Hot new hotels to check into
Just when you thought travel couldn't get any more luxurious, the newest batch of hotels and resorts have seriously upped the ante.
From ultraluxe mountain lodges in Bhutan to far-flung island hideaways in the Seychelles, there's something for all styles of discerning travelers when choosing a place to stay.
Here's our handpicked selection of incredible new hotels to check into in 2018:
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
The newest luxury hotel in Los Angeles wows from the outset with its soaring 70th-floor sky lobby, which serves up jaw-dropping views of the city from the moment you check in.
Here, and in every one of its 889 plush guest rooms, you'll find Instagram-worthy vistas over the City of Angels, from the Hollywood sign to the Pacific Ocean.
With clever, LA-inspired design and six food and beverage options -- including Spire 73, the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere -- you've got yourself the hottest hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island
For the Four Seasons' second Seychelles venture, the luxury hotel group chose the island of Desroches, and no wonder: located 35 minutes' flight from Mahe, it's as unspoiled and secluded as can be.
The new resort, which opens in early 2018, will feature just 71 lavish lodgings -- a mix of bungalows, villas, suites and sprawling, multi-bedroom residences.
The vibe will be castaway-chic, with indoor-outdoor floor plans and private plunge pools just steps from the Indian Ocean.
Six Senses Bhutan
Slated to open in August 2018, the highly anticipated Six Senses Bhutan isn't your typical luxury resort.
For starters, it's actually made up of five separate lodges in five different locations across Bhutan, all of which collectively form the resort.
Each individual lodge will boast its own unique theme: the lodge at Punakha, for example, will be set within a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse, while the one in Bumthang was created to feel like "a forest within a forest."
In addition to dramatic backdrops and design, guests can expect signature Six Senses luxury -- plush accommodations, fine dining, a holistic spa and infinity pools with a view.
The Shore Club, Turks & Caicos
Opened in January 2017, this $100 million resort is the first and only development on Long Bay Beach, a two-mile stretch of white sand on eastern Providenciales.
It boasts six luxury villas and 106 sun-drenched suites, each outfitted with roomy terraces overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Property highlights include four pools, an all-natural spa and a complimentary kids' club outfitted with its own treehouse.
Who said a secluded island getaway can't also be family-friendly?
W Las Vegas
W Hotels' long-anticipated foray into the glitz of Vegas doesn't disappoint.
The property, opened in March 2017, is as fashionable as you'd expect, from its 289 art-studded rooms to its stylish Living Room bar, home to some of the best artisanal cocktails on the Strip.
Added bonus: The hotel's signature Extreme WOW Suite -- decorated in red velvet and marble, with sweeping downtown views -- was designed by rock star Lenny Kravitz.
Baglioni Resort Maldives
Slated to open in March 2018, the Italian luxury hotel group's first tropical island venture is one to watch.
Located on the remote island of Maagau in the Dhaalu Atoll, the eco-friendly resort will boast 96 elegant, whitewashed villas that blend classic Italian elegance with a breezy island vibe.
Other hotel highlights include a pool, three restaurants -- with a focus on Italian cuisine, naturally -- and a beachside bar that's perfectly placed for a sunset aperitif.
The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan, China
Located in the heart of the buzzy Jingan District, steps from the Natural History Museum, St. Regis' newest property is perfectly placed for exploring Shanghai -- not that you'll ever want to leave.
The hotel boasts six restaurants, an organic spa with a heated indoor swimming pool and 436 sumptuous rooms featuring decor inspired by Chinese palaces.
The hotel's piece de resistance? Its Presidential Suite -- a 7,000-square-foot, three-story penthouse with a glass ceiling and unbeatable skyline views.