Category Archives: Private Islands

JANE REDDY

Last updated14:26, April 11 2017

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Blessed seclusion on the Song Saa Private Island.

It's the closest thing I'll get to a culinary romance.

In a crisp jungle dawn but with the promise of heat later in the day, I open the heavy wooden door of my villa to retrieve the rolled note that's been slipped between the outside handle. It's a love letter of sorts.

"'Souse day', good day from all the Song Saa Islanders.

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Song Saa Island is nestled in the Koh Rang Archipelago.

"We trust that you are enjoying our little paradise and the Monk Blessing this morning.

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"This evening we would like to invite you for dinner at our main beach area for Kampong Som ocean red snapper fillet and Island coconut creme brulee and tropical fruit compote.

"... From our island bakery you can enjoy Kamping Cham, ripe mango mousse torte, caramel palm sugar infused. With warmest wishes Chendu and Chef Sophat."

An invitation to dinner, cooked by another is a clear signal that I am away from the regular world of routine and rush that I've chosen.

The off button has been pressed, permission has been given to relax, here on this tiny island in Cambodia.

But on the journey to one of the kingdom's newest resorts it's hard to keep expectations in check.

Chatter about the Song Saa Private Island begins in the hot and dusty inland of northern Cambodia and follows me all the way south to our destination in the Koh Rang Archipelago.

In the coastal town of Kep, once dubbed the Riviera of the south, expat eyebrows raise at the resort's mention and locals grin.

The resort only five years young and the story of how Australian owners Rory Hunter and Melita Koulmandas Hunter came to build such a place on a jungle-covered island in this fledgling country appears to be better known in the kingdom than it does in their homeland (although they haven't lived in Australia for several years).

The kingdom's first true luxury resort on a private island sounds like the poster child for luxury as well as for care for the community and environment.

It sounds idyllic. A little far-fetched even.

And yet the speedboat ride from Sihanoukville port with leather seats, cool white flannels and champagne is upstaged after only a few steps on to the silkiest of sand of the private island (staff assure me that it's not imported) and a walk to the jungle villa with butterflies darting among the greenery.

The 3.5-hectare island, Koh Ouen, is just one part of Song Saa.

Wooden bridges connect it to its "sweetheart" the four-hectare nature reserve of Koh Bong, to the Vista restaurant and bar area and the over-water villas.

In an arc shape, without railings, the bridge walk to breakfast is both deliberate and giddying as schools of snapper dart back and forth in the turquoise water underneath me.

In the over-water pavilion, as oatmeal with cinnamon lemongrass and kaffir lime is served alongside tropical fruit cooled by wet stones, the putt-putt of fishing boats can be heard in the distance.

Just as intoxicating is the jungle villa No.11 with its heavy doors between bedrooms and conversation-pit lounging areas; half-moon pool overlooking its sweetheart island, outside showers, furniture of recycled fishing boats and a drinks station where fresh limes, lemongrass vodka and tonic water are refreshed each day.

Koulmandas Hunter designed almost every piece of furniture before having it custom made.

"All of the floors in the villas are old recycled housing materials from Thailand and Cambodia. The pool tiles are a local stone from the mainland and all the work stations are made from 100-plus year old Cambodian beds," she says.

If rustic sophistication were a thing, this would be it.

Be prepared too for the most elaborate turn-down service with ladders required to draw the curtains, restocking of the fridge, fluffing of the pillows and the lighting of many, many tealight candles enclosed in lanterns.

Request an in-villa movie night and you will return to a screen the width of the lounge area, movie projector and boxes of popcorn.

A private island this might be, but it is also one piece in the Song Saa story as the project director, Ben Thorne of the Song Saa Foundation, says of the first government recognised marine reserve that rings 200 metres around each island and across a five-hectare stretch of ocean.

"Fishing in the archipelago is the predominant source of food and income and nutrients for the local communities," Thorne says.

"We know that we have transient turtles come through the area and a high abundance of commercial fish species such as snapper and barracuda so the ones that are caught outside the reserve have protection in around the Song Saa islands.

"Once we've protected enough fish in our own marine reserve there will be juveniles going out beyond the waters of the marine reserve. It's about protecting and creating a legacy for the local fishermen as well as the local environment here.

"And we want guests to be able to go out and see this diverse reef, which we're proud to say we have."

To see how the foundation works, I cross the waters, not by luxury speedboat but by longtail to Song Saa's closest village in the community of Prek Svay, loosely translated as Mango River. Stilt houses line the waterways and fishing and cashew farming is a source of income.

