Three remote hideaways
Vil Uyana, Sri Lanka
A summer break somewhere far away from our depressed economy is very tempting. Here are three of the best – and most remote – lodges and villas in the world.
Vil Uyana, Sri Lanka
This resort "blurs the boundary between hotel and nature reserve", says The Times. There are 25 vaulted wooden villas sitting over reclaimed paddyfields and guests can stay among paddyfields, over marshlands, above water or in the forest. The forest villas are the largest and most private, but all come with a plunge pool and sundeck. And even though you feel far from home, the onsite chefs whip up "fantastic food".
There's plenty to see at Vil Ulyana too. The nature reserve attracts birds, lizards, crocodiles and even the occassional wild elephant.
Rates start from $200 per night for a double room on a B&B basis. Visit www.jetwing.com or call 00 94 112 345700 for more information.
The Fuselage Suite, Costa Rica
For a unforgettable holiday book into this former aeroplane, which has been transformed into a luxury lodge. The 1965 Boeing 727 offers "spectacular views" of the Manuel Antonio National Park's rain forest from the balconies built onto its wings, says Julian Gavaghan in the Daily Mail.
Inside the cabins have been decked out with teak paneling and divided into two bedrooms, a kitchenette, dining room, living area and two bathrooms. In the evening you can watch the sloths, toucans and monkeys settling into the trees for the night from your balcony.
A stay in the Fuselage Suite of the Costa Verde resort costs from $400 per night. For more information visit www.costaverde.com.
360, Shompole, Kenya
Head to Shompole for the ultimate safari retreat. The "dramatically situated" 360 is named after the panoramic views this lodge offers over the Great Rift Valley, says Condé Nast Traveller. A telescope will help you spot the zebras, elephants, and giraffes that live in this part as well as big cats including leopards and lions.
The lodge has a dining area suspended over a swimming pool and two 5,000 sq ft bedrooms. It also has its own helipad so you can zoom off to the Maasai Mara or to Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano across the border in Tanzania.
A stay at 360 costs from $785 per person per night. Visit www.shompole.com or call 00 254 20 884 135 to find out more.
