An Unforgettable Honeymoon: Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Qatar

This historic dwelling was once the ancestral home of a Kandyan family and was restored to its former splendor in 2005 by Channa Daswatte, Geoffrey Bawa’s protege. The two-story main house is surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, which have avocado, jackwood, papaya, Sri Lankan orange and Kithul trees - the perfect setting for afternoon tea complete with Kandy House’s desserts made with treacle from Kithul blossoms. Each of the nine guest rooms is furnished with stunning Dutch antique furniture, many with a four-poster bed. The modern en-suite bathrooms provide a washed concrete-style double vanity area and shower area, and a stately Victorian bath. The Verandah rooms - Peacock Royal and Red Spot Duke - are the hotel’s most spacious rooms which open onto a wide wrap-around verandah, dotted with cane chaises lounges, reading chairs and antiques. Although there is no Internet connection and cell phone service is patchy, guests will find plenty to do here with yoga classes, Ayurvedic treatments and hikes through Kandy’s flora and fauna. The restaurant serves Western and Sri Lankan fare, all prepared with seasonal produce fresh from the Kandy market, and homemade cakes and cookies are available at teatime.

Tucked away in green in the heart of the city, Kings Pavilion offers an urban retreat in a prime Kandy location. Guest rooms are decorated in a cozy and modern style, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light and balconies with mountain views. Suites also offer living areas and whirlpool tubs. Hotel facilities include a restaurant with a terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, lush gardens and a spa with a sauna.

Sri Lanka, once known as Ceylon, is one of the world's historic centers of tea production, replete with rolling green hills and genteel plantation homes. Ceylon Tea Trails, run by the Dilmah Tea Company, has restored four classic colonial bungalows built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj. These historic houses offer guests the unique experience of life on a working tea estate in the highlands (elevation here is over 4,000 feet). The bungalows range in size from four to six rooms and two have their own pools. Summerville and Castlereagh are situated opposite each other on the shores of the Castlereagh Lake, Norwood is at the other end of the valley about 15 minutes away by car and Tientsin is about 30 minutes away in the next valley. Maintained trails with beautiful views run between all the bungalows, and through the surrounding hillsides and plantations. Each house comes with its own manager, chef, butler and houseboys; in-house massage appointments can be arranged. Meals and afternoon tea are prepared by your private chef using gourmet ingredients and produce grown right on the property, and can be served indoors or on the lawn.

Returning to the golden era of colonial British safari explorers, Leopard Trails offers the jungle experience in comfort and luxury, as the intrepid adventurers of the 1800s enjoyed it. Romantic and elegant, their tented camps are located in two of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful national parks, Yala and Wilpattu. While the former is famed for its roaming leopards, the latter draws nature enthusiasts for its populations of deer, sloths, bears, elephants and a solid contingent of leopards of its own. A stay at Leopard Trails allows guests to retreat to their beautifully-appointed canvas safari tent at night, to emerge in the morning, well rested and right in the midst of glorious flora and fauna. Delicious meals, meanwhile, are cooked freshly and served al fresco for a complete sense of immersion in nature.

Adjacent the world famous Yala National Park that is home to a dense population of leopards lies the Wild Coast Tented Lodge Yala, overlooking the shimmering blue waters of the Indian Ocean. A consortium of Dutch, English and Sri Lankan designers devised the the resort's man-made structures that seamlessly blend into the surrounding landscape. The premises 28 tents form the shape of a leopard's paw print when seen from above. The room's interiors fuse colonial expedition chic with contemporary design innovations. Teak floors and canvas walls mixed with dark leathers and metallic hardware bring these rooms to the forefront of fashion while air-conditioning and Wi-Fi guarantee guests’ comfort. At the Dining Pavilion and natural beach garden, guests can enjoy gourmet safari cuisine with a Sri Lankan flair. The resort is also equipped with a free-form swimming pool and luxurious spa. The resort offers vehicular tours to the furthest corners of Yala National Park while expert naturalist guides are on hand to discuss all flora and fauna that emerges such as elephants, sloth bears, and leopards.

