Whether you’re looking for a quick trip to Bali or a luxurious stay in the “Pink City” of India amid all the old world grandeur, we’ve been keeping tabs on the latest hotel openings in Asia to help make holiday planning easier. You owe it to yourself to take a break from the daily grind and take in all that Asia has to offer. Here’s a look at some of the best new hotels in our region.
CHINA/HONG KONG
The Murray
Transforming an old British government building in Hong Kong’s Central district into a ritzy, brass-and-marble clad hotel, The Murray is anything but boutique. Across 25 stories and over 300 rooms, its designers (whose main number is Britain’s Foster + Partners) have captured a look that’s both personal and lavish. The Murray Suite looks like something out of a New York loft with its sweeping, black-brushstroke art installations and blackened herringbone floor, while even the smallest rooms nudge at 50 sq meters. They’ve also partnered with the one Michelin-star Guo Fu Lou to open a restaurant in the neighboring two-story pavilion.
The rooms: Starting from $1,219/night.
The flights: Jetstar Asia gets you to Hong Kong for about $185/round-trip in September.
Amanyangyun
It took uber-luxury resort brand Aman over a decade to relocate the 50 Ming and Qing dynasty homes which make up the newly opened Amanyangyun resort. Now they sit in a 1,000-year-old camphor forest just outside downtown Shanghai, where, Aman has transformed them into just 26 villas and suites. Thick stone walls give way to interiors of warm bamboo, each with its own private courtyard and fireplace, while the central Nan Shufang building lets you try out ancient Chinese crafts. Learn the art of the tea ceremony and how to write calligraphy before taking a walk among the landscape of lakes and forests. Or just wake late and check into the Aman spa, which includes a Russian banya and a hammam.
The price: Starting from $1,080/night.
The flights: With Singapore Airlines you can fly to Pudong Airport for about $463/round-trip in May.
INDIA
JW Marriott Jaipur
Situated on the outskirts of what’s called the “Pink City” of India for its 18th century sandstone palaces and forts, JW Marriott’s new opening isn’t out of its depth amid all the old world grandeur. The hotel architecture borrows from Rajasthan’s majesty and will have you convinced you’re entering a palace of centuries past with its intricate stone latticework and tile mosaics. It’s worth the stay just to eat at Mohan Mahal, a gorgeous, tenderly-lit restaurant serving up Rajasthani and Mughali cuisine. The 200-plus rooms, suites and villas are modern updates of antique opulence. Each room’s marble floors convey a cool, minimalist vibe while invoking the marble palaces that the region’s famous for.
The price: $589/night for the royal pool villa, which comes with a private plunge pool.
The flights: Air Asia offers flights to Jaipur with a stopover in Kuala Lumupur at about $280/round-trip in July.
INDONESIA
U Janevalla
Dutch-colonial architecture endures in Bandung, Indonesia, alongside a budding counter-culture teeming with markets. The new opening from U Hotel Group mixes modern, glass architecture with lots of green; a balance that reflects the city’s own relationship with its surrounding lush hills and volcanoes. In the 119 rooms and suites, they’ve ditched the neoclassical outfitting favored by neighbors for an edgy-contemporary feel with stark grays and whites evened out by punchy furniture. The central location makes the hotel a convenient choice for a weekend shopping retreat or as a base for outdoor day trips.
The rooms: From $84/night.
The flights: Singapore Airlines can get you to Bandung for roughly $187/round-trip in October.
Suarga Padang Padang
With its cliffside, canopy-level perch, modern treehouse design and emphasis on self-sustainability, this resort is a little like a five-star reinvention of the Swiss Family Robinson home. Bear with the analogy: the Balinese craftsmanship employs traditional bamboo, limestone and straw in beautiful, contemporary structures, while the place powers itself with solar panels and uses filtered rainwater for day-to-day activity. With just 36 rooms/villas, it’s also very exclusive, with each of the villas afforded the extra luxury of a private pool. The hotel’s Dugong Restaurant whips up Indonesian fusion food mostly prepared from ingredients sourced within a 50km radius.
The rooms: $415/Night.
The flights: Flying to Bali with Scoot and returning to Singapore on Air Asia will cost you roughly $177 in September.
Revivo
Bali’s new, five-star sanctuary hides on the edge of the rainforest. On top of four-poster beds and garden-view bathtubs, the Balinese-style suites here come with a private garden, courtyard or pool. The four-suite villas are even more exclusive, each encompassing 4,000 sq meters of land and the option for a private chef and butler. The 12,800 sq-m resort also has a martial arts hall, Pilates studio, gym, restaurant, poolside bar and a spa with five treatment rooms.
The rooms: Wellness programs range from 3-14 days. Three-day packages begin at $1,533/person for the garden suite or $1,839/person for the private pool suite.
The flights: Flying to Bali with Scoot and returning to Singapore on Air Asia will cost you roughly $177 in September.
MALDIVES
Ras Fushi Resort & Spa
Centara has perfected the genre of romantic seaside holiday: stand-alone villas (both over the water and not), outdoor bathtubs, a sunset bar, those in-vogue mesh beds and (sorry, kids) a strictly adults-only policy. All this on a golden island surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Maldives. The hotel also organizes snorkeling and diving trips to the area’s favorites of the Giraavaru Cave, Kuda Haaa and Shark Point.
The rooms: Ocean Front Beach Villas start at $780/night while the overwater villas go for $1,017/night.
The flights: Scoot flights to Male start at $280/round-trip in May.
