At one time, the only people who might seriously consider vacationing on a private island were escapists looking to indulge their Robinson Crusoe fantasies or billionaires and celebrities in search of a luxurious respite from the cameras.

These days, though, the dream of having an island all to yourself has become a reality for mere mortals as well. “A private island vacation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that pairs high-end resort amenities with complete privacy,” said Adam McKie, travel director, Private Islands Inc. “It’s the ultimate travel adventure.”

Photo: Royal Island

Take Royal Island, a 430-acre slice of Bahamian paradise once featured on the Netflix program The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. Erica Blair of Cuvée, which has the exclusive rental rights to Royal Island, said the all-inclusive experience is fully personalized. “From the moment you arrive and staff members greet you with your favorite wine, Champagne or tropical cocktail, every single detail of your visit has been curated to your exact specifications,” she explained. “An on-site, full-time team is on hand to coordinate activities like jet-skiing, setting up sandbar picnics, yoga classes, spa treatments, deep-sea fishing … if you can imagine it, the team can make it reality.”

Up to 16 guests stay in five beachfront bungalows and two additional suites, with access to a resort-style beach club and bar, a massage space, and a fitness room. The beach, obviously private, is studded with palms, carpeted with pure white sand and lapped by the bluest water imaginable. The price tag for this kind of luxury starts at $18,000 per night.

PHOTO: © JASON IERACE

Set within the Great Barrier Reef ’s Great Palm archipelago, Pelorus Island has only opened to the public for rentals since January 2024. This pristine and protected atoll abounds with opportunities to commune with exotic mammals, fish and birds; at the end of the day, guests retire to a nearly 10,000-square-foot, five-bedroom villa complete with a spa, private chef and other staff. Besides snorkeling and diving in the Great Barrier Reef, guests can take in works at the nearby Museum Underwater Art.

PHOTO: © NECKER ISLAND

Then there’s Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s famed British Virgin Islands hideaway. It reopened in 2021 after a two-year closure to repair damage from Hurricane Irma, which blew through in 2017. In addition to adding to the beauty of the island, renovations included the installation of three wind turbines to allow the island to run partially on renewable energy every day.

Lodging on Necker Island comprises 11 guest suites — think peaked, thatched ceilings; private balconies; floor-to-ceiling windows — within the Great House, which, from its perch atop the island’s highest point, provides stunning views of the island-dotted sea as well as dreamy sunrises and fiery sunsets. Some have plunge pools; others have outdoor showers. This property also includes six Balinese-style freestanding villas — three on the mountaintop and three in the jungly interior — as well as the multi-bedroom Temple House and a toy-filled bunk room for children. Activities abound and include island-hopping cruises; all manner of water sports; a full range of spa treatments; classes with private trainers; and guided hikes to see the giant tortoises, pink flamingoes and lemurs inhabiting the island. There’s even a full medical team on the island.

Dining is at your whim — on the beach, on the terrace, in the dining room or at the pool, where staff have become famous for their floating sushi bar. Best of all, there are no lines, no strangers, no obnoxious guests to ruin your day. For $134,000 per night, this island is all yours.

Need to be a bit closer to civilization? Islands like Middle Cay in the Bahamas, just a 10-minute boat ride from Harbour Island, offer the best of both worlds. Tagomago lies about half a mile from Ibiza’s international party scene, and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the most exclusive islands in the world: the 148-acre island is home to a single five-bedroom villa. In addition to chefs, fitness instructors, bartenders, security and housekeepers, the full staff includes a boat crew on call 24 hours a day.

If your private island dreams are a bit smaller in scale, you’ll find plenty of options both near and far. South Carolina boasts two notable private island escapes. The first is Old House Cay, a three-island archipelago just off Hilton Head Island in the state’s atmospheric Lowcountry. Though not as extravagant as Royal or Necker islands, it’s also less developed: Lodging comprises a single three-bedroom cottage set steps from the marsh and surrounded by a fire pit, dock, hammocks and observation tower. Spend your days hiking, fishing, crabbing, boating or kayaking with the curious bottlenose dolphin that populate the region; at night you can be as quiet — or as loud — as you like. The second is St. Phillips Island, a 4,600-acre Lowcountry gem that, with the exception of a single home and surrounding outdoor space, has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. The 4 miles of private beach are decorated with ancient sand dune ridges and are populated by bobcats, alligators and foxes. Located near Beaufort, St. Phillips is home to Turner House, the five-bedroom beachfront home built by Ted Turner as a family getaway in 1979. Owned and managed since 2017 by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the island rents for $20,000 for five nights.

Looking to really get away? Many of the tiny atolls dotting Norway’s fjords have been in the same family for generations. Most are accessible only by boat; a few, like Langeskjær — a long, narrow isle with a single red-roofed, five- bedroom cottage — feature private bridges. Located in the Sandefjord archipelago, this vacation isle lies just a 10-minute drive from town.

But with an uncountable number of privately held isles occupying the world’s seas, oceans, lakes and bays, how do you find the right island?

PHOTO: © JASON IERACE

According to Adam McKie, first-timers should make a wish list of experiences and amenities they deem important — such as spa treatments, water toys, a chef or access to a boat — then share it with a travel advisor who specializes in private islands and can turn those dreams into reality. “The best way to set yourself up for success is to know what you want,” he explained. “The private island market extends from ‘bare bones’ islands that include no services or amenities — just the accommodations — to full-service luxury islands that cater to every need.” McKie also noted since many islands are reachable only via a small plane or boat charter, there are often limits on the amount of luggage that can be carried to the island.

According to Farhad Vladi, whose company, Vladi Private Islands, owns or holds the rental contract on 62 islands all over the world, choosing the right private island is a very personal decision. “My favorite island is in New Zealand,” he said. “There are so many reasons to love it, but, for me, what sets it apart is that there are no biting insects. If you’re going to be king of an island, you want it to be perfect!”