Top 5: The luxury hotels agents need to know about this week

Les Lumieres Versailles  

Lovers of European history, this one’s for you. Set in an 18th-century mansion just steps away from Chateau de Versailles, Les Lumieres Versailles has been designed to reflect the baroque style of the Louis XIV era.

Enlightenment nods are everywhere in this Relais & Chateaux property, with weighted blankets and thought journals decking its 31 rooms and suites, and murals, mirrors and marble aplenty. There’s also a holistic spa offering treatments by Beau Domaine, as well as a sleek restaurant specialising in plant-based French cuisine.

Grand Suites on the Royal Scotsman

It might not be a hotel per-se, but when it comes to five-star accommodation, it’s ticking every box. Self-described as ‘Your Private Club on Wheels’, the Grand Suites aboard the Royal Scotsman are an absolute must for those who want to see the Highlands in style. Guests can expect personal butler service, indulgent cabin amenities, in-cabin private dining on request, and a complimentary massage or facial in the train’s very own Dior Spa. Travelling by rail has never been more swish.

Domes Zeen Chania  

Domes Zeen Chania in Crete isn’t exactly new to the luxury hotel scene, but it’s certainly keeping us interested. The family-friendly resort has teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Pavlos Kyriakis and Athenian restaurant Gallina to launch a two-month pop-up starting this week, and let’s just say, our mouths are already watering. French and Nordic cooking techniques will be used to create a menu of decadent dishes, including Wagyu Beef & Red Prawn Tartare, Lobster Pasta and John Dory with Assyrtiko Sauce. As if we needed another reason to book.

Hotel d’Inghilterra Roma Starhotels Collezione 

Hotel d’Inghilterra Roma by Starhotels re-opens its doors on September 27th, after an extensive renovation to revive its rich historic features.

The 19th-century property, which was once used to host guests of the adjacent Palazzo Torlonia, has had its communal areas and guest rooms on the first floor completely remodelled, while its exterior facade has been restored to its original grandeur. Perhaps most interesting is the reduction in the number of rooms and suites from 84 to 80, creating larger, more luxurious spaces that can better cater to group bookings. An intimate spa, as well as a separate reception for VIP guests, have also been added in the refurbishment. 

Ellen Kensington

Look out, London – there’s a new boutique hotel on the block.

Ellen Kensington is opening its Victorian townhouse doors this September, marking the second property for KOP Group’s Montigo Resorts hospitality brand. Located in the heart of Kensington, the historic hotel features 105 guest rooms and suites that have been designed to a classic English finish with Chinoiserie touches. There will also be a Pan-Asian restaurant with its own orangery, as well as six ryokan spa suites and a fully-equipped gym.