Category Archives: Private Islands

Need something to look forward to? A reward for getting through another COVID summer? These island vacation rentals in the U.S. are available for booking and perfect for when you need to get away (and we mean REALLY get away). Want a private island all to yourself? Weve got it! An island with a walkable downtown? Yep, that too. Book your favorite spot and start dreaming about your next family vacation!

Kids spending too much time on personal devices and need to get back to nature? This is the place to put the outside world on hold and relax. You'll have the run of the island that includes water access for swimming and kayaking. Plus, guests staying 4 nights or longer will also have exclusive access to a separate on island cabin with 2 twin beds and one loft air mattress.

Sleeps: 6Cost: $343/nightOnline: airbnb.com

This two-bedroom cabin will be your home away from home in no time. The cabin sits high above the beach which is just a short drive away. Camano Island is home to two wonderful Washington State Parks: Cama Beach and Camano Island. Both are only a short drive from the cabin and have great hiking, beaches, The Center for Wooden Boats, a cafe, and more.

Sleeps: 4Cost: $130/nightOnline: airbnb.com

This sophisticated home is located in central Whidbey Island, just minutes from the beach, the Greenbank Farm and hiking trails. Enjoy the outdoor firepit for s'mores after you grill up your dinner.

Sleeps: 8Cost: $216/nightOnline: airbnb.com

While not necessarily a private island, this tiny beauty has a full kitchen, fenced yard and all the charm you are looking for when visiting Balboa Island. Spend your days at the old-school boardwalk where fried food reigns supreme.

Sleeps: 2Cost: $98/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Escape to Haven Island, a secluded Northwoods retreat located on your very own private 5-acre island on Lake Winter in the beautiful Northwoods of WI. Fill your days with swimming, fishing, grilling, boating, and kayaking, and your nights gathered around the campfire. The fully equipped chalet, with an open concept and vaulted ceilings, Wi-Fi, A/C, and satellite tv, can comfortably accommodate up to 14 people. Island rental includes a new 18 pontoon, kayaks, paddleboat and a canoe.

Sleeps: 14Cost: $699/nightOnline: airbnb.com

This quaint and semi-rustic family-built cabin is situated on a 13-acre private island on beautiful Lake Vermilion. Outside the cabin, you will find a dock, screen house, a bonfire pit, and trails to enjoy 13 private acres of woods that include birds, squirrels, chipmunks, flowers, plants, and deer.

Sleeps: 9Cost: $350/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Lakefront Cabin with decks facing three directions on Private Island on Juggler Lake complete with private old-growth forest to explore. Excellent fishing and exceptionally clean lake that is perfect for swimming. Forest is full of wildlife and perfect for hiking. Located near Itasca State Park.

Sleeps: 10Cost: $399/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Your whole crew will love the solitude that you'll find at this dog-friendly home on Katinka Lake. Katinka Lake is a 170-acre lake in Vilas County. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye. Four acres of serenity for the family and dog with over 2,100 feet of frontage and long winding stone granite paths await you and your furry friends!

Sleeps: 16Cost: $990/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Little Cabin is on a small island on Annabessacook Lake in Maine. Enjoy pristine surroundings and a rustic, off-the-grid cedar log cabin. Take a blissful private adventureswimming, boating, fishing, birding, and relaxing by the fire. The owners will ferry you to the island, and offer a canoe and kayaks for your enjoyment.

Sleeps: 4Cost: $250/nightOnline: airbnb.com

This off-the-grid (no electricity) one-of-a-kind home is perched on a 14 acre, semi-private island 1/2 mile from shore on a Maine lake. The 900 sq. ft. octagonal home, built around a living Red Oak tree, is designed to make your stay comfortable, relaxing, and soothing. It has the sights & sounds of the best of Maine's natural beauty: fresh air, clean water, the nature of woods, and the sounds of loons on a quiet lake.

Sleeps: 4Cost: $250/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Beautiful beach house is 30 seconds to the gorgeous, private and quiet Madaket Beach. House has amazing panoramic views of the Atlantic. This amazing house has everything you need for the best relaxing Nantucket vacation. Newly renovated, 4 bedroom house has 4 levels with two decks, state of the art kitchen, cathedral ceiling with fireplace in the living room.

Sleeps: 8Cost: $1,100/nightOnline: airbnb.com

A 21 ft. Carolina Skiff will transport you to your own private island where you can enjoy the sunsets with friends.

Sleeps: 8Cost: $1,643/nightOnline: airbnb.com

A short boat ride from the Nags Head Causeway or Manteo waterfront will get you to your island paradised. Perfect for small families, you'll find waterways, marshes, 18+ small islands and a wildlife reserve for fishing, birding and sky watching.

Sleeps: 5Cost: $725/nightOnline: airbnb.com

Kate Loweth

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Book Your Island Vacation Without Leaving the US - Red Tricycle

If you're planning to travel to the Maldives here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Maldives reopened borders to all travelers from all countries on July 15, 2020. The primary exception to this is the tightly packed capital city of Mal, which is off-limits to visitors as it has been the source of the majority of the country's coronavirus cases.

This is the couples' destination to end all others -- luxury hotels set on private islands, with rooms cantilevered over the water, just in case a walk to the beach is too much effort.

At present, the Maldives is open to visitors from all destinations, as long as they have proof of a negative Covid test taken no more than four days prior to their arrival.

Fully vaccinated travelers from the UK are currently subject to a four-day quarantine, while non-vaccinated UK travelers must quarantine for 14 days.

A temporary ban on travelers from South Asia was lifted on July 15.

The Maldives was one of the rare travel successes of 2020, and it looks like that trend is continuing for 2021, despite some setbacks.

The destination has launched a loyalty program that rewards regular visitors with points based on the frequency and duration of their trips. Those who rack up lots of points will be bumped up to various elite status levels that offer advantages including hotel discounts.

All arrivals must present a certificate of a negative PCR test carried out within the 72 hours prior to departure, clearly showing the name and address of the laboratory, as well as the date of the sample taken.

The result need to be attached to the Traveler Health Declaration form which must be submitted online within the 24 hours prior to arrival. Visitors are asked to download the national contact tracing app, TraceEkee, and use it during their journey.

These restrictions were temporarily dropped for fully vaccinated travelers earlier in the year, but have since been reintroduced.

All travelers arriving from the UK, including transiting passengers, must undergo a quarantine of either four days for those who are vaccinated, or 14 days for non vaccinated travelers.

Tourists are allowed to split stays between hotels. However, if you spend more than 48 hours in the Greater Mal area, you must take another PCR test before moving elsewhere.

Visitors who are not fully vaccinated are permitted to stay in guest accommodation in local islands provided that 60% of the population, including 90% of over-65s and 95% of tourism staff, are fully vaccinated.

The Maldives has reported a total of nearly 78,000 coronavirus cases and 222 deaths as of August 5.