Dotted with coconut trees, about 30 per cent of staff are from the community and the foundation runs English lessons and beach clean-ups as part of its conservation club.

Many are employed from nearby Sihanoukville and staff are gearing up for World Ocean day and mangrove planting.

I receive my Buddhist blessing from two monks and then from a small child a gift of bugs wings as I leave the village.

Back at the villa the rolled dinner invitation has arrived inviting me to the main pool area at the edge of the ocean under a canopy of twisted and thatched dried vines.

There's just one one other couple dining on a small deck in the middle of the pool, clearly marooned and loving it.

There's another 30 or so guests here, I just don't see them often.

Every night is a new dining place, from the beach club to the end of the jetty, all timed for sunset and maximum serenity.

One guest I do talk to has just arrived for a break from her heavy-duty job in industrial China for a week of spa treatments and yoga classes and I understand the repeat visitation.

This tiny island is the place for a punctuation mark of sorts. The honeymoon, the anniversary, the present to yourself.

For me it's been the shortest, sweetest romance of all time.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO DO AT SONG SAA

* Take a kayak or catamaran with picnic to explore the area.

* Snorkel around the islands to spot grouper and parrotfish.

* Hire the spa sanctuary for exclusive use under the stars.

* Join the daily morning yoga class.

* Explore Koh Bong with a conservation team member to spot kingfisher, sea eagles and Malaysian plover.

Read more here:

Maldives? Tahiti? No, this luxury island is not where you'd expect ... - Stuff.co.nz

Photos: Weekender & Telunas Resorts

Telunas Private Island has only 15 villas, creating a space of exclusivity and privacy.

As an urbanite used to constant connectivity, I was initially taken aback by the idea of being completely isolated from the world.

There is no WiFi connection on Telunas Private Island, nor on its neighbouring Beach Resort.

But the minute I arrived on the little islet set in Riau Islands, Indonesia, my concerns were quickly cast out to sea. Greeted by a team of warm and amiable staff, I was immediately transported to an idyllic paradise.

Enjoy a luxurious yet affordable massage by the sea or in the comfort of your own villa.

A row of 15 villas stretched across the ombre blue shore, reminiscent of the Maldives. Each is a double-storied loft that can housea family, with an airy bedroom that opens out to a balcony overlooking the cerulean seas.

All meals are included, and my selection from the days menu was always requested in advance. Squid is a speciality of the island; and as Id learnt from a staff member named Okky,Telunas translates into Squid Cove.

Heading to the common area for lunch, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that my table had been reserved as had all the other guests, whom the staff remember by name.

My seatwas always set to face the hours view, be it dawns sunrise or the dimming crimson at dusk. With the sea before me, I savoured the exquisite dishes whilecatching up on reading with the Kindle provided in my villa.

We enjoyed abonfire with roasted marshmallows and a live serenading session.

While reclining on an empty shore with my literature of choice was enjoyable, the island promised greater adventures in its wilderness.

With a kayak from the Activity Centre and a companion in the eager and experienced paddler Okky, I took on the sea that separated the Private Island from the Beach Resort.

Fishing on the boardwalk at Telunas Beach Resort, overlooking the Private Island and the open sea.

Once there, Okky brought me a hook and line. Though we didnt manage to catch any fish, we whiled the rest of the day away with a heartfelt chat accompanied by the sunset. Removed from the outside world, Telunas was the ultimate respite.

Through activities like paddle-boarding, trekking around the island to unearth turtle shells on a hidden beach and even a sambal terasi(chilli with shrimp paste) cooking class,I found myself reconnecting not only with nature, but also with my own mind and body.

Telunas Private Island is only 50km from Singapore.

Located 50km from Singapore, Telunas Private Island is easily accessible by ferry and traditional longboat. First, book a ferry from Harbourfront Ferry Terminal to Sekupang Ferry Terminal in Batam, Indonesia, which takes 45 minutes.

Then, hop on a pre-arranged transfer to Telunas from the domestic terminal, where the crew will whisk you off to your private paradise one and a half hours away.

Online reservations are available attelunasresorts.com/private-island.

Brought to you by Telunas Resorts.

Originally posted here:

Here's Why Telunas Private Island Is The Ultimate Island Escape ... - Weekender Singapore

The British Virgin Islands are located approximately 1,200 miles southeast of Miami and 70 miles east of Puerto Rico. Peter Island is just four miles south of Tortola and is served by ferry, helicopter and our private yacht. For more information about arriving to the British Virgin Islands via flight, bvitourism.com/arriving-air.

