Somehow it sounds a lot more glamorous to your island vacation than the mainland, and if it’s a private island with just one resort, so much the better.
There are a few magical places in the world where this is the norm, just think of the Maldives. Each island is so small that there can only be one resort on it besides the main island. And yes, the Maldives are super luxurious and glamorous, but I don’t want to mention them here as not only has the resort I stayed at years ago changed hands so I can’t recommend it firsthand anymore, there are just too many to pick a favorite. If you are lucky enough to visit the Maldives it doesn’t matter where you are, you won’t be disappointed.
Everywhere in the world where there is sea or even lake, you can often find a luxurious hotel that takes full advantage of the location and the charm of a private island. And if there wasn’t an island before, some hotels simply built their own. Here I have selected some of my personal favorites. Some because of the breathtaking views, from sunsets to the turquoise sea, others because the surroundings and the hotel itself are just out of this world. And a couple for completely different reasons.
Hopefully there are some to inspire you to plan a luxury hotel stay on your very own private island.
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1. Taj Lake Palace Hotel
Udaipur, India
I was on a tour of Rajasthan when we stopped in Udaipur. Not only amazed by the beautiful backdrop of the grand palaces and iconic steps on one side of Udaipur’s many lakes, Lake Pichola and mountains on the other, but also the beautiful and historic Lake Palace, which was ethereally floating in the mist. The Lake Palace was built around 1750 as a summer residence for the Maharana of Udaipur and is literally a palace in the lake; There is no space in the water, just a berth for boats to transport guests. Today it is a Luxury hotel, and certainly one of the most beautiful there is. With a lush garden in the center, an excellent restaurant, a rather ice-cold pool and simply breathtaking views, this is one of the world’s best places for a special occasion.
Pro tip: This is right across from Lake Palace City Palace, a sprawling structure built 400 years ago for the ruling Mewar family. It was depicted as a hotel in James Bond’s Octopussy (1983), which also featured the Lake Palace.
Photo credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
2. Matangi Island
Fiji
It took three flights in shrinking planes, a ride, a boat ride, and a walk along the beach to get to my little Bure or Fiji hut Matangi Island in Fiji. I still think it’s my most exotic place, even though I lived in Australia at the time and it was practically local. But the little island is a gem. The owner still lives on this island, which has been in the family since 1878. There are only a few boers and one main building where you have all your meals, which are always fresh and locally sourced. There is a spa and diving club and a horseshoe-shaped cove where you can be dropped off by boat and have the day all to yourself, and the snorkeling is sensational. Small, personal and in the evening – and on arrival and departure the island staff will come together to sing for you. Sounds stupid, but believe me, they can sing like angels, and simply accompanied by a ukulele they bring the South Seas to you.
Pro tip: The International Date Line officially runs through the neighboring island, but luckily Fiji has adopted a time zone, otherwise confusion would reign.
Photo credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
3. Fregate Island
Seychelles
Fregate Island Located just a short boat or helicopter ride from the main island of Mahe, it’s a perfect getaway with just 17 villas and a presidential villa, with beaches that have a “do not disturb” sign and a phone for cocktails. You can eat in the main building, which also has a nice bar and pool, but you can also have your meals served on your veranda. The only thing people ask of you is that you share your food with the local wildlife. So when you get your breakfast tray, numerous birds and other wildlife will come to you, making you feel a little like Cinderella. An island where conservation has been on the menu for decades is a haven for wildlife, from turtles to tortoises, from lizards to an amazing array of birds such as the famous frigate birds and the extremely charming white terns, the couples keep coming back.
Pro tip: Each villa has a golf buggy for personal transport, but don’t miss out on exploring the wild side of the island on a guided nature walk. You will see cashew nuts growing, have breathtaking views, and learn about the local flora and fauna.
Photo credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
4. Burgh Island Hotel
England
As a passionate art deco lover, this is a dream place for me. the Burgh Island Hotel is a true iconic example of the Art Deco era and has been popular throughout its history. So much so that Agatha Christie wrote two novels here, which were later also shot here for the authentic setting, and Noel Coward stayed, as did Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, the aviator Amy Johnson, Premier Winston Churchill and even Josephine Baker and the Beatles, if not all at the same time.
Located on Burgh Island off the coast of South Devon, a tidal island that’s within walking distance at low tide but also has a bus on stilts just in case; The hotel is the only building on the island besides an old, historic pub and a ruined chapel.
Pro tip: Visit the Pilchard Inn Pub on the island. The hotel has a great restaurant, but for a decent pint or pitcher of pimms accompanied by good pub grub you can’t beat it. And it’s enormously historical: it dates back to 1336!
Photo credit: Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
5. Burj Al Arab
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
the Burj Al Arab is not only Dubai’s most famous luxury hotel, but is also located on its own artificial island, which is accessible via a dam that is only open to guests. It may not be a private island like the ones mentioned above that sits in a vast ocean miles from anywhere, but it can be. As soon as you cross the threshold, you step into another world, and while the glitzy decor may dazzle you at first, the exaggerated grandeur gets used to pretty quickly. The Burj Al Arab used to be one of the hotels that anyone who thought they were stayed at even before social media even got there, but it has calmed down a bit and it’s a fun getaway, something really unusual and unique that you can enjoy for a night or two.
Pro tip: When you are there, go downstairs Pierchic, my favorite restaurant in Dubai. As the name suggests, it is enthroned at the end of a pier and offers a view of your hotel island like no other. And the food is fabulous!
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6. Heron Island
Queensland, Australia
You can’t talk about island stays without mentioning it Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. There are a couple of super luxury private island resorts like Orpheus Island Lodge and Lizard Island, but my favorite is one Heron Island. Not as fancy as the others, but it has possibly the best dive on the entire Great Barrier Reef. Maybe I was just really lucky when I was there, but I’ve seen tons of turtles, manta rays, sharks, giant groupers, tiny clownfish, and everything in between. The island is a beautiful nature reserve with a research station far from the coast and is home to countless birds and an amazing variety of natural spectacles. To add that extra touch of luxury, you can travel in and out of the sea by seaplane, a great way to travel – and I even saw whales from the plane.
Pro tip: During the summer months of the southern hemisphere, Heron Island is home to more than 200,000 birds, including terns and mutton. When you consider that the island is only about 2,600 feet long and 980 feet at its widest, which is roughly 40 acres, it can get noisy. But if you love both birds and marine life this is the place.
Unusual and luxurious accommodations are every traveler’s dream:
