The Informed Traveler has the scoop on two new luxury hotels to open on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand: the W Retreat and Residences-Koh Samui and Conrad Koh Samui Resort and Spa, both scheduled to open late next year.

Definitely something for the upscale travelers to look forward to. If your purchasing power is wihtin this category, you might even be interested to know that there will also be about 20 luxury residential villas at the W Retreat & Residences–Koh Samui that will be available for purchase.

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A new luxury resort will open by mid of this year in Yao Noi, Thailand: the Evason Hideaway & Spa at Yao Noi. Here’s what’s in store:

All villas have open-style bathrooms, creating an atmosphere of space and light within and boast magnificent views of the bay and surrounding forestation. Each villa also features its own infinity-edged pool with sundeck, creating an illusion of infinity between pool and bay, and reinforcing a feeling of seclusion.

Not enough pampering? Get this:

Each villa is attended by a butler who is trained to anticipate every whim. The butler service is designed to create a new and unique concept for house guests, where Hideaway and Innovative Style exemplified from arrival to departure.

Ahhh… the life. Preview more photos, here.

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If you love rock n’ roll, then you gotta love the Hard Rock chain of restos and hotels. By the end of next year, there’ll be a Hard Rock hotel in Malaysia to welcome you, too. The third in Asia (the others are in Bali, Indonesia and in Pattaya, Thailand), this 255-room hotel will rise in Penang, where the Casaurina Beach resort used to be (it closed in December 2006).

Until then there’s the Hard Rock Cafe in Penang. You don’t get to stay the night but if you want something well, un-Malaysian, I guess, there’s a place to check out. From their website:

To heck with local food and sights! Who cares about taking in the “culture”? Listen, if you’ve got a hankering for a burger and fries, or you need the lifeblood of classic rock coursing through your veins, look no further than here, good friends. We’re rockin’ at the Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur like a big ol’ American rock lobster.

Up to you, folks.

Technorati Tags: Asia, asia hotels, asia travel, Hard Rock, Hard Rock Hotel, Malaysia, Penang