Best of 2023: New design hotels and luxury train routes coming soon

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This was a bad, bad week for holiday travelers in the United States. First there was the raging storm that caught many people in perilous situations far from home: Here are some of their stories. Then Southwest went into an almighty days-long meltdown that left hundreds of thousands of passengers delayed or stranded. Insiders blame it on outdated tech.

Now let’s look at what else has been happening as we close out 2022 – and some cool things we can look forward to in 2023.

It was a wild year (and it’s not over yet)

Southwest’s spectacular implosion was very on brand for what’s been a chaotic year for the aviation industry. Here are 22 ways it’s been a very, very bumpy ride.

Airline passengers, international tourists and even airplane pilots got more than a bit lively this year too, with fisticuffs, high jinks and underclad exhibitionism breaking out all over the place. Have a read here.

Finally, tourism authorities also got carried away in the post-Covid fervor, throwing their efforts at creating destination campaigns that were often bizarre, misguided or, very occasionally, an inspired moment of genius.

China’s Covid surge

China is fighting its biggest ever outbreak of Covid-19, having abruptly dropped its restrictions and partially reopened its borders. Inbound quarantine to the country ends January 8, meaning families will be able to reunite after nearly three years of separation.

Chinese tourists are eager to begin traveling again too, but some countries are hesitant to welcome them. The US, Italy and Japan are among the nations to have reintroduced Covid testing for travelers arriving from China and others may follow suit. Chinese state media calls the new rules “discriminatory.”

Destination inspiration

Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan: Luxury travel company andBeyond will be launching its first lodge in Asia with this opening in September 2023.

Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa, Maldives: Guests can choose from 38 castaway-chic beach villas or 42 equally luxurious overwater villas.

Hoshino Resort KAI Yufuin, Japan: This hot spring ryokan is nestled between Mount Yufu and the rice fields of Oita.

Conrad Los Angeles, California: The Frank Gehry-designed Conrad features 305 plush rooms framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the City of Angels.

The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne, Australia: The Ritz-Carlton is set to be Australia's tallest hotel when it opens in March 2023.

The Homestead, Nambiti, South Africa: Tucked in the heart of the wildlife-rich Nambiti Private Game Reserve, the Homestead features 12 suites and infinity pool.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Hawaii: 1 Hotels are bringing their distinct brand of sustainable luxury to Hawaii with the opening of their Kauai outpost in February 2023.

Ace Hotel Sydney, Australia: The sleek 264-room property sits at the heart of hip Surry Hills, flanked by cafes, bars and art galleries.

Viceroy at Ombria Resort Algarve, Portugal: This 76-room hotel is flanked by miles of citrus groves, small farms and quaint cobblestone villages.

Atlantis The Royal, Dubai: This jaw-dropping feat of architecture boasts 795 lavish rooms, 44 suites with infinity pools, 17 restaurants and bars and a massive Skypool.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Mexico: Naviva is Four Seasons' first tented resort in the Americas and one of its smallest resorts in the world, with only 15 tents.

Hotel Cerro, San Luis Obispo, California: This charming new boutique hotel on California's Central Coast has 65 loft-style rooms, including 14 suites.

Rome EDITION, Italy: The company's first Italian outpost is built within a beautiful historic building just steps from Via Veneto and Bernini's Tritone Fountain.

Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, Mozambique: This resort features 40 thatched-roof villas scattered about a tiny tropical island off the coast of Mozambique.

H?tel Dame des Arts, France: A third of the rooms at this new boutique hotel in Paris' Latin Quarter have private terraces with views of the Eiffel Tower.

Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal: Shinta Mani Mustang's 29 suites are modeled after a traditional Tibetan home and offer show-stopping views over the Himalayas.

Casa Cody, Palm Springs, California: Though the hotel was built in the 1920s, it has been completely transformed and relaunched in 2022 with stylish new rooms, villas and a poolside eatery.

The Peninsula Istanbul, Turkey: Sitting on the banks of Bosphorus, Peninsula Istanbul has 177 opulent guest rooms adorned with Turkish textiles and wide picture windows.

The Anam Mui Ne, Vietnam: Hand-laid mosaic tiles and cornice detailing, statues on plinths, clawfoot bathtubs and leather-bound tables feature into this new property's elegant design.

The best hotels to book in 2023

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It’s time to take down the holiday decorations, grab your laptop and start planning your 2023 vacations. Here’s our guide to the hottest hotels to book in the new year, from luxury escapes in Dubai and Mozambique to hip hideaways in Paris and Palm Springs.

The Italian Dolomites are particularly bursting with gorgeous design hotels: Our roundup has the lowdown on where to soak, indulge, ski and apres-ski.

If you’re looking for a rural retreat, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has just announced its list of the world’s best villages for tourism, with idyllic spots in Chile, Ethiopia and South Korea among those to make the cut.

Life on the rails

There were plenty of new rail experiences that got us excited in 2022, such as a night train running from Austria to the Italian Riviera, the new semi high-speed line across Laos and a luxurious 2,000-mile trans-African odyssey.

Coming down the tracks in 2023, there’s China’s spectacular new $3.1 billion Panda Panoramic Express, linking Dujiangyan with a panda reserve and the Mount Siguniang scenic tourist area in Sichuan province.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula should be opening its 948-mile Tren Maya route by the end of the year, which will connect Caribbean resorts such as Cancun with cities and cultural sites inland.

And for the very grand traveler, there’s Orient Express La Dolce Vita. Accor Hotels group’s new 11-car train, with interiors inspired by Italian decor of the 1960s and 1970s, will visit Italian cities including Rome, Venice, Siena, Matera and Palermo.

New Year’s Eve hotspots

Sydney, Australia: Fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Click through the gallery for more photos of New Year's destinations around the world:

Taipei, Taiwan: Fireworks explode from Taipei 101, the tallest building on the island, during New Year's Eve.

Bangkok, Thailand: Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year's Eve celebrations in Bangkok.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, serves as the staging point for a massive fireworks show.

Cape Town, South Africa: Boisterous crowds traditionally come each New Year's Eve to the city's gorgeous waterfront area.

Rome, Italy: Fireworks are seen over St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve 2021 in Rome.

London, England: Boats line up in the Thames after New Year's Eve fireworks.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Welcome the new year with millions of your closest pals in South America's party capital.

New York City: Perhaps the most quintessential New Year's Eve of all is found in Times Square in Manhattan.

Las Vegas: Fireworks illuminate the skyline over the Las Vegas Strip.

Top New Year's Eve spots for fireworks (photos)

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In case you missed it

Why not spend your December 31 planning how you’ll do New Year’s Eve a whole lot better in 2023? Check out our list of top destinations to ring in the new year and then – in not unrelated news – learn what people around the world eat and drink to beat a hangover.

Sad the holidays are nearly over?

If you lived on Christmas Island, it’d be Christmas every day.

A puppy was abandoned at San Francisco airport.

But now a United Airlines pilot and his family have adopted him.

One of the world’s most densely populated cities opened its first metro line.

Dhaka commuters hope it will ease congestion.

These stunning natural wonders aren’t US national parks.

But perhaps they should be.

Underscored

If there’s any New Year’s resolutions we should be making, it’s to be better, smarter, more conscious travelers in 2023. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this list of six resolutions to inspire you.