Upon arrival at Cyril King International Airport at Charlotte Amalie, before claiming your baggage, kindly check-in with the Presidential Limo and Luxury Taxi Representative who will be holding an iPad with the Peter Island Logo/Name displayed. The Presidential Representative will be across from the baggage carousels. You will be assisted to an awaiting taxi for a short ride to the Ferry Dock where you will board a Peter Island motor yacht. Our friendly captain and crew will assist you with your luggage. We depart at 3:30pm for a straight 90 minute trip (brief stop in customs) to Peter Island. Please plan on your flight arriving no later than 2:30pm to ensure you catch this transfer. We depart at 9:00am from Peter Island for the return (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday only) to St. Thomas so flights should be scheduled to depart after 1:30pm. If your flight is delayed, please call the Peter Island Front Desk at, (284) 495-2000. At least 7-days notice for St. Thomas transfers is required by calling the Rooms Reservations Office: 1-800-346-4451. This transfer (including the roundtrip taxi to/from the airport to the Dock only) is, $349/person round trip for adults and children, ($189 per person, one-way) and will be added to your room charges to be paid at checkout. $28 per person BVI Departure Tax will apply.

* St. Thomas hotel or other St. Thomas location pick-ups/drop-offs are available at additional cost, starting at $25 per person.

The closest airport to Peter Island is the Beef Island Airport (EIS) on Tortola and this is serviced with air connections through San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) or Antigua (ANU). We can send a Peter Island ferry any day or time to pick you up from the Beef Island Airport. If you choose this option, please provide us with your arriving and departing flights into and departing from Beef Island Airport. Once we receive this information, we will be able to schedule your transfers.

Once you arrive at the Beef Island Airport, you will have to clear customs and immigration and retrieve your luggage. A Peter Island Resort Representative will be there to greet you afterward. The greeter will escort you to the awaiting Peter Island car service that will take you to the Peter Island Ferry Dock. The ferry ride to Peter Island is approximately 30 minutes. Cost for this transfer is $85 per person round-trip ($50 per person one-way), which includes the car and ferry service, and is not payable until checkout. At least 7-days notice for Tortola transfers is required by calling the Rooms Reservations Office: 1-800-346-4451.

Public ferry schedules from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, to Road Town, Tortola, can be found at BVIWelcome.com. The public ferry will drop off in Road Town, Tortola, where you will then take a taxi to the Peter Island dock (CSY) and transfer to Peter Island on our private ferry. Please let us know which ferry option you will be taking so we know when to expect you. Round-trip transfers from Tortola are $85 per person, or one-way are, $50 per person.

Private water taxi service is available from St. Thomas directly to Peter Island on Dolphins Water Tax (340) 774-2628 or http://www.dolphinshuttle.com. Transfer time is about 90 minutes over the water with a brief stop for Customs and Immigration on Tortola. Rates starting at $600+.

Private water service is also available from St. Thomas to Tortola on Dohms Water Taxi: 340-775-6501 or http://dohmswatertaxi.com/. The Peter Island ferry would then bring you from Tortola to Peter Island. Depending on time of arrival/departure, Dohms may be able to drop off/pick up at Peter Island. Rates starting at $600+.

Commercial flights are available through Air Sunshine (800.327.8900) from St. Thomas to Tortola (Beef Island Airport, EIS) and Cape Air, http://www.capeair.com/, 1-866-CAPE-AIR (227-3247). Prearrange the Peter Island Ferry pickup service from Tortola, Beef Island Airport by calling the Reservations office, 800.346.4451. Flights take approximately 15 minutes, seasonal availability.

Helicopter transfer from St. Thomas to Peter Island can also be arranged via Caribbean Buzz Helicopters (340.775.7335 / info@Caribbean-Buzz.com). One-way trips start at $1100 for 2 guests plus luggage; subject to change. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes. Visit Caribbean-Buzz.com for more information.

Contact Peter Island Reservations office with any questions about planning your arrival at, 800.346.4451 or +1 616.458.6767.

View post:

Peter Island Resort - British Virgin Islands Vacations

On a deserted island in Fijis pristine northern Lau archipelago, Sophie McComas settles into an over-the-top villa owned by Oakley founder, Jim Jannard.

