10 Hot Hotels Opening in May 2017
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Here's a look at the coolest new hotels opening around the world this month, including two major Hyatt releases and a pair of New York City newcomers.
1. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Number of Rooms: 1,800
Three Interesting Facts: 1. Yep, you read that right: 1,800 rooms. Of the three properties setting up shop at the beleaguered Baha Mar development, the Grand Hyatt is the largest. (It'll eventually be joined by Rosewood and SLS.) The project has been in the works since 2005, so there was definitely a lot of anticipation leading up this opening. 2. The hotel is located on Cable Beach, a formerly frumpy hotel zone that's betting on a comeback in part thanks to Baha Mar. It's a lot closer to the airport than downtown Nassau and Paradise Island, which means you can be poolside 20 minutes after clearing customs. For East Coast travelers whose home airports have frequent Bahamas departures, this makes Grand Hyatt ideally suited for a quick getaway. 3. Baha Mar is not one for subtlety. Guests of the Grand Hyatt will enjoy shared amenities on the development, including the largest casino in the Caribbean at 100,000 square feet, 42 restaurants, a 24-treatment room spa and 11 swimming pools. Many of the amenities were ready to for the grand opening, while others are planned to roll out over the next year or so.
Loyalty Program: World of Hyatt
Price: From $350 per night. It's a Category 5 Hyatt property, which means free night redemptions start at 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Book with the The Hyatt Credit Card to earn 3x points on Hyatt stays.
2. Hilton Jiuzhaigou Resort
Location: Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan Province, China
Number of Rooms: 426
Three Interesting Facts: 1. This resort, nestled among the Min Mountains in the northern Sichuan province, is something of a chameleon; it houses robust meeting facilities for business retreats but also a tranquil spa, family-friendly game room and jogging paths that meander through mist-shrouded forests and gardens. 2. Hilton Jiuzhaigou Resort is also located within the gorgeous Jiuzhai Valley National Park, ground zero for hiking, waterfall-gazing and absorbing Tibetan culture. 3. Executive level rooms have balconies with majestic mountain views, plus access to the Executive Lounge for complimentary breakfast, all-day snacks and cocktails.
Loyalty Program: Hilton
Price: From $111 or 27,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Book with the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express, which lets you earn 12x points on stays at eligible properties within the brand’s portfolio of hotels and resorts.
3. Hotel San Cristóbal Baja
Location: Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico
Number of Rooms: 32
Three Interesting Facts: 1. San Cristóbal is the first international effort from Liz Lambert, the dynamic Texas-based hotelier whose properties include the Saint Cecilia and Hotel San José in Austin and the El Cosmico campground in Marfa. This is also the first hotel on Playa Punta Lobos, a quiet curve of a beach mostly occutpied for the last century by local fisherman, about a mile from the town of Todos Santos, a low-key surfing and arts community (and one of Mexico's federally designated Pueblos Magicos) about an hour north of Cabo that's about to hit the jet set big time, for better or worse. 2. Todos sits on a natural aquifer, which accounts for its thicket of Washington palms in the middle of the desert. But there's a lot of concern about water in the community; when the aquifer dried up in the 1950s, the sugar industry booming there also shut down. Hotel San Cristóbal is helping to alleviate stress on the locals and their water supply with an onsite desalinization plant that pulls the hotel's H2O directly from the sea. 3. Most of the rooms, which are decorated in funky patterned tiles and Mexican weavings, have sea views — those that don't face the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, not a terrible consolation.
Loyalty Program: N/A
Price: From $285 per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
4. Park Hyatt Bangkok
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Number of Rooms: 254
Three Interesting Facts: 1. The new Park Hyatt is located within the curvilinear Central Embassy tower, also home to the luxury mall of the same name. While the location lacks the riverside atmosphere of the Peninsula or Mandarin, it's Phloenchit Road address is central, convenient and comes with its own station for the Skytrain, Bangkok's easy-to-navigate public transportation system. 2. If you've been to Bangkok before, you know even the "cold season" is brutally hot and humid. The Park Hyatt offers respite in the form a landscaped ninth-floor pool whose infinity edge makes you feel like you're swimming among the city's skyscrapers. 3. Book at least two nights between May 12 (the opening) and October 31, 2017 for 20% off your stay and 3,000 bonus points when you use promo code PROM2.
Loyalty Program: World of Hyatt
Price: From $245 or 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night. Book with the The Hyatt Credit Card to earn 3x points on Hyatt stays.
5. Nobu Ryokan Malibu
Location: Malibu, California
Number of Rooms: 16
Three Interesting Facts: 1. This is the third opening in chef Nobu Matsuhisa's newish Nobu Hotels — there are other locations in Manila, Miami and Las Vegas (TPG had a... shall we say... interesting experience there last year), with London, Ibiza and Riyadh on deck for later this year. 2. Inspired by the traditional inns of Japan and designed by Montalba Architects, the property is a minimalist, low-slung, two-story structure arranged around a central garden courtyard facing the Pacific. The hotel has direct access to Carbon Beach and each room comes with sea views. 3. All rooms also have deep teak soaking tubs, limestone walls, outdoor fireplaces, terraces and Japanese art.