While the figures remain relatively low for the most part, Covid-19 cases jumped from around 100 to over 1,500 in the space of a month, prompting a short-term ban on visitors from South Asia on May 13.

Although a record 2,194 cases were reported on May 20, the numbers have since decreased significantly, with 137 cases recorded on August 4.

The country began its roll-out of the India-made AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine on February 1. Hospitality workers were included in the first round of citizens to get vaccinated. Nearly 470,00 people in the Maldives had received their first dose of the vaccine as of May 28.

Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, the Maldivian Minister of Tourism, has confirmed that the Maldives is developing a "Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation" scheme named "3V" that would allow visitors to receive a Covid-19 vaccine on arrival.

The program won't go ahead until the country's entire population, estimated at just under 550,000, has been fully vaccinated.

As of August 5, over 600,000 people in the Maldives had been administered with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination.

The Maldives are selling themselves as a destination offering a "normal" vacation, thanks to the isolation of most hotels and the fact that the vast majority of visitors stay in-resort rather than venture out.

This means that while locals are subject to restrictions, those going to and from the airport are exempt. Split stays between different hotels are allowed, if the hotels meet government requirements. Requests for split stays must be made to the Ministry of Tourism at least 48 hours before travel.

Expect also for your resort to have some rules -- especially a temperature check on arrival, and masks to be worn indoors. As most items in shops must be shipped to the Maldives, some things can get pricey -- you should bring things like masks and hand sanitizer with you to avoid spending while on the island chain.

imuga.immigration.gov.mv

Tourist board Covid-19 updates

Ministry of Health latest figures

Learn how wealthy Indians have been shut out of the Maldives due to the temporary ban on South Asian travelers, and why the destination is hoping to lure travelers with vaccines on arrival.

Wondering what it's like to visit right now? Read this piece, which details the pandemic vacation experience.

If you're planning your trip, check out our list of the best dining experiences. And meet the Maldives' "barefoot pilots." And if a travel bubble is what you want, you're in luck -- the Waldorf Astoria Maldives has just revealed its latest property, a Maldivian private island called Ithaafushi, available for a cool $80,000 a night.

The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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Traveling to the Maldives during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go - WTVA

This is the latest selection for our series on underrated destinations, Its Still a Big World.

Having been born in Greece and lived all of my life here, one might think that I have seen most of this beautiful country. Yet, this is practically impossible. With around 100 inhabited islands (and more than double if we count the deserted islands which you can visit with your boat) and more than 15,000 km of coastline, Greece offers a huge variety of beaches and crystal clear waters. It would take me a lifetime if I were to visit a different place each summer.

Yet the islands in the Aegean Sea are usually the ones that attract most tourists, with Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, and Crete being featured in most travel publications. Greece however, is not just those fancy islands where celebrities usually choose to go. On the west side of the country, between Greece and Italy, and south of Albania, are the Ionian Islands, also known as the Seven Islands.

Though often neglected by international travel writers, they are considered the countrys hidden gems, with gorgeous blue waters, golden beaches and the greenest landscape which you will hardly find in other islands. Those are only a few good reasons to fall in love with them. And if we count the intense nightlife, the Ionians have nothing to be jealous of.

Ive been meaning to travel to the area for so long , but since I live in Athens traveling to the Aegean was always much easier. To visit one of the Ionian islands means that you can either take a flight or you have to drive across the country and then take the ferry to the island of your choice. Once you are there though, it would be wise to do some island hopping as there are daily boat cruises that can take you to all the nearby islands.

A few weeks ago, invited by close friend and local journalist Eleftheria Antypa, I had the chance to finally visit one of them for two days: Lefkada, the only one that is connected to the mainland by a long causeway and a floating bridge. This was my first trip outside of Athens after the long lockdown in Greece ended about two months ago and the timing to visit Lefkada could not have been better. According to official reports the Ionian Islands lead the vaccination rates against COVID-19 in the country and, as a half-vaccinated person in a country that not long ago reopened to travelers worldwide, I felt much safer. Especially now that the Delta variant is raging across the globe.

I hate driving long distances, so I took the early morning bus from Athens and almost five hours laterwith a couple of stops on the wayI was there. What struck me the most upon my arrival was the huge labyrinth-like marina at the town of Lefkada. It was full with hundreds of sailing boats of all sizes, so many I swear it was the most I have seen in my life gathered in one place. As I later found out, Lefkada has one of the longest and most modern marinas in the whole Balkans and that is why many prefer to sail there.

I was staying at the southern part of the island, so I had to take the local bus and literally cross the whole island, which took less than an hour, to reach Vasiliki, a small seaside village. It has an amazing view on the mountains of Ithaca, the beloved homeland of Odysseus, and Kefalonia, the biggest of the Seven Islands. Vasiliki is also considered a wind surfing heaven because of its ideal location and the winds that normally blow in the area. When I arrived, the weather was perfect for a swim in the sea, which was cold but refreshing after a long day.

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Despite being on an island, I decided to start exploring it from the inside out. One of the first places my friend Eleftheria suggested to visit were the waterfalls at Nydri, near her hometown. Be careful, the ground is very slippery she warned me. The first time I went there I almost did a split.

After a 20-minute drive from Vasiliki you will find yourself in an oasis. No matter how warm the weather is outside, the microclimate there is different and much cooler. You definitely need good shoes, because the pathway full of rocks leading up to the three waterfalls is indeed very slippery. You can swim under the waterfall as it creates a small lake, but be prepared as the water coming down from the hill is extremely cold even during the summer.

Despite the fact that I fell in love with the waterfalls, nothing can be compared with the islands beaches. The reason anyone goes to Lefkada is to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Porto Katsiki, Kathisma, Mylos, and Agiofyllito name just a few of the more than 15 beaches. However, Egremni is considered as the most beautiful beach in Greece. So, that was my plan for my second day on the island.

Not far from where I was staying is one of the most breathtaking places in the world: Egremni beach. In 2015 an earthquake damaged large parts of the beach, as the slopes over it collapsed, bringing down soil and huge rocks. Thankfully, this didnt take away of its beauty, as the beach was quickly restored, and in 2019, Egremni topped the Travel and Leisure list of the bluest waters in the world, leaving further down other tourist favorite destinations, such as the Maldives and the islands of Palawan and Samoa.

Being there is an experience of its own. Looking down from the hill the incredible blue water of the whole Ionian Sea lays right in front of your eyes. The sky and the sea become one; there is nothing to interrupt them in the horizon. Going there though, is a bit tricky. Once you park your car you have to walk for a bit less than a mile and then with the breath you have left, go down roughly 350 steps to the beach. You can also go by cruise boat, which is much easier, but you dont have the freedom to stay for as long as you like. Be prepared to have enough water and food with you for the time you stay, because there are no canteens, mini markets, or even a kiosk anywhere close. But once youre down there, it is totally worth the trouble.

