WHERE TO NEXT?
ONE&ONLY DESARU COAST
Malaysia
Sustained efforts to develop Desaru Coast have yielded quite a few familiar names, but the most exclusive of the lot is undoubtedly One&Only. The all-suite resort is home to 42 junior suites, two grand suites and a spacious four-bedroom villa simply called Villa One. The Kerry Hill-designed resort is also home to Asia’s first Chenot Spa, run by the eponymous Swiss wellness firm that bases its treatments on modern science and traditional Chinese medicine. Golfers, opt for the three-day Chenot Golf Programme (especially if you’ve completed 18 holes at the nearby Els Club), which includes a postural and movement assessment and daily customised massages.
RAFFLES BALI
Indonesia
Located on Jimbaran Bay, the 15th Raffles property features an all-villa line-up, with just 32 keys to its name. Villa sizes start at a generous 375sqm – each comes with a bathtub, private pool and manicured garden that overlooks the sea – but families are better off booking the 900sqm Raffles Presidential Villa. The two-bedroom residence comes with a 46sqm infinity pool, outdoor gazebo, yoga pavilion and a library filled with Balinese literature. On your last evening there, we recommend Rumari for a cocktail or two – it’s the vantage point for sunsets – before heading for a candlelit dinner in a cave.
ELANG PRIVATE RESIDENCE
Indonesia
The makings of this island retreat has been underway for quite some time, making its opening a lot more relevant in the face of the pandemic. Accessible from Batam airport via seaplane – you can also sail there on your yacht if you’d like – Elang Private Residence is home to just six cliffside lodges, making it ideal for a family buyout. Each lodge is designed with six-metre-high ceilings and hand-cut stone walls and boasts uninterrupted ocean views. The private island comes with a clubhouse, dining room and spa (guests enjoy one complimentary spa treatment each day), plus a saltwater infinity pool carved out from a natural hollow. All meals, non-alcoholic beverages, yoga and Pilates lessons, and private butler service is included in the stay. Cabin fever shouldn’t hit, but if it does, hop on a three-minute boat ride to Bawah Reserve to enjoy the facilities that the main island has to offer.
CAPELLA HANOI
Vietnam
Following the overwhelming success of its Balinese property, the Capella group has once again tapped the whimsical touch of designer Bill Bensley for its newest property in Hanoi. Perched on a quiet street in the city’s Hoàn Kiếm quarter – just steps away from Hanoi Opera House – the intimate 47-room hotel takes its cues from the halcyon days of opera, designed as what would have been the rendezvous spot for the operatic stage team after the final curtain call. Expect Bensley’s fanciful humour to come to life through a blend of memorabilia, photographs, set displays and vibrant portraiture art inspired by 1920s decor.
ANDAZ BALI
Indonesia
While Singapore is home to Andaz’s first hotel in Southeast Asia, Bali flies the flag for the brand’s first resort in this region. Designed to mimic a traditional Balinese village, you’ll find low-rise clusters of rooms, suites and villas built with red bricks and thatched roofs. And here’s where it gets better. Those travelling in larger groups can connect two 2-bedroom beach villas to create their own private retreat, while still giving them access to Andaz Bali’s four restaurants – a satisfyingly large number for a 149-key resort – as well as the rest of the usual facilities that luxury resorts offer.
