Luxury Travel: New Hotels, Private Villas, Spas and Members’ Clubs Worth the Money

Luxury travel is less about thread counts than about getting the details right: the villa with staff who actually cook, the spa that is more than a steam room, the loyalty scheme that earns you a free night rather than a newsletter. This is where DailyStoke covers the hotels, homes and clubs at the top end of the market, with prices taken from official pages and openings confirmed by the brands themselves.

Every guide here tells you what is confirmed and what is still a promise, because new hotel openings slip and membership prices change.

New hotels, spas and hammams

• Top 10 new luxury hotels for 2027, chosen for their spas and wellness programmes.
• New boutique hotels in Europe for 2027
• The best hammams and spas in Marrakech, from palace spas to the city’s oldest public bathhouses.

Longevity retreats and medical wellness

We have spent hungry weeks at Chenot Palace Weggis and Clinique La Prairie, and a much better-fed one at Equinox Hotel New York. This series asks what the programmes actually include, what the science supports and what a full stay really costs.

• Longevity retreats in Europe compared, with prices and the evidence behind each treatment.
• Luxury hotels with longevity clinics, US longevity retreats and retreats in Thailand and Asia.
• Our own stays: Chenot Palace Weggis, Clinique La Prairie and Equinox Hotel New York.
• The science: the Chenot Method and autophagy, CLP Extract and Revitalisation, which longevity tests are useful and whether these retreats are worth the money.

Villas, apartments and private travel

• The best luxury villa rental agencies, with example homes and what the service really includes.
• The best aparthotels in Dubai: serviced apartments in the Marina, Downtown and on the Palm.
• Pet-friendly private jets: BARK Air, K9 Jets and the airlines that let dogs fly in the cabin.

Members’ clubs and rewards

• Soho House membership explained: prices, tiers, Houses and new openings.
• The best hotel loyalty programmes and hotel booking site rewards and codes.
• The best airline loyalty programmes, from Emirates Skywards to Singapore KrisFlyer.

All luxury travel articles

Luxury travel questions answered

When is the best time to book a newly opened hotel?

The first few months after opening often bring introductory rates, but also teething problems with service and unfinished facilities. Many experienced travellers wait for the hotel’s first full season, when reviews have settled and the spa and restaurants are running properly.

Is a villa better value than a hotel suite?

For a group or a family staying a week or more, usually yes: a villa spreads the cost across more bedrooms and gives you a kitchen and private pool. A hotel suite wins for shorter stays and when you want restaurants, a spa and daily service without arranging them yourself.

Are hotel loyalty programmes worth joining if I travel only a few times a year?

Joining is free and usually gets you member rates and free Wi-Fi straight away, so it is worth signing up with the brands you book most. Elite status takes many nights a year, so occasional travellers should focus on member prices and points rather than tiers.