Best Islands to Visit for Luxury Escapes
The best islands to visit have a way of rewiring time the moment you skim across gemstone-colored water and catch a glimpse of a crescent with white sand. Your only real appointments are to swim, sip, and repeat as breakfast turns into noon and then sunset. In order to help you choose the best islands to visit for leisurely indulgence, this guide distills site inspections, conversations with captains and chefs, and early mornings before the world wakes up.
We’ll go from Indian Ocean seclusion to Asia’s avant-garde hideaways, from Mediterranean glitz to Caribbean tranquility. The best islands to visit for beach clubs and yachts, as well as the best islands to visit for peaceful overwater excursions, will be discovered along the way.
Top 10 Luxury Islands at a Glance
These are the best islands to visit if you’re pressed for time and want to experience instant magic with little preparation. Imagine immaculate beaches, fine dining, and villas that seem like well-kept secrets. The best islands to visit, each with its own unique charm, are represented here for couples, families, or friends.
- Sardinia (Costa Smeralda): emerald coves and superyachts.
- Capri: piazzetta style and cliffside drama.
- Mykonos: villa sunsets and beach clubs.
- Santorini: views of calderas and nights of violet.
- Ibiza: large tables, bohemian fincas.
- Mallorca: pristine marinas and the Tramuntana peaks.
- St. Barts: barefoot soul with French-Caribbean gloss.
- Powder sand and hush-luxury in Turks and Caicos.
- Overwater Zen in the Maldives.
- Seychelles: serene castaway, granite cathedrals.
Compare the Best Islands to Visit
Make use of this quick grid to match the map to your mood. Your shortlist is guaranteed because it provides a snapshot of the best islands to visit in all seasons and fashions. Use it to determine the best islands to visit on the dates you have in mind.
| Island | Vibe | Best Season | Signature Experience | Ideal Stay | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sardinia | Jet-set beaches & yachts | Jun–Sep | La Maddalena by private yacht | 5–7 nights | Couples, families, friends |
| Capri | Cliffside glam | May–Oct | Riva to the Blue Grotto | 3–4 nights | Romantics, food lovers |
| Mykonos | Party & panorama | Jun–Sep | Beach club to villa supper | 4–6 nights | Friends, celebrators |
| Santorini | View obsession | May–Oct | Sunset catamaran in the caldera | 3–5 nights | Couples, photographers |
| Ibiza | Boho-chic estates | May–Oct | Formentera day on the water | 5–7 nights | Style seekers, families |
| Mallorca | Mountain-meets-sea | Apr–Oct | Deià lunches & sail into coves | 5–7 nights | Families, hikers |
| St. Barts | French-Caribbean gloss | Dec–Apr | Beach-club hop, designer stroll | 5–7 nights | Gourmands, fashion crowd |
| Turks & Caicos | Low-key ultra-luxe | Dec–Apr | Private sandbar picnic | 6–8 nights | Privacy seekers |
| Maldives | Overwater zen | Nov–Apr | Sandbank dinner & reef dive | 6–8 nights | Honeymooners, wellness |
| Seychelles | Wild elegance | Apr–May, Oct–Nov | Praslin–La Digue hop | 6–8 nights | Nature lovers |
How We Chose
We come, we check, and we go back. Our team assesses the level of privacy and beach quality, the culture of service surrounding villas, the convenience of yacht days, and the richness of dining and culture. When practicality and desire are equally important, these islands are the best islands to visit. Flight access, weather windows, wellness options, and kid-friendliness are all important, so this shortlist prioritizes trips that are grounded in reality rather than just beautiful photos.
The dependability of local partners, flight connections that don’t ruin your first day, and the type of culinary scene that rewards curiosity—from dining rooms worth dressing up for to beach shacks with serious provenance—are all things we consider. At home, we stress-test the best tables and soundproof tranquility for celebratory getaways, and on family vacations, we look for quiet coves and convenient stroller logistics. The dream is preserved by the subtle practicalities.
Mediterranean Icons
Italy’s Sardinia (Costa Smeralda)
If your happy place is a sleek RIB tethered to a secluded cove before a leisurely lunch, Sardinia is among the best islands to visit. Beach clubs and marinas are just a short distance from the villas at Haute Retreats near Porto Rotondo, Cala di Volpe, and Porto Cervo.
Why it works: Sardinia stands out among the top islands for multigenerational travel because of its spacious villas and easy logistics.
Signature experiences include lunches at Gallura’s vineyards, sunset tables with toes still sandy, and private yacht trips to Spargi and Budelli’s pink hints.
