Daily Archives: June 15, 2021

Picture this: youre laid out on a totally secluded white sand beach with an unobstructed view of the Caribbean and a drink in hand. Its quiet, with the exception of a few of your closest friends conversing nearby or your kids splashing in the waves. Theres no one else around for miles, save for the employees at the resort youre staying at. In fact, there are no other guests on the entire island just you and the company youve chosen to keep. Later, youll go back to the resort to share a meal prepared especially for you, comprised of all the freshest ingredients the island has to offer, no reservation required. There are no lines, no crowds, no wait times and virtually no rules.

Sound like a pipe dream? Turns out its really not so long as youve got the means to do it.

Private island stays were once reserved almost exclusively for the glitterati who either owned them or knew the folks who did and to be fair, most still are. That said, because it ticks all of the post-pandemic travel boxes (Distance! Isolation! Outdoors!), island buyouts as a trend are on the rise. And why wouldnt they be? At a time when people are seeking meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime travel and, for reasons that dont require much by way of an explanation, renting an entire island in Fiji or the BVIs definitely fits that bill.

Following a year in isolation, there has been an uptick in interest as many are in search of off-the-beaten-path destinations rooted in nature, seeing how Mother Nature in all her resplendent glory has the power to move and inspire, encouraging people to travel to far-flung secluded luxury destinations now more than ever, a rep for Kokomo Island says, affirming an increase in interest for opulent yet private travel.

Theres also been a reported increase in island buyouts among people specifically wanting to travel with their close friends, family or isolation pod. And if your pod is somewhere in the vicinity of 30 people, its probably exponentially more convenient and perhaps just as affordable to just rent an island, as opposed to reserving X amount of rooms at an already-busy resort or hotel.

To help decide which island most tickles your fancy, we talked to the folks who run a few of the most exclusive options in the world all of which are, at present, open to both standard travelers and full-site buyouts.

Kokomo

Kokomo Private Island

Located in the Fijian Islands (and not in South Florida, contradictory to what the Beach Boys may have you believe), Kokomo has recently been approved to welcome small groups of travelers to its shores by way of Fiji Airways exclusive business class or private jet company and its one of the only ways to visit Fiji at present.

Kokomo Island is a 140-acre private destination with 21 standalone luxury villas and five residences, all of which amount to one resort capable of hosting up to 30 guests for a full island buyout. Generally that is how it works guests reserve the entire island though it is possible for a few groups to reserve multiple rooms each and stay at the same time.

On top of attracting the anticipated honeymooners and wayfaring romantics, Kokomo has also become an incredibly popular destination for extended multi-generational family stays, with the average length of stay generally around two weeks.

Right now, as a result of the pandemic, groups are capped at 12, though larger groups may be accommodated subject to the approval of Fijis Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Bookings require a 12-night minimum stay from $36,000 per night, and given the recent travel surge, it is suggested that travelers start making plans and reservations up to two months in advance.

For availability and to book a private island buyout, travelers can email reservations@kokomoislandfiji.com.

Guana

Jonathan Becker

Guana is an 850-acre isle that offers seven beaches and never more than 35 guests at a time. Its touted as being the original private island getaway and has been a destination for discerning travelers looking for an escape since the 1930s.

On Guana, you can have an entire beach to yourself, or you can choose to be a bit more social. This year there has certainly been an increase in inquiries from small groups and families who want to reserve the entire island exclusively, island co-owner and award-winning documentary filmmaker Andrew Jarecki says. Few places in the world allow guests so much space and privacy without sacrificing first-rate service, a wide range of adventures or the stunning tropical setting.

Like Kokomo, there is only one luxury boutique hotel, which boasts 18 rooms and villas. Room rates start at $720 an all-inclusive rate that includes drink and three meals per day at the Club or Beach Bar, as well as access to sailboats, kayaks, tennis courts, fishing equipment, etc. But unlike Kokomo, there is no minimum stay.

[We] definitely get island buyouts where people want to take over the whole place that means that [guests] can work with the chef team to change up menus and dining times, or organize events on the island, a rep for the island says. More and more people want the space and natural serenity that comes with a vacation on Guana fewer screens, a deep connection with the natural environment, top-notch food and one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

For availability and to book a private island buyout, travelers can email reservations@guana.com or call 800-544-8262 (ask for Jason).

Over Yonder Cay

Over Yonder Cay

Over Yonder Cay is a 42-acre island residing in the Bahamas Exumas chain, best known for being the worlds first eco-island its got a renewable power system that relies entirely on the wind and sun and its breathtaking architecture courtesy of Texas-based Architect Mihai Angelescu.

Once a remote fishing outpost, the island has since been repurposed to host parties of up to 28 at a time. Guests are welcome to spread out across any four of the uniquely designed villas Meridian House, West Sands, East Cove and South Point all which have their own private beaches, among other amenities. The Meridian House alone, for example, includes a conservatory, Steinway piano, 12-seat luxury movie theater, master suite with viewing tower, private garden, dressing room, salon, private courtyard and terrace.

In the event that isnt enough, all guests are also provided access to the resorts Cessna Caravan seaplane, which is available for excursions to other islands, as well as a nine-hole golf course and beach club.

Exclusive island rentals start at $44,000 per day based on an occupancy rate of 12 guests or fewer, but will allow groups of as many as 28 for an additional cost per person. Plan to make a reservation a few months in advance.

For availability and to book a private island buyout, travelers can visit https://overyondercay.com.

Necker Island

Virgin Limited Edition

Located in the British Virgin Islands, Necker is best known as being Sir Richard Bransons private island paradise, which millennials will surely remember receiving an exclusive tour of via MTV Cribs in 2004. Despite being one of most exclusive islands in the world, it is still very much available for private use.

Spanning 74 acres, Necker is considered one resort, though there are multiple accommodations scattered across the island, capable of hosting up to 40 guests and six children in total. And while it is typically booked for that sort of exclusive use throughout the year, according to Vanessa Neal, Group Director of Sales and Marketing for Virgin Limited Edition, during selected weeks, the island opens up hotel-style to allow individual guests to book rooms on a non-exclusive basis, or for small groups of 8-15 people to book partial exclusivity of the island.

The exclusive-use bookings are for a minimum of seven-night stays and costs $105,000 per night for up to 40 guests, and include the use of 20 bedrooms 11 in the Great House, plus the Leha Lo, Bali Hi, Bali Beach, Bali Cliff, Bali Lo, Bali Buah, Bali Kukila, Temple Master and Temple Sunrise. The cost includes all meals and drinks (including the alcoholic variety), return launch transfer from the Virgin Gorda or Beef Island airport, pools and beach access, tennis courts, water sport equipment and island entertainment (including Bransons considerable zoological holdings, which include the most diverse lemur population outside of Madagascar). It is suggested that travelers start making plans and reservations several months in advance.

The BVIs have been fortunate enough to have one of the lowest number of COVID cases in the world and with Necker Island renowned for offering an idyllic hideaway for guests, we think there will be an even greater desire for this home from home time away with loved ones in a post-pandemic world, Neal says.

We are fortunate to be able to offer complete seclusion on the island and absolute personalisation, with an abundance of nature and wildlife; and we look forward to continuing to welcome both new and repeat guests in the coming months.

For availability and to book a private island buyout, travelers can visit https://www.virginlimitededition.com/.

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How to Rent Out Four of the Most Exclusive Private Islands on Earth - InsideHook

During a conference held by Credit Suisse, Disney Corporation confirmed it still plans to proceed with the lines second private island. CEO Bob Chapek said the cruise line is excited about a second island destination and three new ships.

The cruise line is currently in progress to build the first of three new vessels, Disney Wish and has taken the opportunity to increase its private island acreage to coincide with the release of the Disney Wish and her sister ships.

The new island was announced and reported on by Cruise Hive back in 2019, however during the pandemic, and when Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, who had been working on the project called Lighthouse Point, retired, news slowed down. The comments from CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that Lighthouse Point is very much alive and well.

According to Disney Cruise Line:

Lighthouse point will create sustainable economic opportunities for Bahamians, protect and sustain the sites natural beauty, celebrate culture, and help strengthen the community in Eleuthera.

The private island will complement Disneys existing Castaway Cay, a destination located in the Abaco chain of The Bahamas. The addition allows families to enjoy the sites beautiful beaches and explore nature, as well as enjoy the broader tourism offerings in Eleuthera.

Also Read: Disney Wish Named as Disney Cruise Lines Next New Ship

The company has, in fact, been busy with the private islands Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), with a first draft being completed in December 2019. Since then, Disney has been working with the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP)to make many revisions and make sure the private destination remains environmentally friendly.

Disney is expected to spend anywhere between $250 million and $400 million on developing the 700-acre property and will be incorporating Bahamian themes while also donating 190 acres, including the southernmost tip of the island, to the government for a national park.

Besides the beautiful beaches, the new island destination of Eleuthera will have many other attractions for both young and old. Once guests leave the ship and make their way shoreside by the newly constructed pier, they will have the opportunity to go to an Adventure Camp, two public beaches, A Spa and Wellness center, Arts and Culture center, Cabanas, and various bars and restaurants to choose from.

Cruise lines have long been accused of doing more harm than good to the places they visit, but this is hardly the case with Lighthouse Point. The cruise line made sure that the natural habitat does not come under threat from the thousands of visitors that will make their way here each year.

The line has assembled a 500-page environmental program listing the various environmental factors surrounding the building of the various attractions. At the same time, a solar farm will also be built on-site to ensure a sufficient power supply.

In addition to its own animal and conservation experts, Disney assembled a team of highly qualified and experienced scientists and other professionals who spent three years developing the environmental program.

This is based on extensive fieldwork, robust data collection and analysis, direct engagement with those who have studied the site and the species observed there, and an exhaustive review of available literature.

Lighthouse Point will be Disney Cruise Lines second private Island destination. The first being Castaway Cay, which will undoubtedly not be disappearing in the background.

Castaway Cay is an award-winning private island that has been popular with the many that have been here and won numerous prizes for the best private island experience.

The cruise line has been coming to Castaway since the 1990s, and lighthouse point will be an addition to what is already being offered. It will allow the cruise line to incorporate more stops in the Bahamas. The Bahamas is much closer to US ports than Caribbean Ports, offering some financial benefits to Disney.

Worth Reading: 8 Cruise Line Private Islands You Must Escape To

When will we see Lighthouse Point on the itinerary for the first time? Disney has talked about the destination since 2019 with the scheduled opening date somewhere in 2021, and progress was good.

However, the pandemic will have slowed down this progress, so a final release date could well be one or two years away. Most likely, Disney will want to time this with the release of Disney Wish, or one of her sisters.

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Disney is Still Moving Forward with Second Private Destination in the Bahamas - Cruise Hive

Begin your morning with a leisurely breakfast back at Nova Restaurant. Built on an expansive deck that hangs out over Deep Bay, this stylish outdoor restaurant features overwater hammocks, sun loungers, and even a suspended swimming poolperfect for soaking up the sun, daydreaming, and enjoying a plate or two of duck hash or avocado sourdough toast with goat cheese.

Take your time and enjoy a few of the many onsite activities, including hiking any of the five trails with sweeping views, snorkeling in the surrounding reefs, kitesurfing, tennis, and complimentary yoga classes.

Put the wind in your sails as you say goodbye to Virgin Gorda and set out for Scrub Island, a private island resort dotted with secluded beaches. For a truly entrancing experience, book a candlelit dinner on Donovans Beach, an open-air restaurant featuring creative dishes like bacon-wrapped scallops, grilled shrimp with coconut curry sauce, and blueberry crme brle.

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7-Day Sailing Trip to The British Virgin Islands - AFAR Media

The world has changed. When the Coronavirus pandemic hit in2020 it changed the way we think, it changed the way we interact, and it changed the way we travel. For one, it brought to light how important it is for us to leave it all behind and get away for a while. For many, its an absolute essential for happiness and a sense of fulfillment but it also made us rethink our travel habits.

Once we realized how much we all like our personal space, its hard to think about going back into crowds of people. Many still do not feel comfortable enough to take a trip but have become restless at home. So how do we move forward? How do we accommodate travelers safety concerns while putting their minds at ease in a world where there are still so many unanswered questions?

While most of the travel industry took a hard hit from CV19, there is one aspect of it that grew and thrived because it was already set up in a way that addressed all of these concerns- Private Travel.

Private Travel is an organized trip for you and a very specific group of people and no one else. This style of travel allows you to bond with those you care about or would like to get to know better. Its a great opportunity for family bonding, team building, intimate celebrations, or anyone just looking to escape the maddening chaos of society for a while.

Private Travel is unique in that it can be fully tailored to you and your guests needs. Everything from transportation to staffing, menu to activities can be curated for your ultimate getaway. You can design your vacation to be as chic or as modern as youd like.

When you hear private travel most people tend to imagine the most luxurious, over-the-top vacations that are only available to the rich and famous, but the truth is, its more accessible than you think!

While its true that some use travel as a way to meet new people, the fact is that most people who travel would rather be in smaller groups with individuals they already know. We like our personal space. The less we have to interact with the public, the better. Unpredictable public transportation, impersonal group tours, and contending with strangers at the beach are out! Want to know whats in? Private jets, private guided tours, and having an entire island to yourself!

Yes, Private Travel is definitely more exclusive, but it doesnt have to be exclusively expensive. There are numerous private experiences out there that will fit just about any budget. Due to the current demand, more companies are offering unique tours and excursions for small groups that cost the same as what youd pay for a week in the Caribbean. You just have to know where to look for them.

The best news is that just about anything can be booked as a private experience and customized just for you. Your flight, accommodations, cruises, excursions, and even your special events can be made even more memorable for you and your guests if you book them privately rather than commercially.

Private Jets allow you to plan around your own schedule, skip airport security, and fly in comfort with access to more destinations than commercial flights.

Private Homes & Villas are beautiful, well-manicured, secluded houses where you will find peace in having no noisy neighbors, and not sharing accommodations with strangers.

Private Islands are the perfect way to enjoy an absolute privacy in luxury. You can book entire islands just for you and your guests. Most are booked all-inclusive and fully-staffed. Perfect for reunions, private events, and destination weddings.

Private Resorts are perfect if youre looking for a most luxuriously surreal experience. Many private islands also have their own resort that may be booked by villa or bungalow, or maybe rented out entirely.

Private Cruises allow you to book an entire ship just for you and your private event. Great for reunions, corporate events, and weddings. Explore a variety of different destinations in a way youve never imagined.

Private Tours & Excursions such as safaris, or Mediterranean island hopping will exceed your expectations with their small group experiences. Explore just about any region in the world with professional guides to pilot your journey.

In the past, the most popular reasons to book privately have been for family holidays, destination weddings, and honeymoons. However, with the way the world has been shifting, people are finding more reasons than ever to travel this way. Family reunions, special interest group meet-ups, company retreats, friend trips, bachelor/bachelorette parties, couples retreats, and even birthdays are all valid reasons to look into private bookings as a new favorite travel style. For some, the biggest reason is the promise of safety and privacy that this style of travel guarantees.

Because this is no ordinary trip, youll want to be sure to book all of your private needs through a qualified travel agent whospecializesin Private Travel.

Private Travel is actually quite different from casual travel when it comes to planning. Your large hotel chains and commercial airlines book thousands of trips a day and are accessible to just about anyone. However, most private options are exactly that private. Because many accommodations are not listed to the public, an agent must build strong, working relationships with those whom they will be booking with directly. It takes a long time to acquire a collection of hand-selected options that a travel planner is confident in and proud to offer to their clients. It will be well worth it to invest in someone who is very familiar with how this process works.

Private travel will elevate your vacation experiences to a new level of adventure and luxury. This style of travel will take you to unique destinations that tourists never get to experience. Youll be able to impress your friends, family, and colleagues with rare stories that few others have ever told.

Its time to upgrade from your typical vacation to creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

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Why Private Travel Is The Newest Trend For Vacationers Private Travel - Upscale Living Magazine

This article is part of our latest special report on Waterfront Homes, which focuses on living near, and sometimes even on, the water.

Waterfront living is a concept that seems to have endless appeal. It doesnt matter whether you swim or partake in water sports or not, said Danny Hertzberg, a real estate agent with the Jills Zeder Group in Miami Beach, who sees nonstop demand in waterfront properties. For most people, the ultimate amenity is the water. Its always desirable.

Interest in waterfront properties has grown significantly in the last year. Sales at the Jills Zeder Group, for instance, increased to over $1 billion in 2020 from $500 million in 2019. According to Mr. Hertzberg, a majority of these sales were waterfront homes. Were already on track this year to outpace 2020, he said.

And during the first quarter of this year, page views for waterfront amenities and features on the website of Sothebys International Realty increased to 56,517 from 11,818 in the same period in 2020 an increase of more than 378 percent.

South Florida; Los Cabos, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain, are mainstays for waterfront properties, but other places are starting to get attention, too, like these five emerging destinations.

This Caribbean island nation has more than 300 white-sand beaches and four marinas, including one that housed the British fleet during colonial times and is now a base for megayachts.

Justin White, the co-owner of Anchor Antigua Realty, an affiliate of Christies International Real Estate, said the island was ideal for those who enjoy watersports. We have great snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing and kite surfing, he said. You can come here and be active all day and start your evening with a cocktail on the beach during sunset.

Antigua has low crime rates, making safety an advantage of owning a home there. Grocery stores, which abound, sell both imported goods and local delicacies like lobster. Although roads on the island can be bumpy, Mr. White said they were being improved.

Home buyers will find a cross section of properties in Antigua, from apartments to townhouses to spacious villas. Mr. White said that prices for a two-bedroom townhouse started at about $200,000, and that villas in upscale developments, such as Galley Bay Heights, were well into the seven figures.

More recently, Barbuda, a virtually undeveloped island, has been getting attention because the luxury real estate developer Discovery Land Company is building Barbuda Ocean Club, a community that broke ground in 2019. A chic-meets-rustic beach club with waterfront safari tents is already complete and gives interested buyers an opportunity to visit and explore ownership. The community, which occupies more than 700 acres, has seven miles of beachfront and will have 450 residences, including estates, golf villas and waterfront cottages. Ranging from 2,000 to 7,500 square feet, they have a starting price of $3 million.

