The aforementioned guestrooms at The Langham, Boston feature classic American furnishings and marble bathrooms. Two-story brass-framed windows remain from the hotel’s days as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in the signature Loft suites. The former bank president’s office, which is now an event space, is adorned with murals by legendary artist N.C. Wyeth. Guests who purchase access to The Langham Club have access to an exclusive lounge on the eighth floor, as well as culinary offerings and premium bar service throughout the day. A partnership with XO private aviation grants priority access to the company’s exclusive fleet of super-midsize jets. Starting at $525; langhamhotels.com
The renowned Blackberry Farm resort in Tennessee is expanding into North Carolina and Wyoming. In the 1930s, High Hampton Resort (from $595; highhampton.com) in Cashiers, North Carolina, was a popular family destination due to its private lake, small cottages, and forested hiking trails. The mountain property retains its rustic charm, but now benefits from the knowledge and hospitality expertise of the Blackberry Farm staff. Sandy Beall, co-founder of Blackberry Farm, has invested personally in the outdoor-oriented Snake River Sporting Club in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (from $2,400; snakeriversportingclub.com). In addition to fly-fishing, horseback riding, golfing, shooting sporting clays, and hiking, expect a new lodge (below) and culinary upgrades as the property begins operating year-round. Additionally, the historic ranch will be renovated for weekly rodeos.
Shou Sugi Ban House, a popular wellness retreat in the Hamptons, has added the adjacent Shou Sugi Ban Inn to its footprint. There is a five-room bed and breakfast with three suites and two rooms, as well as two detached residences with five or seven bedrooms available for short-term rentals and decorated in a soothing, Japanese minimalist style. Enjoy breakfasts designed by Mads Refslund, co-founder of Copenhagen’s three-Michelin-starred Noma restaurant. Inn guests have priority access to the spa and wellness services of Shou Sugi Ban House while staying on the premises. $795.00; shousugirighte.com
The Aerial is a restorative retreat perched like a fortress on Buck Island, a private 43-acre island in the British Virgin Islands, with nutritionist-chefs, yoga instructors, and other wellness practitioners on staff. Watersports, writing workshops, immunity-boosting treatments, and nature walks are all possible activities. The five rustic-luxury residences feature expansive window walls that fully open to nature. Individual parties may book a room during certain getaway weeks, but the island is typically sold for the exclusive use of up to 30 guests for $40,000/night, all-inclusive, with a three-night minimum. The website aerialbvi.com
One&Only Portonovi (below), a sprawling 60-acre resort with 123 rooms, suites, and villas with views of the Adriatic and the Black Mountains, is opening in Montenegro’s “New Riviera” on the idyllic Boka Bay. Chef Giorgio Locatelli’s (Michelin-starred London restaurant) Sabia serves southern Italian cuisine. The Tapasake Club by the pool serves pan-Asian cuisine, sake-inspired cocktails, and DJ sets. Personalized, multiday wellness programming from Chenot, a Swiss company. beginning at $580; oneandonlyresorts.com
The Thompson In January, Austin opens with 212 rooms and suites. The design honors the rebellious spirit and Hill Country heritage of the Texas college town with concrete walls warmed by dark wood, soft leathers, and lush vegetation. Chef Mashama Bailey and Johno Morisano give Southern cuisine a Texas twist at Diner Bar. Stop by Wax Myrtle’s Club + Pool on the fourth floor for breathtaking views, inventive cocktails, and flavorful snacks. Starting at $330; thompsonhotels.com
At The Cloudveil (above) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a 3,000-pound boulder serves as the front desk and sets the tone for the 100-room hotel that is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Find the property centrally located on the Town Square, but with a nod in design to Wyoming’s ranching heritage. Guest rooms have spigot-inspired taps, horseshoe-shaped towel racks, saddle-like benches, and leather-covered chairs. From $450; thecloudveil.com
Located on the water in New York City’s Battery Maritime Building (formerly a Beaux-Arts ferry terminal), the 47-room Casa Cipriani has been transformed with nautical themes and custom Italian furniture by interior designer Thierry Despont. Many rooms have private balconies with views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. From $850; casacipriani.com
The first and only property of its kind from the Swedish luxury mattress company, Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel opens in Coimbra, Portugal. The bathroom in each of the 15 rooms is adorned with 1,200 hand-carved and gold-plated book spines—a tribute to the UNESCO-listed Biblioteca Joanina just next door. An even bigger draw: the rooms’ handmade Hästens beds, which have a cult-like following worldwide. From $600; cbrboutiquehotel.com
The new Beaverbrook Town House in London pairs with sister property Beaverbrook in Surrey to create the quintessential town-and-country experience. The 35-room estate in the Surrey Hills rekindles the spirit of the roaring twenties, honoring its charismatic former owner, Lord Beaverbrook, a press baron and wartime MP. Beaverbrook Town House, with 14 suites, recalls the Lord’s colorful life in London, where he hosted his illustrious friends, including Ian Fleming, Winston Churchill, Rudyard Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor, and Laurence Olivier. The atmosphere of both hotels is like staying in the home of a generous, eccentric friend. From $615; beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk
In the UNESCO World Heritage town of St. George’s and overlooking the white sands of St. Catherine’s Beach, The St. Regis Bermuda Resort (bottom right) has 120 guest rooms and suites, each with a private balcony. The cuisine is certainly island-centric, but also includes BLT steak. There are separate adult and family pools, as well as a spa and 24-hour fitness facilities, a children’s club, and the brand’s signature Butler Service. From $595; stregisbermudaresort.com
Rosewood Villa Magna in Madrid has been reimagined as a serene and elegant private residence, albeit one with 155 rooms and suites decorated to reflect their location in the historic, sophisticated Salamanca district. Tardeo bar offers both indoor and terrace dining and at the Rosewood signature Sense Spa, find an authentic Turkish hammam. From $760; rosewoodhotels.com
Welcome Beyond is a Germany-based website for cool and unusual accommodations: beach houses, artist house-ateliers, 18th-century hunting pavilions, and restored townhouses in medieval cities. Locations span the world—from Iceland and South Africa, to Brazil and Indonesia. welcomebeyond.com