On this side of the island, the side closer to Italy, you often tune in to Italian radio stations on the car, so, if youre not a big fan of the Italian music, you are going to have to bear it as Eros Ramazzotti or Raffaella Carra will definitely keep you company at some point on the way.

Wherever I traveled on the island, I saw quite a few tourists despite COVID, but it was nowhere near packed. Most of them though are wealthy Italians, as the neighboring country is only a couple of hours away with a sailing boat. Many of them have now bought property on the island, which allows them to travel anytime they like. The love of the Italians for the Ionian islands is not something new. Lefkada was the last to fall under the Venetian occupation during the 18th century, when it was renamed Santa Mavra. The Venetians stayed on the island for almost a century, something that is reflected in the architecture of several buildings, mostly in the old town of Lefkada. The Venetian architectural style is all over the Ionian islands, with Corfu being the greatest example of it.

What has always fascinated me, is a tiny small island just a few yards away from Nydri in Lefkada, called Skorpios. The small private island belonged to the Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis, who bought it in 1963, reportedly for mere thousands. Onassis was one of the richest men in the world at his time and a famous heartthrob. He was connected with the Greek soprano Maria Callas and later married the widow of John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline, known to the Greeks as Jackie O (Onassis). Actually, the scandalous paparazzi photos of her being naked on the beach that took the media by storm in 1972 were taken on this exact island.

Today the island belongs to the Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev and his eldest daughter Ekaterina after they bought it on a long-term lease in 2013. It has always been a dream to visit the island, but its impossible nowadays and I could only admire it from far away.

Ive been to Skorpios a couple of times Eleftheria told me. When the island belonged to the Onassis family, they used to allow people to visit one beach on it and swim there. Now that the Russians have it, you cant even go near the island with your boat.

So, I packed my stuff and my disappointment at not being able to feel rich for a day, and just before I hit the road again back to Athens, I treated myself with a mouthwatering shrimp spaghetti, cooked with just a zip of ouzo, enough to let the aroma of the anise-flavored Greek aperitif take me back to the seaside again. The only thing that I regret is not having enough time to do a trip to the rest of the Ionian islands. But now I have a good excuse to go back again soon.

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This Greek Island May Be Its Most Beautiful (And You've Probably Never Heard of It) - Daily Beast

THREE rocky isles located in the rugged west of Ireland have been named as some of the best in the world.

The Aran Islands have made a list of the Best Islands in the World, compiled by the editors at Big 7 Travel.

Using aggregated scores from previous media results, and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team, the travel firm has published a list of the 50 most amazing islands to visit right now.

Its a diverse list, with tropical cays and Nordic bays, and islands fromMallorca to the Maldives getting special recognition.

And while it may not be tropical, or sun-drenched, it appears Ireland still holds its own when it comes to island envy.

The Aran Islands, located in the mouth of Galway Bay, place a very respectable number 15 on the list.

Theyre known for their ancient sites, with the largest island, Inishmore, home to the prehistoric fort of Dn Aonghasa, perched on top of a high cliff.

Inishmaanis the second largest island, while Inisheeris the smallest of the three.

These three remote islands off Irelands west coast are like stepping back into time, with a rural charm and stunning scenery that will take your breath away, Big 7 says.

Visitors can either walk around them or cycle the pretty road that are lined with hand built brick walls, they add.

Hear Gaeilge being spoken, enjoy fresh seafood and the simple things in life.

The sheer cliffs looking out into the Atlantic ocean and the famous local hospitality make these a must visit for anybody who loves Ireland.

Here is the full list of the Best 50 Islands in the World:

1 Lummi Island, Washington

Lummi Island yet feels lightyears away from the bustle of Seattle. Its a sleepy, scenic island with a thriving artist community, local and organic dining, and stunning vistas of the Salish Sea. Coming here is like going back into the past where life is a little bit slower and a lot more meaningful. Its an ideal place to get off the grid and enjoy seaside strolls, bicycle rides and a good book. After the past 18 months of the pandemic, this is the sort of place that heals you from the inside out. Fewer than 1,000 people live here full time, and for those that do were jealous.

2 Palawan, Phillipines

El Nido is a cluster of 45 islands just off the tip of Palawan, which is famous for its Secret Lagoon. Swim through a hole in the limestone rocks to enter a hidden bay with crystal clear water and soft sand. It feels untouched, with white sandy beaches and tropical jungle. As soon as you step foot onto here youll instantly agree its one of the best islands in the world.

3 Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Santo as locals call it is the largest of the 83 Vanuatu Islands. It still remains largely unspoilt, with powdery white sand and freshwater Blue Holes surrounded by natural rain forest. Youll fall in love with this place the moment you spot it from the plane. One of the worlds most picturesque islands, this spot has clear blue waters and sparkling sand. At Champagne Beach you will also find fresh fruit stalls, freshly prepared crab and lobster and cute beachside shacks.

4 Sommary, Norway

If you visit Sommary on a summers day, you would be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere in the Caribbean: theres coral beaches and turquoise ocean views. Its the famous Midnight Sun that makes it so special though. Sommary meaning Summer Island is an island inNorwaywhere the sun doesnt set for 69 days every summer, and is in constant darkness from November to January.

5 Korcula, Croatia

Korcula is one of the must-visit destinations on Croatias South Dalmatian coast. Its a little further out to get to than most of the other islands, so you can enjoy less crowds and a more laid-back feel. People call Korcula Town Little Dubrovnik because of its medieval squares, churches, palaces and houses, while the beaches and dense forest offer incredible scenery.

6 Fraser Island, Australia

This is a large island that is one of many similar stunning spots on Australias East Coast.

Fraser Island stretches over 123 kilometres in length and 22 kilometres at its widest point. Fun fact: its actually the largest sand island in the world. It is a must visit for anybody backpacking around this part of the world, with endless activities, wildlife and stunning natural scenery to see.

7 Pemba Island, Zanzibar

This is a remote island off the east coast of Africa, and probably as far away from civilisation you might ever find yourself. Pemba is Zanzibars most green and fertile isle, with exceptional diving sites and native wildlife. Most of Zanzibars cloves are grown here, so when the annual harvest runs from July to January, the scent of drying cloves lingers on every passing breeze.

8 Barbados

Barbados is one of those magical holiday destinations that everybody dreams about visiting; it instantly ticks so many boxes when you arrive. Nestled in the south of the Caribbean, it offers stunning beauty, a vibrant cultural scene and some of the best beaches and surfing in the Caribbean. Mainly though, it is the people that make Barbados what it is. Magical.

9 Flatey, Iceland

Have you ever visited some of the islands around Iceland? Flatey is one of them, and can now claim fame top spot among the best islands in the world. Theres beautifully kept old houses dotted along the island, but just two families stay here throughout the winter.

