Of Colombo’s 5 star hotel pools we are partial to the one at Cinnamon Lakeside. It’s probably the most recently refurbished of the big hotel pools and with its Beira-side views, deep blue tinge, and innovative U-shape it makes for better swimming than your average hotel pool. This is really a good place for a swim. It’s probably the largest of the hotel pools so there’s plenty of space to manoeuvre around and get some exercise and on weekday afternoons and evenings it can actually be quite empty.

It also comes the closest to being an infinity pool with a sheer ledge that can trick your eyes into thinking you’re swimming into the Beira (its cleaner now, but that’s still a frightening thought). The pool also benefits from the relatively high standard of food at the Cinnamon Hotels. The excellent Royal Thai, for example, is just feet away.

Good for: posing – you are in plain sight of everyone patronizing the Lakeside’s fashionable terrace and 7 Degrees North. Cost: Rs 1200, kids Rs. 750 Length: U-shaped but maybe 25-30 meters. Depth: didn’t go to the deep end Lion Larger Rs 550, Club Sandwich Rs. 700