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3 of the Best New Hotels to Book a Trip Around From London to Las Vegas

Every year, Condé Nast Traveler reveals its annual Hot List spotlighting the best new hotels, restaurants, and more around the world. In this edition, we highlight The Georgian in Santa Monica, California, Fontainebleau in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Raffles London at The OWO in London, UK. Presented by Capital One.

Released on 08/06/2024

Transcript

[Narrator] Every year, Conde Nast Traveler

releases its annual hot list, which celebrates

the best hotel openings and more from around the world.

Here, a classic Santa Monica Grand Dam is reborn

for the modern era.

A flashy resort ups the ante on the strip,

and a London Heritage building joins one of the world's

most luxurious hotel families, all three of which

are winners on this year's hot list.

The Art Deco, The Georgian, reopened last year,

every bit as beautiful as she was in her 1930s heyday

where she earned the nickname, First Lady of Santa Monica

When opening as one of the first skyscrapers

on Ocean Boulevard.

You get a sense of the hotel's storied past

as soon as you walk into the lobby.

Fun fact, the art and portraiture that hangs on the walls

is by actor Sharon Stone.

This hotel has no shortage of old Hollywood glamour,

and nowhere is that more on display

than in the bar and restaurant, The Georgian Room

Which has had some work done, but has retained the booth

laid out in the original L-shape

from the hotel's Hollywood heyday.

The dishes at the restaurant come from Nancy Silverton alum

David Almany, and feature heavy and hearty Italian pastas,

as well as lighter fare like blackened salmon.

The terrace too is a whimsical splash of California fun,

and the best place to settle in for a cocktail

and something sweet.

There are 56 rooms and 28 suites here,

and all of them honor the hotel's theatrical bones.

There are art deco peepholes, luxury beds dressed in Bellino

linens, and all are designed to be late and breezy

and let plenty of that California sunshine stream in.

The vibe is decidedly louder on the Las Vegas strip

where the Fontainbleau opened

as probably the most anticipated new resort

in over a decade.

Honoring the Miami Original,

the Vegas outpost is a fever dream

of mid-century modern design,

reimagined for the maximalism of Vegas now.

At 67 Floors, this is the tallest hotel in Vegas,

with 3,644 rooms and 32, yes, 32 restaurants,

including the Central Bleau Bar itself.

A study in OTT design, with its thousands of glass bow ties.

It's hard to say what the biggest draw is for a hotel

that's almost like its own self-contained universe.

Could it be the Oasis pool deck with six pools

and its own French Riviera inspired Day Club?

Or perhaps it's the extensive wellness center

that has an immense hydrotherapy section, including a sauna

and a stargazing lounge.

For those who may have had a little too much to drink

at one of the bars the night before,

the Nutri Drip Lounge has a ton of different IV drips

to help you restore and recover.

Then there are the rooms,

but depending on which you book, you will have views

of the strip, the mountains, or the pool scene.

And if you wanna bring the party back to the room,

Opt to book one of their more spacious suites

like the Flo De Lease, when can clock in at 10,000

square feet.

A very different scene has opened across the pond in London,

where the Luxury Raffles brand has had

one of the most anticipated openings in years.

Located inside London's old war offices, now the OWO,

this hotel has great old bones, is packed with history

and has been completely reimagined

as one of the most sophisticated hotels,

not just in London, but anywhere

thanks to a $2 billion renovation

that honored the building's grandest faces,

including a centerpiece grand staircase

where Churchill would boom out his morning briefings

while Secretary of War.

Trust us, every area has both a story to tell

and makes an incredible photo op.

Even the elevators have a history.

The rooms themselves feel every bit worthy

of the building's heritage.

The enormous Granville suite has floral touches,

the most incredible copper bath.

Look at that.

And handsome dark wood paneling.

Though perhaps your taste is better suited

to the Churchill Suite, that had been a central point

for military strategizing.

Today it's more a study in English oak

and rich green Damask wall upholstery.

And of course, this being the beating heart of London,

you're likely to have views

of so many of the city's famous landmarks.

But despite its history, there are softer sides

to the hotel too, including a signature Guerlain spa

that measures 27,000 square feet

and some of the most high tech facials in town.

There are nine restaurants here,

but the one you cannot miss is Mauro Colagreco,

the Argentine chef who earned his chops at places like

France's three star Mirazur.

And if you want to grab a whiskey alongside bespectacled

British politicians, and for a moment imagine

what life was like in these halls a century ago,

settle into the downstairs Guard's bar.

A top hotel draws in the best of food, design and comfort

to become a destination all their own.

Any hotel that you choose will guarantee a great vacation.

And for more information on all these hotels,

including what to pack, head to cntraveler.com.

These hot list tours are brought to you by Capital One.

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