Negombo, Colombo & the West Coast, Sri Lanka

Just half an hour’s drive from the airport, Jetwing Lagoon in Negombo was one of the first resort hotels designed by the legendary Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa, father of ‘Tropical Modernism’. It incorporates most of his trademark traits: extensive use of natural materials such as wood and terracotta, with light, airy, fresh interiors offering outlook and privacy. The swimming pool is huge and there’s plenty of space to stroll and dine along the shores of the eponymous lagoon, which provides a welcome buffer between the resort and the busy coastal strip. Dine in style at the open-sided Blue Lagoon restaurant, on the terrace of the à la carte Geoffrey’s Pavillion, or at a choice of more intimate spaces along the waterfront. There’s also a spa specializing in Ayurvedic therapies, and a fully equipped gym.