Paradise Found
Passports at the ready: it’s time to channel your inner Robinson Crusoe as Blossom Green discovers 14 of the world’s best castaway hotels, where sun-kissed days and unrivalled privacy are guaranteed
Amanpulo Philippines
A small speck of lusciousness amid a sea of cerulean blue,
Pamalican Island has developed a big reputation. This remote
isle in the Cuyo Archipelago was once part of a plantation but
today, the 2.4km-long slither is home to just one award-winning
hotel by luxe group Aman. A private plane is needed to get here:
the 70-minute flight from Manila across the Sulu Sea reveals
a turquoise halo – the hotel’s reef and crowning glory – before
your descent to the jungle-shrouded airstrip. Offering a slick,
peaceful alternative to some of South East Asia’s more
saturated destinations, a total of 42 casitas (Filipino-style houses) sprawl from the shore to the hilltop, a few floating amid
the rainforest canopy. Each has direct beach access via hushed
sand pathways and you could easily go a full day without seeing
another soul, with only the whisper of swaying palms disturbing
your reverie. Pillow-strewn decks and hammocks are scattered
around the resort, while a clubhouse has a pool. Local seafood
and island-grown vegetables feature at the two restaurants.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
A floating pontoon bar is available to rent; it’s a
fantastic spot for offshore sunbathing and canoodling.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £825.
Mirihi Island Resort Maldives
The Maldives is hardly short of private-island escapes but,
surprisingly, many lack the sense of privacy we seek. Enter
Mirihi, a pleasingly petite paradise that packs a punch when it
comes to escaping the crowds. Upon arrival, a jaw-slackening
stroll along a stilted deck awaits before guests are invited to
remove their shoes and not put them back on again until they
leave. You can barely make out the nearest island neighbour
from this unspoilt atoll in the South Ari region, and views
over the hypnotic crash of the Indian Ocean go on for days,
interrupted only by the odd frolic of dolphins on the horizon. The dreamy, independently owned resort is a pocket-sized
350m by 50m (one of the country’s smallest) and can be easily
traversed in 20 minutes. A haven for lazy days, expect morning
pootles along the shore to breakfast, a snorkle in the reef before
lunch, afternoon ping pong in the shade and, of course, plenty
of sun worship on your private terrace. The buffet at breakfast,
lunch and dinner is absolutely superb and a fine-dining
overwater restaurant offers intimate dinners looking out to sea.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Book one of six beach villas for maximum privacy.
THE DETAIL
Villas from £330.
Calala Island Nicaragua
The owners of Calala Island have pinpointed the remote westerly reaches of the
Caribbean Sea for their Shangri-la. There are no other luxury resorts in these
parts and, as such, you can expect quite the journey: three flights and a boat
transfer. But you won’t care when it comes into view. Calala channels the charm
of Barbados 50 years ago: raw beauty, warm hospitality, a sense of taking a step
back in time. The acid-green blot floats on blue waters in stark contrast to the
rustic colour palette of the interiors. Four wooden villas feature thatched roofs,
locally crafted furniture and tinkling seashell curtains. Toast your wise choice of
destination with coconuts full of the house special rum and tonic on your deck
all day (the bar only closes when the last guest goes to bed). Evenings consist of
sumptuous suppers by Lorne Emerson, who’s worked in some of Europe’s top
restaurants. Lobster carpaccio and 72-hour Nicaraguan short beef is on our plate.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Kayak to Little Calala and watch pelicans swooping for their lunch.
THE DETAIL
Villas from £1,100, full board.
Vila Vita Parc Portugal
You don’t always have to go
far off the beaten track to find
Man Friday-levels of seclusion.
This jewel nestles in the heart of
the Algarve, the wave-pounded
strip of coast along Portugal’s
southernmost point, which lures
thousands of holidaymakers each
year. However, once inside the
gates of Villa Vita Parc, it’s a
very different story. This resort’s
rooms and villas are sprinkled
throughout 22ha of lush gardens
which roll down to a secluded beach
of champagne-coloured sand; the
only private stretch in the region.
