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Aug-Sept 2017 Conde Nast Traveller 85
ASIA TJ-1~ P~NINSULA B~IJING
China
Whether it is the rotating collection of 800 ongmal Chinese artworks or the imperial hexagon motif that finds its way into key architectural elements. everything about The Peninsula Beijing is a celebration of the country's rich culture. All the suites are generous in both size and service-from packing and unpacking in the basic category to a 'movie room' (with an 80-inch TV screen) in the 17 Beijing Suites. Good to know: History nerds. the hotel is walking distance from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. (www. peninsula.com)
oonu A oll. the 25-villa resort also offers diving and snorkelling sessions with a marine biologist. so you can learn abou the wondrous crea ures you see. Good to know: Each of the water villas fea ures i s own 42ft prtvate pool filled with filtered seawater. It's like having a b1 of the sea all to yourself. (www. soneva.com) M~G~AULI
From left: the view from the pool at Sanctum lnle Resort; the interiors of Santani ~OS~INOYA
TOKYO Japan
onyuk1 Hamada. the chef at the basement restaurant in this 84-room. modern ryokan. is changing the culinary game. He 1s p1oneenng Nippon cuisine. using traditional Japanese 1ngred1en sand classically French techniques. If food weren't enough reason to check in. the property offers an updated ryokan experience across its 17 storeys. complete w1 h atam1 ma 1ng and futon beds. but minus he floor level seating hat the rad1 1onal inns provide. Good to know: Try Five Flavors of Delight. a series of seafood dishes hat represents sour. swee . bitter. salty and umami. 1n delicious succession. (www.hoshmoyatokyo.com)
JtTWING LAKt Sri Lanka The Buddh1s cave temple 1n Dambulla. a U ESCO World Heritage s1 e dating back to he 1st century BC. 1s a huge draw wr h both locals and international visitors. Faith has 1t that the area was a place of refuge for a Buddhis king. Today. his slickly designed resort. overlooking an ancient water tank. S1yambalaweva. offers shelter from the chaos of the city. Breakfast in your room w1 ha view of the lake. lounge by the pool through the
afternoon and enjoy speciality Sn Lankan fare for dinner. Take a break m between and vis1 the spa. Reboo and repeat. Good to know: Located iust off the KandyJaffna highway. it's a good base to go on sa an at he nearby Mmnenya and Wasgamuwa na tonal parks. both known for their elephant popula ions. (www.Jetwinghotels.com)
of Red Mountain Estate. a nearby vineyard . You get a snapshot of life around the lake-lush sugar cane fields and sleepy villages with stilt houses iutt1ng out onto the lake. And the bike nde ends with samples of some excellent local wine. obviously. Good to know: It's not just the wine that's a surprise here. Sample some of the locally brewed beer at the hotel's Cloister Bar. (www.
MALDIVtS PRIVATE; ISLAND AT VOAVA~
sanctum-1nfe-resort.com)
Wt h just seven bedrooms. his Four Seasons proper yon the U ESCO-listed Baa Atoll takes exclusivity to the next level. Guests can make use of the beach house. the 62ft yacht. the dive centre and all its act1vit1es. the spa and the infinity pool. Or 1ust laze on the blankets of powdery sand and thank the stars above. Good to know: The sea around he a oll is home to large manta ray populations: the best time to swim wi h hem 1s from August to ovember. (www.
SANTAN I Sri Lanka Located 140km rom Colombo's airport. Sri Lanka 's first wellness resort si s on 48 acres of ea plan at1on. At this wood-andglass mountain op retreat. there are no TVs. and w1- 11s only on request. so you can connect with yourself. Blending modern science and ayurveda. the wellness concierge will ailor a detox plan 1ust for you. Good to know: Fans of ketogenic fare will find the resort's low-carb meal plan particularly appealing.
fourseasons.com)
(www.santam.fk)
SANCTUM INLt RtSORT Myanmar
SONtVA JANI Maldives
Located by scenic lnle Lake. the 94-key s ay aims to make guests feel one with their gorgeous surroundings. While 1t offers several tours. our prck 1s he halfday Wheel and Wine cycling tour
92 Conde Nast Traveller Aug-Sept 2017
An overwater s1len cinema . an observatory stocked wi h telescopes and a restaurant that serves up more than 50 flavours of ice cream- his ts luxury with a quirky touch. and rt works. Located on picturesque
StRAI N pal
The Ta1 group's first jungle lodge outside India overlooks Tera1 grassland and he Rapti River. in epal's Ch1twan Na ional Park. a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 30-key lodge has loads of local flavour. from the lobby chandelier made of 10.000 hand-pain ed Nepali beads to murals by a tribal artist in the rooms. Spot wildlife on elephantback or in a canoe. and have your sundowners in a machan. The park 1s home o a key population of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. he Royal Bengal tiger and hundreds of o her species of birds and animals. Good to know: Sample cuisine influenced by the region's ethnic groups. like Sherpa lamb soup and a radi tonal Tharu thali. (www. taj. ta1hotels.com) T~t
ANAM Vietnam
Despite the 117 villas and 96 rooms and suites. this beach resort near ha Trang, an hour's flight from Ho Chi Minh City. 1s designed for a peaceful. stress-free vaca ion. Between the 300m beachfront. three sw1mm1ng pools. 3D movie theatre and range of dining options. there's enough to keep you entertained. But chances are you may choose never to leave your ocean-facing villa. Go ahead. we won· 1udge. Good to know: The hotel's scale and multiple event venues makes 1t a grea spot for saying "I do .. think a poolside pre-wedding party. a sangeet in the ballroom and a wedding by the beach. (www.theanam.com)