BEST NEW HOTELS IN ASIA 2019

CNN listed Avani + in Luang Prabang as one of the most exciting hotels in Asia for 2019 and we have to agree. This colonial building that served as French officers’ quarters is now a tranquil hotel. Set around a sleek and chic courtyard pool, the building lets you escape from the rest of the world even though it’s set in the middle of the UNESCO city.
Looking for an adventure? Then take a ride in one of its boats along the Mekong. You can watch the sun go down behind the mountains at sunset, or if you want to go further, you can take the boat to Chiang Mai.

Tropical islands, cerulean seas, cloudless skies… Who could ask for anything more? Well, apparently you can. Joali has arrived in the Maldives and it’s ready to take island life to the next level. Forget about pillow menus, think mattress menus; instead of coffee table magazines, think a curated library; and instead of hotel art, think bespoke installations. The whole family is sure to fall in love with Joali. Whether it’s taking a picnic basket on a dhoni ride or the Joali Spa by ESPA or the Kids’ Club that comes with treasure hunts and spa treatments.

French designer Jacques Garcia has taken a string of heritage shophouses and turned them into Six Senses Maxwell - a showstopping heritage hotel. No expense has been spared at this hotel, which welcomes you with a bespoke singing bowl ceremony. An ancient stone floor has been shipped in from France, bathroom fittings have been handmade in England and an oversized silk rug that takes centre stage in the restaurant has been woven in Rajasthan. Order an Ann Siang Collins at the bar, then take a seat in the curated library and flick through one of the well-thumbed tomes. Or enjoy a ride on a tokyobike around Chinatown.

The former residence of the French Resident Superieure in Hue is now a picturesque hideaway called Azerai Le Residence Hue. Set on the Perfume River facing the famed Citadel, this Art Deco treasure comes with a sprawling tropical garden and salt water swimming pool. Its showpiece has to be the Resident Suite that occupies the entire top floor of the original governor’s mansion. The suite opens out on to a private veranda that comes with 360-degree views of the landscape. The hotel is breathtaking, but so are its surroundings. As the former Vietnamese capital, the palace and pagoda-filled city, will give you the ultimate culture fix.