Jetwing St. Andrew's
Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Step back in time to an era of colonial gentility at St. Andrew's Hotel, a classic English mansion perched more than 6,000 feet above sea level in Sri Lanka's mist-shrouded highlands. Verdant tea plantations cover the mountainsides around this former country house that has been converted to a resort hotel. Reflecting the region's heritage, when Nuwara Eliya was the temperate holiday playground of British rulers and diplomats, Jetwing St. Andrew's exudes an atmosphere of relaxed elegance that harkens back to the 19th century. Wake up to a typical English breakfast of bacon and eggs, enjoy high tea on the lawn, and sip a stiff brandy nightcap.
Surrounded by lavish English gardens and a wetland developed to attract wildlife, including more than 35 bird species, the hotel melds comfortably with its serene natural environs. Its 51 guest rooms offer a simple, warm atmosphere with high ceilings, rich wood floors and deep, gem-like accent colors. Each room is individually decorated and has an en suite bathroom with shower, TV with international channels, Wi-Fi, electronic safe, mini bar, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Individual heaters keep the chill mountain air at bay during the evenings.
Guests enjoy fine dining at the Old Course restaurant, as well as pints and tradtional British pub fare at the Road Hole Bar. Additional amenities include a boutique and souvenir shop, and a snooker room with a table dating to 1900, one of the oldest in Sri Lanka.