Discoverys project is the pinnacle of luxury and is going to elevate Antigua and Barbuda to another level, but there are plenty of affordable housing options as well, Mr. White said.

While Mexico is a well-established site for a waterfront home, Rick Moeser, executive director of Christies International Real Estate, said Careyes, a private resort community, and the surrounding Costalegre region were still largely uncharted.

Unlike the rest of the country, which is overbuilt and crowded, this coastline is spread out and somewhat undiscovered, he said.

On the Pacific coast, between the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, Careyes is where the jungle meets the sea. Mr. Moeser described the landscape as dramatic, with many cliffs, surrounded by lush trees, framing scenic beaches.

Founded in 1968 by an Italian entrepreneur, Gian Franco Brignone, Careyes has grown over the last several decades to more than 35,000 acres. It includes a polo field and a biosphere reserve with 70 species of animals and more than 1,200 varieties of flora and fauna.

In real estate, Careyes has 65 villas, most with infinity pools, along cliffs overlooking the Pacific. There are also 40 colorful casitas, inspired by the Amalfi Coast of Italy, and El Careyes Club & Residences, which comprises 60 homes of one to four bedrooms. Prices for a one-bedroom casita start at about $400,000, while oceanfront villas average around $2.5 million.

Mr. Moeser said the community, with its Italian roots, attracted home buyers from Europe, although Americans were starting to filter in.

About an hours drive down the coast, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, Mxico, scheduled to open at the end of this year, will include clifftop villas and beachfront estates. (The exact number is still to be announced.) Sitting on a 3,000-acre private natural reserve, the resort will have three pools, a spa, a watersports center and an 18-hole golf course.

Architecturally, buyers should expect traditional Mexican homes, with stucco and natural stone. Theres a feeling of authentic Mexico here, Mr. Moeser said.

About a 30-minute drive west of Riga, on the Baltic Sea, the resort town Jurmala is an attraction for its golden-sand beaches, which are framed by dunes and rock formations. According to Michael Valdes, the president of eXp Global, a division of eXP Realty in Bellingham, Wash., Russians have vacationed and bought second homes there for years, but more recently, other Europeans have started to come. Youre seeing buyers from the Czech Republic, Poland and Lithuania, he said.

Mr. Valdes added that the beaches in Jurmala were among the most scenic in Europe, and that its strong infrastructure was supported by good medical care, restaurants and grocery stores.

Jurmala offers diverse real estate options, from modest apartments in the center of town, which start at a few hundred thousand dollars, to luxury seven-figure villas on the secluded coastline.

Eriks Reinicans, the director of the local real estate company Jurmala Invest, said that for around $500,000, buyers could find a three- or four-bedroom apartment in an upscale development with a pool that was about a 10-minute drive to the beach. You get much more value for your money if youre willing to be away from the water, he said.

Because Latvias winters can be brutally cold, Jurmala is not an ideal year-round destination, though it does offer access to historical sights in Riga and hiking in the forests that surround the sea.

The Bahamas has long been a popular vacation and second-home destination for travelers from all over the world. Some foreign home buyers even make the country their primary residence because it has no income tax. This international influx has mostly gone to New Providence Island, home to the capital, Nassau, and numerous residential developments and beach resorts.

Lately, however, in a search for more privacy and a relaxed lifestyle away from the hubbub, buyers have been setting their sights on the Exumas. Consisting of about 365 islands, many privately owned, this chain promises secluded beaches with turquoise waters, an abundance of marine life and a wide range of watersports, including fly-fishing, scuba diving and kiteboarding.

Edward de Mallet Morgan, a partner at Knight Frank, a global real estate consultancy based in London, said the interest in owning a home in the Exumas had increased in the wake of the pandemic. Properties used to sit on the market for six months to a year and now sell within a few weeks, he said. People want to be away from the crowds, and thats what the Exumas offers.

This new set of home buyers is mainly from California, New York, Britain, mainland Europe and South America.

Homes throughout the islands run the gamut from affordable to extravagant.

Great Exuma, for example, the biggest island and site of the district capital, George Town, has brightly colored single-family homes that each cost a few hundred thousand dollars. The Marina at Hoopers Bay, a residential community on the northwest part of the island, offers 30 residences a mix of townhouses and villas that cost from $350,000 to more than $3 million.

Private islands run from $5 million to $100 million, Mr. Morgan said. Little Pipe Cay, for example, a 38-acre private island with multiple homes, is currently on the market for $85 million.

Even with such lavishness, the Exumas are unpretentious and welcoming, said Brent Hurt, the managing partner of the Marina at Hoopers Bay. This is a place where the very wealthy and everyday locals mingle together in shorts and flip-flops, he said.

In northwest Idaho, about a 30-minute drive from Spokane, Wash., Coeur dAlene is known for its lake and national forest.

Lately, the city has become appealing to buyers who are seeking vacation homes in rural settings where the waterfront takes center stage, said Tammy Fahmi, the vice president for global operations and international servicing at Sothebys International Realty. Many are from California, Washington State and Oregon, but Canadians are also finding their way there.

Coeur dAlene is a year-round destination, Ms. Fahmi said. People love it for the fishing, boating, swimming and hiking in the summer, while in the winter, theres snowmobiling, snowboarding and cross-country and downhill skiing.

But beyond the city, there are more than 50 lakes within a two-hour drive, said Mike McNamara, a real estate agent with Windermere/Coeur dAlene Realty and Windermere Hayden. They include Lake Pend Oreille, the largest in Idaho. The area is an outdoor paradise every month of the year, and life revolves around the lakes, he added.

Prospective buyers can expect single-family homes in Coeur dAlene, with few apartments and townhouses, although some are currently being built. Home prices average around $477,000. You can get a three-bedroom new-construction 1,800-square-foot house for that amount, but there are definitely more upscale options, Mr. McNamara said.

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Where Sun, Sand and Splendor Are Still to Be Discovered - The New York Times

The elegant trogon, befitting its name, is clever. One can perch in a tree 10 feet overhead and draw little attention, though its come dressed for it, with a striking yellow beak, blush red breast topped with a white collar and metallic green back tapering, like tuxedo tails, to finely barred tail feathers.

