STAY ANANTARA RESORTS
It’s official, Sri Lanka is the destination to head to in 2019. In their highly influential Best of 2019 edition, Lonely Planet said that the island country surrounded by the Indian Ocean is “having its moment in the equatorial sun … this is a country revived.” So now is the time to get there before the rest of the world does!
Once landed in Colombo, it’s best to get out there and explore the beautiful countryside. I based myself at the two Anantara Resorts on the island, the Anantara Kalutara Resort on the west coast and the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s sourthernmost shores. Plus, the hotel can organise transfers around the island, which makes getting around easy.
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle is a sprawling waterfront resort nestled in lush gardens (the resort sits on a former coconut plantation). Think some of the best beachside resorts of Thailand or Bali and then add to this custom-made Sri Lankan design, cuisine and the fact that dense jungles full of wildlife are right nearby, plus incredible surfing beaches. The resort is so huge that batterypowered tuk-tuks are used to ferry guests around. You can choose to stay in suites or, if you are with a group of friends or travelling as a family, consider a villa with its own plunge pool, inside and outside showers, kitchen, dining suite and large lounge which look out over the water or into the gardens. The restaurant with the best view onsite (and that’s a hard call) is the beachside Verala restaurant, offering a host of Asian cuisine including fresh sashimi. Mind you, Il Mare, the Italian restaurant perched high above the Indian Ocean, is another excellent choice.
Closer to Colombo is Anantara Kalutara Resort, which opened in 2017 and is situated between a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The design is taken from celebrated Sri Lankanbased architect Geoffrey Bawa’s original blueprint. Think open-air spaces with pitched ceilings, a 54m long infinity pool, a huge gym, a choice of restaurants (be sure to order an egg hopper at brekkie), as well as great local food within walking distance. anantara.com