When you really want to unwind, skip the crowds, the queues and the loud-talking guests - the answer is to indulge in your own private respite.
Be the only guest leaving footprints in the sand or swimming in the sea, while still having access to swarms of the world's most attentive staff, as well as world-class dining and spa services, by renting out any one of these 10 exclusive private-island properties.
Petit St Vincent, The Grenadines
Barefoot luxury is the key here. Petit St Vincent is 115-acres of curving, palm-lined beach with 22 cottages and villas. Surrounded by beryl-coloured sea, it should be no surprise that its one of best Caribbean diving destinations, home to the famed explorer Jean-Michael Cousteau Dive Centre. Sustainability is important with a large organic fruit and vegetable garden on the island and as many as 400 chickens. Connectivity is less important with no TV and minimal wifi.
San Clemente Palace, Venice
The only hotel on leafy San Clemente island - a 17-acre southern lagoon with a history dating back to the 11th century. Now a blush-coloured five-star hotel managed by Kempinski - with 190 rooms and suites, three restaurants, an inviting bar and an array of on-site extracurriculars - it truly is a destination. A favorite for weddings and corporate buyouts - why share your private island retreat when you can have it all to yourself?
Four Seasons Voavah, Baa Atoll. Maldives
This is next-level luxury. A naturally occurring piece of pristine land, Voavah accommodates up to 22 guests. The area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and only a short boat ride away you'll swim into the world’s largest-known population of manta rays and one of the most active coral reef systems on earth. Four Seasons has built its brand on telepathic service and here is no different. "Yes" is the answer to every guest question - be it to arrange an unusual dietary request, or a niche Russian dance performance through the sand or a private serenade from Taylor Swift. Ask, and someone will find a way to make it happen.
Sindabezi Island, Zambia
Upstream from Victoria Falls, each of the five chalets is constructed from sustainable forest and the entirety of Sindabezi Island is heated by solar power. The 10-guest maximum is enforced and privacy and individuality is championed. Only a snaking river separates the island from the Zambezi National Park. Dinner is served by candlelight. Everything here feels tucked away amongst the trees, allowing for stretching views and calm throughout.
The Brando, French Polynesia
Swathed inside a living coral reef, the atoll of Tetiaroa is a quick 30 miles north of Tahiti, with ripples of the blue South Pacific from all sides. Guests are not short on views here. The Brando's name is plucked directly from its history, as the island was once owned by Hollywood icon Marlon Brando. Built to reflect Polynesian traditions, The Brando offers 35 private villas and is best reached via a humming six-seater plane.
COMO Beach Club, Thailand
Truly quiet respite is hard to come by, until now. Forty-minutes from COMO Point Yamu in Phuket is the flawless white-sand beach of COMO Beach Club, a private enclave available only to COMO guests via a private boat ride each day. There are endless things to do here - kayaking, paddle boarding and windsurfing - or more sedentary options - like lying supine at the spa. And long indulgent lunches are a must - the chef can knock-up grilled fish plucked fresh from the ocean in the island's open-air beach restaurant.
Jumby Bay, Antigua
Located just off Antigua's northeast coast, Jumby Bay is a collection of 56 privately own villas and hotel suites skirting the water's edge. A favourite of celebrities and millionaire's alike, it has always held a well-earned position as one of the Caribbean's most exclusive resorts. Expect every convenience and indulgence - the likes of four-figure thread counts and butler services at the snap of a finger. Activities and amenities are aplenty here - there's a spacious gym, as well as an array of classes from Pilates to yoga to personal training, pools, tennis courts, an ultra-private spa and an extensive list of water sports.
JA Enchanted Island Resort, The Seychelles
Surrounded by lush vegetation and the sapphire Indian Ocean, Enchanted Island lives up to its name. Located in the midst of a designated National Marine Park, natural beauty is in abundance here. Each of the 10 villas offers views made for postcards, as well as every modern convenience you can dream of - from satellite TVs, to iPod docking stations and heaving mini-bars. The most difficult decision you'll make here is whether to luxuriate in the ocean or in your private 18-square-metre infinity pool.
Velaa Private Island, Maldives
Cloudless skies and deep-blue ocean, Velaa Private Island is one of the most picturesque in the Maldives and one of the most exclusive. A 45-minute seaplane flight north of the Maldivian capital of Malé, Velaa stretches the length of about 25 soccer fields and was built from scratch for the cool price tag of $200 million. Diving is superb here, as is the cuisine - the kitchen is overseen by Sri Lankan Chef Gaushan de Silva, who brings 20 years of experience to the table’. The atmosphere is a self-described "polite luxury" - which translates to exquisite design execution and nothing gauche - amongst the 43 villas on the island.
&Beyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar
Off-grid beauty is on offer here at this bolthole, with only 1o villas catering to a maximum of 20 guests. Of course all the expected activity items are on offer at &Beyond Mnemba Island- from world-class diving and snorkelling, swimming and kayaking, but perhaps the greatest indulgence is doing nothing at all. The food is extraordinary - it's stripped back and simple but perfectly presented. Each day baskets swelling with freshly picked fruits, fish, lobsters, crabs and prawns make there way from the sea to the kitchen to the plates of guests. Nothing is overlooked - there's a ratio of two staff to every guest. Tea appears at your front door each morning as the sun rises and for those in need of something stronger, the villas come equipped with a chopping board, limes and a knife for evening cocktails.
