Luxury getaways

The best new luxury hotels offer so much more than a bed for the night. Sumptuously stylish, they are fabulous destinations in their own right, and provide plenty of inspiration for those planning a home makeover. The price of a room varies hugely these days, depending on when you go and who with. But whichever route you take, be sure to allow plenty of time to relax and relish your beautiful surroundings.

MARSA MALAZ KEMPINSKI, DOHA

The 281-room Marsa Malaz Kempinski, opening at the end of the year, will be the   rst ultra-luxury hotel on The Pearl-Qatar, Doha’s iconic arti  cial island. All the rooms will feature a garden or sea view, and some a private pool as well. Restaurants will o er Spanish, Italian and Japanese cuisine, and there’ll be a private beach, health club and spa, and a children’s club.
00-97 44 405 3333, www.kempinski.com
www.qatartourism.gov.qa

URSO, MADRID

Madrid’s first five-star boutique hotel, URSO, has just opened in a 20th-century former palace, with 78 rooms and suites. It’s a 10-minute walk from the main shopping district, Serrano, and 15 minutes from the Prado and Thyssen museums, while the new Barceló food market is right on the doorstep. The hotel features a luxury spa offering treatments by prestigious Spanish skincare specialist Natura Bissé.
00-34 914 444 458, www.hotelurso.com

WALDORF ASTORIA, AMSTERDAM

Hilton has opened the canalside Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam, in the Unesco World Heritage-listed area of Herengracht. Six historic 17th- and 18th-century town houses have been converted into a 93-room hotel – retaining all original features, such as beamed ceilings, sash windows and freestanding baths. Michelin-starred restaurateurs Jonnie and Thérèse Boer have created a new restaurant for the hotel, and there’s a Guerlain spa with a heated indoor pool.
00-31 20 718 4600, www.waldorfastoria.com/amsterdam

PORTRAIT FIRENZE, FLORENCE

The walls of the rooms in Portrait Firenze, the new Ferragamo-owned hotel in Florence, Italy, are decorated with photographs depicting the glamour of the city in the 1950s. Each of the 34 suites and studios has a kitchenette and a bathroom – with, of course, toiletries by Salvatore Ferragamo. The Portrait Caffè is the place to eat and drink in the views of the beautiful Ponte Vecchio.
00-39 055 2726 4000, www.lungarnocollection.com

VILLA CHRISTINA, KEFALONIA

Private villas are another source of inspiration, and the family-owned Unique Villas has opened four new properties on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Among them is the super-stylish Villa Christina, located in an olive grove near the village of Spartia on the south coast. Facilities include an outdoor gym, a bespoke concierge service and an infinity pool.
020-7183 5383, www.uniquevillaskefalonia.co.uk

SUJAN RAJMAHAL PALACE, JAIPUR

Finally, the gorgeously exotic 20-suite Suján Rajmahal Palace will open in November in the heart of India’s Pink City, Jaipur. Originally built in 1729 by the Maharaja of Jaipur, it features a stunning original marble staircase, chandeliers, mirrored ceilings, two restaurants, a bar, a swimming pool and a spa.
00-91 114 617 2700, www.sujanluxury.com

Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk