As the seasons shift and summer arrives in the northern hemisphere, it’s time for indulgent exploration, and this month we have everything from luxury cruising in the heart of the South Pacific and aperitivo sessions beside the Venice Lagoon to family-friendly escapes in the Indian Ocean, river reprieves in the rural landscapes of France, and a new chapter for one of Switzerland’s most iconic hotels.
Always seeking to meet the needs of discerning travellers, hotels and travel companies continue to innovate and evolve, and the result is an endless array of luxurious travel encounters that feed the senses and soothe the soul.
An Urban Oasis
Opening in Q4, the luxurious new Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur promises to be a sophisticated new addition to the city’s hotel scene.
Designed by Hassell Studio to blend the vibrancy of the city with the lushness of nature, guests can expect organic textures, earthy stones, and an abundance of greenery, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping city views.
Spanning 26 storeys, the 466-room hotel will house four distinct dining venues, including Four Siblings, a destination rooftop bar and lounge with breathtaking skyline views, and Tuai + Till, the hotel’s all-day-dining concept, while a retro Italian-American restaurant will open later.
Located within the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Malaysia’s first international financial district, Kimpton Naluria Kuala Lumpur will introduce design-led spaces and experiences centred on its guests as well as a few signature perks, including Forgot It, We’ve Got It!, which provides daily essentials that might have been left behind, Kimpton Kickstart, the brand’s lobby coffee service, and Kimpton Social, a daily social hour of curated drinks, conversation and more.
South Seas Sojourn
If you’re looking for a luxury cruise to the idyllic isles of the South Pacific, Ponant Explorations is expanding to French Polynesia, with new itineraries aboard the Le Jacques Cartier, between October and December 2026 and January 2027.
Designed for travellers seeking intimate, exploration-focused experiences, Le Jacques Cartier, the latest vessel in the Ponant Explorers series, features a sleek, deep-blue hull and just 88 staterooms and suites, all with balconies. Her small size and shallow draft allow her to approach “motus” – the sandy islets in the heart of Polynesian lagoons – that are inaccessible to larger ships.
The new French Polynesia explorations will offer a renewed perspective on the destination by blending breathtaking nature and captivating culture with visits to the most remote and untouched archipelagos of Polynesia, including isolated Pacific islands such as Pitcairn, Gambier and the Australs, some with as few as 50 inhabitants.
Each day includes one optional activity (per person), alternating with Zodiac excursions and landings led by naturalist guides for full immersion in Polynesian nature.
All island activities are developed in close collaboration with local communities, and scuba diving will be available on all itineraries.
An Arrival Like No Other
Timed for this month’s Venice Film Festival, Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, emerges from the first phase of Peter Marino’s transformative redesign with exclusive new experiences.
The iconic hotel’s refreshed look includes an elevated reimagining of the arrival experience, with a new double-height, light-filled lobby, the unveiling of 13 redesigned rooms, including two Master Suites, Serenissima and Laguna, each of which offer private salons, dining rooms, and panoramic lagoon views, and 11 Suites and Junior Suites with private balconies overlooking the Casanova Gardens.
In addition, Hotel Cipriani and Dior have revealed a pair of venues for the 2025 season. Il Bacaro Dior, one of the best hotel bars in the world, located on the lagoon with sweeping west-facing views of St. Mark’s basin, is the first Dior Bar in Italy, offering an unrivalled vantage point to enjoy the city’s famed sunsets. Elegantly dressed in reinterpretations of Dior’s iconic toile de Jouy, sketched on sophisticated bamboo furniture, the bar offers a curated menu of cocktails and cicchetti, typical Venetian finger food, crafted in collaboration with the Maison.
In addition, the Dior pop-up has been adorned with lush tropical garden-inspired décor and works of art that echo the motifs of the toile de Jouy. The space showcases the House’s seasonal creations alongside an exceptional collection of hand-made furniture, meticulously woven by the artisans of Bonacina.