In a charming way, it feels very much like a movie set. And so it is. Many movies are set on the island, most notably The Honour of the House based on a short story by Nobel Prize winner Halldr Laxness. The tranquility at this island is unique time stands still.

10 Bora Bora, French Polynesia

When you think of bucket list destinations, the most ridiculously stunning Instagram travel snaps, or even desktop pictures, many of them come from Bora Bora. Its home to some of the clearest water in the world thanks to its shallow reefs, which are ideal for snorkelling and other water sports. It also happens to be home to some of the prettiest and most luxurious hotels and private villas in the world.

11 Rawa Island, Malaysia

Theres very few places quite as beautiful as Rawa IslandinMalaysia. Take a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea. Enjoy the green scenery. Snorkel along the natural coral reef just metres from the shore. Its an easy drive and boat trip from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, with a stay at the private island resort on the island essential for visiting. Rawa island boasts 100% coral cover and its house reef is naturally shallow, so its perfect for easy dives.

12 Azores, Portugal

The Azores, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is an archipelago of nine islands that have recently been highlighted as an emerging tourist destination. Itsone of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world. Explore geysers, hot thermal waters and volcanic lakes, hopping from island to island. A top pick? The tiny island of Corvo has a broad, beautiful crater at its centre, and attracts many species of birds coming from both Europe and America.

13 Koh Tao, Thailand

This peaceful island in the Gulf of Thailand has plenty of sheltered bays, but Tanot is the most beautiful. Its uncrowded with warm, blue water and soft sand. Snorkelling is excellent here, with a great variety of coral and some fairly large fish that youll see as soon as you dip your toes into the water. While theres endless amazing Thai islands to take your pick from, Koh Tao ticks all the boxes.

14 Capri, Italy

This small island just off the coast of Naples is one of the gems of the Mediterranean Sea. You can stay on the island or do what most people do and take it all in on a day trip.

The steep cliffs along with the bustling port, friendly locals and some stunning food make this a paradise escape. There are very few people who dont fall in love with Capri the moment they set on the island.

15 The Aran Islands, Ireland

These three remote islands off Irelands west coast are like stepping back into time, with a rural charm and stunning scenery that will take your breath away. Visitors can either walk around them or cycle the pretty road that are lined with hand built brick walls. Hear Gaeilge being spoken, enjoy fresh seafood and the simple things in life. The sheer cliffs looking out into the Atlantic ocean and the famous local hospitality make these a must visit for anybody who loves Ireland.

16 Bali, Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Bali has long been a huge draw on the travel route, for everybody from surfers and backpackers through to honeymooners and luxury travellers.

Its the paradise island that has something for everybody. Theres terraced rice fields, pristine beaches, world-class surf spots and historical temples. Add in a buzzing food and drink scene and its easy to see why Bali is one of the best islands in the world.

17 Ibiza, Spain

While youll have your fair share of techno club photo ops, Ibiza is also one of the most beautiful Spanish islands, with a pretty Old Town and scenic beaches. Ibiza isnt all party, party, party the Old Town is actually a UNESCO Heritage Site.Its full of narrow streets and monuments and is classically charming. Cute wine bars line the streets near the harbour, and as you walk up into the hilly town you will have a spectacular view of the sea below.

18 Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canasa

With incredible season, rich Aboriginal, Gaelic, and Acadian cultures, theres a reason Cape Breton Island is one of the worlds top island destinations. Its on thenorth-eastern tip of Nova Scotia on Canadas East Coast, You may want to check your brakes before heading to Cape Breton as the world-renowned Cabot Trail, with its dramatic coastal views, can be pretty steep. Its one of the best island drives youll do in your lifetime.

19 Corsica, France

Stunning rock structures that jut out of the clear blue waters are symbolic here, as well as the colourful old streets of Bastia and dolphin spotting. The beach at Palombaggia is one of Corsicas finest, with fine white sand. It faces gorgeous blue seas, and is lined with beautiful pine trees, with the Cerbicales islands in the distance.

20 Santorini, Greece

A trip to Greece isnt complete without Santorini the most well-known and oft-talked about island (for good reason) of them all. A volcanic explosion created the stunning cliffs of Santorini, which now feature two gorgeous cobblestoned towns Oia and Fira. Tourists love to take donkeys up and down the steep staircases, edging along the cliffs and snaking through the villages.

21 Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India

There are 572 islands in the Andaman Islands, divided into five broad categories Great Andaman, Little Andaman, Ritchies Archipelago, East Volcano Islands, and Sentinel Islands. Havelock Island is a real standout, with its world-famous Radhanagar Beach. Havelock Island is a travellers paradise, with palm trees, white sandy beaches and a great mix of budget and luxury hotels.

22 Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is sometimes calledthe Garden Island, which is anentirelyaccurate description. As the oldest island in Hawaii, its covered in lush greenery, with tropical rainforests, forking rivers and cascading waterfalls! Some parts of Kauai are only accessible by sea or air, giving you incredible views. Its the islands laid-back atmosphere and rich culture found in its small towns that makes it one of the best islands in the world.

23 Colonsay, Scotland

The Isle of Colonsay is the ideal destination for anyone seeking to get away from it all. Theres just 125 or so people who live here, making it a remote retreat. Theres unspoilt sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Local activities include agriculture, oyster-farming, arts, crafts, honey production, a brewery, accommodation for visitors, lobster-fishing, publishing and even a substantial bird sanctuary. On a clear day you can even glimpse the coast of Donegal in Ireland to the south-west.

24 Aitutaki, The Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are a little South Pacific Paradise thats only six hours from Sydney. Theres 15 islands to explore, but a must-see is Aitutaki. Its spectacularly beautiful, with a triangular-shaped reef surrounding a bright turquoise lagoon containing 15 small motus (islets). The crystal-clear water is home to an array of tropical fish and its pristine white-sand beaches are private and secluded. What more could you ask for from one of the best islands in the world?

25 Cebu, Philippines

Cebu Island is a tropical paradise in The Philippines; made up of Cebu Island and 167 other islands in the Visayas. Theres sugar-white beaches, clear emerald waters, hot springs and several jungle waterfalls. For an unforgettable experience, youll want to head to Oslob on the southern tip of Cebu. This is where you can go swimming with whale sharks! Be sure to try some TUBA, the coconut nectar wine which is best drunk fresh when it is still sweet.

26 The Maldives

Looking for paradise? Youll find it in theMaldives, a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean of more than 1,000 coral islands. Its home to some of the worlds most luxurious hotel resorts, with white sandy beaches, underwater villas and restaurants and bright blue waters.

27 Curaao

Curaao combines urban and outdoor life like no other island. There are over 35 spectacular beaches that are never too crowded. Time it right and you might just have a sandy stretch all to yourself. The island of Curacao is also one of the most colourful islands in the Caribbean. The Shcarloo neighbourhood and the street art youll find there, though, take this to a whole new level.

