By Shilo Urban
Do you love discovering far-flung destinations that few travelers have set foot in — but you prefer doing so in utter luxury? Venture to remote islands in the Indian Ocean like Zanzibar and the Seychelles without sacrificing a single indulgence on the just-launched Aqua Lares expedition yacht, which has an impressive 1:1 service ratio and only 15 cabins.
England’s spa town of Bath attracted Romans, medieval pilgrims, and Georgian aristocrats with its famous waters — but they could only have dreamed of the therapeutic foam steam-bath at the Francis Hotel’s new spa. Zone out in a cocoon of warm, fragrant bubbles with lather up to your chest, accompanied by a synchronized ambient soundscape and color-changing lights.
Trek with gorillas, yacht around Santorini island, sip tea with a Berber family, and attend an Indian wedding spectacle all on the same trip: the new 17-night, 7-country private jet tour from Preferred Hotels & Resorts. You’ll travel to Singapore, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Greece, Morocco, and England; prices start at $133,500 per person.
The highly anticipated Capella Kyoto hotel is opening just in time for cherry blossom season in Japan’s historic capital, with traditional wooden design that feels right at home in its atmospheric geisha neighborhood. Wander narrow passageways to moss gardens, Zen temples, kabuki theatres, and centuries-old teahouses — and return to a slow-living sanctuary with urban hot springs and artisan workshops.
Humans have been aging wine underground for almost 10,000 years — but now we’re aging it underwater. Try an ocean-aged vintage at the recently revamped Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort in the British Virgin Islands, where wines age in sunken steel cages a dozen fathoms deep. The briny blue environment softens tannins and amps up aromatics, and the barnacle-covered bottles are one-of-a-kind.
Get your motor running. Cruise the Swiss Alps behind the wheel of a brand-new Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini with HunterMoss’s new supercar tours. Explore backroads with spectacular views and lesser-known mountain passes, driving at your own pace and stopping at Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star chalets.
Immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of Iceland’s volcanic landscape at the new Black Sand Hotel, a meditative haven on an onyx-colored beach. Located 35 miles from Reykjavík, it’s the first oceanfront boutique hotel in Iceland and features minimalist DUX luxury furniture, a land-and-sea Nordic restaurant, and geothermal pools in the spa.