Also, look out for a reimagined Oro, Hotel Cipriani’s Michelin-starred restaurant, now helmed by acclaimed head chef Vania Ghedini, under the culinary direction of culinary maestro Chef Massimo Bottura. Ghedini curates a refined dining experience that blends tradition with contemporary flair, with menu highlights including a bold reinterpretation of carpaccio, originally created by Giuseppe Cipriani, and Paris-Venice Lobster, which pays tribute to the cuisine of the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.
Your New Udaipur Palace
If you’ve ever wanted to live like a Maharaja, the new Fairmont Udaipur Palace whisks guests to India’s golden age of hospitality.
This breathtaking new palace, spanning an 18-acre estate and perched atop the ancient Aravali Hills of Rajasthan, boasts 327 rooms and suites, eight dining concepts, a transformative wellness sanctuary, and layered experiences built on Rajasthan’s poetic legacy of timeless art, craft and hospitality.
Rooted in the distinct architectural style of Mewar’s great fortresses, Fairmont Udaipur Palace features chattris and courtyards, intricately layered pavilions, gardens, colonnades and terraces and the grandeur of the Raj Dwar, a dramatic fortress gateway flanked by cannons. Every detail is a tribute to India’s living heritage — from embroidered artworks, each a labour of love by village craftsmen, to shimmering deep blue panels etched with motifs that reflect the region’s natural beauty and royal legacy.
Opt for one of the Signature Rooms, which come with private plunge pools, or one of the opulent specialty suites, including the showstopping Jewel of Udaipur Suite, with its pool and terrace. Be sure to leave time for cocktails at Dahaad, an opulent palace bar centred around a thikri sculpture of a leopard, a motif of the region’s folklore, before dinner at Zaika, which pays homage to bold Indian culinary traditions through a deeply layered menu of comfort classics and regional specialities.
Ocean Vistas Await
If you have your heart set on a Bali vacation, be sure to check out the new Ocean View Residences at Ayana Segara.
One of four resorts within Ayana Bali — the island’s largest integrated resort destination — Ayana Segara has now made its coveted Ocean View Residences available for short-stay guests, who will benefit from new levels of luxury and privacy.
Perfect for families, the new Ocean View Residences offer a refined blend of privacy, comfort, and resort-style living. The 1-Bedroom Ocean View Residence features sweeping ocean views, an open-plan living and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, in-unit laundry, a walk-in closet, and access to two rooftop pools.
For those seeking extra space, the 2-Bedroom Ocean View Residence offers two elegant bedrooms, two bathrooms, a versatile den, a secluded garden, and private parking, while the 2-Bedroom Ocean View Residence with Pool elevates the experience further with a private swimming pool, ocean-view sun deck, shaded terrace, and enclosed garden.
Cruising the French Countryside
Chef Dominique Crenn, culinary curator for Les Bateaux Belmond, has unveiled new seasonal menus inspired by her French heritage and a lifelong appreciation for refined, regional gastronomy.
Les Bateaux Belmond’s fleet comprises seven boats, available for six-night-seven-day private charters departing on Sundays or Wednesdays.
The new menus have been crafted to highlight both seasonal ingredients and the distinct character of each region the vessels navigate. For example, guests aboard boats Pivoine, Alouette and Napoléon will enjoy dishes inspired by the flavours of Southern France – think Med classics like whole roasted sea bream served with carrot, chorizo and bitter lettuce; and soupe au pistou made with market vegetables and herbs.
While those sailing on Lilas, Coquelicot, Amaryllis and Fleur de Lys will be served menus celebrating the culinary heritage of Northern France, from vibrant spring peas and delicate trout roe to the earthy depth of morels paired with green peppercorns.
All menus served on board will prioritise fresh, locally sourced ingredients, selected from nearby markets along the boats’ routes, focusing on seasonal availability and quality.
