Relish the island life with a getaway to paradise

An escape to an island provides something uniquely restorative: a total switch off, sand between your toes and the feeling that the rest of the world is far away. These picks for luxury island stays are sure to provide inspiration for your next log off and lie out.

Live the island life in the Bahamas

In an exclusive gated community on the southeastern tip of New Providence in the Bahamas is Palm Cay, a resort-style development that offers both holiday rentals and homes for sale. The irresistible location, with turquoise waters, sandy beaches and a host of amenities, ensures an easygoing island lifestyle. Spend days under the Caribbean sun paddleboarding, playing tennis, pickleball or padel, unwinding at the wellness spa or settling poolside for cooling dips.

Head to the Beach Club for drinks by the water’s edge and dinner on the beach. Apartments and penthouses around the marina are available to purchase, with homes priced from $700k to $6m (£520k to £4.45m) and Palm Cay offers a rental management programme for owners. Tax-free residency is also an option. Whether it’s a week away or a place to call your own, Palm Cay is the perfect spot for a Bahamian escape that’s a little more permanent.

Book an escape at Palmcay.com

Indulge in barefoot island luxury in the Maldives

Set within a protected Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Milaidhoo Maldives is a boutique island retreat made for those seeking understated luxury and authentic hospitality. Its spacious and welcoming villas sit above the lagoon or on the beach and feature private pools and pitched straw-thatched roofs, as well as large picture windows that open out onto the postcard-like view. Snorkel around the flourishing house reef, cruise into the sunset, unwind at the spa or take a moment to reflect in the oceanfront yoga pavilion.

Dining is an experience in itself, with a selection of exceptional restaurants – including one set in a floating, handcrafted wooden boat – with menus inspired by the Spice Route, or private, lantern-lit, romantic setups right on the beach. Milaidhoo’s experiences are shaped around each guest’s desires, ensuring a refined escape in one of the Maldives' most beautiful locations.

Discover the Simply Summer offer and book at Milaidhoo.com

Trade cold winter days for the warmth of Koh Samui

Set on a headland at the northern tip of Koh Samui is Six Senses Samui, a group of luxury villas arranged on a gentle slope that evokes a Thai fishing village and offers seclusion among the tropical vegetation. The 67 villas are built using natural materials and plushily furnished, offering views of gardens or the Gulf of Thailand, and most feature a private pool.

Come evening, indulge in an in-villa barbecue or head down to Dining on the Rocks, which occupies a series of teak and bamboo terraces on the cliff side and features award-winning cuisine that focuses on fresh local produce. Guests can access their very own GEM (Guest Experience Maker), who organises everything from jungle drives to boat trips for the ultimate personal service.

Save 20 per cent on the Best Flexible Rate on stays of four nights or more at Sixsenses.com or call +66 77 245678.

Indulge in barefoot luxury on a private Maldivian atoll

A 35-minute seaplane journey from Velana International Airport brings you to Fushifaru Maldives, a five-star, award-winning boutique resort on the largest natural sandbank in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll that offers an authentic Maldivian experience. Fushifaru’s 63 beach and water villas give a choice of beachfront living or direct access to the lagoon from a villa on stilts over the water. Its Marine Protected Area is home to some of the Maldives’ best dive sites that teem with rich marine life and colourful coral, making it a playground for diving and snorkelling excursions.

The resort also offers signature experiences including, sunset cruises, watersports and award-winning Maldivian-inspired spa treatments set among lush, jungle-like greenery. The resort’s restaurants serve fresh seafood alongside locally inspired and international dishes, or indulge in a romantic, private sandbank dinner for two.

Book the early bird discount to save 20 per cent on stays until 31 March 2027 at Fushifaru.com

Escape to where the jungle meets the sea

Just a 10-minute boat ride across the water from Cartagena’s historic centre, Tierra Bomba Island is home to Éteka boutique hotel, a quiet 10-room retreat on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Here, tropical forest, mangroves and the sea frame a retreat designed around biophilic architecture, local craftsmanship and the chilled-out rhythm of island life. Imagine waking up in your very own grass-roofed cabin to the sounds of waves and birdsong.

Then, spend the daytime lounging on the two beaches, cooling off in the uniquely shaped pool or unwinding with tempting spa experiences inspired by Indigenous traditions and surrounded by nature. As evening falls, indulge in contemporary Caribbean cuisine that celebrates local flavours beneath a sky lit up by stars, with a view of the city in the distance.

Plan your escape at Etekacartagena.com

Stay in style on the shores of Mauritius

Set along a half-mile stretch of white sand on Mauritius’ northwest coast, Le Méridien Île Maurice is made for days lived “au soleil”, with the Indian Ocean ahead and spectacular sunsets to end them. The resort brings a fresh, playful perspective to beachfront living, with chic rooms and suites for families, couples and guests seeking an adults-only nirvana experience. Days can be spent trying watersports on the lagoon, relaxing by the pool and slowing down at Explore Spa.

