Fresh out of ideas for that promised romantic getaway? No more skulking away from planning the trip of your dreams; Upscale Living magazine has hand-picked the most romantic island destinations in the world. All you have to do is pick one!
Azura Quilalea Private Island, Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique
If there was ever a destination in the world to be marooned, Azura Quilalea Private Island is the place to be. The tropical climate of the pristine Quirimbas Archipelago ensures that the island is blissfully balmy all year round, and the temperature of the water is warm enough to warrant an array of activities, from snorkeling to diving off the immaculate house reef to going scuba diving.
The Villas are designed with spaciousness and luxury in mind, guaranteeing the utmost in privacy and tranquility. Modern conveniences abound, whilst maintaining a light footprint, with the guest at the helm. Treading softly and being eco-conscious, guests favor the option to leave their villa doors instead of open to let in the welcoming island breeze. Stepping outside onto your private beach, the only disturbance you may encounter is a hermit crab, finding its burrow along the powdery sand.
Bawah Reserve, Anambas Islands, Indonesia
For couples looking to spoil their other half for an unforgettable romantic island getaway, look no further than the newly discovered, untouched Bawah Reserve in the Anambas Islands, Indonesia. Accessible only by seaplane, Bawah Reserve is an off-the-beaten-track group of six tropical islands surrounded by the sparkling South China Sea in the Riau Archipelago between Malaysia and Borneo.
Offering the ultimate picture-perfect escape, the stunning eco-resort combines high-end design with sustainability, adventure, and a ‘back-to-nature’ concept. Couples looking to disconnect and discover island living, can stay in one of the 35 private villas and choose between indoor/outdoor tented beach suites or overwater bungalows. For those preferring an active getaway as opposed to a leisurely one, daily activities are arranged by a dedicated host. They include paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, and boat trips, as well as stargazing, bird watching, and hiking a range of different nature trails through the surrounding jungle.
Casa Angelina, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Perched on the high cliffs of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Casa Angelina offers a sublime mix of modern minimalism on the Mediterranean, with elegant simplicity and excellent food at its core. The 40-room boutique hotel serves as an airy refuge where guests can relive the neglected utopia of long, drawn-out days and splendid, lingering evenings.
With a design ethos of understated chic and subtle details, everything at Casa Angelina is as immaculate as the sea views enjoyed from every room. The white-on-white palette accentuates the contemporary artworks on display inside with added emphasis on the Mediterranean hues and sky blues outside. Comfort is essential, from the pillowy white Etro cotton sheets dressing your bed, right down to the carefully prepared cuisine enjoyed at Un Piano Nel Cielo Restaurant with unsurpassed views across the waters to Positano and the Isle of Capri.
Goldeneye, Oracabessa Bay, St Mary, Jamaica
Tucked behind a private gate with no sign, couples at Jamaica’s GoldenEye will feel as though they’re on their private island. For decades, GoldenEye played host to the glitterati and literati – writers, musicians, and heads of state. Today, the hotel is owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, who made Bob Marley and U2 household names. You know you’re in the company of greatness when you’ve learned that Sting wrote his hit song and the theme song to the GoldenEye film ‘Every Breath You Take’ while staying here.
In addition to Fleming’s five-bedroom villa, GoldenEye offers a collection of cottages, some of which open directly onto the sand or lagoon. Couples can enjoy private cocktails at Firefly, the former hilltop home of the famous English playwright, Noel Coward. Rumored to be Captain Morgan’s lookout, Firefly offers one of the best views of the sunset over the Caribbean.
Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athenian Riviera, Greece
Esteemed guests seeking to live their holiday dreams to the fullest are welcome to stay at the Dream Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi to awaken to the lavish side of living and enjoy a romantic getaway beyond their expectations. Evoking an ambiance of blissful romance and unpretentious refinement, the villa features a beautifully appointed master bedroom with an adjustable glass ceiling, remote-controlled mattresses, a lavish living room with chic décor, ample closet space, a large dressing area, a fireplace, a home cinema, and designer’s furnishings.