The brilliant Moorish buildings
dazzle against olive groves, while
peacock-blue doors and fabrics that
complement pottery by Porches
provide a stylish taste of local
colour. In terms of cuisine, this
is the only hotel on our list with
two Michelin stars. An evening at
Ocean starts early with a glass
of alvarinho by the huge windows,
and ends late after a tasting menu
showcasing the likes of violet
prawns from nearby Tavira.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Opt for an Oasis SuitePremium, which has access to an
enormous private roof terrace.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £265.
Six Sense Zighy Bay Oman
A world away from the high-gloss hustle of Dubai, yet only
a two-hour drive east, Six Senses Zighy Bay is developing
cult status. Poised on the Musandam Peninsula, its rugged
remoteness is breathtaking and, unlike many resorts, suits the
full gamut of traveller, from couples to families and groups of
friends thanks to its clever Omani-village design. Villas akin to
personal enclaves punctuate date palm-fringed walkways and feature dusty sundecks, shaded sofas and private pools. You
could easily stay ensconced for the duration, with barbecues
and plenty of quality in-room dining options. Alternatively,
rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, dhow cruises
and two huge swimming pools can make for an active escape.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
With kids? Go for a spacious two-bed villa.
THE DETAIL
Villas from £450.
Jumby Bay Island Antigua
Picture-postcard palm trees? Check. Mile upon mile of bleached white sand? Check.
Easily accessed by a scenic boat ride two miles off Antigua’s northern coast, Jumby Bay
on Long Island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and represents the
Caribbean at its best. One of the larger resorts on our list, 7.2km of empty beaches
maintain an escapist ethos, while lofty cottages and villas with wraparound terraces
champion relaxation. The ocean-view infinity pool is a wonderful place to practise the art
of doing nothing, and offers a kids’ club through the day. Design leans towards old-school
colonial across the 40 suites and winding bike paths sweep you from the tennis court to a bamboo massage at the spa, then up to the Estate House restaurant in a flurry of fauna.
A supper of monkfish followed by rum baba and local black pineapple is your reward.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Add on a day to discover Antigua’s mainland. Nelson’s Dockyard was recentlyrecognised by Unesco, having been in use since the 1740s. It has an excellent museum.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £880, full board.
La Sultana Oualidia Morocco
Tickling the Atlantic Ocean and framed around the curvaceous
crescent of a saltwater lagoon, the beguiling village of Oualidia
remains surprisingly under the radar. While attention turns south
towards on-the-up Essaouira, Moroccan royalty have been enticed
to Oualidia for years by the plump oysters, great surf and a fresh sea
breeze to combat the stifling summer heat. A good couple of hours
away from the brouhaha that is Marrakech, luxurious La Sultana is an ideal place to unwind. Indeed, this is the staycation of choice
for many city slickers. A soothing oasis of apricot-coloured stone
and glorious natural surrounds, quotidian pleasures include slow
breakfasts amid hibiscus gardens, languid toe-dipping by the pool,
refreshing mint tea and picnic lunches in the shade of a canopy set
in a private dune. Afternoons call for bird-watching safaris by kayak
to the salt marshes, or fishing trips to plunder the Atlantic for grouper
and red mullet. While away evenings in the hammam before retiring
to the white-and-cream dream that is your suite. The fudge-coloured
dunes shape-shift in front of your eyes daily, and slumbers in the sun
are disturbed only by the distant sound of the muezzin’s call to prayer,
which becomes a soporific addition to your stay.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Shop for souvenirs on a Saturday in the Oualidia souk, where traders put on less of a hard-sell than those in Morocco’s cities.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £270.
Cayo Espanto Belize
An emerald dot five kilometres out to sea from the Belizean
city of San Pedro, this private island has all the trappings of a
hedonist’s hide-out. Access is via a ten-minute speedboat ride,
or else by helicopter from the capital. Seven beach houses are
available, which, at over 100sq m, are among the most spacious
on our list. Turquoise shutters fling open for indoor-outdoor
living, while private pools ensure that your schedule of flitting
from hammock to pool to ocean isn’t disturbed. There’s no
pomp and no dress code, and you’re only sharing the island
with 17 other guests. A butler, or ‘houseman’, is on hand to
organise paddle-boats for a day’s exploration, or day trips to the mainland for lunches of Mexican-Caribbean cuisine
at Wild Mango’s. Leave the kids at home; this one’s for lovers.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Book Casa Aurora, which has the largest pool.