28 Rangitoto Island, New Zealand

Rangitoto is the youngest and largest of Aucklands 48 volcanic cones. You can hire a kayak and paddle out to Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano not far from downtown Auckland (you can also get there by ferry). See the black lava caves on your way up to the summit and bring a torch to explore them with the kids; the views from the top are spectacular. A super day trip.

29 Sir Bani Yas Abu Dhabi, UAE

Admire flocks of flamingos hanging at the mangrove lagoon and walk on white-sand beaches at this man-made island near Abu Dhabi. What was once a deserted island is now home to luxury resorts and a safari-like reserve for 16,000 animals. Hop on a 44 jeep in the Arabian Wildlife Parkto catch sight of the parks cheetahs or giraffes. This is an island unlike any youll step foot on again.

30 Galpagos Islands, Ecuador

The wonderful country of Ecuador is famous for being home to the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands and the wildlife-rich Galpagos Islands. These biodiverse islands are home to unusual animal life such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch that inspired Charles Darwins theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835. It goes without saying that atrip to the Galapagos Islands will be the journey of your lifetime.

31 Gozo, Malta

Gozois thought to be the legendaryCalypsos isle of Homers Odyssey. Folklore aside, its as if the whole island was created especially for Instagram.With its unique charm, gorgeous farmhouses and majestic sunsets youll get gorgeous snaps on the smaller Maltese island. Its a popular tourist destination, with Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses. Lets not forget the fact that Gozo also has some of the Mediterraneans best dive sites.

32 Pulau Tengah, Malaysia

Tengah Island is a privately owned island thats a slice of paradise that has to be seen to be believed. Stay at Batu Batu, a rustic island retreat set amongst coconut groves, rocky outcrops and fine sand beaches on the uninhabited island of Pulau Tengah. Those wanting to explore the coral kingdoms of the South China Sea can just don a snorkel and mask and step right off the beach.

33 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Just a tiny speck in the middle of the Caribbean sea, the Cayman Islands are known all over the world. Seven Mile Beach is among the many reasons why Grand Cayman is considered an ideal tropical destination. With sparkling waters and coral sands its so perfect it almost doesnt look real.

34 Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada

This fascinating island is the jewel of the Southern Gulf Islands. With three regularferry crossings and great proximity to Victoria and the Cowichan Valley, this island getaway is easier to get to then most people think.

35 St Barts, Caribbean

The small French island of St Barts (Saint Barthlemy to give it its full name) in the Caribbean is one of the prettiest islands you will ever visit. With its beautiful beaches, world class resorts and stunning scenery, its the perfect getaway from the stress of big cities and 9-5 life.

36 Mont-Saint-Michel, France

This mystical place is one of the best islands in the world and never ceases to impress on first sight. Set in the mesmerising bay where Normandy and Brittany merge, the island is connected to the mainland by a causeway you can even book a special horse-drawn carriage. As well as the Benedictine Abbey (where nuns and monks still reside), theres charming restaurants and cafes to explore.

37 Laucala Island, Fiji

This jaw-dropping luxury private resort island in Fiji is on a tropical jungle section of land, with lush vegetation and wild growing coconuts as a natural backdrop to the white sandy coastline. Now, Laucala is a hot spot for celebrities such as Oprah and George Clooney. The resort has coral reefs, postcard-perfect beaches and dense rainforest.

38 La Digue, Seychelles

This tranquil island is a great place for wading into the shallow, warm waters of the Indian Ocean. You walk through the old LUnion Estate coconut plantation to access the beach, which has unusual boulders and shimmering sand. You may even spot a sea turtle swimming off the shore.

39 Jicaro, Nicaragua

Jicaro Island Lodge is a private island getaway just minutes from the colonial town of Granada. Theres spectacular views of the Mombacho Volcano across the lake and charming casitas to spend the night. Theyre raised up above the ground like a tree house. The nine casitas on the island all have lake views and are only a short walk from the pool, restaurant, and wellness centre.

40 Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel is where the first rays of sunshine hit Mexico, making sunrises here unforgettable. The islands spectacular, dreamy landscapes and marine biodiversity have made it a popular place for divers and explorers. Theres also plenty of ecotourism activities such as zip wires, rappelling, kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, fishing, golf, motorcycle rides, bicycles, canoes and kayaks.

41 Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia

Koh Rong Samloem is a small tropical island in the Gulf of Siam, with picture perfect white sand beaches fringed by palm and casaurina trees. Its still a peaceful destination that has a laidback vibe and is relatively untouched. A highlight here is the amazing bio-luminescent plankton that makes the warm waters glow and sparkle at night.

42 Culebra, Puerto Rico

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Stunning Irish island ranked among best in world - ahead of Bali, Ibiza and St Barts - Irish Post

Buckingham Palace still hasn't learned its lesson - Prince Andrew should have been stripped of his HRH title and retired from public life a full decade ago, argues royal author Nigel Cawthorne

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Prince Andrew: Virginia Giuffre brings legal action against Duke

You could almost hear Buckingham Palace groan on Monday.

Finally, after the two-decade-long saga of Prince Andrews entanglement with Jeffrey Epstein, a lawsuit had landed in the New York court.

At 2pm, Virginia Giuffre's lawyers sued Prince Andrew, days before the state's statute of limitations passed.

Landing a punch on prince's reputation, she claimed in her court papers that Andrew forced her to engage in sex acts against her will.

Not only that, her court papers refer to her as a child as she was under the age of 18 at the time, according to the law in the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein owned a private island.

In the long history of the monarchy, this set a black precedent.

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How could Buckingham Palace, an institution with over a millennium of PR experience, let it come this far? Only Bertie, the future Edward VII and Andrews great-great-great grandfather, had ever come close to being cited legally in a sex case, and that was narrowly avoided when he was asked to give evidence in his lover's divorce hearing.

Over two decades, Buckingham Palace has got everything possible wrong. The alarm bells should have first sounded when Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell flew on Epsteins private jet to Edinburgh.

Weeks earlier, the billionaire had been arrested on charges of underage sex activities in June 2006. Nothing happened. Worse still, Epstein was allowed to visit Windsor Castle as Andrew's guest at Princess Beatrices 18th birthday bash on July 19 that year. Ghislaine and Harvey Weinstein were his other invitees.

It was followed by a four-day Christmas visit to Epsteins New York mansion to watch a private release of The Kings Speech shortly after the financier's prison term ended in 2010.

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Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing, not least in his 2019 Newsnight interview - another clumsy shot in the foot so daft that almost seemed intentional. Courtiers should always have known that royalty and criminals do not mix.

Now, with a second victim poised to sue the prince before the August 13 deadline, the pigeons have come home to roost. The optics are now even worse.

