highlightCategory: Stay

Where to rest your head at night

Visama Explorer tented camp opening soon

Don’t like roughing it in the wilderness? Thailand’s new Visama Explorer tented camp has officially declared that camping should come with cocktails, king-sized beds, and a French press. Opening December 1st, 2025, this eco-luxury hideaway in Nan province proves that “under canvas” doesn’t have to mean damp socks and questionable instant noodles.

Set among rice fields and mountain backdrops so pretty they could have their own Netflix special, the camp keeps things small and comfortable: just eight high-comfort tents, each with air con, ensuite bathrooms, plush bedding, private decks, and minibars (a necessity when camping, of course).

But the real star might just be the Ambalama outdoor fireplace. Inspired by Sri Lanka’s old traveller resting places, it’s where guests gather nightly for fireside chatter, open-air cinema screenings, and snacks that put s’mores to shame.

And when hunger calls, head to the Monmanee creek-side restaurant, where Northern Thai specialties cosy up alongside Western classics, all paired with wine and cocktails. Yes, this is technically camping, but it’s more like ‘clink champagne glass’ camping than ‘I think there’s bugs in my sleeping bag’ camping.

Between gourmet dinners and movie nights, guests can tree-plant, workshop, hike, bike, temple-hop, and waterfall-chase. Getting here is easy too: an 80-minute flight from Bangkok, followed by a two-hour drive through scenery so jaw-dropping you’ll forget you’re in transit.

The Sun Rose Hotel opens

The Sunset Strip has had more reinventions than Madonna, and its latest glow-up comes in the form of The Sun Rose Hotel (formerly known as Pendry West Hollywood), ‘til it decided a new name (and personality) was in order.

Named after its already-famous live music venue, The Sun Rose is a love letter to West Hollywood’s Technicolour soul. When Stevie Wonder serenades your opening party, you know you’ve hit the right note. The place now leans harder into art, music, and design, basically bottling the Strip’s kaleidoscopic chaos into a tasty five-star cocktail.

Of course, the glitz hasn’t gone anywhere. The rooms still whisper ‘luxury’ even if the rest of the hotel is screaming ‘let’s party.’ At the top, Merois – helmed by the legendary Wolfgang Puck – remains a rooftop dining temple, where Asian-inspired flavours flirt with skyline views. Think crispy suckling pig in one hand, a Negroni in the other, and the Hollywood Hills twinkling like a backdrop someone spent too much money on.

Since its transformation, this place has become a stage, a canvas, and a front-row seat to the Strip’s never-ending show. Whether you’re there for the food, the tunes, or just to say you brushed shoulders with a rock star in the lobby, The Sun Rose Hotel is reinventing what it means to check in on Sunset.

Amanvari set to open in 2026

Spring 2026 is about to get a whole lot fancier: Aman is dropping its newest resort, Amanvari, onto the wild and wonderful East Cape of Baja California. That means desert dunes, turquoise waves, and a brand-new excuse to perfect your ‘out of office’ email.

This coastal sanctuary will be keeping things exclusive with just 18 casitas (fewer neighbours, more peace and quiet), plus a collection of dreamy residences for anyone ready to go all in on the Aman lifestyle. Elevated above the landscape, the casitas offer knockout views of the Sea of Cortez, the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, and skies that are practically begging to be your phone’s screensaver.

The design brief was clearly nature meets minimalism with a Baja twist. Think sand-hued palettes, natural stone, tropical hardwoods, and bespoke Mexican ceramics sprinkled throughout. Chic, but without trying too hard.

On the ‘treat yourself’ front, Amanvari will deliver global dining (Italian, Japanese, and Baja’s finest bounty), and a spa that includes a modern take on a temazcal sweat lodge, open-air yoga pavilion, and enough serene corners to make you believe inner peace is, in fact, real (jury’s still out).

And because Aman doesn’t do things halfway, the resort is part of Costa Palmas, a private playground with organic farms, a golf course, a yacht club, and three miles of swimmable beach. We suggest starting to brush up on your Spanish now.

Under Canvas’s new glamping spot

We get it. Camping’s a tough sell. But what about if you’re cocooned in a swanky safari tent that’s perched on a private deck with Mount Hood photobombing your sunrise (the perfect PNW backdrop)? That’s the vibe at Under Canvas’s brand-spanking-new glamping spot in Washington’s Columbia River Gorge, sprawled glamorously over 120 acres in the White Salmon River Valley.