I'm being defeated in a staring contest by a double-decker coconut cake, thickly iced and sprinkled with golden toasted coconut flakes and frangipani flowers. It sits beside a bottle of Taittinger on ice, my only companions inside a villa that's big enough for 10, but intended for two.

Only three of these enormous villas hug the shrouded shoreline of Kaibu, a remote island in the pristine Lau archipelago in Fiji's far east. Kaibu is one of two islands that comprise Vatuvara Private Islands resort, a hideaway accessible only by its gloriously retro Twin Otter plane, which banks above the sapphire lagoon before touching down on an airstrip at the island's peak.

The owner, like his islands, is very private. In 2007, more than 30 years after launching his sportswear and eyewear company Oakley Inc, Jim Jannard sold it to the eyewear giant Luxottica for $US2.1 billion. His next project, named Red, was more niche but no less successful, producing high-resolution digital cameras for the film industry. One of the brand's earliest champions was New Zealand director Peter Jackson, who shot The Hobbit trilogy on Jannard's cameras, catapulting their value.

Drinks served on the beach at the resort.

So, with no issues regarding cash flow and with a mission to find somewhere to spend a few weeks a year with his toes in the sand and his head in a coconut cocktail, the Californian entrepreneur scoured Fiji. In 2010, he bought a pair of reef-fringed islands in the east: Kaibu, a 324-hectare piece of land on which US fibreglass tycoon Jay Johnson had previously developed a simple, quiet resort, and neighbouring Vatuvara, which is roughly the same size, dotted with coconut groves and dominated by a soaring mountain peak resembling a stone hat.

Jannard's next step was to lure husband-and-wife management team Rob and Lynda Miller, an Australian and American respectively, to build a secluded resort and run it in the months he wasn't enjoying his splendid island isolation. The Millers were managing Wakaya Club and Spa at the time, considered by many (including Gourmet Traveller, which featured it back in January 2006) as the South Pacific's most exclusive island resort. Its reputation was due in no small part to the Millers' careful management since the early '80s. In its heyday, Wakaya was favoured by the likes of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise (even after their split), Russell Crowe, Demi Moore and Spain's Prince Felipe. Apparently Keith Richards toppled out of one of the resort's coconut trees in 2006. That's the extent of the Millers' account - discretion is high among their talents. "We've had to hide the guest book a few times," says Rob when we meet over a salad lunch, plucked mostly from the island's organic kitchen garden.

The resort's signature lunch dish of raw fish marinated in coconut milk.

The Millers are a relaxed couple - he's a hotelier and chef by trade, she has a horticultural degree - and when they arrived, they shared a clear picture of the kind of paradise they wanted to create in this corner of the world. Jannard had his own ideas, of course, but for the most part the Millers were left to realise their vision. "We thought if we can imagine it, we can make it happen," says Lynda.

After 28 years at the larger (though still boutique) Wakaya resort, with its 10 bures and expansive villa, they were keen for a new, smaller project. "We decided it would be fun and new and something we can take charge of ourselves," says Rob. The aim was to attract a similar crowd to a more tranquil and remote island idyll. The Lau archipelago is sparsely populated; the closest resort island is Laucala, owned by Red Bull's Dietrich Mateschitz, 60 kilometres to the north. "Between them and us and a few little ones, that's all there is this side of the mainland," says Rob. "Everything else is off Nadi. When you come here, you're out, way out. Almost in Tonga. It's all untouched."

The view from Delana, one of the resort's three villas.

The couple moved to the uninhabited Kaibu in 2010 with a tent, a generator and a handful of helpers, and began work. "We looked at the island like a big backyard," says Lynda, recalling the early days of the resort's transformation. They trained villagers from a neighbouring island in carpentry, gardening and construction to help them, and employed Fijian architects to polish and modernise the existing resort's classic Fijian style. The beachfront pavilion that houses Jim's Bar & Grill is built with darkly stained pylons of Fijian mahogany. The main bar is a highlight; Rob worked with a local tattoo artist to etch the thick slabs of Vesi hardwood with Fijian-style carvings noticeable only when you run your palm over them. For a contemporary feel based on South Pacific style, Lynda sourced furniture from Italy and soft furnishings from Coco Republic and Tommy Bahama.

Sitting on the crest of the island is Delana which, at 450 square metres, is the largest and most impressive of the three villas. A pair of heavy wooden doors as wide as my outstretched arms swing open and I'm looking down the barrel of an infinity-edge lap pool and beyond to the lagoon. I count 11 lounging positions on sofas and daybeds by the pool's edge, each one upholstered in dove-grey linen, scattered with bright cushions and accessorised with potted succulents, candles and coasters.

