Island Vacation Destination Recommendations

Although there seems to be a glimmer of light at the end of the new coronavirus epidemic, most people still hope to take a breather. If you could escape and live in total seclusion, where would you go? For a lucky—and often wealthy—few, the answer is an island.

The pace of life on the island is slower, the local community thrives, and you’re surrounded by natural beauty, not least the sparkling sea.

Bahamas

The Abaco Club, covering an area of approximately 200 hectares, is located on a ridge on Great Abaco Island, overlooking the crescent-shaped bay and white sand beaches. Homes here range from large studio cottages to three-bedroom country houses to sprawling custom estates.

The homes will cost between $700,000 and $12.5 million, said Matt Deitch, principal of operations for Abaco developer Southworth Development. With pitched metal roofs and colorful wainscoting inspired by traditional Bahamian architecture, the homes have generous terraces and outdoor living spaces.

Since buying a home here in 2012, Toronto resident Tim McGuire and his wife Sheila have lived here for about four weeks every year. They first won the trip at a charity auction and became instantly hooked.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

In the remote Canary Islands of Spain, the stepped topography of Abama Resort in the foothills of Monte Teide in Tenerife allows almost all homes here to overlook the sea and other nearby islands.

“It would be a shame to have a suite in a seaside resort but not have an ocean view,” said Francis Puyol, head of real estate for the Arum Group, which develops and operates Abama Resort. In addition to its 18-hole golf course, the resort also has a semi-private beach, a Ritz-Carlton hotel, a gym and spa, a tennis academy, two Michelin-starred restaurants, and an architectural design by renowned architect Melvin Villarro. The restaurant is named after Melvin, who designed the Ritz-Carlton hotel here.

Abama Resort’s contemporary residences are designed by many of Spain’s top architects including Villarroel, Codeci Architecture, Virgilio Gutiérrez Herreros, and Eustaquio Martinez Built by designers and companies, prices range from $637,000 to $2.2 million.

Smaller attached units also offer hotel services, and larger residences often have their pools, decks or courtyards. All homes have large balconies, large windows and overhanging roofs, and blend a minimalist look with local stone, hardwood and tiles. Much of the resort was designed with sustainability in mind, including the use of solar panels, recycled materials and its own desalination plant.

Hawaii, Kona

Stretching along approximately 180 acres of the Kona Coast of Hawaii Island, Kohanaki is the most expensive community on this list.

Prices start at $3 million for a three- or four-bedroom, single-story “seaside treehouse,” while custom homes, often built by local developers, can cost well over $30 million. Chuck Cary, who serves as the community’s vice president of marketing, said 40 new homes are currently under construction.

While island life will always feel isolating to many, a wealth of shipping options, the rise of remote working, and an increased demand for local recreational facilities have changed that. The epidemic will only accelerate this trend.