Situated in the midst of a coconut grove on a secluded bay, the Amanwella resort is one of the world's most exclusive beach retreats. The resort sits on a perfect crescent of white-sand beach and is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, national parks and exotic wildlife and a 5 and 1/2 hour drive from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). There are 30 suites, each equipped with a plunge pool, terrace, and floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides. A number of ocean suites are located further down the hill and have uninterrupted views of the coconut palms and the beach. The Amanwella restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and uses its location next to the ocean to cook up fresh Asian- and Mediterranean-style seafood. The Pool Terrace also serves meals in a more laid-back setting. When not enjoying a safari, snorkeling, or swimming in the pool, there is a library with Internet access and reference books on Sri Lanka. The spa offers massages and traditional therapies using local, natural ingredients, which can be given either in the spa's suite or in selected garden locations. There is no fitness center.

Set on a cliff overlooking the South Indian Ocean, the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle enjoys secluded peace. Yet, as it is located in the very centre of Sri Lanka's south coast, some of the best attractions on the stunning island are within easy reach. Colonial towns and national parks are just an hour's drive away, while a beautiful beach lies just a stone's throw from the property. From comfortable rooms to sprawling two-bedroom suites which boast their own plunge pool, there is accommodation to suit all guests and parties. All rooms feature modern comforts with charming traditional designs. Dining options are diverse, allowing for everything ranging from light snacks by the pool to full-blown Chef's Table degustation menus - complete with wine pairing. The facilities are top notch, and include a well-equipped kids'club and play pool for the little ones. Meanwhile, adults can take a break by indulging in the spa, joining yoga classes on the beach or simply relaxing by the water.

Located along the beautiful coastline of Dickwella, southern Sri Lanka, the beautiful Ani Sri Lanka estate is the handiwork of Reda Amalou and AW2 of Paris. Contemporary tropical architecture is merged with the finest bespoke finishes and furnishings across the 15 bedrooms of this two-villa estate. The Villa Monara has eight suites while the Villa Divia has seven. Either of the villas can be rented separately, or the whole estate can be rented at once. Both villas have their own oversized infinity pools and are located right along the beach. Rooms are spacious and lavishly appointed. They can be fitted with a king-size or two twin beds. Bathrooms feature both showers and tubs, and many rooms even have private plunge pools. There is a lot to do at the estate besides basking under the sun; namely, there is a private spa, state of the art fitness center, tennis and basketball courts, yoga pavilion, and a shuffleboard court. All meals are provided by the estate’s kitchen according to guests’ preferences, whether this means authentic Sri Lankan meals or International favorites. There are also several places worth visiting nearby, such as the Galle Fort, tea plantations, and Uda Walawe National Park.

Located in the center of a preserved 17th-century Dutch Fort, the sumptuous Amangalla resort is also a beautifully restored UNESCO World Heritage site that perfectly captures the charm of the historic trading port of Galle. Amangalla has 17 rooms, eight suites and the Garden House, a two-story house with treetop views. Rooms are decorated in a style that blends luxurious contemporary amenities with a perfectly rendered colonial-era aesthetic. Sri Lankan curry and other traditional dishes are served in the dining room, and the Veranda is a cool spot to have a drink during the day; the fort's Zaal (Dutch for Great Hall) serves light meals and a classic afternoon tea. The pool is located in the resort's gardens and has five shaded pavilions where you can relax post-swim. A library with Internet access houses information on Sri Lanka and the history of the Fort. The Baths, Amangalla's spa, offers Ayurvedic massage, hydrotherapy pools, and a steam room and sauna, among other treatments. There is also a garden pavilion for yoga practice or meditation. There is no fitness center. The resort is roughly a four-hour drive from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB).

Six Senses Laamu is located on the privately owned Olhuveli Island in the Laamu Atoll, towards the south of the Maldives archipelago. From Malé International Airport, it is approximately 40 minutes by plane to nearby Kadhdhoo Airport, then a 15-minute boat ride to Olhuveli Island. The resort features 97 villas total, including Beach Villas, Two Bedroom Beach Villas with pool, and Water Villas. LEAF restaurant, perched above the resort’s organic garden, serves contemporary Mediterranean food, while the bars offer tropically inspired creative cocktails and over 400 wines climatically controlled environment. There is of course a renowned Six Senses Spa, situated on the beach with five secluded treatment rooms plus two single and two double treatments areas nestled within the nearby tropical vegetation. Among the treatments offered are acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy, reflexology, acupressure, Reiki and shiatsu. The spa facilities also include herbal steam, outdoor experience showers, breathtaking Yoga Pavilion, and Fitness Center.

