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Tried & Tested: Reviews Tri, Sri Lanka


author: Sarah Gilbert


Perhaps the most unique of the many new arrivals in Sri Lanka in the past year, Tri is spread across six fertile acres on the banks of Lake Koggala, between tea country and the coast. It is the creation of British-born


Robert Drummond, who says its cutting-edge design is inspired by


the spirals of the Fibonacci sequence and nature’s Golden Ratio; case in point – the main path that winds around the lush landscape, past lemongrass bushes and the spreading branches of an ancient banyan tree. At its hub, a cinnamon-covered


water tower has panoramic views over the surrounding emerald- green paddy fields and holds three rooms. It is encircled by eight villas, three with private pools and all with terraces and sunrise or sunset views over the sapphire-blue lake. There’s no hint of old colonial here. The open-plan villas are all


high ceilings and clean lines, blending local materials such as jak wood and granite. Living roofs blend into the landscape and the eco credentials are furthered by use of solar energy and rainwater channels to nourish the landscape. Another key focus is wellbeing, with daily yoga classes offered in an open-sided shala, indulgent massages in the two-room spa beneath the glass-walled library and a roster of visiting natural health practitioners. A 21-metre infinity pool is


surrounded by a wide terrace for sunbathing or


stargazing to a soundtrack of the whirr of cicadas and the trill of birds. Under the cantilevered roof of


the two-storey main building there’s a bar and plenty of lounging space. The indoor-outdoor restaurant serves up a fresh take on Sri Lankan classics and several times a week, six-course tasting menus use seasonal ingredients and vegetables and herbs from Tri’s organic garden. Expect to try dishes such as moreish hoppers (a kind of pancake made from rice flour and coconut milk), fragrant fish curry and buffalo curd ice cream. Tri makes the perfect


base to explore tea factories and cinnamon plantations, historic Galle Fort,


whale watching from Mirissa and leopard spotting at Yala. Or just suggest a sunset cruise on its bespoke dhoni to relish the serenity. Tel: 00 94 777 708 177, trilanka.com


How to book it Experience Travel Group offers seven nights in a Lake Villa from £1,675pp including half-board, flights, transfers and a signature experience. Tel: 020 7924 7133, experiencetravelgroup.com


Conrad New York, US


author: Sophie Griffiths


Walking into the Conrad New York is reminiscent of stepping onto a vast cruise ship. Rows of corridors reaching 15-stories high ring the huge atrium on one side, while on the other, illuminated patterns dance across a wall, bathing the lobby in blues and lilacs. Twisting sculptures – the work of artist Sol LeWitt – attached to hundreds of wires hang down, positioned above seats which curve and swirl the length of the reception. Adjacent to the Hudson River,


the hotel is still kind of the cool newcomer in the financial district. But opened four years ago primarily


82  TTGLUXURY.COM  SPRING 2016  TRIED & TESTED


for business, it now welcomes almost more leisure guests, and its location – in the shadow of the vast new One World Trade Centre – is likely to boost this trend. The new Conrad-wide Stay


Inspired concept further hails the hotel’s leisurely side; launched in October, the idea is to offer succinct itineraries based on the premise that guests have only one, three or


five hours to explore. In New York this is a hard task, but the concierge insists he is well practised. The hotel offers a 24-hour health


and fitness centre and free Wi-Fi, while its 463 suites are pretty spacious, something to shout about in New York. The views from my suite looked out onto


new shopping centre Brookfield Place, which opened a year ago. Elsewhere, river suites offer more


stunning views across the Hudson to New Jersey; a panorama that can also be seen from the hotel’s seasonal Loopy Doopy rooftop bar, named for LeWitt’s art installation in the atrium. With the bar only open between April and November however, dining at the hotel in winter is limited to the all-day restaurant Atrio. Luckily in the city that never


sleeps there are eateries aplenty, whatever the season. And for guests that have only an hour or five to spare the Conrad can offer its own ideas to ensure everyone gets a bite of the Big Apple. Tel: 00 1 212 945 0100, conradnewyork.com


How to book it Rooms from £265pn.


Eco arrival


Downtown marvel


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