Loyalty Program: N/A
Price: From $1,100 per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
6. Life Hotel
Location: New York City
Number of Rooms: 98
Three Interesting Facts: 1. Life is a collaboration between two longtime hospitality vets: developer David Mitchell (the man behind the SoHo Beach House, Las Vegas City Hall and the Whitman New York) and BR Guest Hospitality founder Stephen Hanson. 2. The property has taken over the former LIFE magazine building in NoMad on West 31st between Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Back in the day, creatives like Norman Rockwell and John Ames Mitchell lived and worked at this address. 3. Art is the focal point here, with nearly 200 pieces commissioned by Mitchell and Hanson for the guest rooms and public areas.
Loyalty Program: N/A
Price: From $249 per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
7. Cambria Hotel & Suites LAX
Location: El Segundo, California
Number of Rooms: 152
Three Interesting Facts: 1. Cambria, part of Choice Hotels, isn't a brand we hear a whole lot about, but it's growing and offers business-and-millennial-friendly amenities that put it in line with the likes of Element, AC, Hyatt Place, Moxy and Tryp by Wyndham. 2. Cambria calls its El Segundo property's residential location "the perfect 2 x 2." It's two miles from LAX and two miles from the Pacific. Using it as your base also puts you closer to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey and beaches south (Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo) than if you were staying in Downtown, Hollywood or Beverly Hills. So it might be good choice depending on what you're in LA for. 3. All the guest room TV's are SmartCast enabled, so you can stream right from your phone to the big screen. There's also an AI concierge, "IVY," you can reach by text to order room service, schedule transportation and handle other tasks.
Loyalty Program: Choice Privileges
Price: From $169 per night or 10,000 points per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
8. AC Hotel Atlanta Downtown
Location: Atlanta
Number of Rooms: 255
Three Interesting Facts: 1. The hotel gods taketh away a Holiday Inn, the hotel gods giveth a new AC property. Marriott spent a year (and $20 million) transforming the old property into a member of its Euro import brand. 2. This AC marks the newest hotel option in downtown Atlanta. While Downtown is admittedly not the hippest part of this dynamic city, if you're staying for business it's hard to do better, and the hotel is walking distance to popular sites like Centennial Olympic Park, the Georgia Aquarium,The Center for Civil and Human Rights and the World of Coca-Cola. 3. For downtime, the hotel has an outdoor pool and an enclosed zen garden.
Loyalty Program: Marriott
Price: From $189 per night or 25,000 Marriott Rewards points per night. Book with the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card to earn up to 5x points on your stay.
9. Anvil Hotel
Location: Jackson, Wyoming
Number of Rooms: 49
Three Interesting Facts: 1. Brooklyn's Studio Tack designed the renovation of this circa-1950s ski lodge. Skiing is still a primary activity here — you're minutes from Teton Village — but the appealingly rustic looks are sure to make the property popular for scene-ing as well. 2. The hybrid lobby is part general store by Soho's Westerlind, stocked with handsome souvenirs, designer mittens and locally roasted coffee. 3. Glorietta, the hotel restaurant, is an Italian trattoria whose chef is a veteran of Pok Pok in Los Angeles.
Price: From $195 per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
10. 50 Bowery
Location: New York City
Number of Rooms: 229
Three Interesting Facts: 1. 50 Bowery is a Joie de Vivre property, as well as the company's first effort in New York City, which also coincides with the brand's 30th anniversary. 2. For being new to the city, Joie de Vivre picked an outstanding downtown location in Chinatown (which is having its own moment), putting you within walking distance of tons of great restaurants and a quick hop over the Manhattan Bridge away from Brooklyn. 3. The brand as a whole does a nice job with amenities, and 50 Bowery will be no exception. Look for handheld clothing steamers to wipe away travel wrinkles, bluetooth speakers in suites and a robust pet program for those traveling with a four-legged companion. On the eating and drinking fronts, two Dale Talde concepts will anchor the rooftop and ground floor.
Loyalty Program: The Joy of Life Club, a basic rewards program in which members can redeem points for credit toward a stay. 2,500 points equals a $100 credit. 7,500 points equals a $300 credit. 10,000 equals a $750 credit.
Price: From $269 per night. Book with the Citi Prestige card to earn 3x points on your stay and take advantage of its nifty 4th night free perk, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3x points on travel purchases — the Chase Sapphire Preferred card lets you earn 2x points on travel as well.
Which of these new hotels are you most excited about? Let us know, below.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.