Escape to Soneva Fushi Resort, set on an isolated island of palm forests, fine beaches, and clear water. All of Soneva Fushi’s eco-friendly villas look out towards the stunning waves of the Indian Ocean. Each villa is equipped with air-conditioning; televisions, DVDs, and Wi-FI on request; comfortable, spacious beds; and lounging areas. In terms of dining, Soneva Fushi offers six onsite options, among them Mihiree Mitha, which prepares fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood – as well as sixty different varieties of homemade ice cream and sorbet; By The Beach, which serves Japanese and Korean-inspired tapas; and Down to Earth, a newly-built Mediterranean eatery. Some of the unique activities on Soneva Fushi include star-gazing at the Maldives’ only observatory; sampling a wine from a 5,000 bottle cellar; and an overwater sunset bar, where guests can watch for sea creatures such as eagle rays and dolphins as they sip on cocktails. Soneva Fushi is a thirty minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport.

Cheval Blanc Randheli is luxurious new property in the Maldives' Noonu Atoll, inhabiting a handful of islands surrounded by teeming reefs. It's still new, having opened in November 2013 and is top of its class; a Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy property, only the second of its kind. The Randheli is around 40 minutes away from Male airport by seaplane, with a luxurious lounge at the airport so guests can make their transfer in comfort. The design and décor of The Randheli conveys relaxed island living in its light, natural palette and thatched roofs, yet a refined, contemporary edge shines through in its all modern interiors, up-to-the-minute technology and cathedral-style loft ceilings.

Situated along the pristine beaches of the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago, the Anantara Kihavah is the perfect place for a beach vacation getaway with villas and residences along the beaches and above water that offer a nearly unmatchable level of luxury and comfort. Private infinity pools, Jacuzzis, and oversized bathtubs are the norm at this resort of 80 spacious accommodations, and this kind of extravagance extends to the resort’s wide array of dining destinations, its spa, and its stargazing center. After days spend island hopping, viewing the nearby coral reef on a diving excursion, or simply sitting around enjoying the comfort of one’s villa, guests can dine at the resort’s one-of-a-kind underwater wine cellar and restaurant, at a hand-picked destination dining location, or at any of the resort’s other restaurants with cuisines that range from Asian and Japanese to International and tapas. There is an on-site gym, open-air movie theater, and even a trampoline park complete with basketball hoops. No expense was spared when constructing the Anantara Kihavah, and accordingly guests have no shortage of things to do is the tropical paradise.

Reinventing the definition of tropical paradise, the barefoot luxury resort of Soneva Jani spans across an entire island archipelago and private lagoon, which boasts of long beaches swathed in white sand and turquoise waves. Accessible via a scenic 40-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport, a 60-minute speedboat ride from sister property Soneva Fushi, or half-day cruise from Soneva Fushi aboard the luxurious Soneva in Aqua vessel, Soneva Jani promises guests a secluded vacation that transcends the imagination. The resort is divided into the Chapter 1 (north) and Chapter 2 (south) branches of overwater villas, with the main island and some select land-based accommodations - plus facilities and dining venues - as a connector. Retreats, Reserves, and Residences come with one to four bedrooms, as well as superlative features such as private pools with catamaran nets, retractable roofs, and water slides that splash into the lagoon. Spectacular scenery sets the stage for a wide range of activities - experiences such as movie nights at the overwater cinema, dinner cruises beneath starlit skies and snorkel tours with sea turtles ensure that guests will certainly not be wanting for entertainment, and nor for exciting dining options - from freshly-caught fish to wood-fired pizzas, the resort is home to array of restaurants with cuisine to suit all palettes.

