hotel will offer its guests a view of the lights from a floating bath in the middle of the Lule River in Harads, Swedish Lapland. The open-air cold bath (kept at just 4C) will be free-floating in summer and frozen during the winter. The other facilities at the unusual hotel, which is designed like a bird's nest and will have only six rooms, include saunas, a spa and different water activities.
planned for the western side of Malolo Island in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands. Situated in a secluded bay with its own private beach, there will be 24 one-bedroom bures with their own plunge pools, as well as multi-room suites and residences. There will be a choice of food and beverage outlets, including a deli and pizzeria serving locally inspired dishes, a spa and wellness village that uses traditional Fijian medicinal plants in its treatments and has its own yoga pavilion and alchemy bar, and, excuse the pun, a raft of watersports to choose from, including sailing and surfing. Six Senses Fiji is due to open in April.
Six Senses in Fiji.
Blackadore Caye, Belize
Another Hollywood A-lister dabbling in hotels is Leonardo DiCaprio, whose new eco-resort on his private island in Belize, behind the world's second largest barrier reef, aims to be the globe's "leading example of green hospitality", completely powered by renewable energy.
, which will finally open this year after two years of work, will focus on health, wellness and sustainability, and will include a research station looking at climate change and habitat impacts. Restoration and care of the island is also key for known eco-warrior DiCaprio — half of it will be a protected wildlife reserve, with native tree-planting already making an impact.
Blackadore Caye, Belize.
Park Hyatt, St Kitts
The warm embrace of the Caribbean may be more your style. There is a brand new Park Hyatt in
, beachfront at the charmingly named Banana Bay, and it is positioned to take full advantage of the view of the volcano on the nearby island of Nevis. There are 126 rooms here, each with a private balcony or terrace — the Nevis Peak suites come with outdoor living rooms and private plunge pools. The hotel also has three restaurants serving locally sourced food, two pools, a spa and plenty of activities around the island to take advantage of including zip-lining, yachting, horse-riding, volcano hiking and historical tours. It sounds heavenly.
in the middle of the Ruth Glacier bordering Alaska's Denali National Park is one way to do it in style. Accessible only by air, the resort is designed so guests can "become part of the landscape" and is atop a "nunatak" (an exposed hill surrounded by glacier) at 1800m. It has just five guest rooms boasting panoramic views of the scenery, an observation deck, the option to go snowshoeing, trekking or skiing. There's no internet or mobile coverage, so you'll be truly disconnected and give your full attention to the five-star food and beverage and the luxe service.
Sheldon Chalet, Alaska a new luxury hotel located in the middle of the Ruth Glacier.
Nobu Hotel Marbella, Spain
We want to be one of the first through the door at legendary actor Robert De Niro's new adults-only hotel in the pretty Spanish coastal city of Marbella, opening this month. De Niro is a co-owner of
and restaurants along with, of course, its namesake chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The luxurious rooms and suites will overlook either a vibrant plaza buzzing with nightlife or tropical gardens; and room service, from the Nobu Marbella restaurant's exquisite menu, has never sounded so appealing.
resort planned to open in Rwanda this year. Gorilla's Nest will be in the foothills of the Virunga Volcano range near the northern village of Kinigi, one of the few places in the world these endangered mammals are found. In fact, there are eight families of wild mountain gorillas nearby, as well as golden monkeys and abundant interesting birdlife. After a day out trekking, guests can indulge in a traditional African-inspired spa treatment back at the luxurious hotel, which is surrounded by a forest of eucalyptus trees and has wonderful views of the Volcanoes National Park.
