A new year is always exciting but at Turquoise we’re really excited for 2020, as several of our favourite boltholes are reopening after refurbishments and there’s lots of new hotels arriving on the scene. From trendy beach boutiques to simple farm living on centuries-old wine estates, here’s some of our top picks opening their doors in 2020…
Gili Lankanfushi – reopened December 2019
Floating in the centre of its own lagoon, just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé, Gili Lankanfushi is blissful barefoot luxury. After being damaged by a fire earlier this year, the resort has been refurbished from top to toe with flashes of turquoise (no wonder we love it) to reflect the island’s tranquil environment. With sustainability and the natural environment is at its core, the furniture has been made by skilled local craftsmen using upcycled materials and recycled teakwood and wire mesh.
As well as the 45 newly refurbished villas, private pools have been added to the Residence and Villa Suites for an extra splash of luxury, while the new Family Villas with Pools are perfect for families. Gili is also launching a series of educational and wellness programmes for guests to enjoy during their stay, including marine conservation, sunrise yoga and reflexology.
Rosewood Little Dix Bay – opening January 2020
A labour of love for conservationist Laurance Rockefeller for so long, Rosewood Little Dix Bay opened in 1964 with a vision of understated luxury and a respect for the environment. Its setting is certainly spectacular, set within 500 acres of lush gardens and fringed by white beaches and azure waters.
In January, Little Dix Bay is set to reopen its doors following a multi-million dollar renovation, staying close to its roots with contemporary architecture and the sleek interiors which hark back to the mid-century designs when it first opened. Its 80 rooms, suites and villas have been designed by New York-based team Meyer Davis, including striking signature treehouses, a Cliffside spa, seven tennis courts, two outdoor pools and Indian and west Indian-inspired cuisine at three different restaurants.
Capella Bangkok – opening early 2020
Opening in early 2020, Capella Bangkok is part of the exciting Sathorn riverside neighbourhood revival, where a rising arts scene and culinary landscape are part of a whole new chapter for this corner of Thailand’s capital.
Capella Bangkok is at its heart, a 101-room urban resort which includes suites and the city’s first riverfront villas. The feel is intimate pied-à-terre with every room granting superb views of the river, while it’s littered with incredible spaces like its signature restaurant spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. The morning ambience is delightful, with daybreak joggers darting past riverside groups performing tai chi or yoga, while the evening sees badminton, volleyball and takraw.
The Marly – reopened December 2019
A boutique hotel in buzzing Camps Bay, The Marly has transformed itself from an 11-suite hotel to a 38-suite beauty, complete with newly built spa, shopping boutique and rooftop pool. Following a five-month renovation, it’s the epitome of chic beach luxury, with a new floor adding 27 new suites, each one elegantly designed in the hotel’s trademark palette of silvers, whites and greys, with elaborate bathrooms. It took its inspiration from Chateau de Marly, a 17th-century ‘leisure palace’ built for French King Louis XIV, and the hotel lives up to its lavish billing while still feeling trendy in the laid-back suburb of Camps Bay.
The rooftop pool, bar and lounge features Hollywood-style semi-submerged pool loungers, where you can enjoy superb cocktails while soaking up beach, sea and mountain views.
COMO Cocoa Island – reopening January 2020
Nestled on the tiny island of Makunufushi, COMO Cocoa Island has always been a paradisal place. Surrounded by clear waters and reefs teeming with tropical fish, a snorkel here will put you nose-to-gill with Kashmir snappers and needlefish, among others. The resort itself drips with understated elegance impeccable design and after a seven-month renovation, will fling open its barefoot doors in January once again.
All 34 of the overwater villas are uniquely inspired by dhoni boats, no refurbished with sleek new interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows so you’ve always got those magical Maldivian views in your sights. Some have also had pools added, while a pilates studio, gym and yoga centre are also new additions to COMO.
The Legian Sire – opening early 2020
Due to become one of the most impressive additions to the sleepy island of Lombok, we can’t wait to see what The Legian Sire brings to the party. Boutique in size and with epic views of the Gili islands, Bali’s Mount Agung and Lombok’s Mount Rinjani, The Legian Sire will be firmly Indonesian at heart thanks to local designers Agnes Affandy and Shaun Yeo. Your pulse will be slowed by its calm, timeless spaces, while the local culture is evident everywhere with Tenun Ikat fabrics from Sumba and exquisitely detailed lattice walls hand-carved in solid teak from Sumbawa.
The Legian’s spa will also be renowned for its simplicity, with treatments inspired by the rich healing heritage and the Apothecary Bar serving oils, infusions and poultices, as well as juices blended with ingredients from the hotel’s wellness garden. The philosophy here is that ‘food is medicine’, with the organic fruit and vegetable garden heavily contributing to the resort’s menu.
Boschendal’s New Tented Camp Experience – opening March 2020
Steeped in history as South Africa’s second-oldest wine farm, Boschendal is now becoming the country’s first tented camp within the Cape Winelands. Each of the seven luxury tents has been designed so guests can feel like they’re living on the farm, where you can lose yourself in the surrounding ancient landscape of mountains, rivers and farmland. It’s the ideal place to switch off from the outside world and tune into nature.
As you’d expect, natural and earthy tones dominate the tents’ design, each one large enough for a bedroom, bathroom and private decking area. However, getting out and about is the real allure at Boschendal. Horse riding, guided hikes and mountain biking are great ways of exploring your scenic surrounds, while cellar tours, bread-making and open-water swimming are some of the daily activities on the farm. Come mealtimes, you’ll be feeding on the fresh and delicious organic farm produce, from the grass-fed Angus cattle to the forest-fed pigs and free-range chickens. This is sustainable farm living at its finest.
