Island holidays are perfect for remote escapes, allowing you to venture to crowd-free spots after lockdown and practise the social distancing you perfected while you were in lockdown.
While far-flung destinations such as the Maldives and Fiji are famous for their island holidays, you don’t really need to travel far in order to experience beauty as well as isolation on your first trip when things get back to normal.
They’re always welcome however island holidays aren’t all about the palm trees and the warm, turquoise waters either. In fact, some of the most awe-inspiriing island getaways take place in the iciest of climes.
Here is our pick of the best island holidays that we’ve been on – and we really recommend them to you.
Croatia
With a coastline which stretches more than 500 km, it should really be no surprise that Croatia offers a few of the best beach holidays across the globe. Zlatni Rat Beach, which is situated on Brač Island, is particularly popular, and is best visited during September when the crowds are gone.
Ideas of what you can do are:
- Go for exhilirating kiteboarding excursions,
- Enjoy one of their amazing boat tours out to the Adriatic Sea, and
- Hop on a yacht and then cruise the coastline of Dubrovnik.
Mílos, Greece
Located right in the centre of the Cycladic islands, we love Mílos because of friendly locals who welcome visitors to explore the island’s quaint villages (Trypiti is famous for its windmills, Plaka for its sunsets), unusual tavernas, and dozens of picturesque beaches which vary in colour depending on whether they are made from shells, stones, or sand.
Balearics
Late summer is the ideal time to head to Spain’s laidback Balearic Islands, where you’ll have the choice between quiet stretches of sandy beach with just the sound of the waves to keep you company, or buzzing bars and restaurants in cities like Mahon and Palma.
Bahamas
There are many top beaches throughout the country, but let’s focus on Cabbage Beach. It’s located in the capital, Nassau, and stretches almost the entire length of the northern edge of Paradise Island. Visit between November and February.
- Relax at the beach bars serving up the freshest Caribbean cuisine,
- Treat yourself to exciting jet-ski rides, and
- Go snorkelling in the sparkling, clear waters.
Maldives
The Maldives brag about having some of the world’s most beautiful islands. However it’s the sea that truly makes these islands shine. Bright aquamarine waters with a crystal clarity lap upon these dazzling white shores, which just peek above the Indian Ocean.
Comprising 26 natural atolls, the Maldives archipelago is the world’s lowest-lying nation, rising no more than three metres above the sea at its highest point, a measurement which shrinks every year. Beneath the mesmerising waters, coral reefs flourish, luring divers as well as snorkelers from around the world. Also, surfers flock here to ride the uncrowded breaks.
Back on land, luxury resorts offer the perfect launching points for adventures that are focused upon the sea, the archipelago’s greatest asset however also, as the planet’s climate changes, its single greatest threat.