Be sure to look out for the new Bordeaux itinerary aboard Alouette, which invites guests to explore picturesque vineyards, indulge in wine-inspired wellness experiences, and visit iconic châteaux, all while cruising between Agen and Castets-en-Dorthe.
Your Paris Pied-à-terre
If you’re planning to spend the summer in the City of Light this season, you might like to check into the indulgent new wellness-focused Eden Suite at the iconic Le Bristol.
Perched high above the rooftops of Paris, this elegant new hideaway, the latest suite to be given a refresh by Elvira and Narcisa Oetker, owners of the Oetker Collection, features textured drapes by Maison Schumacher and Braquenié, delicate cushions by Pierre Frey, a silken Clarence House sofa embroidered with stylised foliage and a living room illuminated by vintage Baguès Paris and Maison Charles lamps sourced from the Saint-Ouen flea market.
This space opens onto a lush, tree-lined terrace, a secluded garden in the air that’s invisible from the street, and which features a lava stone table by Paola Lenti and Marella Ferrera.
Nearby, enclosed in a glass cube, is the suite’s dedicated wellness space, complete with hammam, sauna, rain shower, jacuzzi, and massage table. The new wellness-oriented suite arrives as Le Bristol reenvisions its fitness and spa areas, which will soon welcome the iconic skincare brand La Mer.
Time to Get a Little Social
Bringing a much-needed injection of contemporary creativity to the Malaysian island, M Social has opened in Penang.
Fusing local heritage with contemporary flair, the country’s first M Social, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts’ growing portfolio, delivers plenty of eclectic charm and immersive design across its 318 rooms and suites, which are spread across two wings – Sunset Bay, offering panoramic sea views and vibrant interiors, and Azure, an ideal option for families and groups looking for beachfront-facing rooms.
Each room at M Social Resort Penang is laced with nods to Penang’s rich Peranakan heritage, from intricate geometric patterns to a lively palette of rose pink, sea green, and sky blue inspired by the island’s flora and coast, as well as mod cons like 55-inch smart TVs, high-speed Wi-Fi, and Malaysia’s first in-room AI voice assistant for effortless control.
Guests can also enjoy a 24-hour gym and an outdoor pool, as well as signature restaurant Beast & Butterfly, where Peranakan culture inspires the innovative menus.
The new M Social is located in the lively coastal enclave of Tanjung Bungah, just minutes from George Town, Gurney Drive, and Penang’s iconic street art and culinary hotspots.
Pool Villas in Paradise
Acclaimed Maldivian retreat Anantara Kihavah has launched indulgent new Beach Pool Villas designed for today’s luxury traveller.
Nestled amid lush greenery and just steps from the crystal-clear lagoon, the reimagined beachfront villas are ideal for couples, families and wellness seekers and offer the best of indoor-outdoor living with expansive glass doors, handcrafted timber finishes and a calming neutral palette.
Enlarged outdoor salas are great spots for unwinding or alfresco dining, while the transformed bathroom experience sees an open-air garden courtyard featuring a cascading rain shower and a soaking tub under the sky, combined with a spacious sofa lounge.
A New Chapter in St Moritz
One of Switzerland’s most iconic hotels, Badrutt’s Palace, has opened the Serlas Wing, the largest extension in its 129-year history.
The creation of ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the new wing, which gives guests direct access to St. Moritz village and the hotel’s clutch of restaurants at Chesa Veglia, features 25 contemporary guest rooms and suites dressed by Loro Piana Interiors.
Defined by their size and contemporary design, the new rooms and suites feature wool-walled panelled corridors, curtains, headboards, bed skirts, and chairs in wool and cashmere upholstery, and furniture by B&B Italia and Flexform.
Accessed via a sculptural bridge, as well as an innovative underground pedestrian tunnel that includes the longest hotel escalator in Switzerland, the ground floor of the Serlas Wing is home to luxury shops, such as Sabadini, Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent.