URBN HOTEL.  Shanghai, China.

After a depressing stay at the tastelessly designed Radisson (smokey dining room, breakfast buffet 5 days in a row, and blinding beige marble, brass and glass), I needed a clean breath of air.

After an effortless check-in at Urbn Hotel on the quieter side of downtown in a historic residential neighborhood, I was in smokeless and eco-focused nirvana.  An enclosed bamboo courtyard opens into a 26-room boutique hotel, complete with organic cleaning products, warm wood against cool stone, chic menu and crowd.  

My ‘atrium’ room had a bamboo and stone garden window, an endless runway bathroom, and a sunken TV area.  Fast free wireless internet - who needs a ‘business hotel?’  Next came a free in-room massage, quick room service that arrived in an laser-etched box, and they even packed me a free breakfast to go for my early morning departure.

URBN rules.  About $220/night.

(Source: urbnhotels.com)

HOMA Chateau.  Guilin, China.

The interiors are a tad flashy, but the exteriors and views are jaw-dropping.  About 3 hr. flight from Hong Kong, past Guangzhou.

About $250/night

I had nothing to do with finding this eco-gem in the middle of nowhere in Sri Lanka. My local work colleagues took me on a short tour on my way to Galle to see the Elephant Orphanage, and in order to break up the long drive, we landed here at the Kandalama. 

An orange dirt road winds its way towards the hotel and then *bam!* this modern, yet somehow not, building snuggles up to the side of the rocky hillside. An earthy green, literally, the first eco hotel ever built. 

We’re greeted by a lotus-bearing woman and fresh fruit juice of our selection at the lobby. There’s about 400 tons of rock acting as moulding along a wall, but apparently the whole building was built AROUND the hill…nothing was hacked into. My colleagues mention that the hill is spiritual ground for local buddist pilgrims, so the hotel allows them to come in anytime to pray to the rock. I’m amused at first but end up being charmed and respectful. I overhear that there are special rates and rooms for drivers…something you don’t get in the States. Heck, we don’t even get drivers…

The rooms are modern but ever-so-slightly rustic with a cool bathroom. Of course I take the obvious “jacuzzi overlooking the view” photo, but it IS pretty posh. If you’re skittish, beware, monkeys and bats have a field day with all the flying bugs, and worse, European tourists. 

The better wing is on a certain side, the other side is mostly for tour buses and families. I stayed in a deluxe room (Room 402) which was on the good side - no children.

We had the buffet for dinner….probably the only downside (but I’m being really fussy right now). It was a bit like a cruise buffet, admittedly better, but obviously catering to the Westerners. Pasta bar?

Six Senses Spa: OK so you know by now that I’m a spa FREAK. Seriously, I’m obsessed. I got the Natural Thai facial by a dude. Not sure what was ‘Thai’ about it because it was pretty standard fare. 

For its fabulous architecture and environmentalism (gosh, I hope that jacuzzi water is recycled somehow…In good conscience I could only fill it 1/3 way up - it’s HUGE!), I give them a 4.5 - docking .5 only because I’ve been spoiled by the COMO group.