2 BANYAN TREElIJIANG, YUNNAN PROVINCE,CHINA

This has possibly the most dramatic entrance to any hotel- througha wooden archway the visitor is greeted by a floating pagoda behindwhich soars the magriificentJade Dragon Snow Mountain. And onceyou have finished exploring the resort with its landscaped gardens,pools and fountains, all you will want to do is head for that peak. Barely15kms away, it is a sacred place which has, for centuries ,protected theNaxi tribespeople ... see it in the early morning tinged with pink for anunforgettable experience. Another day head for Lijiang, a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site, known as the Venice of the Orient for its canals,bridges, narrow streets and carved wooden houses. And be sure tofind plenty of time to luxuriate in the spa. Opt for a Yunnan Bounty- a melange of herbal steam, pearl barley scrub, red rice and ginsengconditioner and a Gu Shi hot stone massage ... bliss.DON'T MISS A traditional tea tasting in the old town which the hotelwill arrange. A real insight into local culture.BOOK IT Abercrombie & Kent offers seven days from £2,495.08454851642; abercrombiekent.co.uk

4FOUR SEASONSLANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

It's worth the trek to Langkawi off the North West coast of Malaysia,for the Geo Spa alone. This fabulous family resort inspired by a Malayvillage - all sprawling accommodation, mile-wide beach and crackingki~s' club - is slap bang in South East Asia's first UNESCO Geopark.The Ha spa is outstanding; far from purely pampering, treatmentsare almost medicinal in their restorative qualities, while therapistsare hand-picked for their intuition. In the feminine ritual you sit on acommode and have hot cleansing herbs wafted up your nether regions,while the treatment for men will boost your bloke's masculine vigourusing tongkat ali oil, a testosterone-enhancing herb. There's even afamily treatment where children can join you for scrubs, massages, agiggle-induced dip in a pool and a sweet bonding singing session.DON'T MISS The Mangrove Safari. This boat trip around the localmangroves pulsing with wildlife is fascinating.BOOK IT Select Collection offers seven nights from £2,105 per personincluding flights. 020 7491 7171; selectcollection.co.uk

3 ji.i,iiif.J~rWARHERMITAGEOn the unexplored northern part of the Malabarcoast and flanked by a freshwater lagoon is this near-perfect haven of peace and pampering. There are just12 cottages, designed and built along the traditionalfisherman's thatched huts but each one with enoughcomforts to keep a five-star hotel groupie enthralled.The Priya (which means beloved in Sanskrit) spaprovides ease and calm. After an initial consultationwith the doctor, a tailor-made programme of traditionalayurvedic therapies will be prescribed although you canalso have acupuncture, reflexology, facials and scrubs oreven a Thai massage and a French manicure. Yoga is aspeciality and is offered every morning.DON'T MISS Guided evening meditation, wonderfullyand deeply relaxing - you'll leave like a zombie ..BOOK IT Healing Holidays offers seven nights from£1,590 per person including flights. 020 78433597;

healingholidays. eo.uk

August 2013 I COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK I 93

THE BEST

INSIDER BRAZIL

Don't attempt to bung Rio,theAmazon, Iguazu and thebeach into 10 days. The

country ishuge and flightslongand uncomfortable.Go chic-19th-centuryand go to CasaTurquesa in Paraty,a Brazilianmini-Buranoaccessible fromRioorSco Paulo,withcoloured houses,restaurants,boutiques and artgalleries along the car-freecobbledstreets.ArchitectRenatoTavolaroconverted the oldcolonial townhouseon the harbour pierintonine adorablerooms. (dehouche.eo m)

THE BEST

BEACHY JUNGLE

A ndaz, the designer diffusionline of Hyatt, is opening atChristmas in Costa Rica.

You get jungle andbeach with low-keycharm, but therewas nowhere tostay until now. TheAndaz Papagayowill have allure,designed by CostaRican architectRonald Zurcher,to match its fashionista sisteron Fifth Avenue, New York.(papagayo.andaz.hyatt.com)

THE BEST PENTHOUSE

Tasmania is where thesmart money is going inAustralia since MONA,

the ultimate art hotel, opened.Tassi~ is Oz's little gem, aminiature food, wine and art

ust when you thought the Caribbean was over, kicked paradise, and Hobart is the hipinto touch by the Indian Ocean, Jamaica stages a comeback. San port. High above the city buzz

Antonio, playground of Errol Flynn, is a new eyrie from Avalon,now has a scene of music, food and who have superb modernistglamorous hotels. Bjork, Snoop mountain and beach retreats.Dogg and the late Amy Avalon City Retreat isWinehouse have used the TASMANIA'S a glass omnipod withrecording studio at Geejam EAST COAST iPods, swung on top ofHotel; the Jolly Boys, local a nine-storey building,

heroes, play live mento at Mike's Supper Club; the Trident with 360-degree views,Castle has eight pretty bedrooms-just take the whole swanky kitchens packedthing for a party-and the Trident Hotel has 13 Jamaican- with goodies, two doubleGeorgian studio villas with pools and a cool Japanese mix- bedrooms with jersey-ologist in the Time Bar. Or drink at the Bush Bar in the knit sheets, cashmererainforest or the Roof Club on West Street, where Sinatra throws, a deck, barbieand the Rat Pack hung out. And the Blue Lagoon Restau- and table for lO-have arant and Villas opens this autumn. (dialaflight.com) ball. Not for the halt or

lame, as there's a final

THE BE S T Curry L..' ---r.----' 24 steps from the lift.Far below the ferry

Isthe one you cook yourself in Sri Lanka,which is the top spot, chugs to MONA. And, yes,along with Burma, for winter adventure. Stay at Amangalla in it includes WiFi, but no maidGalle and you go with the chef to the morning markets to buy service, so you'll need to pick up

fish,meat, fruitand your own socks. (avalonretreats.vegetables and gorge Lalitha Piedasa, a com.au)on street food. Then chef at Amangalla.

cook up a killercurryin a beautiful outdoorkitchen in a paddy field.James Jayasundera isthe Sri Lanka specialistwho knows everyone,what you should doand where you mustgo.(ampersandtravel.com)

THE BEST Renaissance

WINTER SUNBy VICTORI \ \I.\TIIEH

THE BEST BOAT

After Rajasthan, the nextstop is southern India.Romance is sailing the

backwaters of Kerala-untilyou get bitten by mozzies on arubbish boat. The Lotus is a newteak uber-eco-boat that uses noplastic and discharges no waste.Picture large double bedroomswith delicious bathrooms, dreamysheets, air-con, yoga and sundeckfrom which to see the languorousfishing and local canal lifestyle.(greavesindia.com)

NOVEMBER 2013194 I v A NIT Y f A I R I www.vonityfoir.com