14 minute read
ISLAND ESCAPES
by sunways
Escape to the lush palm fronds, sun-baked beaches, laid-back ambience and tropical splendour that these islands provide in abundance. If you’re looking for something secluded, intimate, and surrounded by beauty, an island escapes is the perfect choice for you.
NECKER ISLAND BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
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Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s 74-acre tropical paradise, is undoubtedly the most famous private island in the world. But it’s not just the lustre of celebrity that makes Necker so special; it’s the luxury of having so much space to yourself, a secluded private playground that feels a world away from the day-to-day. Kick off your shoes and explore enchanting beaches, hiking trails and flamingo-filled lagoons. Snorkel and scuba amongst colourful reefs, chill out in the Beach Pavilion or party all night with your own private DJ. Everything here is designed to make you feel at home, with a host of customisable experiences and surprise treats, plus everything from waterskiing to unlimited Champagne included in the price.
You have the option of buying out the whole island for up to 40 guests or joining one of the occasional ‘Celebration Weeks’, when rooms can be booked on an individual basis. Throughout your stay the culinary team will cook up a sublime array of local and international dishes to savour, and there’s a fully-stocked bar where you can help yourself. Other facilities include a spa, fitness centre, two infinity pools, an oversized beachfront hot tub and two floodlit tennis courts.
Prices available on request.
Inspired by Necker Island - and just a short boat ride away - Moskito Island is Sir Richard Branson’s newest private island retreat. The Branson Estate consists of just three villas, available to book for exclusive use or on an individual basis. It’s a great option for multigenerational family groups, or for those simply looking for a luxurious home away from home.
Mangrove Villa and Beach Villa both have four bedrooms, while Headland House has three, and all have a fully equipped kitchen, spacious lounge areas, private infinity pool and hot tub. Beach Villa also has direct access to a sheltered sandy beach. Rates include all meals and drinks, chef services in your villa, WiFi, laundry and a selection of snacks replenished daily, as well as boat transfers from the airport.
Moskito Island’s 125 acres are shared with a handful of homeowners, and there is a shared recreation area that includes an infinity pool and bar, tennis pavilion and a watersports centre offering kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling and more. The island’s chefs can create a bespoke menu for your group or whip up something to surprise you, and you have a choice of indoor and outdoor settings for each meal. There is also a high-end fitness centre, and spa treatments are available in your villa on request.
Prices available on request.
OZEN LIFE MAADHOO MALDIVES
Located in the exotic turquoise hues of South Male Atoll, the tranquil island of Ozen at Maadhoo is a perfect luxury island escape. We love the lagoonside and overwater villas, with their thatched roofs and high ceilings, perfectly blending Maldivian tradition with contemporary luxury. It’s well worth upgrading to an Earth or Wind Villa with Pool as these also offer a private infinity pool and stunning sunset views. This stunning resort offers an extensive all-inclusive plan that includes all meals in a choice of venues, premium wines and spirits, non-motorised watersports, children’s activities, and a choice of excursions and selected spa or dive services. With superb dining options, why not start your day with a Champagne breakfast, enjoy a poolside lunch and then round off your evening at the spectacular M6m underwater restaurant. Children under 15 yrs are not permitted in the evenings but family lunches are offered twice a week, meaning everyone gets to experience this extraordinary setting. Other ways to catch a glimpse of the Maldives’ rich marine life include an excursion in SubZen, the resort’s semi-submarine or a treatment at the glassfloored spa. There’s also a beautiful pool, tennis court, gym and a PADI-certified watersports centre. Other plus points for families include a short airport transfer, just 50 minutes from Malé by speedboat, and an excellent kids’ club.
COTTON HOUSE, MUSTIQUE ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Cotton House carries the prestige of being the only full-service hotel on the exclusive privately-owned island of Mustique and with its deserted white-sand beaches surrounded by pristine coral reefs and clear blue seas, it’s as is as close to paradise as you can get. Once an 18th century sugar plantation, this distinguished boutique hotel has 17 luxurious rooms, suites and traditional cottages set in the tropical gardens. All the tastefully furnished rooms have king size beds, separate dressing rooms and private verandas. It’s the extra touches that will make your stay so special from the scented candles, pillow menu and Bamford products in your room, to arranging a private gourmet picnic on one of the island’s secluded beaches; at Cotton House you’re guaranteed a highly-personalised VIP service.