Fruit punch and juices.

From the pool terrace, I spot Delana's private cove, where a rack of stand-up paddleboards is flanked by a life-sized chessboard and a cabana with neighbouring twin hammocks.

Inside Delana, the blaze of the sun is muted by the coolness of stone and dark lacquered hardwood. Two desks sit side by side in a study so handsome it's almost presidential. That space flows into a lounging area dominated by slouchy, contemporary Italian furniture, screened by double doors from a supersized custom-made bed looking out to the pool and lagoon through floor-to-ceiling glass. Just a few steps from the bed is a square stone spa bath and massage area, with twin massage tables and a therapist on call. The Vintec is stocked with your favourite wine and spirits requested before arrival.

The island's other villas, Vatu and Saku, sit on either side of Delana but are completely hidden from it. Marginally smaller than the master villa, they have similarly over-the-top features. There are private pools, ocean-facing terraces for yoga or Pilates classes, deep stone tubs, outdoor showers, and unlimited cocktails and snacks. For guests who can't (or won't) switch off, there's high-speed WiFi available everywhere on the island - from every hammock and on every beach.

Lounges with a view at Delana.

Tablets in each villa are loaded with deserted island playlists, and there's a direct line to staff should guests need a pillow fluffed or bottle chilled. If one were to request a bath filled to the brim with single-malt whisky, it's not hard to imagine the only question might be one's preference of barrel age.

It would be a shame, though, to remain indoors when there's scuba diving, surfing and fishing trips, cooking classes and a four-hole golf course. A perfect morning might involve a lagoon ride in Houdini, the island's speedy 11-metre Naiad boat, with a couple of stand-up paddleboards in tow. It wouldn't be an unreasonable or unusual request to be dropped off on one of the powdery banks that rise from the private lagoon for a few hours at low tide, with a bucket of iced Champagne, a walkie-talkie and your lover. Houdini will reappear when summoned.

The dining pavilion's exterior.

Back on land, Lynda guides us through the gardens that she and her team of six have cultivated. Paths arc through a riot of lush green splashed with the rude colours of bougainvillea, hibiscus, and frangipani. The gardens are beautiful, but that's only a fraction of the story. With a degree in horticulture and a goal of self-sufficiency, Lynda has developed an expansive farm and orchard with full organic certification, a standard still uncommon in Fiji. "When we arrived, this area was sort of a natural bog," she says, gesturing to small pools at the lower end of the sloping garden. "We created ponds and redirected the water into them, so we can utilise the land here." Chooks scratch and fuss between tomato vines and rows of lettuce, rocket, endive and zucchini; they lay eggs haphazardly, leaving a treasure hunt for the gardeners. There's a little market garden behind each kitchen, so chefs can dash out and snip mint for drinks or salad leaves for lunch. Ink-blue coconut crabs with muscular pincers scurry along paths in front of us and dart up palms to evade capture (as a protected species, they needn't worry).

The orchard is full of bush lemons, cumquats and Indian and Tahitian limes, which are squeezed and mixed with fresh sugarcane juice and ginger for breakfast drinks. There are dark glossy-leafed macadamia trees and laden breadfruit trees, pawpaws and bananas, delicate vanilla plants and jalapeo plants, bushy rows of shiso and soy beans. Almost everything on the table is grown on the island or sourced nearby. Lynda's herbs and local lobster fill curries at dinner; at lunch, there are sliders with organic beef and lamb from neighbouring Mago Island, which is owned by Mel Gibson. (Oysters from his island are also said to be excellent.)

Fijian wood carvings dominate the Valhalla's look.

There are two spots for dining on the island, not counting your villa. Jim's Bar & Grill is a breezy pavilion on the beachfront with a barbecue on the sand for the day's catch - prawns on lemongrass skewers, say, or lobsters caught in nearby reefs - and also a wood-fired pizza oven. This is the spot for knocking the top off a young coconut and sipping its water, and for leisurely breakfasts - smoked salmon with poached eggs and homemade chilli jam, perhaps, or piping hot doughnuts and local coffee. A traditional Fijian lovo earth oven is fired up for chickens, joints of pork or whole fish to cook underground until tender, smoky and crisp-skinned.