As a birding fan, Id made its acquaintance on trips to Mexico. But during the pandemic, in my desire to find unexpected, wondrous and uncrowded places in the United States, I learned that the trogon comes north, often visiting a section of southeast Arizona that looks, from a birds point of view, a lot like the highlands of Mexico.

These are sky islands, isolated mountain formations separated by seas of desert that are uniquely biodiverse, offering habitats from scrub and grasslands to pine and fir forests as they rise.

Between the Rocky Mountains and Mexicos Sierra Madre Occidentals lie nearly 60 sky islands, an archipelago of mountains that are steppingstones between two big ranges, said Peg Abbott, the owner of Naturalist Journeys, a birding and nature tour operator based in the region. Stretched apart some 15 million years ago and isolated by the development of arid grasslands and deserts between them, about 15 sky islands lie in Arizonas Coronado National Forest; the rest are in Mexico.

I met Peg on a five-day trip in May to three of Arizonas sky island ranges the Santa Rita, Chiricahua and Huachuca mountains on my first post-vaccination trip, designed to safely spend time hiking outdoors, but squarely in the path of potential encounters with Crayola-colored warblers, up to 15 species of hummingbirds and seasonal guests like the elegant trogon.

From Tucson, I drove roughly 30 miles south to Green Valley and turned southeast for Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains where more than 250 bird species have been documented. The road ascended from cactus flats to grass and oak savannas into a narrowing canyon, a crease of shady oak and sycamore forest flanking a seasonal stream, bone dry in present drought conditions. At the Santa Rita Lodge in the largely undeveloped canyon, I checked into a creekside casita ($160) and was asked to keep my showers short because of the drought.

But the lack of rainfall hadnt discouraged the birds, or the birders. On the weaving two-lane road that dead-ends at about 5,400 feet, with footpaths ascending another 4,000 feet to Mount Wrightson, a flock of wild Goulds turkeys held up traffic. The males, with fully fanned tail feathers, dragged their wings audibly on the pavement. In front of the lodge, more than a dozen feeders were filled with bridled titmouse, cartoonish acorn woodpeckers, thick-billed, black-headed grosbeaks and gregarious pine siskins.

Hummingbird feeders, filled with sweetened water, were staked closer to the benches facing this bird theater, allowing one woman to train her binoculars on a broad-billed hummingbird just two feet away for a microscopic view of its red beak and darting tongue.

The staffer checking me in said that trogons hadnt been seen yet this year, but directed me to the Carrie Nation Trail in the morning to look. Meanwhile, she suggested I head across the street at sunset to see the elf owl that burrows in a utility pole there.

Its like the littlest dog that has the biggest bark, said Steve Holt, the lodge owner, speaking of the tiny elf owl that I and a dozen guests gathered to see, settling ultimately for the chirping, whistling and trilling that indicated it was nearby. As they left, one couple asked where they might listen for whiskered screech owls, and motored up the canyon for more night birding.

In the morning cool, the deserted mountain trails were alive with bird song and the brash antics of spotted towhees and yellow-eyed juncos, but no trogon perhaps, said fellow birders, because of the dry creek.

Posted outside Cave Creek Ranch in the Chiricahua Mountains, about 150 miles southeast of Tucson, a schedule of the expected arrival dates of migrating and seasonal birds anticipated the elegant trogon on April 6.

This year, almost everythings been late, said Reed Peters, the owner of the 13-cabin retreat where I joined the tour operator Peg Abbott and her group of about a dozen travelers on a nine-day birding trip in the sky islands. They were paging through a binder of listings, checking off the days sightings, including the northern beardless tyrannulet and greater pewee.

Sky islands are a concept of geography that not a lot of people in the U.S. know, said Peg, explaining the similarities between the Galpagos Islands and the sky islands to the group over drinks. Part of diversity is how close are you to the big mama ship that has all the species, and part is being in the path of things that move on currents and wind. The principles of island biogeography play out in these sky islands.

In Arizona, breeding trogons tend to nest in the cavities of big trees like sycamores that grow in riparian zones, which have streams or rivers. Fortunately, the next day, the water was flowing in Cave Creek Canyon, just a few miles beyond the ranch where I joined a loose confederation of birders on a three-hour trek along the road and the South Fork Trail that continues along the creek. Ears trained for the trogon, we delighted in flamboyant warblers and a family of grosbeaks bathing in a rock pool. At an inviting swimming hole known as The Bathtub, I heard something between a bark, a gobble and a chortle, possibly a trogon, but I never saw it.

He likes to hang out there, confirmed Peg that afternoon as she drove me to the top of the Chiricahuas on a tour that took in campgrounds where visitors erected their own hummingbird feeders, and the Southwestern Research Station, a wilderness campus managed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where scientists have conducted long-term studies on Mexican jay breeding, hummingbird physiology and the social behavior of ants.

As we climbed to 8,500 feet, we left grasslands for oak-and-pine forests and Douglas fir stands, catching red-faced and yellow-rumped warblers amid alligator junipers with coarse, block-patterned bark, and olive and Graces warblers near a meadow of lupine and iris.

They say its like driving from Mexico to Canada in an hour, Peg said.

Because Cave Creek Ranch was sold out, I stayed at Portal Peak Lodge, a weathered motel with an indifferent staff that nevertheless remains the social center of the canyons gateway town of Portal, given its restaurant and outdoor patio with a stage for live music (from $85).

Like everything in our current world, the road trip, a classic American experience, has changed.

Portals roughly third-of-a-mile thoroughfare, South Rock House Road, is unpaved past a sign that reads, Private Drive Walkers Welcome. Carrie Miller, a local writer and personal chef, had invited me to her house at the end of the dirt road to see her exhibitionist screech owl which nests in the hollow of a sycamore tree in her driveway. At 7 a.m., I found the house by spotting a cluster of birders with a telescope trained on the forthright owl.

This road has some of the best birding in Portal because of the creek on one side and desert on the other, Carrie said over pour-overs and chewy homemade bagels as we watched delicate juniper titmouse, brilliant summer tanagers, dramatic hooded orioles and large Rivolis hummingbirds, formerly and aptly known as magnificent hummingbirds, work her numerous feeders.

