" SRI LANKA
River House, Balapitiya
Sri Lankans insist that their country's true beauty lies hidden in the interior. Less than two miles inland along an unmarked dirt path, River House announces itself with breath-taking views of the Madhu River that will turn beach lovers into believers. Five stylish rooms are appointed with exquisite Ceylon antiques and vibrant Indian textiles; generously proportioned bathrooms are spotless industrial chic. Rooms are equipped with TVs and DVD players, but real entertainment is out of doors, where the hotel's boatman leads guests through lush scenery punctuated by uninhabited islands and the saltwater river yields coconut-sized jellyfish in shocking shades of pink and blue. When to go: Avoid May through July, when temperatures sizzle and skies drizzle. Which room to book: Sunrises are surreal from the east-facing Singha Suite's chilled plunge pool (94-11-472-4363; www.taruvillas.com;)......"