Opened in mid-2022, this private estate turned 24-suite retreat on Italy’s Lake Como was already named the planet’s No. 1 hotel in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Hotels awards. The honor is a tribute to the exquisite restoration of the property’s 18th-century villa, stables and other original features, which share this inimitable plot of paradise with seven acres of terraced gardens that spill toward Como’s sparkling shore.
Slieve Donard was already blessed with one of “the most coveted golf locations in the world,” says Alexandra O’Laughlin. A thorough restoration of the 125-year-old Marine & Lawn property—located a five-minute walk from the first tee of Royal County Down Golf Club—has injected new life into this Northern Ireland classic. Think Victorian splendor with a contemporary shine in a sublime coastal-countryside setting.
PGA of America’s new home in Frisco, Texas, features “36 holes of beautifully designed championship golf, putting and night courses, suites, ranch houses and every amenity imaginable,” says Roger Steele, making it good for “any type of golf or family-style vacation.” Home base for those vacations is a 500-room Omni hotel, which opened in May. It all adds up to “a state-of-the-art home for growing the profession that keeps the game moving forward at the grassroots level,” says Jane Broderick.
A special Nobu menu at the golf clubhouse? That’s one way this new resort—built on a previously private estate and golf course in Rancho Mirage, California—caught our attention in 2023. Wellness, however, is the first word at Porcupine Creek, the new sibling property of Hawaii’s Sensei Lāna‘i. Hiking, yoga and an exceptional tennis center help keep you active, while meditation sessions and spa treatments serve to recharge.
The most anticipated hotel opening of 2023 lived up to the hype. Set in the Old War Office in Whitehall, the 120-room (plus 85-residence) Raffles is appropriately powerful in its design (by the late Thierry Despont) and respectful of its pedigree (suites named for everyone from Winston Churchill to WWII-era spy Vera May Atkins). Throw in a Mauro Colagreco restaurant and countless nooks, crannies and library-like lounges for a drink, and you have London’s hottest new address.
A decade after being destroyed by a tsunami, this legendary Big Island hideaway reemerged this summer as a Rosewood resort. While upping the luxury quotient (and price point) significantly, the 81-acre property has not lost its village-like appeal. “I’m so happy to see this amazing spot reopen,” David McLay Kidd says. “I spent a lot of time there when I was building Nanea for Charles Schwab. This location is so incredible—a beautiful beach and private cove, not to mention the incredible history.”
Motorsports meet Mount Fuji at this new hotel in Oyama, Japan, developed by the Toyota Group. One side looks straight onto the Fuji Speedway, while the other faces the iconic peak in the distance. Guests can hit the track in a Toyota racecar, but the hotel isn’t just for gearheads. The area is known for its outdoor adventures, farm-to-table cuisine, onsen spas and golf courses, including the Kawaguchiko Country Club featured in the movie Lost in Translation.
One of Mexico’s most stunning coastal sites finally has a hotel to match. Set just north of Manzanillo on the Costalegre, the private 3,000-acre peninsula of Tamarindo is a glorious blend of wild jungle, rugged mountain and soft-sand beach. It has long been home to private residences and an under-the-radar golf course, but the debut of the Four Seasons has secured the peninsula’s spot among the world’s top beach destinations.
The Ryder Cup gave us yet another reason to love Rome, while Anantara’s transformation of two 19th-century palazzos provided our new go-to address in town. On Piazza della Repubblica, a short walk to the city center, the hotel is in a “great location but without the hordes of international tourists,” says Larry Olmsted. While on property, guests enjoy “some of the biggest luxury rooms” and what might be the “best rooftop bar” in Rome.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Volutpat lectus leo in eu sagittis
Follow Us On
