PHOTO: Keemala is one of our seven places you must stay in 2015 (Courtesy Keemala Facebook page)
It's a great big world out there.
It's time you got to exploring it.
At the dawn of 2015, there are several magnificent accommodations and properties that simply have to be witnessed firsthand, from villas in Phuket to architectural masterpieces to designers' dreams to millennial-minded hotels.
No matter what your cup of tea, there is sure to be some place to whet your appetite in 2015.
Here are seven places you must stay in 2015.
Keemala (Phuket, Thailand, August 2015)
It's hard to envision Keemala not succeeding in 2015, considering it caters on so many levels to the new traveler.
Keemala incorporates several themes that resonate with millennial-minded travelers, such as authenticity, high design and health and wellness. Overlooking Kamala Village and the Andaman Sea, it's composed of 38 villas, each commemorating the early Phuket culture with locally crafted designs, historic storytelling and distinctive architecture that symbolize earth, sky, nests and nomadism.
There are also several wellness activities to choose from, including Thai Chai, Thai boxing, meditation and yoga.
Oh yeah, and Keemala is surrounded by rainforest.
The Norman Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv, Israel, Open Now)
The Norman Tel Aviv, a boutique hotel sporting 30 rooms and 20 suites, is an enticing blend of local history and contemporary art, design and elegance.
The hotel features two historic buildings: an all-suite building and a separate building that houses its main lobby, deluxe rooms and signature restaurant. It is also adding a new penthouse with a dining restaurant and a pool and a spa.
It's not easy to blend different time periods, but the Norman Tel Aviv does so exquisitely. From the star-struck and glamorous 1920s to today, rooms and spaces feature timeless architecture, original Israeli artwork, rooftop pools, a citrus garden, a blend of European and Mediterranean styles, a wellness center (with an outdoor terrace for treatments) and a Mediterranean Brasserie-style restaurant and a Japanese Tapas rooftop restaurant.
Did I mention it's situated in the heart of the White City, a UNESCO heritage site featuring world-class Bauhaus architecture?
Riff Hotel Chelsea (Chelsea, Manhattan, N.Y., Open Now)
Riff Hotel Chelsea was unveiled to close off 2014, and it's safe to say the anticipation was warranted.
The '80s-themed hotel has everything you would expect: wild designs, vinyl albums and vintage turntables, art collections and galleries, pop-art photography, electric and acoustic guitars and more.
But contemporary amenities such as free Wi-Fi and flat panel TVs are also included, ensuring travelers aren't stuck in the '80s when it comes to technology.
Whether you are a music lover, artist, partier or simply enjoy '80s-themed properties, Riff Hotel Chelsea is sure to get you figuratively dancing… and probably literally, too.
The Reverie Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 2015)
Elaborate and elegant, the Reverie Saigon is a designer's dream.
The Vietnam masterpiece features extravagant and luxurious furnishings, beautiful craftsmanship and stunning art throughout its 224 rooms, 62 suites, various restaurants and bars and meeting space.
You'll see golden feathers spread above you, wood pieces and furniture that remind you of old-school luxury and wall paintings of birds resting on blue trees.
The Reverie Saigon is sure to compete for a lot of design awards in 2015.
Soho House Istanbul (Istanbul, Turkey, Early 2015)
First of all, you can't mention Soho House Istanbul without mentioning the architecture and history.
Soho House will occupy the grand Palazzo Corpi, originally built for the historic Genoese family in 1882 and later converted into the U.S. consulate.
It's largely been kept under wraps, but this private video gives you an idea of what it will look like. The property already boasts elegant architecture, antique paintings and timeless fireplaces, but the renovation will introduce several club spaces and lounge areas, a Cecconi's restaurant, a courtyard garden, two rooftop pools, a gym, a large screening room and a Cowshed spa.
Creativity is the theme at Soho House Istanbul. Even most of its employees work in creative fields such as film, art, fashion, advertising, media and music.
The South Beach, Singapore (Singapore, Late 2015)
We'll have to wait a bit longer for this one (slated to open in late 2015), but when the South Beach, Singapore opens, it will likely be well worth the wait.
Singapore is in the midst of a design revolution, combining public spaces with futuristic architecture and natural elements. The South Beach, Singapore is a prime example of this trend.
The South Beach, Singapore-courtesy of internationally renowned French designer Philippe Starck and forward-thinking architectural firms Aedas and Fosters + Partners-will be a 654-room skyscraper that includes "sky gardens" incorporated into different sections of the building, solar paneling and green canopies made for harvesting rainwater. Its angled, linear design combined with the solar panels make it look like something out of a science fiction movie, and its commitment to the environment is sure to win over many travelers.
Virgin Hotel Chicago (Chicago, Ill., January 2015)
Virgin Hotel Chicago, slated for Jan. 15, will be the first hotel to represent Sir Richard Branson's new Virgin Hotels brand.
The hotel boasts plenty of features that should make it mighty popular with the new traveler, including free Wi-Fi for all guests with no bandwidth restrictions, room controls via your mobile device, a special vanity area designed for female business travelers (like Virgin America's flight attendants, for example), multiple outlets for your electronic devices, no hidden fees (for items from mini fridges, for instance), rooms that can separate into two chambers, a gym and spa for health and wellness travelers and more.
After all, Branson hasn't become a successful entrepreneur by ignoring what customers truly want.
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