Set back from the beach, up on a crest en route to Delana, is a more formal dining pavilion with bar and lounge, aptly named Valhalla. Games and books are stacked up for rainy afternoons, before evening cocktails and candlelit dinners. The menus mix fresh Californian and Japanese flavours with Fijian staples - labelled by Rob as "Pacific Rim" - though as is the way on this isle of plenty, the kitchen will endeavour to make anything requested. Seafood is abundant; local fishermen routinely come ashore with lobsters, crabs and torpedo-sized yellowfin tuna. We start one evening with Gingeritas and roasted coconut chips dipped in aoli. Tuna sashimi, lobster curry and grilled opakapaka - a pink deepwater snapper - are followed by banana-caramel souffl and a nip of whisky from the island's 300-bottle stash.

Delana's master bedroom.

The cocoon of tranquillity and comfort at Vatuvara seem so shatterproof it's hard to imagine that conditions are not always so calm or predictable. The most recent cyclone in February last year was the wildest in Fiji's recorded history: a category-five event named Winston. It and its accompanying tidal surge devastated many islands, killing 44 people and affecting 350,000 more. An estimated 32,000 homes were destroyed, many of them in low-lying villages. The damage at Vatuvara resort was enormous, though less deadly. Rob recalls running to the resort's main pavilion after the roof on his house blew away. "Once the roof goes, the walls go," he says. "It was like a washing machine. [The storm] was about eight hours all up." The gardens were shredded; coconut palms torn clean from the sand.

A year later it's hard to detect damage. Aside from a few slightly balding palms, the scars have disappeared under new growth. "It's funny," says Rob as we sit at the outdoor table at Jim's Bar & Grill, looking out to the garden, "during cyclone season, you just have to go ahead and chop the tops off the banana trees so they don't rip away in the wind. Once the storm has passed, they sprout again as if nothing had happened. Everything goes back to normal."

The view from Vatu.

The team here has done much the same. Lynda has the garden back in shape, and guests enjoy its bounty at every meal. It's hard to spot a Fijian face without a smile here, whether they're wrangling coconut crabs or agreeing that, yes, of course, it would be a good idea to whip up a second coconut cake. It's impossible not to match their smiles with one just as wide.

Original post:

Fiji's luxury Vatuvara Private Islands - Gourmet Traveller Magazine Australia

* Disclaimer: If your nonrefundable wedding deposits have been paid, you may not want to read what follows. And certainly do not look at the photographs.

Picture the most breathtaking beach youve ever stepped foot on. And the brightest turquoise water youve swum in. Now imagine an impossibly idyllic private island that somehow tops everything you thought paradise was. That exclusive destination is the One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives. Reethi Rah means beautiful island in the local language of Dhivehi and it more than lives up to its name. It is also one of the most stunning places in the world to exchange the words I do with your partner.

Photo: Courtesy of One & Only Reethi Rah

Even the most seasoned island-hoppers cant help but be blown away by the natural beauty of this island, which is one of the largest in the North Mal Atoll but claims the most privacy and land for its 122 villas. There are 12 beaches, stretching almost four miles, where everything feels superchargedthe palm trees shine kelly green, the sand glitters a delicate eggshell white, and the crystalline water changes from a surreal aquamarine to deeper teal to electric cerulean to eye-popping cyan depending on the sky and the depth of the sea. No matter what, when youre submerged, it has the clarity of a flawless, colorless diamond.

Every second on the island seduces, starting with the newly refurbished accommodations. Unlike others that are built in rows, these overwater villas each face different directions for ultimate privacy (some with their own overwater pools and jacuzzis), and the beach villas are set back from the waters edge, making a vast stretch of sand yours alone. Honeymoonersor elopers-turned-honeymooners, in this caseare celebrated with custom pillowcases and kaftans embroidered with their initials.

Photo: courtesy of only Baros Maldives

The ceremony itself is tailored to exactly your vision (just make sure you make it officialread: legalat home first). Do you wish to exchange vows on your own private beach? From the pinnacle of the Love Bridge as the sun sets in a blaze of coral glory behind you? Under the thatched-roof wedding pavilion adorned with fresh orchids? Or maybe even on the resorts private sandbank out in the middle of the sparkling Indian Ocean? (Side note: Reethi Rah is also an epic place to propose, which one future groom did by taking over the Lawn Club, where the staff had erected a maze ending at a dinner table; another popped the question on the ever-changing sandbank.)

