Paris is always a good idea, but even more so in 2020. We are about to see the arrival of the Bulgari Hotel Paris and the Cheval Blanc Paris in the city of lights. Bulgari will throw open its doors in the super swish Triangle d’Or, while Cheval Blanc Paris will be set in the former La Samaritaine department store on the Seine. If you can tear yourself away from either hotel you can also visit the new USD$17 million Bourse De Commerce – Pinault Collection modern art museum owned by Francois Pinault. Set in the former stock exchange, this new museum will reveal 12 blue-chip exhibitions each year.
Does Bangkok need any more luxury hotels? Well, as the Four Seasons, Capella and Rosewood are launching new hotels in the city, it has to be a “yes!” The Capella is set to wow with an open-air spa, overwater villas and gourmet restaurant helmed by a two Michelin-star chef, while the Rosewood Bangkok near Lumphini boasts Pool Sky Villas with plunge pools. The Four Seasons Bangkok is coming back to the city in 2020 with a bang and taking a new nine-acre location on the Chao Phraya River. Designed by star architect Jean-Michel Gathy it comes with a boat dock, art gallery, duplex Presidential Suite and a Michelin-starred chef overseeing the kitchen. Choose one of these locales to rest your head whilst visiting the talked-about Bangkok Art Biennale that returns in October 2020.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site has been crowned as the first African Capital of Culture. The Moroccan city will be showcasing its architectural, artistic and cultural heritage in 2020. Whilst you’re there you can take a look at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and some of the new recently renovated medinas. If you needed another example of how fashionable Marrakech is at the moment, Dior held its recent Resort Show there, Madonna celebrated her 60th birthday here and Hollywood star Idris Elba tied the knot in the city. If you need one more reason to go, Turkish Airlines is about to make the city more accessible with the launch of new flights to the city.
No surprise that the Middle East’s start-up capital has developed a cachet of cool. While it may be too hot to wear hoodies, Tel Aviv has attracted all the other Silicon Valley trappings including buzzy cocktail bars, chic boutique hotels and eye-catching art galleries. Leave your luggage at the 19th-century monastery turned designer hideaway, The Jaffa Hotel. Then head to Port Said run by celebrity chef Eyal Shani, where the flavoursome dishes and energetic atmosphere will put you in the party mood.
Tokyo is sure to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue in 2020 as the host of the Summer Olympics. Go to see the most futuristic Olympic Games yet, the glamorous new five-star hotels (the Four Seasons and the Edition) and more Michelin-starred restaurants than in Paris. And then pencil in the cherry blossom season and make everyone at home envious of your Instagram posts.
