The Five Best Private Islands by Jill Starley-Grainger
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Cocoa Island
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1. Ile des Deux Cocos, Blue Bay, Mauritius
The small island of Ile des Deux Cocos, off the eastern coast of Mauritius, provides a real desert island experience. There’s just one residence – a 100-year-old Moroccan-style two-bedroom villa. Recently renovated to luxury standards, it still maintains the historic charm and features, including a courtyard with fountain and orange trees. Ile des Deux Cocos is where aristocrats and fashionistas, such as couturier Isabell Kristensen, come to play at being Robinson Crusoe (with three ‘Man Fridays’ to do all the hard work, of course). When you tire of foraging for coconuts and spelling out HELP with seashells on the island’s white sandy beaches, you can dive in for spectacular snorkelling. Coral reefs fringe one side of the island, and because it’s set in a marine national park, a stunning array of colourful fish is guaranteed.
Getting there: The nearest airport is Mauritius SSR International Airport, and the island is just a 10-minute boat ride away.
2. Frégate Island, Seychelles
Looking for a romantic, paparazzi-free getaway? Frégate Island could be just what you need. With 16 luxury thatched-roof villas spread throughout the 3sq km island, privacy is guaranteed. For the ultimate in escapism, have your butler bring your meals to your room. But if you fancy a bit of celeb spotting, head over to the island’s two restaurants or the beach bar, where the A-list guests - recently Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Aniston, Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas – pop in occasionally for a bite to eat. To really avoid the public glare, check into the gorgeous new spa villa, with mini in-room spa, giving you another excuse not to leave your room.
Getting here: Seychelles International Airport is 20 minutes from the island
3. Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
To truly live like a celebrity, stay in one of their homes. On Parrot Cay in the Turks & Caicos, Donna Karan, Bruce Willis, Christie Brinkley and Keith Richards all own a little slice of paradise. And it can be yours, if only for a few nights. The villas are a popular choice for other A-listers, too, such as Julia Roberts, Demi Moore, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. It’s no surprise Parrot Cay is such a celeb magnet. Fashion power house Christina Ong owns the entire resort. Donna Karan’s four-bedroom villa, The Sanctuary, was completed last year, and it’s all sleek, stylish simplicity, as you’d expect from the minimalist-chic designer. What sets Parrot Cay apart is the Como Shambhala retreat, where you can work with world-class yoga masters, pilates instructors and holistic therapists – the perfect place to detox and rebalance after too much Hollywood partying.
Getting here: Providenciales International Airport is a 35-minute boatride from the airport.
4. Voyages Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
Few would argue that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most stunning snorkelling and diving sites. But some of the resorts along this vast natural wonder can get a little crowded. Leave the masses behind for what Kate Hudson thinks is “the most romantic place in the world” – Voyages Lizard Island. On the northern edge of the reef, it’s a world away from the huge snorkelling boats cluttering up the waters further south. Coral reefs fring the island, so you can literally roll out of bed and splash straight in the water to try to find Nemo or gawp at nurse sharks and giant clams. Unsurprisingly, this exclusive hidden enclave attracts the world’s elite by the boatload – Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Russell Crowe, Michael Schumacher and Bill Clinton to name a few. Most choose to stay in the island’s secluded Pavilion, a villa set out on a ridge with its own plunge pool, expansive decks and spectacular 270-degree panorama. After a hard day’s snorkelling, make sure to visit the island’s award-winning spa to massage away your aches and pains.
Getting here: Fly into Cairns International Airport, then it’s a one-hour flight to Lizard Island.
5. The Beach House at Manafaru, Maldives
The Maldives is littered with beautiful islands, and choosing one from another is not an easy task. If it’s absolute tranquillity you’re after, The Beach House at Manafaru stands out – and away from – the crowd as one of the Maldives' (if not the world's) very best beach hotels. Situated in the unspoilt northern Maldives, 35-acre Manafaru’s lush, jungle-filled interior is a haven for wildlife, so if you get bored snorkelling in the coral reef lagoons or sunbathing on the powder-white beaches, you can go on adventurous expeditions. For more excitement, try out the huge bungee trampoline to bounce up into the trees, or pop over to one of the Beach House’s nearby islands, where you can jetski, waterski and more. Guests stay in one of the contemporary thatched villas, including water villas with glass floors and beach villas with their own private beach cabanas. Despite the remote location, service is world class here, with butler service, three gourmet restaurants and an excellent spa.
Getting here: Fly into Male International Airport, then it’s a 45-minute flight, followed by a 45-minute boat ride to reach Manafaru.
Looking to get away from it all? See our stunning selection of island hotels.