From the islands of the Mediterranean to the hottest news restaurants in London, we've been keeping tabs on all the latest travel buzz in Europe this month. Here's what not to miss.
The jetset paradise of Ibiza—one of Spain’s Balearic islands—will see a slew of hotel openings in the summer season. The ME Ibiza will have a rooftop beach club with 360º views and a pool with Bali beds, plus a top-floor spa and suites with private terraces and Jacuzzis. In May, the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza will open its doors on Playa d’en Bossa with an open-air stage for big-name concerts. And the Hacienda Na Xamena got a makeover (and a new fleet of boats for guests).
Not only that, but the Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel has announced its lineup for the opening party in May, with German techno star Paul Kalkbrenner kicking things off.
In France, March is proving to be a fete-filled month as the Hotel Plaza Athénée has announced that it will be the setting for Krug Champagne’s lavish pop-up event called “Krug en Capitale”. Michelin-starred chef Jean-François Piège has a cool, ephemeral restaurant at the Mercedes pop-up store; hurry, it'll only be around for a week!
And Viking River Cruises made history with the Christening of new longships in Europe last week. The grand celebration in Avignon marked the christening of 16 new vessels: nine in Amsterdam, followed by three in Avignon and four in Rostock, Germany. In doing so, Viking set a new world record for the most vessels christened by one company in a 24-hour period. The company’s fast growth can barely keep up with demand, and is an indicator of the soaring popularity of river cruising.
We can barely wait for the Peninsula Hotels Group to open its first European hotel in Paris in August. A massive renovation project has converted the historic building in the 16th arrondissement into a showcase for French artisanal savoir-faire.
Monte Carlo's 100-year-old landmark, the Hotel de Paris, will close in October for a renovation.
ME by Melia continues its expansion with an announcement of a new hotel in Milan for next year.
The London restaurant and hotel scene is red-hot. Chef Simon Rogan is taking over the restaurant at Claridge’s; celebrated hotelier André Balazs is opening the Chiltern Firehouse hotel, and the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has unveiled its new fitness center.