7 nights from £3,389 per person sharing a Standard room on Full Board. OFFER: Stay 7 Pay 5 + 50% Saving on Return Flights from Saint Lucia to Mustique.
SUN SIYAM OLHUVELI MALDIVES
Sun Siyam Olhuveli is blessed with one of the best house reefs we’ve seen, and being set over two islands it has plenty of space for couples and families alike. The private Water Villas and Grand Water Villas with Pool are offer stunning views from-floor-to-ceiling windows and direct access to the cerulean lagoon. With an all-inclusive concept that includes $50 spa credit, mini bar items and selected non-motorized watersports just to start, you’ll be free to relax and enjoy the experience. Other fabulous facilities include three pools, a kids’ pool, tennis and badminton courts, a great kids’ club and a two spa complexes – one of which has a hydrotherapy area set over the water.
COCO PALM DHUNI KOLHU MALDIVES
Set in a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve, you are greeted with lush tropical vegetation, glorious white sands and incandescent turquoise water at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. The charming Maldivian-style thatched villas are set either amongst rich indigenous foliage or on stilts above the shimmering water. There are no TVs in the villas here, so you really can escape the outside world; it’s all about enjoying a slower pace of life. Enjoy your time in paradise by watching dolphins dance beneath the waves, sipping Champagne on a sunset cruise, or taking a PADI dive course. The all-inclusive package offers particularly good value and facilities include two restaurants, watersports galore and an Ayurvedic-inspired spa.
7 nights from £1,939 per person sharing a Beach Villa on All-Inclusive. OFFER: Save up to 23% + Stay 7 Pay 5 + Complimentary All-Inclusive.
COCO BODU HITHI MALDIVES
Coco Bodu Hithi is an intimate and captivating private island resort with rich tropical gardens, interspersed with coconut trees and sandy walkways, complemented by stunning beaches and tranquil seas. With elegant restaurants, a heavenly spa and traditional thatched villas, each with a private plunge pool, it is a perfect haven for couples and honeymooners. Explore stunning coral reefs where manta rays glide through the water, and enjoy the various watersports including sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing. There’s also a fabulous spa, large infinity pool, tennis court and five different restaurants. For peace and quiet, beautiful surroundings, good food and attentive service, we can’t recommend this resort highly enough.
7 nights from £1,899 per person sharing a Island Villa on Half Board. OFFER: Save up to 35% + Stay 7 Pay 5 + Complimentary Half Board.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, CANOUAN ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Located on the small and exclusive island of Canouan in the Grenadines, Mandarin Oriental is the perfect place to escape and enjoy the idyllic surroundings. This beautiful hotel is set on a jaw-dropping white-sand beach alongside a brilliant turquoise lagoon. Within the 1,200-acre gated resort there are just 26 spacious suites and 13 luxury villas, all featuring stunning ocean views, ultra-glamorous décor and complemented by state-of-the-art features. The Lagoon Villas palatial three-storey retreats are ideal for larger groups of families and friends with four bedrooms, an infinity pool, Jacuzzi and full-service kitchen. In between relaxing on the soft white sand beach, infinity pool and exceptional spa, there is plenty to keep everyone entertained at the resort with an 18-hole Jim Fazio-designed championship golf course; tennis courts; and non-motorised watersports. But for those that want to explore further afield, a trip onboard one of the resort’s luxury yachts to nearby islands, including the Tobago Cays and Mustique, is highly recommended. The resort has a fantastic collection of restaurants, but for that extra special ‘castaway’ dining experience, the exceptional staff at Mandarin Oriental will set up a unique place for you to dine as well as personalise your menu. This really is a wonderful experience, all delivered with the impeccable service you can expect at Mandarin Oriental.
7 nights from £4,299 per person sharing a One Bedroom Oceanview Suite including breakfast. OFFER: Stay 6 Pay 4 + US$200 Food & Beverage Credit + Complimentary Room Upgrade.
BEQUIA BEACH ST VINCENT & GRENADINES
Bequia Beach Hotel is the place to stay on Bequia. And if you’re not sure where Bequia is, then you really are in for a treat. First and foremost, this is a place to relax and enjoy the gently lilting rhythms of island life, with some of the friendliest locals in the Caribbean. This is the Caribbean like it used to be, a place where life moves at a gentle pace and the beaches are pristine and unspoilt.
