.com.

The Setai Tel Aviv is opening in one of Israel’s most important historical buildings. Locally known as the Kishle, Turkish for “jailhouse,” the building was originally constructed as a fortress during the Crusader Kingdom’s rule over Jaffa in the 13^th century. The culmination of 25 years of extensive restoration work, the multi-building complex is the first property in Tel Aviv to be named a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Hand-woven Turkish rugs and artifacts unearthed during the excavation of the complex accent earth-tone décor throughout the 120-room hotel. The rooftop infinity pool overlooks the Mediterranean and is sure to be an Instagram sensation. From $500; thesetaihotel.co.il.

With its bygone safari atmosphere and location where Out of Africa’s final scene was filmed, andBeyond Bateleur Camp has always been a favorite stay in Kenya’s iconic Masai Mara. This month, the camp re-opens fresh off a hefty refurbishment. The 18- tented suites still maintain a classic 1920s and 1930s safari feel but are even more spacious. Additional amenities include butler hatches, private stone courtyards with alfresco bathtubs and showers, and private verandas with built-in daybeds. Active guests will now have access to a fitness center and a massage sala. If you skip a safari day, you can still sip sundowners at the new gin bar near the swimming pool. A spacious family suite has been planned for later this year. From $680; andbeyond.com.

Safari-goers looking for a deeper wildlife experience can now book the Lodge at Feline Fields luxury mobile camp in Botswana’s Mababe Marshes, Khwai Community Concession. Canvas tents are simple but comfortable, outfitted with duvet-covered beds, and en-suite bathrooms. Twice-daily game drives take guests past the Khwai River, a magnet for wildlife like lion, elephant, zebra, giraffe, and hippo. Guests might explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro canoe or venture to Chobe National Park, known for its large elephant herds. After a few days “roughing it” in the bush, guests helicopter to the Lodge at Feline Fields. Six-night safari starts from $6,750 per person, including two nights mobile camping and four nights at the Lodge at Feline Field; felinefields.com.

Montage Palmetto Bluff’s new Montage to the Masters package was created for discerning golf fanatics. The exclusive getaway includes four tickets to the opening round of the 2018 Masters Golf Tournament, scheduled to unfold at Augusta National from April 5-8, 2018, and accommodation in a four-bedroom Montage Residence at Montage Palmetto Bluff. Montage has partnered with Wheels Up to offer guests private jet transfers to and from the event. Back at Palmetto Bluff, guests will enjoy their own golf experience with a foursome on the 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature May River Golf Course. The package culminates with a custom bourbon tasting and private in-residence, wine-paired dinner. Package price is $35,000; montagehotels.com.

Street art takes on a whole new meaning in Abu Dhabi with the launch of the country’s new “Highway Gallery.” Curated by the recently opened Louvre Abu Dhabi, the drive-by art gallery is on view along an hour-long, 85-mile stretch of E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Ten works, including Leonardo da Vinci's La Belle Ferronnière, are displayed on 30-by-19 foot billboards and spaced at six-mile intervals. Drivers can tune into one of three participating radio stations to hear a brief description from the curators as they pass by. The gallery will be on display through mid-March. louvreabudhabi.ae