This is hardly the end of the legal headache the prince is causing for the palace - rather it's likely to be the beginning of a long and extended chapter. Andrew is already an official part of the Epstein FBI investigation. Both then-president Trump and his Attorney General Barr endorsed a request to the UK for legal assistance in interviewing the prince.

This piece of legal equipment is usually reserved for terrorists and drug smugglers. To apply it to a royal is a first even in the USA since its War of Independence against Great Britain.

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The pressure on Boris Johnson's government to yield is mounting. Should the prince refuse to cooperate, he will never be able to enter the USA again without risking arrest as a material witness.

In a move that must be deeply worrying to the Palace, the Met Police is reviewing its previous decision not to investigate whether Epstein committed crimes in London, with Commissioner Cressida Dick stating yesterday "no-one is above the law".

In 2015, Virginia Giuffre lodged a formal complaint of being sex-trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to London for Andrew's sexual gratification. Maxwell still owned the property and police were going to forensically exam it. Giuffre recalled, however, "the next thing I hear, just like the FBI, they were not allowed to pursue the investigation".

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That is likely to change as the lawsuit progresses through the courts.

Even now, the Palace has not learned its lesson. Prince Andrew is still a senior royal with his HRH title intact. One way of dialling down the heat would have been for the prince to retire completely from all royal duties and to hand back his title.

The palace should have done so already in 2011 when the Prince lost his unpaid position as Britains Trade Envoy. Instead, courtiers gave him a frontline position alongside Prince Charles.

The Habsburgs never forgot and never learned. The Windsors seem not far off.

*Nigel Cawthorne is the author of Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell And The Palace

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Prince Andrew's Epstein entanglement is royal headache that could end monarchy, says expert - Mirror.co.uk

Mr. B has been dead and gone for two years now, and the way the Broncos were are misty, watercolor memories that arent coming back.

The NFL is no longer a mom-and-pop business. So when the Broncos look to the future, searching for a new owner, lets hope the team doesnt get mired in sentimentality for the past.

While it would be cool if Brittany Bowlen moved into her late fathers office and took over operation of the Broncos, whats probably best for this team and a town that adores it so much? New money. New ideas. New direction.

Sell the Broncos to Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos. Please.

As a team that has failed to make the NFL playoffs for five long years reconvenes for training camp, CEO Joe Ellis knows the Broncos simply cannot go on this way. The losing on the field must end, as well as hang-wringing over ownership.

Denver is not going to win the Super Bowl this season, regardless of whether Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater is the starting quarterback. The only real intrigue will be if the team can play well enough for coach Vic Fangio to retain his job. While frustrating to admit, it feels as if the Broncos are marking time, waiting for big changes in 2022, when the NFL has mandated a transition of power to a new proprietor of our civic treasure.

The bickering between the Bowlen kids has mercifully reached a ceasefire instead of escalating into an an all-out war in the courtroom. But its hard to conceive how Brittany can cobble together unanimous support from her siblings and take over day-to-day operation of a business thats been in the family since her late father Pat bought the team for $71 million way back in 1984.

The Broncos have grown too big for the Bowlen family. There are at least five billion reasons that it makes sense to sell them to Bezos, the business magnate and astronaut wannabe who was born in Albuquerque, on the outskirts of Broncos Country, in 1964.

Heres guessing Bezos would gladly pay $5 billion to add the Broncos to a portfolio that includes everything from an old-school newspaper to cutting-edge spacecraft.

While Ellis emphasized this week that the Broncos are currently not for sale, it would be the hottest property in Denvers sizzling real estate market. Heres betting the team would be gobbled up within two weeks after team trustees gave up on their dream of Brittany running the operation and opened the bidding process.

Selling the team to Bezos would be good for the Broncos and everybody who loves them. After divvying up a check for $5 billion, the bickering Bowlen kids could all buy private islands in the sun and go their separate ways. Raising the country-club fees for members of the NFL ownership fraternity to record heights would make everybody from Jerry Jones to Robert Kraft grin from ear to ear.

But, most important is how Bezos, the richest man who ever lived, could radically transform the team and the town.

While Bezos probably cant deliver quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Colorado in two days via Amazon Prime, we would never have to hear him cry poverty, the way Rockies owner Dick Monfort constantly does at 20th and Blake. Any football player or coach contemplating a possible move to Denver would be attracted by ownership with unlimited resources.

The football stadium Bowlen coerced taxpayers to build him opened in 2001, and has quickly aged in an era when sports facilities have become the centerpiece for entertainment districts and urban renewal. Want a dome that could attract a Super Bowl or Final Four to Colorado? Bezos could get that done as soon as he put his mind to it.

The next owner of the Broncos?

Sorry, Brittany. Times change. And its time for the Bowlen family to get out of the football business.

This is a decision that has to be made on the basis of big dollars and common sense.

Sell the team to Bezos. ASAP.

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Kiszla: Why its best for Broncos and everybody who loves them for Bowlen family to get out of the football business - The Denver Post

Finland has dealt with the pandemic much better than a lot of other countries. It still has one of the lowest rates of both confirmed cases (about 103,851 at time of writing) and coronavirus-related deaths (currently 982) in Europe, a feat many have attributed to a strategy of rapid lockdowns and stringent travel restrictions.

It did all this in typical Finnish style: without shouting about it. Perhaps this quiet demeanour is related to the countrys deep connection with the natural world, where shouting usually isnt necessary. More than 90% of Finland is either forest or water, and the countrys jokamiehenoikeus (right to roam) gives anyone living in or visiting Finland access to all that nature, including a lot of privately owned land.

It all makes for a place where it is very easy to escape people and everyday pressures, as I found on a visit in 2019.

Days into my trip I found myself cycling along a deserted road on a clunky old bike borrowed from my guesthouse, and the only living creatures I saw were a family of geese waddling through a field towards a thick pine forest. If I hadnt been sitting in a beach-side sauna 45 minutes beforehand, sweating noticeably more than the other two bathers, Id have sworn I had the island of Ini all to myself.

This was to become a familiar feeling during my trip around the Turku archipelago about 20,000 islands off Finlands south-west coast. Visiting all 20,000 seeming a little ambitious, I opted to roughly follow the 200km Archipelago Trail, a loop of road and ferry routes that begins and ends in Turku, Finlands oldest city and its former capital.

Turku mixes historic monuments and modern comforts well, and while theres not really a singular, show-stopping sight, theres plenty of mileage to be had from simply hopping between galleries and lively cafe-bars (many lining the River Aura), and delving into a rich restaurant scene. Favourites included Kuori, for creative and pretty vegetarian and vegan fare, and Tint, a buzzy bistro on the Aura that does gourmet pizzas with unusual toppings (asparagus, strawberry and vegan feta was an unlikely winner).