Each tent has comfort for days: a king-size bed with plush linens, a gas fireplace to keep you toasty when the Pacific Northwest air gets bossy, and an ensuite bathroom with a piping hot pull-chain shower. Even your phone’s battery gets VIP treatment with handy USB packs, so there’s no excuses for not posting that dreamy sunrise snap (see intro).

The communal hub keeps the fun rolling with local artworks, trendy West Elm furnishings, café-style dining, board games, morning yoga, acoustic jams, and, naturally, nightly s’mores, because toasted marshmallows?? Like, end of sentence.

The real drawcard, though, is where you are. Adventure practically throws itself at you here: white-water rafting on the White Salmon River, hiking the trails around Mount Hood, sipping your way through more than 10 nearby vineyards, or popping into the charming towns of White Salmon and Hood River for a dose of small-town charm. All of it framed by soaring peaks, cascading waterfalls, and hillsides bursting with wildflowers.

Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge is nature turned up to eleven – luxurious, adventurous, and it’s perfect for besties, couples, fur-babies, or anyone who swears they’re “outdoorsy.”

The Clements Hotel opens its doors

In a town known for racehorses, rowing champs, and seriously good coffee, Cambridge, New Zealand, has just added another thoroughbred to its stable – The Clements Hotel. Fresh from a multi-million-dollar glow-up, this boutique beauty has transformed the town’s original 1866 Beaux-Arts Masonic hotel into a 29-room haven of polished charm and old-school glamour.

Named after Irish-born Archibald Clements (the bloke who built the original hotel), the revamp is all soaring ceilings, stained-glass windows, red brick walls, and a staircase that was made for dramatic entrances. Think Claridge’s in London, but with more gumboots and fewer paparazzi.

Leading the charge is Scottish hospitality whiz Cameron Kellow, who swapped Scone Palace and 20,000 acres of Scotland for the rolling Waikato. His mission was to make The Clements the place for luxe stays, long lunches, and the kind of events you’ll still be talking about when you’re 80. Spoiler alert, he succeeded.

Guests can snooze in Edwardian splendour or wake up under attic beams with leafy views. There’s a café and wine bar for your morning pastry-to-evening-aperitivo journey, a garden-view restaurant serving locally inspired global goodness, and, from October, a speakeasy called “1866” hidden in the basement.

If that’s not enough, the old horse stables are now private luxury suites (fireplace and bathtub included), and the on-site distillery has crafted a bespoke gin using an 1860s recipe because history tastes better with tonic. Duh.

Noema

Move over, party hotels – Bali’s got a new kid on the block, and she’s swapping bottle service for breathwork. Opening August 22, Noema is the freshest face in Pererenan (just a coconut’s roll from Canggu), and she’s got curves in all the right places: rooftop rituals, climbable art, spa scrubs, and cocktails with a view.

Yes, this place is a beach resort, but it’s also a mindfully designed, art-infused playground for surfers, families, nomads and dreamers who prefer their holidays with a side of soul. Think Korean rooftop spa scrubs, mythical kraken-inspired play towers, and restaurants that could win awards and win over your stomach.

Noema’s got 157 airy rooms (including a penthouse), two stellar restaurants – Mamaloma and Paparempa – and even a wellness centre that believes exfoliation is a spiritual experience.

At its core, Noema is built on one lovely little idea: that you can come to Bali and actually relax. *Gasp*. So, whether you’re here for the seafood sambal, the Saturday brunch, or to chase your inner calm around a vertical playground, Noema’s ready to welcome you barefoot and blissed out.

Oh, and don’t miss the three-day launch fest from August 22–24. There’ll be culture, cuisine, connection, and maybe even a kraken or two.

ROKI Collection Queenstown set to open

Mark your calendars (and maybe invest in a tiny private jet) because ROKI Collection Queenstown is landing lakeside on September 1, 2025, and it’s bringing serious glamour and a lot of Kiwi charm.

Positioned smack bang on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and framed by the epic Remarkables mountain range, ROKI dubs itself an “urban retreat” with all the tranquility of a remote lodge, but none of the mosquitoes.

Imagine fireplaces, private bathtubs, walk‑in wardrobes, and panoramic views in each of the 15 swanky suites, ranging from cosy one‑bedroom hideaways to full‑on opulence in the four‑bedroom ROKI Suite or the seven‑bedroom Grand ROKI Suite (which could double as a small country).

When you’re hungry, you’ve got two tricks up your sleeve. Essence serves up European‑inspired fine dining on a plate of NZ produce, courtesy of culinary whiz Paul Froggatt (Luxury Lodges Chef of the Year 2023/24). Or head to The Terrace for seafood that matches those views, and yes, the fireplaces cosy up at dinner too.

