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Senses Douro Valley, Portugal

 Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal

Apart from Seychelles, the Six Senses brand is also coming to Europe this year. The first opening is the Six Senses Douro Valley (photo, left), expected to open in spring 2015. Set in a restored 19th-century manor house, the 71-room resort overlooks a vine-covered rolling hills of the Douro Valley.
This is to be followed by Six Senses Mont Blanc in France (photo, right), in late 2015. It’s a new territory in more ways than one—after all it’s a ski resort, build by a chain most comfortable with beach hotels. Never-mind. This 32-suite Mont Blanc resort looks stunning, and it offers a panoramic view of Europe’s highest peak.
Portugal opening: mid-2015. Photos © Six Senses Resorts & Spas

affles Jakarta, Indonesia

affles Jakarta, Indonesia

Situated at the heart of the central business district in Jakarta, the Raffles Jakarta features 173 rooms and suites, but the hotel also has an expansive spa, three restaurants and two bars. It’s a sister property to the legendary Raffles Singapore, which we visited to try the Singapore Sling.
Opening: March 2015. Photo © Raffles Hotels and Resorts

The Knickerbocker Hotel New York, USA

 The Knickerbocker Hotel New York, USA

Originally opened in 1906 and the rumoured birthplace of the Martini, in 2015 this legendary New York landmark is getting transformed into a sophisticated urban hotel. The remade, reinvigorated hotel has 330 rooms and suites, offering a promise of the New York luxury lifestyle.
Opening: February 2015. Photo © The Knickerbocker

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud, Bali

 Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud, Bali

Despite what you might have heard, The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi is not opening this year, having been postponed to at least 2016. But that’s OK, there are other great openings from this luxury brand to talk about in 2015—and the first one is Mandapa (but look also for item 43 on our list).

Anyway, the Mandapa. It’s an intimate property of 60 luxurious pool villas and suites, built amongst lush rice paddies and rolling hills, to the backdrop of the quiet Ayung River. Borrowing from the best features of the the Balinese architecture and craftsmanship, the hotel’s design captures the magic of Ubud.

Opening: mid-2015. Photo © The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

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Anantara Tangalle Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka

9 Anantara Tangalle Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka

The Anantara brand is debuting in Sri Lanka with two hotels. Scheduled to open late this year is Anantara Kalutara Resort & Spa, but first one to open is Tangalle Resort & Spa, on the island’s south coast. The resort is established in a beach-side town of Tangalle, some 80 kilometres east of the historic fort city of Galle. The 152 guest rooms (including 32 pool villas), restaurants, bars and spa are set up over 18 hectares of coconut palm groves.
Opening: late 2015. Photos © Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

The Official Google Blog France : Google, your guide to Rio de Janeiro

The Official Google Blog France : Google, your guide to Rio de Janeiro