I began the trail by driving south towards Pargas, 25km away. This small towns headline attraction is Art Bank, which claims to be Scandinavias only viewable private Salvador Dal collection, though Dals surrealism seems pedestrian compared with eccentric owner Ted Wallin, who showed me around. I fall into a trance where I know that I am Salvador, he said, casually. Outside in Pargas, everyday life does not have much glamour, so people come to Art Bank for excitement.

I got my excitement by driving on to the tiny town of Nagu, in a landscape of flat, luscious green fields and pine forests punctuated by red wooden houses.

My base was the Lanterna Hotel (doubles from 100 B&B), close to the harbour, where restaurants include Najaden, a bar and pizzeria on an anchored steamboat. I checked out a red, wooden bell tower tucked away in a forest before hurrying back to the harbour for a ferry to Seili, a tiny island off the main trail with a chilling history.

Seili has a lot for nature-lovers: its home to various rare and unusual plants and I glimpsed wild hares, huge dragonflies and even what I thought was a wild mink. But it hides a more macabre past. In the 17th century Seili housed a large leprosy hospital, to which hundreds of people were shipped on a one-way journey. The hospital was later converted into a mental hospital for women. Although today the hospital is the Archipelago Research Institute, studying environment and wildlife around the Baltic, visitors can still wander the old buildings and cell-like rooms, some of which have been preserved to show the hospitals history.

The next morning in Lanternas antique-filled dining room, I breakfasted on rye bread with peanut and tamarind sauce, plus a lot of cucumber a Finnish staple. Afterwards I headed to the harbour for the (free) five-hour ferry journey to Ut, Finlands most southerly inhabited island, with a population of about 45.

Viewing Ut on Google Maps gives a dizzying sense of its isolation and its exactly this remoteness that appeals. Theres a hotel in former army barracks (the island is still used by the Finnish military), but I stayed at Hannas Horizon B&B (doubles with homemade breakfast from 77). Owner Hanna Kovanen is a fount of knowledge about Ut, having been born here, and also runs tours of the red-and-white lighthouse (Finlands oldest functioning example), which has a chapel on its third floor.

After the tour I clambered out to some rocks on the islands southern coast. Maybe it was the romantic filter my brain had devised for Ut, or maybe it was the (admittedly quite strong) Finnish IPA Id taken with me, but as I stared out towards a lot of glorious nothingness, I realised Id never been more detached from the rest of the world. It felt fantastic.

My next island stop was Korpo, home to the rural Hotel Nestor (doubles from 130 B&B), plus a lake and a sculpture walk in the forests.

Ini, four ferries and four hours away to the north, was my final stop. Its tiny main village has a pretty church, cafe and small harbour with sauna and beach, where I forced myself into the cold water. I warmed up in the sauna (traditionally, youre meant to sauna first, then dip into cold water), where I made the British mistake of wearing swimming trunks. After derisive glances from the other users, I left, shed the shorts and returned, acting as if nothing had happened.

Heading back to Turku, I stopped at several towns on the final section of the trail, now connected to the mainland, including Taivassalo and Naantali. Naantalis tourist-heavy harbour was a fine place to stroll, but nowhere has the gentle magic of the smaller islands or their wildlife. Id regularly seen bounding deer and stags, countless fluorescent caterpillars and colourful insects, plus more rare birds than my basic ornithologycould name.

My magical tour had touched on only about 20 of the archipelagos islands and I was very happy to reflect that that left me 19,980 others to explore on a return trip.

For more information see VisitFinland.com. Ferry timetables can be found at saaristolautat.fi

Excerpt from:

Away from it all: island hopping around Finlands Turku archipelago - The Guardian

A Welsh beach dubbed one of the most beautiful in the world is just a short drive away from Swansea.

With three miles of golden sand along a blue vision of a coastline, Rhossili Bay, situated at the western end of popular holiday destination of the Gower peninsula is a little taste of Europe in Wales.

Its exactly the kind of holiday people are flocking to when foreign holidays are so at risk this year.

Travelling to Rhossili Bay involves zero risk of quarantine, plus the top quality beach emulates one you might find in south France or even the Greek islands on the right day.

The beach is covered everyday by an incoming tide, meaning it is unspoilt and clean - perfect for families.

2Chill member Sofia Lewis went so far as to call it without a doubt, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Rating it five stars, she continued, It's just a 40-minute drive from Swansea, but be aware it can take longer in the summer season depending on traffic.

The beach is three miles of sand, so there is always plenty of room to set up space on the beach itself.

When the tide is out, the beach expands far and wide and locals say there is always a free spot away from others - giving it the feeling of a private island somewhere slightly more tropical than Wales, dare we suggest.

Wondering where to eat, drink or visit for your next UK holiday? At 2Chill we help you decide where to go and stay next with hundreds of recommendations right on your doorstep.

Visit our brilliant new website 2chill.co.uk and start packing.

If you'd also like weekly inspiration and advice for your next trip, you can sign up to the Chill newsletter here.

For the latest must-have travel news follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

With Sofias gushing review, it will come as no surprise to hear Rhossili Bay was not only voted Trip Advisors best beach in Britain, but also third best in Europe and ninth best in the world.

There is plenty to do if you dont fancy spending all day sunbathing or swimming though.

If you are interested in water sports, Sofia says, it is also incredible for surfing and there are plenty of local surf schools available for booking.

The beach is also dog friendly all year round if youd rather wander along the sand or the Welsh coastal path which takes you along the headland.

A 40 minute walk or half hour drive away is the quaint village Rhossili, home to a caf, restaurant, a National Trust shop and other visitor attractions.

From here, you can walk to Worms Head, an island off the Gower peninsula. Ensure you plan your journey ahead though, as you can only reach the island during low tide.

Getting there

Rhossili Bay is accessible via a National Trust carpark costing 6.50 for a whole day.

By public transport, you can get the 118 bus ending in at the Terminus stop, Rhossili, a 40 minute walk from the beach.

Have you visited Rhossili beach? Do you agree with this recommendation or is there another spot in Wales people must visit? Sign up and leave your recommendation at 2Chill .

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One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is only a 40 minute drive from Swansea - Wales Online

An offshore law firm examines recent developments in the British Virgin Islands and what is being done to keep the jurisdiction on the front foot.

The following article comes from partner Henry Mander and senior associate Matthew Howson of Harneys, the offshore law firm. They write about whats being done to ensure that the British Virgin Islands, a British Overseas Territory, remains competitive. With so much global pressure on firms to comply with disclosure of beneficial ownership and the move by the Group of 20 nations to set a floor for corporation tax, the role of offshore centres remains under focus. (This news service talked in December 2020 to BVI Finance about the beneficial ownership issue.)

The editors of this news service are pleased to share these views; the usual editorial disclaimers apply on views of guest contributors. To comment, email tom.burroughes@wealthbriefing.com and jackie.bennion@clearviewpublishing.com

Many readers will already be familiar with the BVI co, a company formed under the British Virgin Islands Business Companies Act 2004. These have been the mainstay of the BVIs success as an international finance centre, used around the world and, in some regions, ubiquitous. Flexible and easily comprehensible, they are used for corporate and private wealth purposes alike.

