The 12 hotels you have to visit this year…
This year is proving to be a special year for the world of hotels. So many long-awaited openings, refurbishments and new experiences on offer. We’re here to share some our top hotel picks of 2017. We’ll let the pictures do most of the talking…
ANANTARA VILAMOURA ALGARVE RESORT
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has launched it’s first property in Europe, with the April opening of Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort along southern Portugal’s picturesque Algarve coast. Shady verandas face stunning swimming pools and the Arnold Palmer designed Oceânico golf course. The Two-Bedroom Anantara Suite will boast a huge terrace with a private dining area, Jacuzzi and sundeck. 
IKOS OCEANIA
Following a €27 million refurbishment, Ikos Oceania was unveiled in April 2017, with exciting enhancements and a spectacular new look for all of its 290 rooms and suites. The hotel boasts ultra-comfortable interconnecting family rooms, family suites with spacious private gardens and new designer sun loungers.
SEVERIN’S – THE ALPINE RETREAT, AUSTRIA
Severin*s is a luxurious boutique hotel, beautifully designed with a stylish après ski bar, restaurant with a Michelin starred chef, an incredible wine cellar, swimming pool complete with saunas, steam rooms and an infra-red cabin, as well as a hair salon and spa suite. There is also a super-swanky four-bedroom private residence with its own kitchen, lounge complete with a grand piano and cosy fireplace, home cinema and office, as well as an outdoor hot-tub overlooking the mountains.
ANANTARA AL JABAL AL AKHDAR, OMAN
Spectacularly secluded in the Al Hajar mountain range, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort beckons the inquisitive traveller with an array of inspirational experiences, from mountaintop yoga and trekking to stargazing, archery and mountain biking. Visitors will be able to witness the full blooming of the Damask roses cascading down the mountain slopes.
TIVOLI AVENIDA LIBERDADE, LISBON
The Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisbon is an oasis in the middle of the bustling city. This hotel opened on the 1st April after an exciting refurbishment, including new family rooms, a new restaurant concept and new spa. The hotel’s Sky Bar offers stunning panoramic views of Lisbon’s evening skyline. 
DUKES LONDON
Much-loved 5 star hotel Dukes London, has competed an extensive refurbishment. As part of an exciting new partnership, Liberty Fabrics will be furnishing a number of the bedrooms and public spaces with their instantly recognisable patterns. The popular Duchess Rooms, a personalised service aimed at the female solo traveller, will also undergo a dramatic facelift, working particularly closely with Liberty Fabrics to add those stylish, feminine touches. 
DUKES DUBAI
Not to be overshadowed, Dukes Dubai is the city’s most hotly anticipated new hotel opening, a quintessentially British offering located on the west trunk of Palm Jumeirah. Offering five-star luxury combined with British values and exceptional levels of service, synonymous with the hotel’s sister property Dukes London, this marks the first international property for Dukes.
NORTH ISLAND, SEYCHELLES
As one of the most exclusive private islands in the world, North Island’s wellness offering goes far beyond spa treatments, yoga classes and fresh, healthy food. Wellness on North Island is all about the generously inclusive offering, the luxury of space, private island exclusivity and disconnecting to reconnect – all within a sustainable setting. 
ANANTARA MALDIVES
With four luxury resorts in the Maldives – Anantara Kihavah Villas, Anantara Dhigu Resort, Anantara Veli Resort and Naladhu Maldives – guests can take their pick from some of the best locations and experiences in the Indian Ocean. These hotels are a water-lover’s paradise, where you can get up close and personal with local marine life and vibrant coral reefs, snorkel with manta rays in a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and go free diving with whale sharks.
TANJONG JARA RESORT, MALAYSIA
Tanjong Jara Resort, a sanctuary of luxury, upholds a philosophy based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being. The award-winning Spa Village Tanjong Jara is not to be missed. The Asam Roselle Experience includes a relaxing massage, a rejuvenating scrub, and concludes with Roselle tea, which, full of antioxidants, leaves the body feeling cantered and wholly nourished.
WALDORF ASTORIA, ROME CAVELIERI
A Waldorf Astoria resort just outside the vibrant heart of Rome, Rome Cavalieri opened in 1963 as the very first Waldorf Astoria property in Europe. Offering the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s set within 15 acres of parkland with four swimming pools, Davis Cup standard tennis courts AND an incredible spa offering La Prairie treatments. Many of the rooms have panoramic views over Rome and take in sights such as the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica.
AMARE BEACH HOTEL, MARBELLA
Located on Marbella’s beach front, and having recently undergone a major refurbishment before reopening in February, this fabulously lively adult’s only hotel is the perfect summer escape. xtend lazy days lounging around the pool, refreshed and ready to hit Belvue Rooftop Bar when night falls, enjoying the finest of Iberian hams, Spanish cheeses and 360º views of Marbella.