THE DETAIL
Villas from £1,125 full board, four-night minimum stay; entire island (sleeps 18), from £10,160.
Les Roches Rouges France
Give the glamourpuss hotels of St Tropez and Cannes the
cold shoulder and head to the Côte d’Azure’s rugged coast at
St-Raphaël for a classy alternative. Understated, chic interiors
play on the tricolour with azure, white and ochre featuring
heavily across the Fifties modernist style. Flanked by fragrant
pine, tamarisk trees and pretty Mediterranean gardens, the
hotel encourages a slow pace. Long, sun-filled days mean plenty
of time to explore the area – hiking and sailing are popular
– while afternoons call for games of pétanque. In keeping with
the hotel’s aesthetic, stone platforms poised around a seawater
pool are decked out with loungers. It’s every bit the French
Riviera with all the joie de vivre and none of the ceremony.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Pretty St-Raphaël is a ten-minute drive away. Try Le Bouchon Provençal for the five-fish bouillabaise.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £155.
The Wickaninnish Inn Canada
Blink twice and you’ll miss this family-run hostelry, which clings
to a pine-shrouded peninsula on Vancouver Island’s west coast.
It has all the charm of a forester’s cabin, with hand-crafted
wooden archways and doors carved from cedar, yet is as sleek as the seals sliding along Chesterman Beach – which the hotel
has direct access to. Spacious rooms, all with wood burners,
look out over sweeping ocean panoramas, while a cocktail
lounge boasts one of the biggest whisky collections in British
Columbia, making this one very luxurious isolated getaway.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Within striking distance, Meares Island and the Pacific Rim National Park have much to offer nature lovers.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £255.
Petit St Vincent
No cars. No news. No worries.
A swirl of green hills and coral
beaches, this undulating islet on
St Vincent and the Grenadines
was discovered by a US airman
in 1963. He snapped it up and
built a hotel for yachties. The
odd one may still join you at the beach restaurant, but no
sweat; your patch of heaven
from one of the 22 open-front
cottages guarantees you can
disconnect, relax and enjoy.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Golf fans should book a trip to nearby Canouan, which has a stellar course.
THE DETAIL
Cottages from £900,
full board.
Inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse USA
With clapboard houses painted brilliant white and no shortage of secret coves, Maine is
New England at its most romantic. A private boat will whisk you from Southport Island
into what feels like an Edward Hopper painting. This historic lighthouse has just two
suites (which can be rented individually or together), and both are hazy dreamscapes
of soft grey and blue. They each have sitting rooms complete with a selection of
leatherbound Victorian novels plus coffee stations. Activities are gentle: spot porpoises,
tuck into buttery lobster or plunder innkeepers Barb and Dan Aube’s encyclopaedic
knowledge of the building’s fascinating history, which can be traced back to 1892.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
The West Suite’s sofa converts into a very comfortable queen-sized bed complete with a locally made duvet, making this room the pick for groups.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £450; entire island from £1,315.
Lighthouse Grebeni Croatia
The best-value private island on
our list and under three hours
from the UK, this 19th-century
lighthouse in Dubrovnik’s bay
proves that you don’t have to
break the bank for a slice of
paradise. A sun-drenched
terrace and pool are the ideal
setting for sampling the local
wines, while a speedboat is on
hand around the clock to whizz
you to the beaches of Babin Kuk.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Pick up fresh octopus for the barbecue at Dubrovnik’s Gruž Market.
THE DETAIL
Entire island
(sleeps 8), from £525.
Casa Cook Kos Greece
Renowned for its expansive beaches, Kos is the pick for perfect isolation out of the
easy-to-access Greek islands. This Aegean rhapsody is on the windswept north
coast with its own private stretch of sand. Cubist-style suites with rooftop terraces
and private pools make up the accommodation. Days are best spent discovering
crystal-clear coves and empty shorelines of uninhabited islets before retreating to
the polished concrete rooms, and a cool respite from the non-stop summer sun.
Travel Details
INSIDER TIP
Blaze a trail to the beach for a horseback ride through the wild dunes.
THE DETAIL
Doubles from £126.
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