As dream Caribbean vacations go, basking on the beach of a private-island resort is the ultimate fantasy. Who wouldn’t want to sit in the sunshine, sipping a rum punch on a sandy scallop you have (almost) all to yourself? With at least a dozen of these exclusive enclaves scattered around the region, there’s one for every type of traveler. Visitors’ only limitation will be their budgets.
For The Beach Snob Do your clients favor pristine white-sand stretches over pebble-strewn coasts? Guana Island, an all-inclusive playground in the BVI, fits the bill. With a generous seven beaches bordering its 850 acres—including the breathtaking marquee strand (my favorite!) at White Bay—sand seekers will be spoiled for choice. And since no day visitors are permitted, they’ll only have to share them with a maximum of 34 other people.
For The Boat Lover If boats are your client’s thing, book them a Bahamian break at Fowl Cay Resort so they can see the Exumas the way they should be seen—from the water. Guests in each of the all-inclusive island’s seven villas enjoy unlimited use of their own 17-ft. speedboat, so they can cruise through the 365-island archipelago at their leisure. No boating experience? No problem! I was happy to find out when I stayed there that lessons are included, too.
For The Private Jet Owner If parking their “pj” close to their island digs is a priority for your clients, consider the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Ambergris Cay. Guests with their own aircraft (Flying commercial? Perish the thought!) can bypass the terminal in Provo and touch down directly at this all-inclusive retreat, where 19 oceanfront bungalows and nine villas are just a golf cart ride away from the tarmac and mere steps from talcum sands.
For The Extrovert Looking for a private island that isn’t quite so…well…private? Check out Lovango Resort & Beach Club in the USVI. I’ve just returned from the petite oasis, which, just 10 minutes by boat from both St. John and St. Thomas, is easily accessible. Purchase a 1-day beach club membership to check out the facilities on the buzzy southeast side of the island (including two restaurants; a well-curated clutch of shops; and an oceanview pool). And your clients just might be impressed enough to return for a few nights on the tranquil north side, settling into one of Lovango’s rustic-chic treehouses; air-conditioned glamping tents; or sleek new villas.
For The Really Private Type When your clients need to get all the way away, consider Cayo Espanto, a tiny all-inclusive cay three miles off the Belizean coast. There are only seven villas here, each accessed by a private dock that straddles its own sweep of sand. There’s no bar or restaurant (staff set up and serve meals and cocktails en suite, on one’s beach or one’s dock). And each villa is positioned so one never sees their neighbors. So travelers can easily forget the rest of the world exists.
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