Romantic getaway to the exclusive Vamizi Island

The ultimate barefoot beach paradise destination, Vamizi’s Private Villa Collection has been designed by South African architects who have are renowned for their commitment to creative design, sustainable development and responsible tourism, creating a unique style of architecture that draws on the multi-cultural influences of Mozambique. The Vamizi Villas are two brand new private villas, each with five en-suite bedrooms, a sweeping private deck for utter relaxation, and direct beach access for those wishing to dip their toes – and more – in the sparkling blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

As with Vamizi Island lodge the service is impeccable, the food is surf-fresh and delicious and your days are your own to choose what you wish to do. Each villa has its personal hospitality team, on hand to talk you through all your options – from exciting and adventurous scuba diving and big game fishing to the more relaxing beach picnics, dhow excursions and whale watching (at certain times of the year). Other activities on offer include snorkelling, salt-water fly-fishing, mountain bike trails and bird walks. The local guides are very happy to lead fascinating walks to explore the island and find monkeys or birds.

Exclusive to the Vamizi Private Villa Collection is the Vamizi Retreats. On selected dates through the year, a four night retreat is offered, led by yoga instructor Claire Finlay. These are the ultimate in get-away-from-it-all relaxation, and are designed to rejuvenate both body and soul. In addition to morning and afternoon yoga sessions guests will enjoy a diving trip, a fishing trip and a luxurious massage during their stay. The perfect option for those wishing to retreat from everyday life, and spend a luxurious few days – guests are guaranteed to leave reinvigorated!

Book your luxury vacation getaway from here.

Moorish style castle on the island of Grenada

A unique and highly desirable residence of spacious proportions, Azzurra Castle encompasses a 26,500 square foot site set at the end of a peninsula on The Caribbean Sea. The property, owned by international entrepreneur Peter de Savary, is nestled on a peninsula on the south side of the island with stunning coastal panoramas at the end of Lance aux Epines in St. Georges, Grenada on the Caribbean Sea. The castle sits amongst flowering tropical gardens, terraces and two aviaries, leading down to a small private sandy beach and sunbathing deck. The Moorish style home has 9,500 square-feet of interior living space and 7,500 square-feet of exterior living space. The interiors feature bold and bright colors throughout, vaulted ceilings, accents of over-sized, scattered cushions, antique decorations and private nooks filled with ottomans, giving this property a laid-back Moroccan feel. The open living spaces take in natural breezes from the ocean.

Azzurra Castle features two private gated landscaped entrance courtyards with garage and parking. There are several extensive living and dining areas, roof and garden terraces, patios and beautifully managed tropical gardens. There are five dramatic bedrooms with private bathrooms and a self-contained apartment in the turret with its own roof terrace. And of course, no Castle comes without a folly; you’re turreted get-away in the gardens. The Castle also has a dungeon, thoughtfully converted into an air-conditioned luxury cinema and board-room/office/exercise room and numerous reception rooms/areas. Azzurra Castle is the ultimate in private locations, enjoying two small sandy beaches in a serene and secluded bay; alternately enjoy the view from the beachside Jacuzzi or lay out on the terraced decking or sunbathe/stargaze on the vast roof terrace.

Azzura Castle is available as a vacation rental sleeping 12, with rates ranging from $9,500 – $15,000 per week, including live-in housekeeper/cook, from here.

The great room is the home’s main living space, there are no walls or windows here, it is all open to the exterior elements.

Fine dining area.

Each of the bedrooms features an en-suite bath.

The pool area, which is accessed via the great room or the bedrooms, has a large terrace with a beautiful terra cotta tile pattern. The pool is 50 feet long and features a decorative mosaic.

The front side of the castle facing the ocean.

Outdoor private dining terrace.

Walkway leading to a private outdoor sitting area.

A two-story turret.

The turret features a guest bedroom with a kitchen and bathroom.