The Dream Villa is completed with a fully equipped kitchenette, a business center, a private parking area, a full marble bathroom with a glass shower or steam bath cabin, a fully equipped gym area, a mini TV set, and luxury toiletries. To further enhance the holistic holiday experience, the villa offers a wooden terrace with an expansive lounge area with a lush garden and a marvelous hydra massage heated pool.
LUX* Le Morne, Le Morne Plage, Mauritius
On the sunset side of Mauritius, LUX* Le Morne is positioned at the very edge of the Indian Ocean and sheltered from trade winds by the craggy Le Morne Peninsula. This luxury, isolated retreat is set within delightfully landscaped gardens, with four pools, a spa, and a selection of restaurants and bars, offering guests plentiful opportunities to sample delicious New and Old World wines and a variety of island-inspired dishes.
Situated on the quieter fringes of the island, LUX* Le Morne enchants with its magnificent beach and sunset views, secluded seating areas, and elegant, romantic ambiance, making it a favorite destination for honeymooners. LUX* Le Morne is located within the natural habitat of wild dolphins, and guests can watch them swim or even take to the water alongside them. With pleasant surprises at every turn, you’ll get the sense that anything is possible here.
MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa, Mahé, Seychelles
The magic of MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa awaits in your very own private peninsula in Seychelles, an Indian Ocean jewel located on the lush green island of Mahé on a beach called Anse Louis, where transparent turquoise sea and untouched sand meets your gaze. Perched amongst the granite rocks and scented foliage that are unique to Seychelles, are 30 private villas, each with sweeping views.
The 30 secluded villas of MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa are each imbued with a natural calm ambiance, and each offers a unique vantage point towards the ocean. Guests can choose between the MAIA Signature Villas, dotted along the MAIA peninsula, or Ocean Panoramic Villas, situated on a hillcrest. You can be assured of the best of everything as your choice comes complete with the personalized and intuitive service of a dedicated butler. Experience further excellence with the defined philosophy of Whatever, Wherever, Whenever dining and experiences that go Beyond All-inclusive.
Milaidhoo Island, Baa Atoll, Maldives
Milaidhoo Island Maldives offers reinvented luxury and spacious outdoor living epitomizing the real contemporary Maldives, with understated and sophisticated luxury, this 5-star boutique resort spans 13 acres with its design and concept that is proudly rooted in Maldivian culture. Set in Baa Atoll’s beautiful UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this secluded, spectacular island retreat is accessible by seaplane from Maldives International Airport.
Stylish, intimate, and natural, guests know they genuinely belong at Milaidhoo Island Maldives, where seclusion and luxury meet. The villas instantly make you feel at home, and whether you opt to stay in any of the four accommodation choices, each is spacious and filled with light, outdoor living being one of the best parts of a stay here. Your villa opens up 180 degrees to allow the natural beauty of the Maldives inside. Indoors all around you are striking Maldivian elements, art pieces, and contemporary custom-made furnishings thoughtfully designed for your absolute comfort.
Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood, Thailand
Award-winning luxury resort Soneva Kiri sits on Thailand’s fourth largest but least populated island, Koh Kood, just one hour by private plane southeast of Bangkok. It offers an unrivaled combination of luxury, an integrated environmental approach, authentic Thai experiences, and mouth-watering organic food, encircled by lush, tropical rainforests, and white sand beaches.
Soneva Kiri Resort comprises of 34 large pool villas on beach level, hillsides, or cliff tops, all overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Available to rent or purchase, all have incredibly chic furnishings, personal electric buggies, and impeccable service courtesy of Mr / Mrs. Friday’s private butlers. Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, a homemade chocolate and ice-cream parlor, a high-tech observatory, a manta ray-shaped children’s Den, and the spectacular Treetop Dining Pod. Soneva Kiri is surrounded by untamed jungle and local fishers going about their business, Koh Kood is an unspoiled island far beyond Thailand’s tourist trail.
Song Saa Private Island, Koh Rong Archipelago, Cambodia
Song Saa Private Island is a heaven of sustainable luxury, nestled in the undiscovered beauty of Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago. With unique cuisine stunning sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand, and an array of spa and wellness treatments, Song Saa offers the ultimate indulgence for mind, body, and soul. Best of all, their commitment to environmental and community programs means you’ll be treading lightly on this unique piece of paradise.