However, the BVI company is not the BVIs only contribution to the private wealth space. In particular, the BVIs trust regime is both innovative and within the mainstream of trust jurisdictions. Most BVI trusts are used in conjunction with BVI companies: this allows the client to liaise with only one set of lawyers and ensures that there will be no conflict between BVI corporate law and another jurisdictions trust law. Yet, because of this advantageous trust regime, BVI trusts are increasingly requested even where no BVI company is involved; at the time of writing, the authors are drafting two such trusts.

Now, new legislation has been developed in concert with London counsel and academics to ensure that the BVI trust offering remains at the top of its game. The changes are technical, but cutting through the legalese, what are the essentials for you and your client?

Firewalls My son is a beneficiary but his marriage is in trouble could his spouse attack the trust? We are commonly asked about the jurisdictions trust firewall legislation. This has historically defended BVI trusts against attacks over succession and forced heirship, and also from creditors, but increasingly attention has turned to attacks during beneficiaries divorce proceedings. The firewall has therefore been greatly strengthened and modernised. Now, claims and interests (including beneficial interests) are protected, and the defeated attacker may have a personal relationship with a beneficiary instead of the settlor. The definition of personal relationship itself has been expanded to include step-relationships and children born of surrogacy or artificial fertilisation.

As well as that, the questions that should be decided under BVI law (rather than some foreign law more advantageous to the attacker) have been confirmed to be virtually every question applicable to a trust.

Reserved powers The BVI is already famous for its VISTA legislation which essentially delegates the trustees powers and duties over the investment of the trust fund to the directors of an underlying BVI company within the trust (which can then hold other assets underneath); such directors are often the client and their advisors. Although most offshore jurisdictions permit reserved powers through bespoke drafting, only the BVIs VISTA grants the reassurance of statutory backing via a standalone piece of legislation. Thus an offshore trustee can hold potentially problematic assets such as cryptocurrency, industrial assets in difficult regions, and so on, with minimised risk, via a BVI company within a VISTA trust.

Although reserved power trusts, outside the VISTA regime, have long been popular in the BVI, they have historically relied on a relatively narrow section in the legislation. The more extensive statutory backing, long applicable to VISTA trusts, on the other hand has now been granted to reserved powers over other areas of the trust, such as distributions to beneficiaries. The new expanded legislation concerning reserved powers trust vigorously restates the powers that may be reserved to protectors, settlors or other persons, without questioning the validity of the trust. A person may have the power to:

1,Revoke a trust; 2,Change its terms or governing law; 3,Add or remove beneficiaries or trustees; or 4, Require trustee powers in general, including in order to implement a specific investment decision, to be exercisable only with the consent of, or at the direction of, of that person.

Rule in Hastings Bass - aka undoing a mistake This rule originally derived from a 1975 English case and has a long and controversial history around the trust world. Fortunately for non-trust lawyers, this history need not be discussed here. Essentially, the rule has now been enshrined in BVI statute. It allows the BVI Court to wholly or partially set aside an exercise of a fiduciary power, which will often mean in practice a trustees distribution to a beneficiary. The requirements are essentially that the power-holder, when exercising the power in question:

--took into account an irrelevant consideration (whether of fact, law or both) or did not take into account a relevant consideration; --when if they had (not) done so, they would not have exercised the power or would have exercised it on a different occasion or in a different manner.

It can be seen that this rule is very useful for salvaging distributions or transactions which were poorly discussed or investigated beforehand, and which turned out to have disastrous tax or other consequences. Without such statute, the common law remedy as it presently stands is that the beneficiary should sue the trustee or advisor for negligence. Clearly this is not an attractive course for any party.

Resealing Not all shares in BVI companies are held in well-drafted and considered BVI trusts. In fact, many shareholders simply hold the shares in their own name. This requires their families to obtain a BVI grant of probate or letters of administration on their death in order to be able to transfer the shares or to be able to exercise their voting rights. This can cause a period of limbo while the grant is obtained. However, the BVI Registry has greatly speeded up their procedures, and we have various methods available to further expedite the process. One of these is to reseal a foreign grant which requires a shorter process than where one is obtaining one from scratch. Now, grants from the Commonwealth, the US and Hong Kong can be resealed in the BVI.

Summary: horizon scanning With the increased focus that many high net worth families have had on their structures since the outbreak of last years global pandemic, many clients have taken the opportunity to look behind the simple BVI company and have become more aware of the sophisticated and bespoke structuring options available, which are being implemented regularly to assist from a succession planning and asset protection perspective.

With the changing landscapes of economic substance and beneficial ownership reporting, amongst other things, regular reviews of private wealth structures are taking place (or certainly should be if not) and such reviews allow for opportunities for restructurings to modernise matters, either to implement new BVI trusts or update existing BVI trusts to take advantage of the cutting-edge nature of the offerings in the jurisdictions private wealth space.

See original here:

Keeping British Virgin Islands Competitive In Wealth Planning - Wealth Briefing

Check out these stunning photos of this private island located between Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

Round Island is the home of a 129-year-old lighthouse and it can all be yours for just under $2 million. The recently restored lighthouse sits on 7 acres of private islandtucked between Mackinac Island and Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron.

In the 1990's decades before the most recent restoration, Paul and Georgeann Lindberg spent three years renovating this lighthouse, turning into a breath-taking 2000 square-foot home according to the listing on Private Islands Inc.,

The result is a spectacular and warm 3- bedroom, 2-bath home that maintains the efficacy of its special history while bringing the living space into modern times with grace and effortless design skill. The main floor houses the cozy living space, and the second floor features 2 comfortable guest bedrooms.

Since Paul Lindberg passed away, his wife has listed this beautiful property multiple times as she doesn't feel she can keep up with the maintenance. The current owners are only the 3rd owners in almost 130 years and now it's up for sale for $1,995,000. Can you imagine how beautiful the view of the fall colors must be?

If that's not enough to put this private island on your bucket list, you how about that emerald green water?

Then there's the sunset.

You would really feel like you're king of the world on this island.

Want to learn more about this Michigan paradise and see photos of the inside of the lighthouse? Click here.

Speaking of breath-taking real estate listings in Michigan, the mansion you see below is in Bloomfield Hills and has a secret room. Click here to see ever nook and cranny of that absolutely insane Michigan home.

Am I the only one getting 'Lord of the Rings' vibes from this Charlevoix home?

There is a lot of unique architecture to see in the state of Michigan from the historic homes in Detroit to the Broad Art Museum on Michigan State University's campus. One of the most well-known is the mushroom house in Charlevoix.

Go here to read the rest:

This Historic Private Michigan Island and Lighthouse is for Sale - wkfr.com