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Italy’s Capri
When you’re craving cliffside walks before espresso and a wooden boat that cuts a silver line toward the Blue Grotto, this is one of the best islands to visit. The Capri houses at Haute Retreats place you low enough to stroll to dinner and high enough to see the Faraglioni.
Why it works: Capri is the ideal island for romantics planning a long weekend getaway.
Signature experiences include boat circumnavigation, sunsets at Punta Carena, and tasting menus that face the ocean.
Greece’s Mykonos
For friends who appreciate golden hours and like afternoons that end in fireworks, this is one of the greatest islands to visit. With their whitewashed minimalism, infinity pools, and wind-sheltered terraces, Haute Retreats‘ Cycladic villas allow you to join in on the fun before drifting back to quiet.
Why it functions: Mykonos has returned to the list of the best islands to visit with groups as a result of this duality.
Signature experiences include sunrise swims with only gulls for company, a beach club day that transitions into dinner, and Delos by private boat.
Greece’s Santorini
It is convincing to those who make proposals, and it should be on any list of the top islands to visit for photographers and view-chasers. Haute Retreats puts you in a prime location above the ocean, with Megalochori, Imerovigli, and Oia all providing that cliffside silence.
Why it works: This is a definite yes for couples who are trying to decide which islands would be best for their anniversary trip.
Experiences that stand out include winery tours, private catamaran trips into the caldera, and early morning walks before the rest of the world awakens.
Spain’s Ibiza
When you want Michelin-caliber dinners at night and bohemian-chic vibes during the day, this island is one of the best places to go. The slow, sensory, and exquisitely serviceable fincas of Haute Retreats, located around Es Cubells, Cala Jondal, and Santa Gertrudis, set the tone.
Why it works: Ibiza is always mentioned when discussing the top islands for mixed-crew getaways because of its inclusivity.
Signature experiences include sound baths, spa pop-ups at home, farm-to-table meals, and a day on a yacht in Formentera.
Spain’s Mallorca
You can hike the Tramuntana before lunch and then sail into the gold light near Portals, making it one of the best islands to visit if you’re looking for variety. The villas in Andratx, Portals, and Pollença from Haute Retreats are elegant and mature.
Why it functions: The greatest islands to visit when you’re traveling with a variety of tastes and ages is variety without friction.
Signature experiences include winery tastings, coastal hikes, and a skipper who always knows the cove with the perfect shade of blue.
Caribbean Classics
Saint-Barthélemy, or St. Barts
If your dream day alternates between barefoot hours at beach clubs and boutique laps in Gustavia, St. Barts is among the best islands to visit. Expect views of Gustavia, kitchens that beg for a stay-in, and hillside pools at Haute Retreats.
Why it works: Because of this balance, St. Barts is still one of the best islands to visit for stylish tourists who want substance.
Experiences that stand out include taking a boat to Colombier, having lengthy lunches that turn into late afternoons, and watching the sunset from your own terrace.
Turks and Caicos (Providenciales)
When you want true, breath-taking quiet without compromising service, this is one of the best islands to visit. With nannies on call, chefs on speed dial, and a concierge who knows when to have that unplanned beachside picnic, Haute Retreats’ Grace Bay, Leeward, and Long Bay compounds are temples to privacy.
Why it works: Turks & Caicos keeps everyone happy when families are choosing the best islands to visit with young children (or teenagers who believe they have seen it all).
Signature activities include sandbar dining beneath a blush-pink sky, reef snorkeling with turtles, and kiteboarding at Long Bay.
Anguilla
If your idea of luxury is a chef grilling the catch steps from the water and a cove that is exclusively yours, then it’s definitely on our list of the best islands to visit. Meads Bay and Shoal Bay feel like private chapters when you stay at Haute Retreats.
Why it works: Anguilla is a promise kept for families and couples looking for the best islands to visit for real relaxation.
Signature experiences include live jazz, lunches on offshore cays, and lounging in the shade on a boat amidst turquoise waves.
Indian Ocean & Pacific Jewels
The Maldives
When privacy is a must and spa days are a daily ritual, it continues to be one of the best islands to visit—actually, a nation of them. Haute Retreats matches you with the house reef and dining philosophy that support your personal definition of bliss, creating the ideal atoll for your mood.
Why it works: The Maldives appear to be fate for honeymooners who are enumerating the best islands to visit for firsts and lasting memories.
Sandbank dinners, manta cleaning stations, and night snorkeling where your initials are written by bioluminescence are examples of signature experiences.
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The Seychelles
For travelers seeking unadulterated nature with the softest edges, it is without a doubt one of the best islands to visit. Haute Retreats plans day trips to La Digue for bicycle-basket picnics, as well as time spent on Mahé and Praslin.
Why it works: Because of this feeling, Seychelles consistently ranks among the best islands to visit if you want to slow things down.
