In with the new: 4 boutique hotels to inspire your next holiday

Last-minute summer holiday planners will be relieved to hear that we’ve lined up some of the hottest new openings around the world – so you can stop your search and consider your next boutique escape sorted. We’ve got our eye on a sustainably-driven stay in Slovenia, a shoreside Lake Garda retreat, and more…

1. Vila Planinka, Jezersko – Slovenia

A tech-free stay in the Slovenian Alps, Vila Planinka is a nature-immersed chalet worth setting your ‘out of office’ for. This is a place where connections don’t come from cables – but from people, earth and nature. The carefully restored interiors are a window into Slovenia’s past – there’s a story behind every pair of wooden skis, blueberry rake, and peasant storage chest dotted around this Considerate Collection property. In the natural wood-wrapped bedrooms, your locally-made linens are dried in the fresh alpine air. And no air-conditioning, no problem. Refreshing breezes from the Skuta Glacier keep everything nice and chilled during the summer months.

When the snow-capped mountains of Jezersko beckon, ask the friendly team about guided night hikes and stargazing, climbing tours, forest bathing and yoga, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, visits to local farms and rural granaries with cheese tastings, and organic wine tastings. Many of these artisanal growers supply the hotel’s restaurant, which works closely with nearby eco-farms to source alpine-fresh produce and biodynamic Slovenian wines.

Vila Planinka | Book Now

2. Cape of Senses, Lake Garda – Italy

Teetering high above Lake Garda, Cape of Senses overlooks the picturesque village of Torri del Benaco, and cornflower-blue mountains rising above the shimmering waters. A sweet citrus scent drifts into the light-flooded rooms from the Mediterranean gardens, which hide an outdoor yoga platform and swimming pool amongst olive and lemon groves. The serenely styled spa brings the outdoors in, with windows for walls in the relaxation rooms and garden-facing cabins for private treatments. Dine alfresco beneath the stars at one of two rooftop restaurants, with daily-changing menus and ingredients fresh from the market and the hotel’s herb garden. This is a brand new boutique stay you’ll want to return to summer after summer.

Cape of Senses | Book Now

3. Yanbai Villa, Beijing – China

On the shores of Beijing’s Yanqi Lake, Yanbai Villa by Wild Goose & Pine is a tranquil escape from the city lights. There’s beauty to see here all year round as the landscape reflects the changing seasons. And the hotel’s been designed by renowned Pritzker prize-winning architect Wang Shu to immerse you in the sights, sounds and scents of nature, from woods to hills and waterfalls.

Shu was inspired by the Song Dynasty paintings ‘A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains’, and ‘Landscapes of the Four Seasons’ when planning Yanbai Villa’s design. It’s no surprise that the hotel’s expansive gardens are its highlight – dotted with trees, bridges and zig-zagging trails for refreshing strolls. Observation decks and terraces allow you to take in panoramic views of serene Yanqi Lake, and the striking wooded slopes of Yanqi Island. The hotel’s rooms invite the outside in, nestled within the gardens and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows framing rustling leaves or shimmering water. And we haven’t even mentioned the Guan outdoor hot spring pool, Whiskey Bars, and traditional Chinese tea room…

Yanbai Villa | Book Now

4. La Miniera Pool Villas, Pattaya – Thailand

Halfway between Pattaya’s golden beaches and the rolling greens of its country clubs, La Miniera Pool Villas is a perfectly placed sanctuary in Thailand’s Chonburi province. Every villa has been beautifully designed with relaxation in mind, and comes with your own private heated pool, Jacuzzi, and garden views (some even boast direct access to the main outdoor swimming pool, complete with swim-up bar). Though it’s tempting to spend most of your time unwinding here, there’s also so much to explore – especially with the hotel’s eco-friendly electric tricycles to borrow. The neighbouring NongPrue public park, Pattaya beach, The Sanctuary of Truth, and Thepprasit Night Market are just some of the highlights on your doorstep.

La Miniera Pool Villas Pattaya | Book Now