Many town residents invite visitors to watch the activity at their feeders, usually soliciting donations to subsidize the feed. At their visitor information stand in the canyon, the nonprofit Friends of Cave Creek Canyon distributes free maps to these yards.

I never walk without my binoculars, Carrie told me later that evening as we headed to the motels cafe for a beer, spotting a bright yellow warbler working an eye-level canopy of mesquite tree blossoms.

Birding is a patient practice. You can put yourself in the path of migration, and still miss sightings through inattention or impatience or, in my case, a fitness-fanatics stride. As a Cave Creek birder from Austin, Texas, put it, Hiking and birding are incompatible. Birders are always stopping.

What I needed was a guide to set the appropriate pace, which I found in Chris Harbard. A native of England, Chris worked for 24 years for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds before moving to the United States and settling, in 2016, in the Huachuca Mountains, roughly between the Santa Ritas and Chiricahuas, where he writes about birds between lecturing gigs on expedition cruise ships.

He and his wife, Mari Cea, run the Southwest Wings birding festival, which takes place in May and August the latter is high season for hummingbirds with lectures and tours. They also rent a spacious Airbnb casita behind their home in Hereford in a very birdy yard; Chris list of yard sightings is over 150 species. Proving the thrill never fades, we all got quiet when the elusive Montezuma quail, a rotund, charismatic bird with facial racing stripes and polka-dot sides, emerged from the tall grass just before sunset.

The next morning, I followed Chris to Ramsey Canyon Preserve, a site managed by the Nature Conservancy ($8), and my last hope for a trogon.

From a distance, the scrubby slopes of the Huachucas look barren, but harbor astonishingly life-filled, creek-cut folds, including Ramsey Canyon, shaded by towering white-barked sycamores. Following his meditative pace, we watched painted redstarts flitting from tree to tree and spied a velvety red hepatic tanager singing for a mate until Chris, possessed of the bionic ears that distinguish the best birding guides, caught a barking sound.

Trogon, he whispered, pointing down the creek.

Just a few minutes after backtracking and intensely scanning the canopy, we found him, just 10 feet above, his red breast, white collar and striped tail feather impeccable, teaching me the difference between bird watching and simply looking.

If you look closely, said Chris, he has incredibly long eyelashes.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021.

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A Birding Adventure in Arizonas Sky Islands - The New York Times

Boasting a private beach on Virgin Gorda, Villa Katsura brings Japanese sensibilities to the Caribbean.

The owners of this beachfront oasis enlisted OBMI, a global firm known for its work in high-end hospitality, to help infuse the home with their love for Japan and Japanese art. Villa Katsuranamed after Katsura Imperial Villa, a cultural heritage site in Kyoto, Japansits on the peninsula of Little Dix Bay on the British Virgin Islands.

Villa Katsura, a one-of-a-kind residence on the British Virgin Islands, enjoys panoramic views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel.

OBMI wanted to tell the story of the natural setting. They describe the residence as having been woven into the hillside "with the precise elegance of origami." The sloping site gave rise to the villas three distinct pavilions.

Manicured stone pathways guide visitors through the property, ultimately leading to the private beach.

Built in 2014, the nearly three-acre property offers a whopping 23,500 square feet of living space with six bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a partial bathroom. The main house is oriented to maximize views of the Caribbean, with a living room, kitchen, library, media room, dining room, bedroom, and private main suite. The beach house includes three bedrooms, each with a view of the shore.

The main living space flows between the living and dining areas with exposed wooden beams that present an elevated look as well as hurricane proofing.

The kitchen blends wood, stone, and marine-grade steel. Natural light and breezes filter in through the sliding doors, while shoji-inspired partitions nod to Japanese design.

The master suite, including an onsen-inspired bathing area, is a personal retreat that seamlessly flows between indoors and outdoors.

The pool, surrounded by gardens and bamboo, boasts a terrace with heated spa rocks, a steam shower room, fire pits, and waterfalls. In total, there are 11 waterfalls across the property as well as a koi pond, an entrance pagoda, and a weeping wall.

The pool terrace overlooks the stunning sea. In addition to the pool area, the property includes a 20-person spa with a steam room and three fire pits.

Tiger wood, European larch, Western cedar, and beams of Douglas fir bring warmth and texture to the terrace.

Villa Katsuras pool terrace glows at dusk.

The propertys pathways meander through distinctive gardens landscaped by Kurisu International, renowned for creating restorative, Japanese-style gardens. With the natural environment in mind, a water catchment able to hold approximately 300,000 gallons and solar panels were put in place to increase self-sufficiency.

Bamboo groves and water features lend to the serenity of the natural landscape.

Villa Katsura from overhead, with solar panels on the hill.

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A Japanese-Inspired Villa Hits the Market on the British Virgin Islands - Dwell

Last year saw a resurgence in listed companies incorporated in the Cayman Islands, with links to Asia, de-listing from global stock exchanges. This is a trend we're seeing continue into 2021. The majority of these transactions - whether they are sponsored by a founder/majority shareholder, a trade buyer or a private equity fund - are financed by a mix of equity and debt funding.

There are broadly three ways to take private a Cayman Islands incorporated listed company: statutory merger, tender offer and scheme of arrangement. Different considerations apply to the financing of transactions affected by each different method.

We have previously examined the different ways to take private a Cayman Islands incorporated listed company, provided a case study on the dissenting shareholder issues that emerged in the privatisation of eHi Car Services Limited by way of a statutory merger, and looked at developments in the dissenting shareholder fair value process in privatisations by Cayman Islands statutory merger. In this article, we will set out the main financing considerations for each method from a Cayman Islands law perspective only. Other considerations will also apply, notably the rules of the stock exchange where the relevant Cayman Islands company is listed.

Statutory merger

A take-private transaction by way of statutory merger usually involves the incorporation by the sponsor of a new company in the Cayman Islands (MergerCo), which will merge into the existing listed entity incorporated in the Cayman Islands (Target) pursuant to the procedure set out in the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the Companies Act), with Target being the single surviving company of the merger.

A secured financing of this type of transaction (the Merger Financing) would typically involve the lenders taking security over (before the merger has taken effect) the shares in MergerCo and the assets of MergerCo and (on and from the effective time of the merger - the Effective Time) the shares in Target, as surviving company, and its assets.