Signature activities include snorkeling in marine parks, fly-fishing flats, and swimming in secret coves before breakfast.
French Polynesia’s Bora Bora
For couples who want to swim, read, and just watch the water change its mind, it’s one of the best islands to visit. Here, Haute Retreats’ selection emphasizes seclusion and viewpoint—overwater for those who prefer to float, and hillside for those who prefer to see the entire lagoon.
Why it works: Bora Bora is the center of attention and the quiet when it comes to vow renewals and anniversaries that consider the best islands to visit for symbolic significance.
Signature activities include sunset sails that tilt the sky to copper, shark-and-ray encounters, and Motu picnics.
Asia Standouts
Thailand, Phuket
If you want a seamless fusion of comfort and culture, this is one of the best islands to visit. The Cape Yamu, Kamala, and Surin estates from Haute Retreats are built for long, joyful days, complete with a candlelit dinner at home, a boat to Phang Nga, and breakfast by the pool.
Why it works: Couples and groups looking to do a lot without feeling crowded will find Phuket to be one of the best islands to visit when combined with top-notch wellness and convenient yacht access.
Signature experiences include beach massages as the light fades, chef-driven tasting menus, and private boat tours of Phang Nga.
Indonesia, Bali
When you want modern villas and a wellness culture that extends from morning smoothies to ceremonies under the stars, it ranks among the best islands to visit. You are close to everything and yet sufficiently remote from Haute Retreats‘ residences in Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, and Ubud.
Why it works: Bali is where routines become rituals for travelers who are compiling the best islands to visit for a longer stay.
Signature experiences include rice-terrace walks prior to spa time, surf sessions catered to your skill level, and sunsets from Uluwatu’s clifftop.
When to Go & How Long to Stay
The Indian Ocean and the South Pacific have the previously mentioned sweet spots, the Caribbean sings from December to April, and the Mediterranean islands shine from May to October (peak June to September). For the Med, where it’s easy to hop, plan five to seven nights; for other places, plan seven to ten so you can extend the days. Arrange Sardinia and Capri for June, Turks & Caicos for January clarity, and the Maldives or Bora Bora for spring, when the trade winds are favorable, if you’re planning the best islands to visit over the course of a year.
What a Haute Retreats Escape Includes
The villa at Haute Retreats is only the first part of the story. Imagine daily housekeeping, stocked pantries, and, if you desire one, a private chef. Imagine magical yacht days that fade into the past. Imagine drivers who show up when you need them, childcare, and yoga on the terrace. When you don’t have to do any work, the best islands to visit feel even better.
Booking Tips to Secure Your First-Choice Villa
Be specific about the location—quiet cove or beach-club energy—and start early during busy weeks (particularly late December and mid-August). Adapt the villa’s layout to your group, including private main suites, enough ensuite rooms for harmony, and lingering outdoor areas. Although it’s not glamorous, travel insurance is a good idea. Our Travel Designers can assist you in balancing flight paths and seasonality if your list of the best islands to visit includes both crowded and quiet destinations. Set reminders and be prepared to confirm when the ideal home appears to put the best islands to visit at the top of your list.
The Art of Arrival
Somewhere between the first swim and the first drink, the island’s rhythm takes over and the bustle of everyday life subsides. Because of this, the best islands to visit are more like states of mind than actual locations. The villa’s kitchen already knows your morning routine, and the captain knows your name before you even board.
Grandparents learn to take a late-afternoon nap, friends circle the pool in casual conversation, and kids disappear into saltwater games. Determining whether to stay for one more cove or go home for the chef’s grilled langoustines, or whether to watch the sunset from your terrace or the bow, is a delicious decision on these shores. The best islands to visit encourage a cadence rather than a set itinerary. And that’s the silent luxury: time, managed carefully.
Ready When You Are
If you pack too many linen shirts, your suitcase will forgive you. If you spend too much time in the sea, it will forgive you. Our Travel Designers at Haute Retreats will transform your wish list into a living itinerary when you’re ready to experience the best islands to visit with no hassle, whether it’s the Maldives’ private horizons, Sardinia’s yacht-whispered coves, Capri’s cliffside charm, St. Barts’ rosé-soaked afternoons. Tell us about your ideal day, and we’ll connect you with the houses, chefs, and captains who make it easy. Travelers who arrive curious and depart vowing to return are favored by the best islands to visit. Together, let’s arrange for the best islands to visit.
Plan Your Escape
Create a Luxurious Island Remain at Haute Retreats
Our travel designers choose villas, captains, chefs, and every smooth transition between Turks & Caicos’ hush-luxe sands and Sardinia’s yacht-kissed coves.