Harmony, sustainability, and barefoot luxury are the core principles that underprint the design of Song Saa which include energy-efficient thatched roofing, sandstone reclaimed from the Villa foundation, recycled timber from disused fishing boats, furniture made from driftwood collected from local beaches and coves, and floors made from timbers salvaged from old factories, warehouses and demolition yards around Cambodia and Thailand. This is complemented by bespoke handcrafted furniture made by local artisans.
Tagomago Private Island, Ibiza, Spain
The private island of Tagomago is one of the most exclusive and intimate hideaways in the Mediterranean. Located off the North coast of Ibiza, the island is accessed by private speedboat or helicopter and is the only private island available to rent in Ibiza. Tagomago offers guests a unique individual destination experience with one spectacular five-bedroom villa, designed to the highest standards, located in the center of the island.
The perfect base for a long weekend or more extended stay in Ibiza, the 148-acre island is surrounded by clear turquoise waters and is home to a private villa and historic lighthouse dating back to 1909. The island was formerly owned by German royalty and following an extensive renovation in 2014, now offers the perfect getaway for groups of friends or families seeking the utmost privacy and complete luxury in one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic and in-demand locations.
The Brando, Tetiaroia Private Island, French Polynesia
American actor and film director Marlon Brando wanted to share the legendary beauty of Tetiaroa Private Island, and his desire to preserve this breathtakingly beautiful site is evident in The Brando. The resort was inspired by this vision of creating a venture of sustainable development. With innovative technologies and a commitment to conservation, The Brando provides a self-sustaining luxury environment for resort guests and scientific research.
Self-sufficient, far from the world, and surrounded by a halo of white sand, the resort’s 35 villas all have a private swimming pool opening onto a jade-colored lagoon. In every room, broad picture windows offer a sublime view of the tropical vegetation. A paradisiacal sense of space basking under the traditional roofs of woven pandanus leaves, sunlight filtering through the shutters while the trade winds flow gently across the wood floors. Here, at The Brando, the sense of the eternal is perhaps the island’s most precious treasure, an Eden outside of time.
Time + Tide Miavana, Nosy Ankao, Madagascar
Time + Tide Miavana offers an escape to a remote island sanctuary in the Indian Ocean, located at the end of the Earth, somewhere between paradise, a fairytale, and a dream. Taking six years to develop, on a virgin private island, the resort caters to the modern-day explorer; guests are looking for an adventure playground where our experts will recommend water and land activities, wildlife experiences, and helicopter adventures, underpinned by the uniqueness of Madagascar.
It is quite reasonable to be planning magical dives on unexplored reefs, fishing trips from the beach, from other islands or a boat, wakeboarding, and waterskiing at sunrise, kitesurf safaris, and adventure caving through the mountains with helicopters in pursuit. Also, there is a fascinating arm to the organization in the Time + Tide Foundation – the most recent project being our successful lemur translocation, where the population increased with the birth of three new lemur pups in October 2018.
VOMO Island, Fiji
VOMO is a majestic luxury private island resort set on one of the most stunning islands in the Fiji group, boasting long white sand beaches, surrounded by pristine waters, ideal for snorkeling safaris, outstanding PADI diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. This expansive 255-acre island is just 15 minutes by helicopter from Nadi International Airport or only over one hour by boat from Denarau Marina.
VOMO is home to just 28 chic newly refurbished air-conditioned villas and four stunning three- or four-bedroom air-conditioned private residences, exuding natural glamour and relaxed refinement with outstanding Fijian hospitality and 5-star cuisine. Enjoy sunset cocktails at the iconic Rocks Bar overlooking the tiny island of Vomo Lai Lai, where civilization is just a radio call away, before dining at one of two exceptional restaurants dishing up an eclectic gourmet selection with Pan Asian and European influences on daily changing menus. VOMO takes bespoke luxury island holidays to a new level, where the service is always personal. www.vomofiji.com