It is possible to take security over future assets as a matter of Cayman Islands law, as long as those assets are sufficiently identifiable for the security to attach to them at the relevant time. Therefore, it is possible for the sponsor to provide security over both the currently owned shares in MergerCo and the shares in Target it will own on and from the Effective Time, as a condition precedent to the Merger Financing. The relevant security documents may express that the security over the shares in MergerCo will be automatically released on the Effective Time (reflecting the legal reality under Cayman Islands law, given MergerCo will cease to exist from that time) and that the security over the shares in Target will take effect on and from the Effective Time, so that there can be a seamless transition of the security package once the merger has taken effect.

Section 236(1) of the Companies Act provides that as soon as a merger becomes effective, the rights, property and business of MergerCo shall immediately vest in Target (as the surviving company) and Target shall be liable for, and subject to, all mortgages, charges or security interests, and all contracts, obligations, claims, debts, and liabilities of MergerCo. Therefore, if MergerCo is the borrower, its obligations under the Merger Financing will automatically pass to Target by operation of Cayman Islands law. Pursuant to this provision of the Companies Act, it is also possible, as a matter of Cayman Islands law, for the Merger Financing lenders to rely on the security granted by MergerCo over its assets prior to the Effective Time, to secure the assets of Target on and from the Effective Time, without the need for Target to grant new security. However, consideration will need to be given as to the legal effectiveness of such approach under the governing law of the security documents and the law of the place where the secured assets are situated and to practical considerations, such as any change of bank account details or the need for delivery of updated notices to third parties, to reflect that the account holder and security provider has changed from MergerCo to Target.

Each of MergerCo and Target must obtain the prior consent to the merger from any secured creditors it has pursuant to section 233(8) of the Companies Act. Given the Merger Financing lenders will likely take security over the shares in and assets of MergerCo as a condition precedent to the Merger Financing, they will technically need to give consent to the merger. This consent is normally included in one of the finance documents for the Merger Financing. If Target has any existing secured creditors at the time of the merger, then consent will also need to be obtained from those creditors.

A certificate of merger issued by the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands is prima facie evidence of compliance with the Companies Act requirements, and so, effectiveness of the merger. Delivery of a copy of this certificate is therefore usually a condition subsequent under the Merger Financing. The terms of the Merger Financing also usually require delivery to the lenders of the new memorandum and articles of association and register of members of Target, reflecting its status as a private company wholly owned by the sponsor, within a specified time period after the Effective Time. The Merger Financing lenders also typically require, as a condition precedent to funding, copies of the near final plan of merger and connected documents that will be filed with the Registrar of Companies to effect the merger, together with evidence that the merger has been approved by the directors and requisite majority of shareholders of each of MergerCo and Target.

Tender offer

A take-private transaction by way of tender offer involves a general offer by an offeror (the Offeror) to buy the shares held by the public shareholders of a listed company at a specific price at a specific time. Pursuant to section 88 of the Companies Act, the Offeror needs to obtain the approval of 90 per cent. of the independent shareholders (ie holders of those shares not already owned by the Offeror or its affiliates (the Requisite Shareholder Approval)) in a listed target incorporated in the Cayman Islands (Listco) to enable it to require the compulsory sale by the remaining shareholders of their shares in Listco.

In many cases, the Offeror will require available financing for the tender offer (the Tender Financing) prior to it achieving the Requisite Shareholder Approval, to assist the Offeror in the acquisition of shares in Listco through the general offer, in order to obtain the Requisite Shareholder Approval. In such instances, the conditions to funding under the Tender Financing that relate to the tender offer will be commercial and aimed at ensuring the Offeror has a minimum ownership percentage in Listco prior to funding and that the terms of the tender offer, as reviewed by the Tender Financing lenders, may not be materially changed. Lenders financing this type of transaction would typically take security over the shares in Listco already held by the Offeror and those shares acquired by the Offeror during the tender offer process.

It may not be the case that all of the issued shares in Listco that are acquired by the Offeror through the tender process are held through a clearing system in dematerialised form (unregistered form shares). Sometimes the shares have not been dematerialised and the title to them remains evidenced by an entry in the register of members of Listco (registered form shares). In this case, the Tender Financing lenders should be advised to ensure the security documents create effective security over both registered form shares (prior to their conversion) and unregistered form shares (following any conversion into this form). The requisite deliverables under the security documents may be heavily negotiated, given that at the time the security is created, the Offeror does not own 100% of the shares in Listco. Some of the questions that arise are: how will security be taken over shares that arrive in batches and how will any conversion of registered form shares into unregistered form shares during the tender offer process (if any) be dealt with? Where any secured shares are registered form shares, additional questions will arise, such as is there any share certificate relating to those shares and how will that certificate be collected (to enable any conversion to unregistered form shares), where is the register of members of Listco located and how much assistance will be offered by Listco to complete steps which lenders would typically require when taking security over registered form shares in a wholly owned private company (such as placing a security annotation on the register of members of Listco and giving an instruction to the registered office provider or share registrar of Listco in respect of the share security granted by the Offeror)? A balance will need to be struck between securing adequate protection for the Tender Financing lenders and making realistic proposals to the Offeror that allow some room for it to adjust its strategy in response to the acceptances of its offer.

Lastly, we would also advise the Tender Financing lenders to obtain evidence from the Offeror of its receipt of the Requisite Shareholder Approval and a copy of the new memorandum and articles of association and the new register of members (showing the Offeror as the 100% owner and the annotation of the security in favour of the lenders on completion of the privatisation) as condition subsequent deliverables.

Scheme of arrangement

A take-private transaction by way of scheme of arrangement (a Scheme) normally involves a proposal by an offeror (the Scheme Offeror) to reduce the issued share capital of the relevant listed company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the Scheme Target) by cancelling all of the shares of the public shareholders held in the Scheme Target. Each public shareholder is paid an agreed amount of consideration per share so cancelled. Upon the capital reduction and share cancellation, the issued share capital of the Scheme Target is concurrently increased to the former amount by the issue to the Scheme Offeror of a number of shares in the Scheme Target equal to the total number of shares so cancelled. The reserve created in the Scheme Target's books of account as a result of the capital reduction and share cancellation is applied in paying up in full the new shares so issued to the Scheme Offeror.