The hotel’s restaurants and bars feature Mauritian flavours, fresh seafood and international favourites, and when golden hour arrives, the views give a reason to linger a little longer by the ocean. For a September escape, Luxury Holidays Direct offers seven nights all-inclusive from £2,099 per person, including return economy flights, private transfers and a Junior Suite.

Save 30 per cent with code MRUMD2026 at Luxuryholidaysdirect.com for travel between 1 and 30 September. Call 02087747298 or email enquiries@luxuryholidaysdirect.com.

Uncover the story behind this African island stay

On Zanzibar’s southeast coast, Sharazād Boutique Hotels tells a story that unfolds across two intimate addresses: a barefoot beachfront retreat in Jambiani and an elegant hideaway in the heart of Unesco-listed Stone Town. Inspired by Scheherazade, the legendary storyteller of One Thousand and One Nights, Sharazād blends Swahili heritage with Mediterranean sensibility through locally crafted interiors, art, music, gardens and Zanzibar’s spice-rich cuisine.

In Jambiani, mornings begin with the Indian Ocean: wake in a bungalow or oceanfront villa, practise yoga at sunrise, walk the reef at low tide or sail aboard a traditional dhow. Dining draws on Zanzibar’s extraordinary history as a culinary crossroads, bringing together African, Arab, Indian and European influences. Then discover another side of the island at Sharazād Wonders, where the winding lanes, carved doors and centuries of history of Stone Town become part of the stay itself.

Book your Zanzibar story at Sharazadzanzibar.com

Experience the culture, landscape and flavours of the Seto Inland Sea

Set on Ikuchijima island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, Azumi Setoda breathes new life into a 150-year-old family estate. Carefully restored and reimagined as a contemporary Japanese inn, it invites guests to experience the wonders of the ‘lemon island’, so known for its numerous citrus farms. Its four guest rooms surround a pretty courtyard enclosed by marigaki fencing, built with cedar and cypress and featuring traditional shoji screens.

A peaceful stay here offers a deeper connection to the culture, landscape and everyday rhythms of life in Japan’s Setouchi region. Cycle the Shimanami Kaido route, wander through Setoda’s historic port streets, explore temples and citrus groves or simply enjoy the stillness of the courtyard. Don’t leave without sampling seasonal flavours that celebrate ingredients from the surrounding sea, mountains and farms.

Book a stay at Azumi.co

Cruise Greek shores from a luxury yacht

In Greece, the best memories are often made away from the crowds – a quiet swim before lunch, a secluded cove for the afternoon or watching the coastline change as you sail from island to island. Momentum Yachting creates bespoke experiences across Greece, from Mykonos and Paros to Athens, Crete and beyond.

Whether you want a family day on the water, an island-hopping escape with friends or simply a few hours at sea watching the sunset, every journey is tailored around your preferences. The idea is simple – go where the day takes you and leave the details to a team that know the Greek coastline intimately. Sometimes the best way to experience Greece is to leave the shore behind. Want to make long-lasting memories aboard a private yacht?

Visit Momentumyachting.com

See out the year with calm and quiet on a paradise island

Trade the parties and revelry of Christmas and New Year with a quieter style of celebration on an escape to Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel in Mauritius, a five-star, adults-only retreat that’s part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Set on the northern coast of a beautiful sweep of white sand, the hotel features romantic rooms and an infinity pool with a view over the northern islands.

Over the festive period, indulge in secluded sunbathing in the resort’s Love Nests and private catamaran trips. In the evening, watch live music and dine on sushi at the restaurant on stilts over the ocean. The You&Me experiences offer everything from stargazing at the end of the jetty to private island lunches, and festive spa sessions provide another excuse to slow down.

Save up to 28 per cent on Christmas and New Year stays booked by 12 October 2026 at Paradisecovehotel.com

Take in the culture at a boutique art and wellness hotel in the Azores

NINE DOTS Azorean Art Boutique Hotel was born from the careful reconstruction of two historic buildings in the heart of Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island. With 36 exclusive rooms and interiors decorated by the work of local masters and emerging artists, NINE DOTS acts as a living showcase, where regional heritage and contemporary design merge naturally.

When not admiring the art, the wellness centre, framed by restored volcanic stone arches that open on to a unique view of the garden, offers a heated indoor saltwater pool, Turkish bath and signature treatments inspired by natural island elements. Afterwards, hit the ETC. Osteria Bar for Italian-inspired cuisine made with fresh local ingredients over a wood fire.

Book a restorative and enlightening stay at Ninedotsazores.com

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