The Most Outstanding Hotels on the Most Beautiful Islands in the World

Islands. Each a world unto their own. Time moves slower than the luggage conveyor belts at airports. Skyscrapers and paved city streets are replaced with vistas of endless shimmering seas, and shoes are deposited on the doorsteps of bamboo huts so that you can barefoot embrace talcum-soft sands…

Having been recently forced to cancel some travel plans to the Phillipines because of a painful lower back injury, I was inspired to compile a listicle of some dreamy places to travel to. Here, I eschew any notion of practicality, and wholeheratedly indulge a fantasy where money is no object, and time (and airmiles!) are unlimited… which begs me to ask the question: if you won the Euromillions Jackpot, where would you go?

My mind fantasised about exotic islands - not necessarily overhyped ones (like long overdeveloped Hawaai) but faraway escapes, cerulean sea encrusted atolls and sugar-sand coated beaches… where time, and your pulse rate, drop to the rhythm of a swaying palm, and you have nothing to do but drink from coconuts and have a novel in your hand. It doesn’t matter that my 20-year-old backpacking days are over, if I could go anywhere and stay anywhere in the World, this would be it! Hope you have a happy read (wherever you are) … :-)

Bora Bora - The St. Regis

Bora Bora and French Polynesia always speak to me for epic views, dazzling ocean and reefs, and pure escapism. There’s obviously a mega-watt ton of ultra luxury properties to stay here, ranging from expensive to insane, mainly geared towards honeymooners, celebrities and ultra-high net worthers. If I had a cool few hundred thousand to spend, you’d find me bolted up at the St Regis, taking the catamaran out daily for scuba and snorkelling in the coral-rich waters. While many traditionally opt for the Four Seasons resort, after scouring reviews and content from top travel bloggers, the St. Regis clinches it for nicer, more secluded beaches - and isn’t that the whole point of island life? The St. Regis also has larger accommodations whilst retaining it’s ultra-exclusive and secluded feel, and also provides some fun with free bikes to ride around the property. Sign me up!

Santorini - Canaves Oia Suites

Think of Classic Greek Isle, with whitewashed, low-rise buildings, turquoise infinity pools and technicolour sunsets, and you’re most likely thinking of Santorini. Sure, the neighbouring island of Mykonos gets some heat for being ‘cool’ and playing host to countless parties and international djs, particularly catering for the discerning (and monied) LGBT crowd, but Santorini gets my pick for sheer elegance, class and style. If I were to pick any room on this most majestic of Greek islands, it would have to be the Canaves Oia Suites. The rooms are actually carved into the cliffsides, and offer private plunge pools, as well as instagram-ready panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. The service is over-the-top as you can imagine, and the hilltop village of Oia is the perfect location to explore the famous white and blue architecture.

Seychelles - North Island

Ok - so, the Maldives are up there when you ask the average person what they think the most beautiful island in the World is (especially for a honeymoon), but ask any discerning traveller or beach-bum in the know, and you’ll almost always get the Seychelles. Travel bloggers, vloggers and agents regularly vote the Seychelles as one of the best beach destinations in the World, and it’s not hard to see why. Boasting 115 idyllic islands, scattered across the temperate and cobalt coloured Indian Ocean, the Seychelles islands contain mile after mile of unspoiled beaches, dense jungle and unique rock formations.

Of course, ultra luxury resorts and hotel chains have claimed some of the dazzling coastline on one of the sought after Seychelles’ islands as their own, but one property that simply sits in a league of it’s own, is one that the Prince and Princess of Wales booked for their honeymoon in 2011 - North Island. With just 11 exclusive villas that have next-level privacy, acres of untouched jungle and roaming tortoises, travellers say this needs to be seen to be believed. All villas open up to private gardens, plunge pools and outdoor showers, with a rim-flow swimming pool built into a granitic outcrop. Because there are so few guests, the miles of pristine beach feel all your own. Who cares if it costs a small fortune - this is totally worth bankruptcy!

