The Best in the World of Luxury Travel This December

The Dandelion Chandelier Luxury Travel Diary has the news headlines you need to know regarding new luxury hotel openings, new travel books, new luxury travel products, and new travel experiences in December 2019. For the full December 2019 Luxury Calendar, click here. And for our list of the top 10 luxury travel destinations in December, click here.

the best in the world of luxury travel this december 2019

‘Tis the season for travel and travel gifts, and lucky for us there are wonderful new places to explore come snow or sand.

From new hotels like Breckenridge’s Gravity Haus and The Oberoi Marrakech to restored classics like La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich; Or trips on the newly minted 34 Delta One “suite” from Salt Lake City to Heathrow and the Carnival Panorama, December is ready to take you to new places. 

top news and events in luxury travel this december 2019

1. Europe

1Hotel’s leafy little sister brand will open this month in central London’s Marylebone neighborhood. Like its sibling, the focus at Treehouse will be on urban sustainability. The furniture will be up-cycled and waste management will be significantly more mindful than those of several leading city brands.

Palazzo Doglio is opening on the island of Sardinia, Palazzo just a short stroll away from the picturesque marina and famous Poetto Beach

Designer Philippe Starck embarked on an ambitious, months-long renovation project to remodel the Eden au Lac (originally built in 1909), transforming it into the 40-room La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich – Dec 16

Les Suites at The Cliff Bay has opened in Madeira, Portugal with with 23 luxury suites overlooking the sea.

2. United States

Team Snow has a new reason to cheer this month.  Gravity Haus, a 60-room ski-in/ski-out boutique hotel is opening at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 9.  Guest rooms have a modern alpine lodge appeal, wood and plaid throws, and a simple desk for the unavoidable email check-ins while on vacation. The entire property has an emphasis on eco-awareness, like WinkBed mattresses and natural bath products from EO Essential Oils.

The newly opened 121 Hotel is situated in Nashville’s West End, just five minutes from downtown.  It focuses on small gatherings and events with just 16 bedrooms and a variety of meeting spaces.

The Hall Arts Hotel is opening in the cultural center of Dallas, the Arts Dallas District and will be the area’s first hotel.  It will feature a rooftop pool with downtown views, two chef-driven restaurants and an extensive art collection, reflecting the vibrant surrounding neighborhood – Dec 3

Cruise fans living on the West Coast have been eagerly awaiting the Carnival Panorama for more than a year, and for good reason: It’ll be the first new Carnival vessel based in the region in two decades.  Cruise lines traditionally deploy their newest ships on the East Coast, so this is a big for the West Coast.  With 15 decks and room for up to 5,097 people, it’ll sail year-round to the Mexican Riviera out of Long Beach, California – Dec 11

Transatlantic service at Salt Lake City will get a boost this winter when Delta upgrades its nonstop service to London Heathrow.  The route will shift from a seasonal schedule to year-round service starting this month. Flights will be on 264-seat Airbus A330-200 jets that include 34 Delta One “suites” – Dec 19

3. Asia

Phulay Bay, the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, will open eight new and refurbished beachfront villas this month. True to Phulay Bay style, the newly refreshed villas’ design will coincide with the existing environment through the integration of local Thai art and cultural heritage – Dec 1

Jaya House Angkor Park is opening nearby its sister property Jaya House River Park just outside of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple, and with a similar commitment to the environment and Siem Reap community.  The hotel artwork, which channels Cambodia at its creative heyday in the 1960, includes large-scale paintings by the Small Art School (a local NGO) and in-room laundry bags are crafted from recycled plastic bags by regional small business Rehash Trash, which provides full-time jobs to local women. Plus, the whole property is single-use plastic free.

Following in the footsteps of its Singaporean sister, the iconic landmark, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap, has reopened following a meticulous six-month restoration

4. Middle East and Africa

Located in 28 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, fragrant citrus orchards and olive groves with spectacular views of the snow capped Atlas Mountains, The Oberoi Marrakech is opening – Dec 1

Andaz Dubai The Palm is slated to open this month and will be the first Andaz branded hotel in Dubai. Split between two 15-storey towers, the beachfront hotel will feature 217 guest rooms as well as 116 serviced apartments that will be inspired by the colours of Arabia – Dec 1

5. Latin America and Caribbean

This highly-anticipated Nayara Tented Camp opens in Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano Park this month. The camp’s 29 air-conditioned tents take a page from Africa’s luxe canvas lodges, while still feeling distinctly Central American with canopy beds, tropical botanic murals and a color palette to match the browns and greens of the surrounding rainforest. Rooms have outdoor showers, private plunge pools fed by mineral hot springs and unobstructed views of the nearby Arenal Volcano.

Hammock Cove is Antigua’s newest luxury, boutique property. Located on the Caribbean island’s northeast coast adjacent to Devil’s Bridge National Park with its famed Insta-worthy limestone arch and soaring ocean geysers, the resort’s three defining pillars include gastronomy, personalized service and uninterrupted luxury – Dec 1

new luxury travel products and travel books launching in december 2019

Just getting out of a tough relationship and looking for a distraction? The new travel app called Breakup Tours might be for you.  Breakup Tours offers experiences and services aimed at people who are dealing with heartbreak.  Instead of querying users about travel dates and room preferences, the app asks clients some fairly unusual pre-booking questions like “Imagine a moon now, what shape comes to mind?”, “Anything you wish you had said to your ex?” or “If you receive a call from your ex now, would you take it?”

Looking to escape to the beach this winter?  In the new book, Palm Beach, longtime resident and Palm Beach social fixture Aerin Lauder takes readers through her Palm Beach.  From favorite restaurants like Nandos and Renatos, to favorite houses like La Follia and Villa Artemis, she takes us to the elite shopping of Worth Avenue and the scenic walkways of the Lake Worth trail, all the while relating to us the histories, faces and places that have become so identified with Palm Beach – Dec 16

the best in the world of luxury travel this december 2019

Those are the news headlines you need to know regarding the best in luxury travel, new luxury hotel openings, new travel books, and new luxury travel products for December 2019. Wherever you’re going, have a great trip.

join our community

For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.

 Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands. 

Forward This Article