Photo: Courtesy of One & Only Reethi Rah

Other cant-misses while in heaven: Sunset cocktails atop a chiffon-draped daybed at the lantern-lit Middle Eastern restaurant Fanditha; and a candlelit dinner at the new organic Botanica eatery, inside the orchid house, where flowers surround the tables and perfume the air. Explore the Technicolor world under the surface, snorkeling alongside sea turtles, manta rays, or even (vegetarian) sharks. And prep for your big dayand fight jet lagwith a visit to the couples spa suite, or book a meditation session in the zen overwater pavilion to get in the zone.

Ride your twin white beach cruisers around the island, exploring hidden-away beaches and lazing by the dramatic infinity-edge pools. Or have your love paddle you out to one of the floating wooden docks, where a pair of chaise loungers await for totally secluded sunbathing. You can even go fishingwith line, per traditionand the chef will cook your catch for dinner. The villas sunken bathtubs are made for two, as are the daybeds on your private beach, perfect for gazing up at the shooting stars each night.

Photo: Courtesy of One & Only Reethi Rah

Its a long trip from America, but the Maldives couldnt be more worth your time. Instead of spending thousands on a venue or flowers, put the funds into business-class seats on Emirates (the airline routes through Dubai, the easiest stopover), which will make the flight feel like a pre-honeymoon. From boarding to arrival, its like being in a tiny luxury hotel. And prime seats mean that when making the approach youll have an aerial view of the nations hundreds of islands, lagoons, and reefs so gorgeous it will make your heart race. The yacht that transports you the 45 minutes from the airport in Mal to Reethi Rah is, of course, plush, too.

Photo: Courtesy of One & Only Reethi Rah

Some Maldives visitors like to island-hop, making the most of their long-haul travel time. The Maldives is a country rumored to be underwater in half a century or so (its highest point is two meters), making it a bucket-list entry for many, but that doesnt mean new construction of resorts has slowed. The Maldives has experienced a recent boom in openings, including the new futuristic-looking St. Regis Vommuli Resort , where a beach, overwater suite terrace and Whale Bar overwater deck (best at sunset) are options for intimate wedding venues. The most unique of their offerings: An underwater wedding photo shoot, which captures the happy couple diving into the ocean.

At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, in the remote Baa Atoll (a seaplane ride from Mal and a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve), a ceremony can take place in a floating wedding pavilion where youll walk over water down the glass-bottomed aisle. True water babies can celebrate afterward with a Mid-Ocean Dinner, on a floating table in the lagoon, or with a Night Spa Om Supti ritual, which is performed between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. exclusively for a couple in a private jungle clearing with an outdoor bath and swinging bed.

Milaidhoo , a new island resort in the same Baa Atoll, does starlit wedding ceremonies on their beach, making the Milky Way witness to their vows, as you stand hand-in-hand among candles in the white sand. Not only that, but with one package on offer they will name a star after elopers or honeymoonersyou choose the star and which constellation its in, and get a certificate with the coordinates. If you want to really go native, elope to the adults-only Baros Maldives , where vow ceremony packages include such indigenous traditions as a sarong for the bride, memorial palm-tree planting, and traditional Maldivian Boduberu procession.

Now, back to canceling that caterer.

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Destination Wedding Ideas: Elope to a Private Island in the Maldives - Vogue.com

Samung Island in the Philippines could be yours for 250,000. Picture: Private Islands Online

IMAGINE listening to the sound of waves crashing,with the sun beating down on your face as you lie back in the golden sand.

It may sound all like an idyllic holiday but it could also be your new home.

For the same price as a one-bedroom flat in East Oxford you could get a private island in the Philippines.

For 250,000 you could trade in your flat on Cowley Road for the Samung Island, which is less than 125 miles east of Manilla.

Samung Island in thePhilippines. Picture: Private Islands Online

The island has white sand beaches, green hills with coconut trees and is98.84 acres.

Flats above shops along the Cowley Road. Picture: Google Maps

The island lies in the path of the northwest trade winds ensuring a mild ocean climate. The monsoon season takes place from September to January.

If you want to trade in The Bullingdon and and The Cowley Retreat for crystal clear waters and palm trees, Private Islands Online is the gateway to your new home.

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Private island in the Philippines or a one-bed flat in Oxford? They cost the same... - The Oxford Times

Samung Island in the Philippines could be yours for 250,000. Picture: Private Islands Online

IMAGINE listening to the sound of waves crashing,with the sun beating down on your face as you lie back in the golden sand.

It may sound all like an idyllic holiday but it could also be your new home.

For the same price as a one-bedroom flat in East Oxford you could get a private island in the Philippines.

For 250,000 you could trade in your flat on Cowley Road for the Samung Island, which is less than 125 miles east of Manilla.