Maldives - Cheval Blanc Randheli

You can’t have a listicle about the most beautiful islands in the World without mentioning the OG - Maldives. Although there are some islands that experts would consider ‘more beautiful’ - you can’t take away the big guns that bring droves of honeymooners and escapologists to this Indian Ocean hideaway. Blue-ass sea. Swaying palm trees. Cotton soft sands. World class reefs and marine life. Not to mention… have you seen the hotels?

And while you won’t have a limited supply of ultraluxe 5* plus properties to choose from, after asking luxury travel experts who have been going to the Maldives for decades, there really are only two options for the most discerning travellers: Velaa Private Island and Chevin Blanc Randheli. For me, it has to be the Chevin Blanc Randheli - purely for privacy, that bombshell of a beach, and the stunning design of the villa. So stunning in fact that every major competitor like Joali and Waldorf Astoria copied it - but none come close. And although the Velaa has more amenities like an ice room, a climbing wall and a nine-hole golf course - it doesn’t have villas as beautiful, nor a feel quite as glamorous as the Chevin Blanc. What else would you expect from a hotel owned by the LVMH group? And if you fancy a trip to the mad amenities at Velaa it’s only a short boat ride away - but you’ll find me here at the Chevin Blanc, sipping on a Mai Tai at the beach, in between visits to the Louis Vuitton boutique.

Koh Rong - Song Saa Private Island

You had to force my fingertips to reveal this Cambodian gem as I so desperately wanted to keep it a secret, but as they say - the best things are shared, so in the spirit of not gatekeeping, the island of Koh Rong, and sister island, sleepy Koh Rong Samloem, are a set of Robinson Crusoe-esque treasures bejewelling the Cambodian coast. Think long stretches of lemon-sugar sands, miles of gin-clear sea, and hammocks swaying gently across palm trees, punctuated by the aroma of Cambodian grilled seafood hanging in the air.

The outstanding luxury Song Saa resort occupies it’s own private island off the coast of Koh Rong, and houses only 9 ultra luxury overwater villas - the first of their kind in Cambodia, resplendent with organic installations, sculptures and unique set design. It’s true luxury, and also at a cost that matches - but have we told you about the phosphorescent phytoplankton that light up the sea at night? Pure magic.

Galapagos - Pikaia Lodge

For anyone that is a fan of unique and near-extinct wildlife, or somewhere truly escapist and exotic, you can’t do better than the Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin’s visit in 1835 is still globally influential, and while wildlife observation huts and lodges are still a main thing, there’s a small but growing ultra-luxury hotel community.

For people in the know, Pikaia Lodge is the place to go, bolted on the verdent hills of Santa Cruz, all 14 bungalows have blockbuster views of giant tortoises, volcanic craters and talcum-white sand beaches. When you’re not out trekking the jungle or snorkelling with turtles, you’ll find yourself at the Spa, where there are unique offerings like the Shamanic Massage.

Palawan - Amanpulo

No list of the ‘Most Outstanding Hotels’ would be complete without at least one Aman property - and while I am not a self-confessed ‘Aman junkie’, I do appreciate their discerning standards, innovative design and truly spectacular locations. Although there are a few Aman properties worldwide, this outpost on the Philippine Island of Palawan - Amanpulo - is the one that strikes me the most.

Reviewers note that this is the most beautiful Aman property in the World, on one of the most beautiful islands in the World. If that isn’t high praise - then I don’t know what is. Palawan is a pristine, postcard perfect island, and is said to have the softest sand in the World. With celebrity fans such as Bill and Melinda Gates, and Madonna, who apparently extended her stay here - Amanpulo is recognised as one of the finest Hotels in the World, with spacious and gorgeously designed private villas, built into the natural landscape, fine but relaxed dining throughout the property, and service which is quietly exceptional, rather than glitzy. With a host of free activities for guests, such as snorkelling in one of the richest marine reefs in the World, you can see why this is the spot for a onec-in-a-lifetime holiday.

Cook Islands - Pacific Resort Aitutaki

One of my favourite travel influencers of all time, Jack Morris (aka @DoYouTravel) has travelled the world, photographing the most exotic and beautiful places through his lens of style and fashion to millions of fans for years - and yet he chose to celebrate his birthday in the tropical Cook Islands. As part of Polynesia, they are thrillingly farway, idyllically beautiful and the epitome of tropical.

