4. Oberoi Al Zora
Located a mere 30 minutes away from Dubai Airport, the Oberoi Al Zora is housed amidst a staggering 247 acres of protected forest area. This eco retreat allows guests access to the white sand beachfront, glittering lagoons and verdant mangroves. Accommodations include 113 guestrooms, suites, villas and penthouses where guests can take in the views from private balconies and terraces. Suites and villas will have their own temperature controlled pools. The spa will offer signature therapies including hammam and a 50 m pool. The resort’s main restaurant will supposedly be surrounded by water, almost like a floating island.
3. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
The St. Regis Vommuli Resort, Maldives marks the debut of the St. Regis brand on the idyllic archipelago of Maldives. Located on the private island of Vommuli, this resort is a 40 minute seaplane ride away from the capital city of Malé. 77 luxury private villas comprise the resort located on 20 acres of unspoiled land that offers access to picturesque beaches and even a lagoon. The contemporary design aesthetic will draw inspiration from the island. A spa with six private treatment rooms, an infinity swimming pool, a fitness center and yoga space and a separate dive and activity center will also be part of the property. The resort’s three specialty restaurants and signature bar will offer an array of culinary experiences.
2. Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa
Another Sri Lankan destination that offers a tropical escape, the Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort offers access to the country’s premier 18-hole golf course, set amid a verdant coconut palm plantation. Culture seekers can visit the resort’s artisan village where they can enjoy local music and dance as well as performances of Angampora (Sri Lanka’s indigenous martial art). At Chi, the spa, guests can be pampered with Chinese and Ayurvedic treatments and all natural products. On the inside, the resort’s 300 rooms and suites offer views of the tropical gardens, golf lawns or the Indian Ocean. Each one has been furnished with indigenous materials to reflect a contemporary aesthetic that is in harmony with the resort’s natural setting.
1. Shanghai Disneyland Resort
Rounding out our list is Shanghai’s much awaited Disney Resort. This will be the first Disney resort in Mainland China and will be a destination in itself and is slated to include Shanghai Disneyland (a theme park with six themed lands: Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, Treasure Cove and Fantasyland, with the Enchanted Storybook Castle), the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the Toy Story Hotel (themed hotels located close to the theme park), Disneytown (an international shopping, dining and entertainment district that will include the Walt Disney Grand Theatre) and the Wishing Star Park (complete with gardens, a walking path and its own lake). Slated to be an all-out Disney extravaganza, there’s no death of places to see and things to do in this wonderland. Several of the resort’s features will be unique and never-before-seen like the Enchanted Storybook Castle which will be the tallest, largest and most interactive castle at any Disney theme park and Treasure Cove, the first pirate-themed land at a Disney park. Bookmark this place for your next family vacation.
