Now that the pandemic is behind us (hopefully), we can explore all the places on our bucket lists. People are tired of being couped up. This last year I have planned trips to destinations I had never sent people to, like Uzbekistan, Israel, Columbia, and Turkey. Some of the most incredible resorts I have ever seen opened in 2022. You need to discover these gems before everyone else does! Here is part 2 of my sexiest new honeymoon hotels.
The one thing the Maldives do not lack is incredible resorts. Entering this already crowded market and making waves is difficult. But Patina Maldives is already drawing repeat visits—despite opening in mid-2021. The resort lies on a lush and verdant manufactured island fringed by sugary golden beaches and lapped by the peaceful waters of a crystalline lagoon. Overwater villas are contemporary in design, with open-air decks for swimming pools, soaking in freestanding tubs, and lounging in hammocks.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay offers sustainable design and a wellness vision for couples to enjoy. Lying on the banks of the Pacific Ocean and encircled by the island's moss-covered bluffs and dense vegetation, this wellness retreat lies in harmony with nature. Couples that place a premium on health will adore the physical and nutritional itineraries prepped before arriving.
Deep in the rainforest of the undeveloped enclave of Buahan, Bali, you'll find Banyan Tree Escape, a private cluster of 16 balés (villas) designed without walls and doors to invite the glorious outside in seamlessly. Each villa has a pool and open deck above the trees, offering unparalleled vistas of the island's remarkable seven peaks. Plan on hiking and cycling through the jungle for the adventurous, while its locally sourced therapies in the open-air spa make its wellness offering hard to beat.
Australia has long excelled with beach resorts and rugged outback accommodations. Still, when it comes to experiencing its ancient rainforests and jungles in style and luxury, they had surprisingly few options—until now. Silky Oaks Lodge gives honeymooners access to Australia's most precious ecosystems, like the national park and the Great Barrier Reef, while prioritizing barefoot luxury. Each of the 40 treehouses blends into the landscape, with smooth timber and floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto private verandahs perched over the river.
Making a splash on the Amalfi Coast, renowned for iconic and romantic hotels, is practically impossible, but Borgo Santandrea has managed to do just that. It perches on the cliffs outside the town of Amalfi. The resort pays homage to legendary Italian architect Gio Ponti, whose ceramics adorn the blue-and-white lobby. Begin your days with breakfast on your terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, then head to the beach club, the only private strip along the coast.
Mykonos has been a hedonistic nightlife capital since the 1960s when Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren put the island on the party map. Kalesma offers all the European glamour with none of the thumping house music reverberating throughout Mykonos town. Twenty-five one-bedroom suites tower over the yacht-dotted Ornos Bay, with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors revealing the breathtaking views beyond. The hotel contemporizes the Grecian blue-and-white motif with white walls and pops of blue with the pools.
A brand new spa and restaurants full of locally sourced ingredients reflect the desires of today's Botswana travelers to languish in nature and indulge mindfully while on safari. The new DumaTau comprises eight enormous tented suites overlooking the elephant-rich Osprey Lagoon. Each offers a living room, shady sundeck, pool, and an outdoor shower. The variety of land- and water-based game viewing intensifies the immersive experience, as does the chance for intimate encounters with elephants, wild dogs, and rare-bird life.
After living in the shadow of Finland and Sweden, Norway is finally stepping into the limelight with Sommerro. Inside the electrical company's headquarters from the 1930s, each of its 246 rooms offers a luxurious Art-Deco style, with a rooftop pool perched over the waterfront. Its Munch-filled National Museum, the largest arts complex in northern Europe, opened this past June, and now the Norwegian capital has its first destination hotel.
Four Seasons partnered with Paralelo 19 to create a remarkable luxury resort as part of a gigantic El Tamarindo development on the Pacific Ocean peninsula. The hotel is a tropical oasis with an exquisite landscape, serene beaches, and rocky cliffs cascading into the Pacific Ocean below. It's a Four Seasons, so you know it is quality!
Aman is one of my favorite hotel chains (I am obsessed with the brand). Unfortunately, Aman resorts are very pricey, but now they are launching a new brand that will be accessible to those of us that don't own Space X! You can get the legendary Aman experience in Montenegro at Janu! The hotel offers Aman's exceptional service, impeccable design aesthetic, and a strong sense of place. The brand fosters human connections; Janu embodies this through indoor and outdoor restaurants and bars, swimming pools, and the Janu Spa lounge.
Known for choosing far-flung exotic destinations, Six Senses is developing an expanding collection of urban retreats with its new hotel in ancient Rome. Sheltered in an 18th-century palazzo, the 95-room hotel pledges an oasis after a day exploring Rome. The Roman baths and a rooftop terrace with dramatic views are the best places to take in the Eternal City.
Zulal is a first-of-its-kind venture—a wellness resort of the region and for the area, honoring ancient local techniques and traditions that have never been recognized before but appealing to today's young, hip global travelers. United with its exceptional setting on the coast in a country that's quickly evolving into the next It destination, Zulal is sure to become one of Qatar's premier resort offerings.
There's nothing quite like The Rooster on any Greek island; it is thoughtfully conceived and respectful of its surroundings, with a holistic philosophy of wellness, slow living, and farm-to-table food that feels genuinely contemplated. Its spa, the House of Healing, with Ayurvedic treatments, Reiki, and Qigong sessions, is more about feeling rather than looking good. Still, the facials are superb, and the whole place is flawless. Consider beautifully spare villas with private pools, expansive terraces, and unblemished views, and you really can't fail to feel deeply refreshed during your stay.
Honeymooners seeking a meaningful adventure on the southeast coast of Africa will realize their dream at Kisawa Sanctuary. The resort is a tropical Eden with 700 acres, fringed by the turquoise waters of an adjacent marine park. There are 12 open residences in a muted palette mirroring the natural colors and serenity. The warmth and passion of the staff will make your stay unforgettable.
Do you want to feel like you stumbled out of a time machine into a bygone era? Six Senses Fort Barwawa is the spot for you; it lies in a restored 14th-century hilltop garrison owned by royalty. Within the 700-year-old walls are lush gardens, two swimming pools, and 48 suites. The brand is known for wellness retreats, so the spa is fantastic, with 30,000 square feet for ayurvedic therapies, meditation, yoga, and more.
It has been an excellent year for new hotels! So much so that you can expect to see part 3 of this blog series. Can you see why I have struggled to narrow the choices for my favorite resorts of 2022?