MARTINO DINI

From remote island sanctuaries to Riviera icons reborn, Georgia Boscawen charts the most exciting new arrivals in travel for 2026

Wilderness

Eha Hiiumaa Island, Estonia
OPENING SUMMER 2026

Located on Hiiumaa Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve off Estonia’s western coast, Eha is a new wellness retreat rooted in the wilderness. With just eight suites and three forest cabins, this minimalist sanctuary has been designed to blend into its surroundings – its pale timber, linen and soft-toned stone mirroring the forest beyond.

This minimalist sanctuary has been designed to blend into its surrounings - pale timber, linen and soft-toned stone mirroring the forest beyond

Programmes here weave ancestral healing with science, meaning guests can expect thermal rituals, forest bathing, breath-led movement and foraging sessions that restore both body and mind. In an age of overstimulation, Eha aims to define wellness as stillness in a quiet Baltic hideaway.

Fregate Island, Seychelles
REOPENING OCTOBER 2026

The Seychellean private island of Fregate reopens in 2026 as a sanctuary of wild beauty. On reopening it will be home to 14 private pool villas and three estates, including the Owner’s Estate, a secluded peninsula with its own helipad, spa, cinema and private marina access. At its heart will be the newly expanded Plantation House, a cultural hub with an open kitchen, distillery, patisserie, cigar lounge, library, museum and conservation lab.

Despite its evolution, Fregate Island will remain a fiercely protected Eden

Eighty per cent self-sufficient, Fregate’s cuisine is rooted in regenerative farming and responsible fishing and its practices keep its carbon footprint close to zero. Despite its evolution, it will remain a fiercely protected Eden, home to over 3,500 Aldabra giant tortoises and the once-extinct Seychelles dajjal, restored through pioneering conservation.

Na Praia Comporta Portugal
REOPENING OCTOBER 2026

Na Praia is a 113-key independent hotel shaped by more than ten years of design and environmental stewardship. Set across 340 hectares of protected wilderness, the hotel sits on the untamed Atlantic waterfront, scented with pine and juniper and surrounded by grass-tufted dunes. It sits just over an hour’s drive from Lisbon, but yachts can arrive directly to the property.

The vision of José António Uva, eighth-generation steward of hotel São Lourenço do Barrocal, Na Praia continues a legacy of conservation and craft. Architecture by Studio KO and landscaping by Doxiadis+ draw directly from the terrain, with raw earth, local clay and timber forming sculptural structures that appear to spring from the sand. Inside, muted tones and natural textures echo the coastal palette, while five restaurants showcase southern Portugal’s bounty.

Culture

Amoh Rhodes, Greece
OPENING APRIL 2026

The Luxury Collection is unveiling a new design-forward hotel on a secluded peninsula, 15 minutes from Lindos. Built on the site of an ancient quarry, the resort draws on the island’s deep history of stone craftsmanship and mythological lore.

Across 197 rooms and suites, interiors contrast rough local limestone with linen and a warm, earthy palette, with private terraces, spa pools and plunge pools in the rooms. Four restaurants and two bars celebrate Mediterranean tradition and flavours, including the hotel’s main restaurant Lithos, inspired by the island’s stone-carving legacy, and Kymata, where Rhodian seafood is elevated into fine-dining.

Wellness at Elispa channels Rhodes’ mythical bond with water, with six treatment rooms, thermal experiences and yoga on the beach. Experiences have also been designed to connect guests to the island’s culture, including ceramic workshops, honey tastings and daily bread-making.

Zannier Bendor Î le de Bendor, France
OPENING SPRING 2026

The Île de Bendor, the storied private island off the coast of Bandol in southeastern France, has been reborn under the stewardship of Zannier Hotels. Once the vision of pastis magnate Paul Ricard, the seven-hectare island has undergone a five-year transformation into Zannier Bendor, a 93-key retreat that blends a classical Provençal feel with modern flair.

Spread across three locations, the hotel evokes a reimagined village life, with cobbled lanes, terracotta rooftops and open terraces overlooking the Mediterranean. Guests can drift between eight restaurants and bars (including the island’s Nonna Bazaar outpost) or spend afternoons at the beach club. There is also a diving centre and holistic wellness spa on the island, which is also available for those visiting by yacht.

Design

Amanvari Baja California Sur, Mexico
OPENING Q2 2026

On a stretch of untouched coastline on the Sea of Cortez, Amanvari is preparing to mark Aman’s debut on Mexico’s Baja peninsula. It is set on the East Cape, its name a combination of the Sanskrit words aman (peace) and vari (water). Amanvari will open with 18 Casitas and a collection of Aman Residences.

Each pavilion will feature floor-to-ceiling glass walls, shaded outdoor terraces and private pools designed to blend into the dunes. There will be multiple dining venues at the property, an Aman Spa and an infinity pool that appears to merge with the sea beyond. Guests can explore Costa Palmas’ marina, golf course and organic farms, or enjoy desert hikes and sea safaris along the coast.

Chablé Guadalupe Baja California, Mexico
OPENING LATE 2026

The newest addition to Chablé Hotels, Chablé Guadalupe will bring the brand’s soulful luxury to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s largest wine region.

Nestled among 10 hectares of vineyards, the 70-key resort will be joined by 10 private residences, creating a modern retreat that balances culinary excellence, well-being and a sense of place. The Cuaik CDS design embraces native materials such as Baja stone, warm timber and raw textures, while the resort’s EDGE certification reinforces its commitment to sustainability.