As the only true luxury hotel on the island, Bequia Beach is a boutique gem. The chic 58 rooms, suites and cottages have an elegant, retro chic look, and are perfectly situated amongst mango and papaya trees on the idyllic Friendship Beach. The newer cottages are a favourite for families looking for extra space to spread out.
But it may surprise you to learn that Bequia is home to some uncommonly excellent restaurants, and owner Bengt will be only too happy to recommend some of his favourites. The hotel’s main restaurant, Bagatelle, serves fantastic fresh lobster and fish, while the Italian-style Blue Tropic is open during high season with regular live entertainment. Bequia Beach also offers watersports, kid’s activities, and there are wellness facilities including a spa, sauna, gym and yoga pavilion.
7 nights from £1,759 per person sharing a Classic Room including breakfast. OFFER: Save 20%.
MILAIDHOO MALDIVES
You may never have realised that you needed an undhoali. But as you relax on this traditional Maldivian swing suspended over your sundeck, looking out across your pool and the turquoise waters beyond, you might start to wonder how you ever managed without one.
Milaidhoo is all about intimate, understated luxury, with just 50 spacious villas spread around a beautiful tropical island. The bright interiors are characterised by high ceilings and open living spaces, and all villas have a private infinity pool. The island is part of the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and the marine life here is fantastic, with an excellent house reef just offshore. Watersports on offer include snorkelling, kayaking and scuba diving, with a PADI centre on site. If you’re lucky you might encounter manta rays, dolphins or even whale sharks, along with a colourful kaleidoscope of tropical fish. The friendly staff pride themselves on creating ‘Milaidhoo Moments’, unique experiences such as catching your dinner with a local fisherman or mixing up cocktails with the hotel bartenders. You can also visit neighbouring islands, sail to a deserted sandbank for a romantic beach picnic, or enjoy a soothing treatment at the sublime Serenity Spa.
HUVAFEN FUSHI MALDIVES
Huvafen Fushi promises luxury on a grand scale and takes the overwater bungalow a step further with a range of ocean-poised palaces. With private decks, freshwater private plunge pools, generously-sized jettubs, cushioned daybeds overlooking the azure of the lagoon, and expansive and stylishly-furnished sleeping and living areas, you’ll feel as though you’ve truly arrived in heaven. This utopic island, located just 35 minutes by speedboat from Malé airport, hypnotises with its ivory sands sprinkled with leafy palm trees and turquoise waters filled with exotic marine life.
While you’ll always have all the wonderful facilities and activities of the resort to enjoy, the attentive staff at Huvafen Fushi can arrange personal experiences whether it’s a private beach dinner, a romantic sunset dhoni cruise or a private diving expedition with a marine biologist. The underwater spa is also an unforgettable experience where you will be mesmerised by views of kaleidoscopic shoals of tropical fish. Innovative dining can be enjoyed at the fabulous overwater Salt restaurant, offering Japanese cuisine with a Latin influence. You could also choose to dine underwater with a one-of-a kind meal at IMMERSE…Latitude 4°, or at Vinium, the Maldives first underground wine cellar - a treasure trove of rare vintages.
7 nights from £3,629 per person sharing a Bungalow with Plunge Pool on Half Board. OFFER: Save up to 45% + Complimentary Half Board.
OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI MALDIVES
New for 2021 is the beautiful OZEN Reserve Bolifushi, an eye-catching island resort that combines supermodel good looks with a coquettish sense of fun. There’s a boutique feel to the resort, with just 90 sumptuous suites, villas and private reserves, all with their own pool, daybeds and direct access to either the beach or the lagoon. The interiors blend Maldivian vernacular with contemporary forms and textures; eye-catching features like the traditional wooden swings and L-shaped lap pools seem tailor-made for your Instagram feed. The Ocean Pool Suites and Private Ocean RESERVES have their own water slide that deposits you in the lagoon with a splash - great fun for kids and adults alike! - while the palatial Royal RESERVE is kitted out with a Bang & Olufsen sound system, private gym and spa pavilion, six-seater Jacuzzi with in-built TV and a deep soaking Kelly Hoppen bathtub. Dining options range from grilled seafood on the beach to romantic over-water fine dining, with cuisine drawing on influences from Spain, India, the Middle East and beyond. The impressive facilities include two infinity pools, a spa, over-water fitness centre, kids’ and teens’ clubs, myriad watersports plus a first for the Maldives - an eco-friendly artificial ice skating rink!