And if you’re into wellness, ROKI Pure is no ordinary spa. It’s more like a zen fortress with thermal pools, an indoor lap pool, private treatments, ice baths, a personalised sleep concierge, and even “Rewild” sensory journeys. It’s like self-care, but a million times cooler.

But the bottom line is, ROKI Collection Queenstown is that rare combo of being a luxe lodge but with boutique‑hotel energy. Suggested nightly rates start at around AU$1600, going all the way up to AU$ 29,000 for the over‑the‑top suites, so it’s expensive to stay here, but dare we say it – it’s worth it.

Umi Bali to open in 2026

Just when you thought Uluwatu couldn’t get any more jaw-droppingly beautiful, along comes Umi, a five-star stunner that’s about to take Bali’s luxury game up several notches and then add a couple more for good measure.

Set to open in May 2026, Umi is perched just 200 metres from Uluwatu Beach, which means your morning swim could come with a side of sea breeze and surf envy.

Australian-owned and oozing understated glamour, Umi will feature seven private villas and 92 designer suites, each one showing off pool views and nestled among 1.5 kilometres of lush, garden-wrapped serenity. It’s probably like living inside a very tasteful jungle. With room types ranging from sleek Deluxe Suites to sprawling Family Suites, there’s plenty of space for everyone from solo sunset-seekers to barefoot little explorers.

And the design? Let’s just say if Mother Nature and a world-class architect had a love child, this would be it. Inspired by the sea caves of nearby Suluban Beach, Umi’s U-shaped layout opens dramatically to cascading infinity pools that ripple down the land’s natural contour. Think cliffside cool meets sculptural serenity, all wrapped in leafy planter boxes.

Dreamed up by co-founder Danil Flehan and the creative minds at Immersive Architecture and Vojtek Morsztyn Studio, Umi is all about luxury with a conscience. Expect barefoot elegance, eco-friendly flair, and a lot of guests “accidentally” extending their stay.

Nammos Resort Amaala

Hold on to your Aperol spritz, Mykonos just had a baby with the Red Sea, and its name is Nammos Resort Amaala. That’s right, the legendary Greek brand behind glittering beach parties and €30 salads has decided to unpack its Louis Vuitton in Saudi Arabia’s Triple Bay. Because apparently, camels and kaftans weren’t luxe enough.

Brought to you by Red Sea Global (a.k.a. the people turning sand into pure gold), Nammos Amaala is taking over Hijaz Island like a stylish superyacht on a mission. We’re talking 110 ocean-gawking rooms, 20 “you’ll-never-leave” private residences, and views that scream ‘Instagram me’. There’s a spa for when your chakras need tuning, a gym to pretend you work out, and a kids club (because little Hugo and Allegra need their own VIP space too).

And don’t you worry, they’ve thought about the dining. There’s not one, not two, but four restaurants where you can dramatically sip rosé and judge other people’s resort wear. And yes, the Nammos Beach Club is making the jump too, bringing with it chilled beats, seafood so fresh it’s practically still swimming, and vibes hotter than a July afternoon in Jeddah (really fecking hot).

It’s the eighth and final resort in Amaala’s first phase, which is basically the Saudi version of saying, “We’ve completed our glow-up.” Also, it’s all about regenerative tourism, so you can party guilt-free.

Move over Monaco. The Red Sea is ready to flex.

A little slice of Miami on the coast

If Palm Springs and a dreamy Pinterest board had a baby, it would be The Shores Miami. Smack bang on the Gold Coast, just a thong’s throw from the beach, this boutique bolthole is the kind of place your inner maximalist and outer minimalist will both approve of.

Designed by interiors wizard Jason Grant, the vibe is coastal cool with a twist of nostalgic fabulous. Think pastel tones, playful patterns, and all the modern conveniences your influencer heart desires (yes, the lighting is that good). Want to blast your poolside playlist while sipping a Hard Fizz? Sorted. Prefer to let AI Sheila handle your check-in? She’s on it; Australia’s first-ever AI concierge and your new favourite virtual mate.

Inside, it’s mindful, minimal and very millennial right down to the makeup-friendly mirrors and sneaky charging stations. Outside, it’s an Instagram dream, complete with curated collabs, surround sound vibes and the same motel that once starred in a Sneaky Sound System music video. (Yep, that “UFO” clip. We just saved you a ton of Googling.)

Whether you’re escaping for a girls’ weekend, a solo scroll detox, or a midweek retreat with your situationship, The Shores Miami is the place where tan lines fade, but the stories (and selfies) stick. This place is simply aesthetic to the max.