Now is the best time to think about booking adventures in the New Year. Here are new properties worth the splurge.

Interiors of the safari tents at the ULUM hotel by Under Canvas in Moab, Utah
Courtesy of ULUM
InteriorsInteriors of the safari tents at the ULUM hotel by Under Canvas in Moab, Utah of the safari tents at the ULUM hotel by Under Canvas in Moab, Utah

We’re all about manifesting great adventures this time of year, and these new hotel openings slated for 2023 are definitely giving us something to look forward to. Here are the spots we have bookmarked for our upcoming travels.

ULUM by Under Canvas (Moab, Utah)

Interiors at the ULUM hotel by Under Canvas in Moab, Utah
Interiors of the safari tents at the ULUM hotel by Under Canvas in Moab, Utah

Courtesy of ULUM

Under Canvas announced they’re launching a new brand called ULUM in March of 2023, and it’s their most extravagant adventure offering yet. Known for their stunning safari-style accommodations located near national parklands, the new high-design resort called ULUM will be located just steps from Looking Glass Arch in Moab, Utah. The property is situated on 200 acres of ochre desert landscape surrounded by 100-foot cliffs on three sides and boasts panoramic views of Canyonlands National Park and is sure to be a stunner.

Trailborn (Estes Park, Colorado)

Trailborn Hotel Estes Park Rocky Mountains †

Courtesy of Trailborn Rocky Mountains

Cribbing on the idea of popular groups like Under Canvas, Auto Camp, and Aman, a new brand called Trailborn will launch next year with design-forward boutique properties in close proximity to national parks and monuments. Their flagship outpost is set for Estes Park, Colorado, with hotels to follow in Mendocino, California, and the Grand Canyon.

Wayfinder (Honolulu, Hawaii)

While Waikiki can indeed be a bit tourist-y, there’s been a bit of a resurgence on Oahu as of late. Exhibit A is the Wayfinder, a 228-room hotel designed by Vanguard Theory that’s inspired by the sky, ocean, and flowers of the state of Hawai’i. Their 228 guest rooms will be adorned with natural fiber furniture and native plants as botanical accents, giving it a more down-to-earth vibe. The Wayfinder will also be home to a coffee shop, a tropical speakeasy, and a made-to-order poke restaurant by the owners of the local supermarket, Foodland.

Lafayette Hotel (San Diego, California)

Lafayette Hotel in San Diego is set to open in June of 2023
Lafayette Hotel in San Diego is set to open in June of 2023

Courtesy the Lafayette Hotel

CH Projects—known for their popular local restaurants Polite Provisions, Ironside Fish & Oyster, and Raised by Wolves—purchased the former Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club and are currently giving the property a $26 million overhaul. While the property has been closed for renovations since October 2022, renderings on the hotel’s Instagram feed showcase a gorgeous new face to the property. Think grand art deco adornments that nod to its bones, which date back to 1946, as well as a vintage bowling alley and seven separate era-appropriate dining concepts. They expect to unveil the hotel in June.

Mankas (Marin County, California)

Bordering 71,000 acres in Northern California’s Point Reyes National Seashore, this 21-room remote retreat aims to connect guests with the moody California coastline. The property, slated to open in the spring, is co-owned and designed by Ken Fulk, known for projects like Sadelle’s in Las Vegas, Carbone in Miami, and Leo’s Oyster Bar in San Francisco. The 21 rooms and cottages are sure to bring the layered, high-concept interiors that Fulk is known for, and we can’t wait.

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo (Tamarindo, Mexico)

Situated in a secluded nature reserve where the pristine coastline meets verdant jungle, the Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo is teeming with both biodiversity and culture. In addition to the world-class staff that the brand is known for, this particular location has resident biologists and researchers on staff set to guide guests on morning hikes through hills and winding paths to view birds and wildlife. They also offer excursions out to sustainable agave fields or out with local fishermen. We couldn’t think of a better way to connect with nature and unwind in luxury.

Inn at Mattei’s Tavern (Los Olivos, California)

Inn at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos by Auberge Resorts
Cottages at the new Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos by Auberge Resorts

Courtesy Inn at Mattei’s Tavern

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern will open on Feb. 1 in the heart of historical Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley. Located just north of Santa Barbara in one of our favorite wine regions in the West, the inn was actually once a popular stagecoach stop during its early years throughout the Prohibition. Now it’s getting the luxury Auberge treatment, with cottage-style rooms decked out with fireplaces, s’mores-ready fire pits, and a fabulous outdoor pool. The icing on the cake is the saloon and storied Mattei’s Tavern restaurant next door.

River Lodge Motel and Farm Lodge Motel (Paso Robles, California)

We’re huge fans of Nomada Hotel Group‘s properties, and the two new Paso Robles haunts from owner Kimberly Walker are sure to be just as fab. The River Lodge Motel, located just off Highway 101, and the Farmhouse Motel in downtown Paso are currently being renovated by Walker, aiming to maintain the integrity and character of their mid-century architecture while appealing to the ultra-hip young traveler base that she’s been able to draw at her other wine country project, the Skyview Motel in Los Alamos.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort (Kohala Coast, Hawai’i)

Located on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, Kona Village will span 81 acres of stunning geologic landscape and draw inspiration from the history of the site, local culture, and natural elements, giving it an authentic feel. Done up by the dream team of architect Greg Warner of Walker Warner Architects and San Francisco-based interior design firm, NICOLEHOLLIS, the hotel will be made up of 150 standalone guest hales (a traditional Hawaiian structure, much like a refined beach bungalow), five restaurants, and multiple bars. Sounds like you may never have to step foot off the property, though if you did, you’d be right on the stunning coastline.

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