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10 minutes readContent
- The Brando, French Polynesia
- COMO Laucala Island, Fiji
- Islas Secas, Panama
- Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos
- Miavana by Time + Tide, Madagascar
- Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, United States
- The Resort at Isla Palenque, Panama
- Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives
- Lovango Resort and Beach Club, Saint John
- Four Seasons Resort, Seychelles
- &Beyond Mnemba, Isla
1. The Brando, French Polynesia
The Brando was originally the private getaway of Marlon Brando, famous for his roles in The Godfather and A Streetcar Named Desire, and has now been transformed into a sustainable retreat in French Polynesia. The complex features 35 villas, complete with palm thatched roofs that offer a grandeur that makes it feel like you’re stepping back into the golden era of Hollywood. It effortlessly embraces outdoor living with a beach that’s just a minute’s walk from any of the main villas.
This island resort is perfect for those who have a love of the great outdoors. The resort offers a daily tour that showcases the rare birdlife and ancient temples on the island. Your clients can also take part in snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding throughout the day. What makes it one of the best private properties in the world is its focus on sustainability, as the entire estate is powered by solar power.
The Brando offers an all-inclusive rate, ideal for couples celebrating a special occasion, as everything from champagne to daily spa treatments and in-room dining menus is included in the package. It’s luxury without worrying about the price tag once you arrive.
2. COMO Laucala Island, Fiji
Fiji is famous for its stunning natural beauty, with its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches. COMO Laucala Island stretches over 3,500 acres and is one of the South Pacific’s most exclusive resorts. The villas here are known as “bures” with 25 dotted throughout the estate. COMO is one of the world’s most expensive island resorts, with each villa having its own private swimming pool and amenities. On-site visitors have access to buggies to easily move between resort facilities, including the spa, restaurants, and bars. If your clients are sports fans, sign them up for a round of golf at the par-72 course.
One of the most unique parts of the COMO resort is its “Cultural Village”, the perfect way for first-time visitors to learn more about Fiji and its culture, including dances, rituals, and traditional ceremonies. Walking into this private complex feels like stepping into Eden. Guests are surrounded by the best of nature, from stunning rainforests to a cobalt reef and tranquil blue waters.
3. Islas Secas, Panama
Islas Secas is a collection of 14 private islands that feel untouched by modern civilization. It offers the ultimate escapism, nestled within the Gulf of Chiriqui in Panama. Islas Secas is another sustainability-focused property with 8 different accommodations to choose from, including “Casa Cavada”, designed for 8 people, reimagined treehouses with 3 bedrooms, and spacious villas with open-air terraces.
Visitors to Islas Secas have exclusive access to all 14 islands, giving them the feeling of being alone in paradise. It’s the perfect alternative for clients who want a luxury getaway but without the hustle and bustle of tourist crowds in destinations like Paris and the UAE. The main island is where you’ll find most of the guests spending their day, including at the bar inspired by Ernest Hemingway, an infinity pool, and a beachfront restaurant.
Photo by Pierre-Yves Babelon on Shutterstock
Your clients can fill their itineraries with activities like scuba diving, whale-watching, and watersports. Islas Secas is one of the few exclusive resorts that also caters to families. Coiba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located close to Islas Secas, and is home to one of Panama’s finest coral reefs and rainforests. Another recommendation to make for clients is to book a boat tour around the archipelago for the best views at sunset.
4. Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is one of the best tropical places to visit in summer, but Pine Cay takes it to the next level. What’s unique about this private island property is that it puts the attention on its surroundings, avoiding the extravagant and over-the-top amenities and features you might find at other luxury resorts.
Any minimalist and nature lover will feel right at home in Pine Cay with its villas and beach-front rooms that are the perfect spot for a digital detox. Your clients can take part in a variety of daily activities, including spotting flamingos, exploring the aquarium, and snorkeling amongst the sea turtles and rays. Pine Cays is a vacation destination that feels like it’s out of this world, beautifully preserved as if totally untouched. This secluded island sits on the edge of the world’s third-largest barrier reef and is 250 miles from Panama City, with most visitors taking a private flight directly to the island.
5. Miavana by Time + Tide, Madagascar
Your clients will arrive at this remote island off the coast of Madagascar by helicopter, taking in stunning scenes of mountains and shipwrecks on approach. The island, known as Nosy Ankao, focuses on sustainability and has just 14 villas, providing a luxury stay that puts privacy at the forefront.
The main restaurant features a menu that changes daily, inspired by the freshest produce available locally. However, the chefs can also cater to special requests, including dietary needs. Your clients can expect to receive some of the best customer service in the world, from staff who are knowledgeable about the environmental policies to butlers who will ensure you have everything you need. It works in partnership with local conservation programs, focusing on protecting the nearby coral reefs, animals, and marine life, including turtles and lemurs.