Photos: Alex Smailes

Escape to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives on Manafaru Island is comprised of villas hovering over waves, suites perch above the beach, and pavilions that jut out over the ocean. Like an oasis, this resort has an amazing range of amenities and facilities in splendid isolation. Acommodation options are out of this world here: from Water Villa to Beach Villa, Ocean Villa, Beach Suite, Grand Water Pavillion, and Grand Beach Pavilion. Turquoise waters surround guests and make the decision to hop into your private infinity pool or straight into the sea a more complicated one than you might have anticipated. This fabulous resort has a full list of incredible activities such as deep-sea fishing, diving and snorkeling, bungee trampoline, kids’ club, tennis courts, recreational center, and more. There is nothing like an island vacation to make you feel as if you have executed a blissful escape… so if “escaping” is in the cards, head to Waldorf Astoria Maldives.

Nightly rates start at $525 from here.

Fabulous luxury island getaway to Barbados

The Australian owners of Little Good Harbour have managed not only to create a Barbados boutique hotel that captures the essence of the island’s beach life 20 years ago, but have also opened one of the most impressive restaurants on the water’s edge, The Fish Pot. A scattering of whitewashed coral-stone cottages, the seaside hotel smacks of unpretentious luxury “the perfect in-the-know hidey-hole for Caribbean beach-bunnies.”

One-and two-bedroom suites overlooking the little pool encompassing two floors and a terrace, all decorated in inimitably Caribbean greens and yellows, and offer a sublime sense of privacy for couples seeking escape. The newer Vineyard suites at the top of Little Good Harbour are more geared to families, with high spec kitchens, spacious showers and large tiled verandas. The most historic rooms are in the three-bedroom Fort Suite, part of the original Fort Rupert building on the beachfront, where you can fall asleep to the sound of the sea.

Take a dip in one of two swimming pools: one has a slight Romanesque mood embellished with greenery; the other is much bigger, lined with cool grey slate and decked out with cushioned wicker loungers. For the perfect holiday bliss try The Little Spa, a new treatment room including full spa menu. Speightstown is just two miles away for shopping and the hotel is a one hour drive from the airport. Barbados awaits you.

Visit the pristine luxury of Little Good Harbour here.

Get swept away to the Maldives

Overwater villas and underwater dining are just a few of the luxuries that make up Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives, a secluded island retreat where a world of splendor awaits your every demand. Regardless of your preference for overwater accommodations, or those directly on the seemingly infinite white powder beach, you will always be just steps from the coolness of H2O. If you hop into the plunge pool in your overwater villa, you will be in the water, that’s again surrounded by water. In fact, every room offers a plunge pool.

A haven of pool villas, Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives offers the ultimate in privacy and luxury, your own sanctuary within a sanctuary. Expansive space opens onto brilliant tropical nature, with private pools, high ceilings, timber interiors and marble floors. Flavors of culinary art and wine served amidst a panorama of aquatic life in the world’s only underwater restaurant and wine cellar. The luxury resort features 74 one-bedroom villas and four two-bedroom suites.

Enjoy idyllic sunsets from your hammock or dining pavilion by the pool. There is also a swim-up bar, six overwater spa suites, exotic cooking classes, tennis courts, yoga facilities, a dive center and marine lab, plus world-class big game fishing trips. If you do indeed need a break from all this amazement, then you’d better close your eyes and head off to bed. Dreams may be closer to reality!

For an incredible trip of a lifetime to the Maldives, visit Anantara Kihavah Villas website here.

Beach House Maldives

Hidden in the unspoiled atolls of the north, The Beach House Maldives combines local flavor with global sophistication. Exclusively chic and wonderfully laid-back, this Maldives luxury resort upholds the highest standards of modern luxury whilst maintaining indigenous traditions and an authentic island ambiance. This idyllic retreat sits on an exclusive 35 acre private island fringed by powder white beaches and a jungle filled interior.

Take your pick from the beautifully designed contemporary thatched villas, complete with your own private pool and a Villa Host to attend to your every whim and fancy. Each villa is a celebration of sleek, contemporary Maldivian architecture, where floor to ceiling doors opening out onto a spacious deck, blurring the boundaries between the indoors and outdoors. This luxurious resort is a true haven for those who appreciate beauty and life.

Exquisite Mina Two on a sultry island

Mina Two is a beautiful property located on a private complex above Glyfadi bay, on the South-western point of Mykonos, Greece. The glamorous home distinguishes itself by its unique décor and stunning location. The original style of the villa is noticeable right away from the bright pool terrace – lined with a unique industrial finishing – and the one of a kind swimming pool with its unparalleled effect given by the small pebbles it is paved with in its entirety. Further to its infinity edge, the swimming pool is also directly connected to a Jacuzzi tub, which overflows as well. The pool terrace also features a shaded lounge area, a BBQ area and outdoor dining area, in addition to stretching along the front of the villa as well.