When guests get off the transfer boat and arrive at the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, they are greeted by an “Island Welcome” of drummers and clapping staff, marking their arrival at this luxurious island that is home to a half-mile-long, crescent-shaped beach. Rooms with relaxing décor and understated Arabic touches are spacious, and they offer fantastic views of the beach and the Arabian Sea beyond. All rooms have indulgent, curved bathtubs, some of which are installed in small atriums. The most impressive units are the thatched-roof villas that float over the ocean and have private pools, but even entry-level accommodations are sure to impress with king-size beds and far-ranging views. There is no shortage of activities at the resort, from the four communal pools surrounded by loungers to the expansive spa with numerous private treatment rooms, hammams, and more. There are also various facilities for guests looking to get some exercise, such as the Fitness Center, tennis court, and nine-hole putting course. There is a bowling alley, a kid’s center, and even a surf pool that creates artificial waves for guests looking to hop on a surfboard. Breakfast is served at Azraq, buffet style, and Riva and Ted’s present classic Italian and throwback Americana-inspired flavors, respectively. Q Lounge & Restaurant is a must for lovers of Indian food, and Al Nahham, which is perched dramatically at the water's edge, serves a variety of local flavors. While there is no alcohol at the resort, flavored shisha tobacco is available, which is a perfect addition to a day of relaxation, and in-room and destination dining can also be arranged. Along with the resort's on-site activities, guests can enjoy the nearby sea by kayaking, wakeboarding, and more.

Over the past several decades, Qatar has earned a growing reputation as one of the Persian Gulf’s most prosperous nations. The country’s rapidly developing capital and premier urban metropolis of Doha has distinguished itself as a hotbed for the arts, modern architecture, and bustling commerce. For luxury travelers seeking accommodations while in the capital, the Ritz-Carlton Doha ranks among the city’s finest five-star hospitality options. The hotel’s 374 luxuriously appointed guestrooms with views of the city or the gulf are richly decorated in classic Ritz-Carlton style, and other features like an exclusive Club Level, multiple dining options, a uniquely tailored spa “journey,” and locally renowned outdoor pools help highlight the extraordinary elegance of the Ritz brand. There are also an additional 61 luxury suites and 42 club rooms, and a 235-slip marina with a clubhouse for boats and an eight-slip marina for jet-skis are also on-site. Facilities at the Ritz-Carlton Doha include the aforementioned spa and marina, as well as a modern fitness center, a squash court, two indoor tennis courts, a boutique retail shop, a florist, a hair salon, and more. Guest rooms and suites have plush furnishings handcrafted in Spain and Italy, private balconies, large marble baths, fully stocked refreshment cabinets, and LCD flatscreen televisions. Among the hotel’s staggering array of fine dining options are an upscale American-style steakhouse by the water’s edge, an authentic French brasserie, and a poolside bar serving light snacks and refreshing cocktails.

Located at the heart of the capital city is the Four Seasons Hotel Doha – a freshly renovated jewel of the Four Seasons brand with a seaside aesthetic and modern appeal. The hotel is ideal for luxury travelers looking for a five-star home-away-from-home during their visit to Qatar, and the spacious guest rooms and facilities are among the finest in the entirety of the prosperous and rapidly developing nation. All rooms and suites have dramatic, panoramic views of the Doha city skyline, and decorative touches balance urban chic with resort-style luxury. Recent renovations to the hotel’s 237 total accommodations were overseen by renowned French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Light, sea-inspired colors dominate in classic and contemporary furnishings, and other design details like mother of pearl inlays and decorative Arab motifs are inspired by national Qatari heritage. Legendary Four Seasons service is available 24 hours a day, and features and amenities range from private elevators to bespoke private dining. Hotel facilities include a spa and fitness center with a pool and tennis court, and an impressive nine food and drink provide guests with an ample selection.

The new Rosewood Doha is housed within two striking towers of contemporary design inspired by the coral reefs of the Persian Gulf. The property is comprised of 185 guest rooms and suites, 173 serviced apartments and 300 residences. For dining, guests can enjoy food and drinks at eight unique outlets: a bistro, the lobby lounge, a coffee shop and deli, three specialty restaurants, a cigar lounge, as well as an entertainment lounge. Other hotel amenities include a ballroom, event spaces, a state-of-the-art fitness center, the Manor Club executive lounge and Sense, a Rosewood Spa.