Photo by icemanphotos on Shuttertock
When creating an itinerary for your clients, you’ll want to set aside at least one day to explore Madagascar or arrange a private helicopter ride from the island for a bird’s eye view of the nearby forests.
6. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, United States
If your clients are looking for a private island that’s adults-only and close to the United States, then Little Palm Island will be their perfect match. It stretches over four acres and offers 30 bungalow suites, available in a freestanding style or as part of larger bungalows. It has a strict maximum of 60 guests, ideal if you’re looking for a private experience.
Located within the Caribbean, it’s the only private island property of its kind in America. Each of the Florida Keys suites offers water views, furnished decks, and even outdoor showers for those who want to make the most of their privacy. Visitors can snorkel at the world’s third-largest living coral reef, the Looe Key Reef.
Guests can start their day with a sunrise breakfast, featuring a menu curated with the best local ingredients, and enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner. The on-site spa is located within a two-story atrium, offering meditative beach yoga, wellness packages, and even transcendent body rituals to help visitors relax and unwind. If your clients are celebrating a special occasion, the on-site staff can help to curate a private celebration on the island.
7. The Resort at Isla Palenque, Panama
This hotel is nestled on a 400-acre private island in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui. It’s an alternative to Islas Secas, which featured earlier on our list, and features seven secluded beaches and a primary forest. Your clients can choose between eight private casitas and a six-bedroom villa, each featuring a bathroom on a private stretch of sand.
There’s a range of activities available for on-site guests, from wildlife hikes to snorkeling excursions, along with on-site events, such as cocktail-making classes. What we love about this property is that it’s competitively priced compared to other private islands, especially during low season. It’s the perfect choice for a couple or family taking their first trip to a private island. All meals, except alcohol, daily activities, and round-trip boat transfers to the island are included as part of all-inclusive packages.
8. Anantara Kihavah Villas, Maldives
Anantara Kihavah Villas is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering residential-style villas and thatched-roof sanctuaries for those who prefer added privacy. It’s a property that feels like a tropical paradise with swinging daybeds for relaxing in the afternoon and glass bottom bathtubs with the best view of the local marine life.
Amenities are where this property hits it out of the park, from a spa with floor-to-ceiling windows and a wellness menu that offers energy healing and Ayurvedic therapies. The complex is home to the only underwater caviar restaurant in the Maldives and also features an astronomy-inspired rooftop bar.
Nature lovers will be right at home at this hotel, which is just minutes from Hanifaru Bay, where you’ll find the world’s largest gatherings of manta rays. Guests receive complimentary use of snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and kayaks. It also offers an overwater observatory, a dive center, a padel court, and a water sports center.
9. Lovango Resort and Beach Club, Saint John
This property is located just 10 minutes from St. John and St. Thomas. The latest opening by USVI, this private island beach club is designed with a focus on sustainability, leaning heavily on nature-inspired interiors. Visitors can choose between one- to three-bedroom villas, wooden treehouses, and explorer-style tents that offer stunning views of the nearby islands.
Photo by mrsiraphol on Freepik
If you’re not staying at the hotel, you can still enjoy leisurely lunches and intimate dinners at the Lovango Restaurant, which fuses elegance and charm, focusing on a menu inspired by contemporary, coastal Caribbean cuisine. Live music and casual fireside dining happen at the Sandpit on Wednesday and Saturday evenings from 5pm to 9pm with a chef’s tasting menu on Sundays.
10. Four Seasons Resort, Seychelles
Seychelles is an island nestled in the Indian Ocean and one that’s quickly gaining popularity with luxury travel enthusiasts. As Africa’s smallest nation, the Seychelles consists of 115 islands. At Desroches Island, you’ll find the Four Seasons Seychelles. Your clients can choose from a variety of accommodation options, including the sunset beach suite, beach pool villa, two-bedroom suite, and three-bedroom residence villa.
It’s worth noting that the Four Seasons also has another nearby hotel in Mahe, which is just as impressive as this private island. Visitors at Desroches Island can explore 9 miles of white-sand beaches and indulge in activities like tortoise feeding, spa treatments, Creole cooking classes, and water sports.
One of the most unique experiences is sunrise yoga on the island’s private runway, or you can book a private snorkeling experience. Other on-site amenities include an educational Discovery Centre, a 24-hour fitness center, and a tortoise sanctuary that is home to more than 150 Aldabra Tortoises.
11. &Beyond Mnemba, Isla
We’re rounding off our list with &Beyond at Mnemba Isla, a barefoot island resort nestled off the coast of Zanzibar. This hotel embraces the laidback atmosphere of island living, stretching over less than a mile of land. As a picturesque tropical paradise, Mnemba is one of the world’s top sustainable hotels, spotlighting everything from marine life conservation to its own World Heritage Site. Mnemba is top of our list for honeymoon destinations, with the hotel offering private “banda” rooms that encapsulate outdoor-indoor living.
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Cover image: Photo by mrsiraphol on Freepik