Samung Island in thePhilippines. Picture: Private Islands Online

The island has white sand beaches, green hills with coconut trees and is98.84 acres.

Flats above shops along the Cowley Road. Picture: Google Maps

The island lies in the path of the northwest trade winds ensuring a mild ocean climate. The monsoon season takes place from September to January.

If you want to trade in The Bullingdon and and The Cowley Retreat for crystal clear waters and palm trees, Private Islands Online is the gateway to your new home.

Continued here:

250000: A private island in the Philippines or a one-bed flat in Oxford? - The Oxford Times

New York Post

NYC's latest real estate boom? Private islands New York Post While the exact number of private-island listings located in this pocket of the Long Island Sound isn't available, local brokers tell The Post they're seeing more up for grabs now than in recent years specifically, at least 14 active listings, whose ... and more »

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NYC's latest real estate boom? Private islands - New York Post

Picnic Island in Tasmania is the only place in the world where you can sleep within a penguin colony.

One of the few private freehold islands in Australia, the owner has recently constructed a fully copper clad lodge to accommodate up to ten people. Designed by Tasmanian architect, John Latham, this little building is in the running for the Australian architecture awards in 2017.

Cantilevered over the high water mark with stunning views of the Hazards granite mountain range, this uniqueproperty is a modern interpretation of the beachfront shacks for which Tasmania is famous.

In addition to the penguin colony there is prolific wildlife on and around the island, including sea eagles, shearwaters, dolphins, seals and whales.

The island is a short 10 minute trip from the picturesque Coles Bay township and the local water taxi can take you on tours around the Freycinet Peninsula. There are also many adventure activities available in the area including kayaking and quad biking.

picnic-island

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Fancy a stay on a private island in Tasmania? - SpiceNews

It would be very hard to miss taking note of the epic vacation life Barack Obama is living since he left office two months ago. Let's recap, shall we? He's been traveling to billionaire Richard Branson's private Necker Island, rocking his hat backward with his feet in the sand and generally straight chillin', kitesurfing like a carefree spring breaker, and basically looking young and happy while making us all very jealous.

Now, he's off to another island paradise where reports say he'll be spending a full month. According to local reports, Obama landed in Tahiti en route to the luxury South Pacific resort known as The Brando.

Well, last year when we told you all about the Brando under the headline, "You've Never Heard of the Remote Island That's Set to Become the Next Celeb Mecca," we weren't kidding. Now the world's most famous island vacationer is setting up shop there for a full month.

Here's the deal with the Brando: Actor and activist Marlon Brando first came to French Polynesia during the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty in the 1960s, and he fell totally in love with the place, just 30 miles northeast of Tahiti. So he bought the tiny private island of Tetiaroa an atoll composed of a dozen small islands surrounding a lagoon, and spent as much time there as possible escaping the Hollywood drama and noise. (Sound somewhat familiar, Barack?)

Now, you can stay there too, on a newly built five-star property with 35 luxury villas and private pools, two-French influenced bars, and restaurants, all while sea turtles and exotic birds keep you company.

If you're considering a trip, you should know that the Brando is actually not that far from Los Angeles, reachable by a short 20-minute flight on a private plane or helicopter after you land in Papeete, just eight hours nonstop from LAX.

While you're there, take an island tour led by Brand's granddaughter, an official guide for the resort. To help carry on her grandfather's legacy, she is working for the Tetiaroa Society, a nonprofit association that takes care of all the guided naturalist tours.

During your stay, you'll also find Michelin-level food: chef Guy Martin of the Michelin-two-starred restaurant Le Grand Vfour in Paris is responsible for the menu at the fine-dining and more casual dining venues on the property. The food is classic French with a Polynesian flair. There's also vegan fare from Chef Kelvin Au-Ieong, chef and owner of Invitation V, Vegan Bistro in Montreal, Quebec.

Some of the island's environmentally friendly practices include sea water air conditioning, which reduces energy demands by 70 percent; solar energy panels along the airstrip which provides hot water to the resort; and a coconut oil power station that provides half of the properties energy needs.

Rates start about $2,000 per night.

-Additional reporting by Carole Dixon

Jet Set is Bravo's launch pad for the most extravagant, luxurious, and unforgettable travel experiences. Ready for takeoff? Then Like us on Facebook to stay connected to our daily updates.

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Barack Obama Vacation Pictures: Brando Island, South Pacific | JetSet - Bravo (blog)