They are so remote that they are still fairlky underdeveloped and there arn’t that many luxury hotel properties (yet) - but the two big hitters are Pacific Resort on the island of Aitutaki and Little Polynesian Resort on Rarotonga. My choice, for seductive sunsets, sumptuous dining and beach bumming, is the stunning Pacific Resort Aitutaki, with Polynesian architecture, colonial furnishings, and fine food and wine. And as for Aitutaki island itself, it is known as a stunning "almost atoll", renowned for having one of the world's most beautiful, turquoise lagoons, roughly five times larger than its landmass. I need no other reason to book a flight there immediately!

Sicily - Gran Hotel Timeo, Taormina

This is one of the first places on this list to also feature in the infamous series “White Lotus”… but as a series based around beautiful hotels, it was bound to happen. At least it’s on the restrained, sophisticated isle of Sicily, with it’s mixture of Roman and Moorish influences, along with the golden cinema backdrop of Taormina, a filmic preservation of dreamy Old Italy, holiday spot of choice to stars like Audrey Hepburn and Nicole Kidman.

And when in Taormina, there really is only one place you can stay: The Grand Hotel Timeo: one of the original stops on the Grand Tour and the first hotel in the city, with a view of Mount Etna from every room. Unapologetically opulent, the historic hotel features plush décor like rich marbles, hardwood floors and beautiful furniture and paintings. A sublime pool area is picture-perfect from every angle. Set in a lavishly manicured six-acre compound of verdant tiered gardens, the Timeo is the quintessential place to explore Taormina’s historic highlights, including an ancient Greek amphitheater and a first-class dining scene.

St Barths - Eden Rock

Anyone who watched Made in Chelsea growing up may know that Spencer Matthew’s parents own this famed property, the Eden Rock Hotel on the Caribbean Island of St Barths. Don’t let that put you off. The island is chic and glamorous, but also relaxed, while the hotel is iconically perched on a rock, and rooms built into the cliffside. The sand is cotton-soft, and surrounded by calm, gin-bottle blue water. This place is not cheap, but that’s the point - you go here to see, and be seen - and if we had buckets of money, we’d pull up here on a sunlounger ordering buckets of Krug and Dom Perignon. Need I say anymore?

Madagascar - The Voaara

Unbeknownst to most, Madagascar is not only home to 90% of the World’s plant and wildlife species that can’t be found elsewhere, but is also the fourth largest island in the world. The great isle is home to pristine beaches and uninhabited islands dotted along the coastline, as well as lush rainforest, teeming with lemurs and giant tortoises - the diversity is simply superb.

But if you’re longing for a secluded tropical island getaway - the Voaara is the real deal. Born from the imagination of Swedish hotelier Philippe Kjellgren, who spent his youth on this Indian Ocean island as a kid, it’s now the island’s first true luxury stay. Sink barefoot into the sunlit sand to watch the humpback whale migration, while sleeping in one of only seven luxury villas, each with their own private viewing veranda. Seeing as you’re one of only a handful of exclusive guests, service is not only VIP, but truly personal.

Lombok - The Oberoi Beach Resort

Forget overhyped and over-touristic Bali, 2026 is all about neighbouring (and less developed) island Lombok, known for secluded nature, and epic surf. Lombok retains the Indonesian hospitality and serene culture that defines Bali, but with secluded beaches, rugged coastline and countless vistas of unspoiled rice paddys, Lombok’s Oberoi is the islands original resort, built in 1997, and housing a 40 meter infinity pool. But what makes this property special is the shimmering private beach, and the villas with private courtyards and pools.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this romp through some of the most special and spectacular properties around the World, especially with some indulgence in imagining that money (and time) were no object… but I hope that this let’s your imagination run wild a little bit, and inspire a trip or some travel, no matter how big or small - to somewhere special and beautiful on this little planet we call home. Happy travels and please comment if you liked this xoxoxox Priz