Pursuant to sections 14 and 15 of the Companies Act, a special resolution of the shareholders of the Scheme Target, followed by confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (the Cayman Court), will be required to effect the capital reduction mentioned above. The extraordinary general meeting of the Scheme Target's shareholders to obtain this special resolution will be convened for the same date as the Scheme Meeting(s) referred to below. The confirmation of the capital reduction by the Cayman Court will be sought in the Sanction Hearing referred to below.

Pursuant to section 86(2) of the Companies Act, such a Scheme will require the approval of a majority in number representing 75% in value of the members of each class of shares (the Requisite Scheme Approval) issued by the relevant Scheme Target. There will be at least two Cayman Court hearings (or more, where Scheme Target has multiple classes of shares in issue). The first is a convening hearing to apply to the Cayman Court to convene a meeting of each requisite class of shareholders in the Scheme Target, to consider the Scheme and pass the Requisite Scheme Approval (the Scheme Meeting(s)). The second, held if the Requisite Scheme Approval is obtained at the Scheme Meeting(s), is a sanction hearing (the Sanction Hearing) at which Cayman Court will decide whether to approve the Scheme. Once the Cayman Court so approves the Scheme, it will be binding on all the members of Scheme Target. The order of the Cayman Court sanctioning the Scheme (the Court Order) will not take effect until a copy of it is delivered to the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands for registration.

Where the Scheme Target is listed on HKEX, the public announcement made in respect of the Scheme must confirm that the financial adviser to the Scheme Offeror is satisfied that sufficient financial resources are available to the Scheme Offeror for discharging its obligations in respect of the Scheme. This means that the terms of any debt financing must be in place (subject to the satisfaction of the relevant conditions precedent to utilisation thereunder), before the public announcement of the Scheme is made. Therefore, the scheme related mechanics and provisions in the facility agreement for the Scheme are based on the form of the draft public announcement most recently submitted to the stock exchange. The facility agreement will customarily contain undertakings through which the lenders can control the Scheme Offeror's conduct of the Scheme and monitor and the status and progress of the Scheme.

Because of the "all or nothing" nature of a Scheme, lenders would typically require the Scheme to be effective as a condition precedent to funding. This can be evidenced by the delivery of a copy of the Court Order, stamped by the Registrar of Companies. Again, the lenders would customarily obtain a copy of the new memorandum and articles of association and the new register of members of Scheme Target (showing Scheme Target as a wholly owned private company) as conditions subsequent to funding.

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Financing considerations for take-private transactions in the Cayman Islands - Lexology

More than 65% of the local adult population is vaccinated, making the Turks and Caicos Islands one of the most inoculated countries in the world.

TheTurks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board, the exclusive tourism authority for the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced that the destination has received an Alert Level 1 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The new travel health notice represents a major milestone in the Turks and Caicos Islands vaccine campaign, which began in January 2021 and has resulted in more than 65 percent of the adult population receiving at least one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinemaking it one of the most inoculated countries in the world.

The countrys strong vaccination rate combined with the success of its safety protocols has curbed the spread of COVID-19 and allowed for continuous safe travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The destination has enjoyed strong occupancy rates over the past few months, including an average of over 70 percent capacity for April 2021.

We are very proud that the majority of our adult population is vaccinated, helping us to keep the curve flat and earn an Alert Level 1 from the CDC for safe travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, said Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism. We are grateful to our valued tourism industry partners for supporting the Turks and Caicos Islands efforts by initiating property-specific campaigns, and to the community for their vigilance in getting vaccinated and adhering to protocols. We still require international travelers to become certified byTCI Assured, our quality assurance portal, before visiting the Islands to ensure everyones wellbeing.

News of the CDCs Alert Level 1 arrives following the most recent reports by the Ministry of Health and Human Services that a total of 65 percent of the adult population has received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Additionally, 55 percent of the adult population is now fully vaccinated having received both vaccines.

These powerful statistics speak to the effectiveness of the vaccine campaign initiated by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, which has included billboards encouraging vaccinations across the islands; incentives allowing businesses with fully vaccinated staff to operate at higher capacities; and initiatives by valued hotel, restaurant, and tour operator partners urging their associates to get vaccinated, inclusive of regular giveaways, to help protect themselves and others. Additionally, the Turks and Caicos Islands have consistently upheld its safety protocols at an internationally accepted standard.

In addition to its Level 1 Alert, the Turks and Caicos Islands received the Safe Travels Stamp from the World Travel Council, which denotes that its existing safety protocols align with the core requirements established by the WTTC, along with governments and health experts, which are designed to standardize safe travel. These include, but are not limited to, urging proper physical distancing, enforcing capacity limits, requiring masks in public places, and ensuring proper hand washing techniques and sanitation, among other core Safe Travels requirements.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has remained vigilant and consistent regarding its international traveler requirements, which are the same for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers. The countrysTCI Assured, a quality assurance portal on the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board website, provides a travel authorization only after visitors have provided proof of negative COVID-19 PCR test results from an accredited healthcare facility within five days prior to their arrival to the destination, proof of medical insurance that covers COVID-19 medical related costs and a completed health screening questionnaire. A 14-day quarantine period is not required for visitors once they have tested negative for the virus.

Upon arrival to the airport, visitors can expect to present a copy of theirTCI Assuredcertifications to local authorities, all of whom wear personal protective equipment, before proceeding through immigration where temperature checks for each traveler will also occur. Upon departure, most travelers are now required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to be able to return to their country of origin; many hotels across the Islands now have on-site testing sites, allowing for an easy and seamless experience.

The Turks and Caicos Islandshome to the Worlds Best Beachis a coveted five-star luxury vacation destination for leisure, business, and notable guests from around the globe. With nine main islands and about 40 small islands and uninhabited cays, the destination is inherently safe for travel in this new paradigm of physical distancing, given its expansiveness, stunning outdoor environment, privacy, spacious resort accommodations, and unique portfolio of extraordinary private villas and private islands vacations. An extensive list of COVID-19 testing facilities across all Sister Islands can be found on the Tourist Boards official website.

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Turks and Caicos Islands issued a Level 1 Notice from the CDC - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News