In full respect of the traditional Mykonian design, the interiors display a strong predominance of white from washed wooden floor to beamed ceiling, which is interrupted only by the designer furniture and adornments that through their tasteful touches complement the interior design of Mina Two. All four bedrooms provide the same level of comfort, each featuring a TV with satellite, en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and access to the outdoors. The design is also recurrent although each has its own vibe thanks to the accurate selection of furniture. A garden bedroom with separate entrance can also be made available and it respects in full the standards of the main house. The kitchen is located on the entrance level and has direct access to an open space including both the indoor dining area and living room. This space enjoys great light during the day through its large French doors accessing the front terrace and providing admirable sea views, the very same views that welcome the guests as they walk through the main entrance of the villa.

The meticulous attention to detail and original materials chosen assure a property that has a fresh and comfortable atmosphere, perfect for guests who cherish technology and design mixed with a waterfront location. This stunning vacation villa can be rented here.

Romantic Casa Ventanas in Belize

This one bedroom, over-the-water bungalow is thoughtfully appointed with every imaginable comfort, custom-crafted furnishing and amenity. This unique 1,000 square foot bungalow is the most intimate, romantic and most popular accommodation on the island. Casa Ventanas is at the end of a dock that stretches over 150 feet off the island for the ultimate in privacy. Surrounded on all sides by the beautiful, turquoise blue Caribbean Sea, Casa Ventanas is a picture perfect window into the exotic water world of San Pedro, Belize. Guests are always enchanted by all of the sea life swimming right past or under their bungalow.

Breathtaking retreat off the Koh Samui coast

Thailand’s X2 (pronounced “cross-to”) resorts are about soul, freedom and simplicity. These credos add up to an earthy philosophy that beautifully continues at X2 Koh Samui, on the Hua Thannon beach on the southeastern coast of Koh Samui island in Thailand. The newly built resort’s 27 villas rest on a largely undeveloped beach surrounded by old tree growth; the buildings’ sleek, horizontally oriented design seems to meld into nature. With interiors in calm neutral tones that stand in sharp contrast to the Gulf of Thailand’s brilliant turquoise waters, most have their own swimming pools and terrace gardens.

There’s plenty to do and even excellent fusion food on offer all day at the resort’s 4K (“fork”) restaurant, but the resort admits that its main activity is, well, relaxation. For this reason, perhaps the huge outdoor massage pavilion best captures X2 Koh Samui’s true essence. With just two beds on which to be pampered by expert hands, the coolly modernist building has an entire acre of land and 30 metres of beachfront to itself. This is a place to really feel that the most desirable luxuries of today are infinite time, endless space and sweet silence. You can visit this incredible resort’s website here.

Getaway to this mystical villa in the Greek Isles

The luxury Porto Zante Villas & Spa is an exclusive resort of chic and contemporary villas located on a private sandy beach on the beautiful island of Zakynthos in Greece, famous for its turquoise waters and Venetian villages, Porto Zante is a boutique luxury hotel comprising luxury private pool villas at the water’s edge. Guests enjoy the ultimate privacy of a home away from home with personalized 24-hour five star hotel experience including private helicopter and jet transfers, and the option of a private chef and butler service.

Porto Zante currently offers three world class beachfront villas, with three new villas opening in May 2011. The villas are elegantly decorated with Armani Casa furnishings and artwork by prominent Greek artists and house the latest in-room entertainment systems. Beautiful details include antique Dionysian marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi, authentic marble fireplaces and spacious verandas with rattan design furniture. Additionally, each villa has a private heated pool surrounded by lush gardens; furthermore spa treatments can be privately performed in the villa’s exclusive spa area. Some even offer their own fitness facilities and private beach space.

Porto Zante provides a truly memorable authentic Greek experience from its effusive welcoming hospitality to the importance paid to the freshest locally sourced ingredients served in its restaurant, The Club House overlooking the Ionian Sea. For those wishing for absolute privacy chefs can create fabulous dining experiences in-villa.