The Peak: Jetsetter (Feb 2011)

Published in The Peak Malaysia, February 2011:

click on this link to read the article: The Peak Feb 2011

Best Private Island Resorts

Not exactly Robinson Crusoe. More like Lord of the Manor. Ever fantasized to be on a fabulous secluded private island resort where the staff and facilities are for you and yours alone? I have hunted for the Top 10 Best Private Island Resorts in the world and what can I say, but baby can you buy me an island please?

1. Parrot cay – turks and caicos

A gorgeous private island resort of 100 acres owned by COMO Hotels and Resort (of The Halkin and Metropolitan fame) in the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos. You’ll spot Demi Moore and other celebrities here.

2. necker island – british virgin islands

Richard Branson’s private playground in the divine Caribbean islands of BVI, this 74 acred resort is simply stellar.

3. cocoa island – maldives

A favorite of mine that we’ve visited – this is the pure honeymoon paradise spot to be whisked away to. Also part of COMO Hotels and Resorts, Cocoa Island is breathtakingly beautiful.

4. Cousine island – seychelles

An amazing luxury private island resort in the Seychelles (only 6 hours from Paris), and you’ll find yourself in the ultimate getaway vacation staring at the azure Indian Ocean.

4. musha cay – bahamas

An exclusive private island resort in the Caribbean with 500 acres for you to frolick around, Musha Cay is all about luxury with exquisite accommodations that can host 24 guests.

6. pangkor laut resort – malaysia

Not to be outdone by the Caribbean islands, but we too have our secluded and exclusive private island resorts in Malaysia. At the top of this is YTL Hotels and Resorts’ amazing Pangkor Laut Resort (one of ORIGINALO’s partners) in west Malaysia. Pavarotti called it ‘paradise’.

7. bunga raya island resort – malaysia

Ok so maybe I’m biased for Malaysia, but Bunga Raya Island Resort – one of ORIGINALO’s partners – is a beautiful secluded private island resort in Sabah East Malaysia – known to have some of the most amazing dive spots in the world.

8. cayo espanto – belize

Located just off San Pedro, Belize – Cayo Espanto is a luxurious world-class private island resort. Secluded, ultra-cool – this is the ultimate retreat.

9. wadigi island – fiji

Wadigi Island in Fiji is a deluxe private island available for exclusive charter combining luxury accommodation and gourmet cuisine. This has to be the most sublime escape.

10. le taha’a – french polynesia

If someone were to ask me where should we stay in Tahiti, then look no further than the ultimate exclusive secluded private island resort of Le Taha’a, member of Relais & Chateaux. I don’t think you need a honeymoon as an excuse to come here either!

So the next time you really want seclusion and privacy, plus you’ve got the moolah to match, then head to one of these fabulous destinations. (Better still, own your private island…!)

PZ.

COCOA ISLAND, Maldives

Pure paradise continued when we took a short boat ride (10 mins) to visit a breathtakingly beautiful, holistic wellbeing retreat in the Maldives’ South Male Atoll, Cocoa Island. Part of the COMO Hotels and Resorts Group (The Halkin, The Metropolitan, Parrot Cay, Uma, and Como Shambhala Estate, Bali), Christina Ong does it again with her sense of cool chic style and minimalist zen design.

Cocoa Island, Maldives

This is truly the place for romantic lovebirds and honeymooners. We snorkelled, ate delicious food, and admired the reef activity right outside the villas. There is the fantastic spa Como Shambhala and yoga every morning free of charge. On this tiny island, even at full capacity when we visited, we hardly bumped into a soul. So if you’re looking for that magical getaway, then look no further at Cocoa Island.

Jump straight into the reef and ocean from your bedroom

Suites and villas shaped like the Maldivian Dhoni boats

Dhoni Suite

Dhoni Loft suite

Dhoni Loft suite mezzanine level

Private Villa terrace

Snorkelling by your room

Como Shambhala Spa

Cocoa’s pool right on the beachfront

I’ve tested the beach beds and they are divine!

Romantic dinner a deux on the beach

So the next time you’re wondering where to go for honeymoon, or romantic break or just to chill by the beach and spa, you know where it’s at!

PZ.

Scuba diving in Maldives

One of the best experiences if you go to Maldives is to scuba dive. The diving around Kandooma Resort which is located in the South Male Atoll is fantastic and covers a great variety of dive sites. The very well equipped dive centre offers diving activities for all levels from beginner to divemaster – as well as many specialty courses.

The many dive sites around the resort

As an Advanced Open Water Diver, I had the opportunity to enjoy deep dives below 30 meters, wreck dives, reef dives and drift dives in strong current; it’s very physical and tiring but they are the most interesting ones because this is where the “big fish” are (sharks, rays, dolphins…) Each dive is a unique moment and our boat was, almost every morning, welcomed by 30 to 50 dolphins, jumping and playing around us. Truly unforgettable!

Enjoy the pix of some of the fish you are guaranteed to see if you dive and don’t forget to always go with professionals to fully enjoy the underwater world. (PZ’s first and last dive was in Jamaica in 1998 during Hurricane Mitch, and sadly it’s impossible to get her back to diving).

Eagle Ray

Bat Fish

Clown Trigger Fish

Murena

A big and peaceful Napoleon Fish

Lion Fish

Whitetip shark

Trigger Fish (far more dangerous than sharks, can attack divers for no reason)

Boxfish

Stingrays

Grey Reef Sharks (harmless, consider them like dogs)

Frog.

KANDOOMA, Maldives

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Valentines’ Day and my xth Birthday (I don’t count anymore), PZ and I went for a few days in the fantastic islands of Maldives (the smallest Asian country in both population and area). Even though we’ve all seen many pictures of the thousand ‘Robinson Crusoe’ islands, the massive lagoons with different depths and infinite shades of blue and turquoise, dazzling underwater coral gardens, you really feel that you have suddenly jumped into the screensaver of your computer (you know the one with the boat, the blue water and the little island with palm trees that helps you every winter morning to start a new day @ work).

We stayed at Kandooma (owned by HPL Group and managed by Holiday Inn Resort) situated on the South Male Atoll, adjacent to world class diving and surfing sites, one of the best in Maldives.

Note: None of these pictures have been photoshopped

A bath with a view

Offering smart casual dining wherein kids 12 years old and below eat for free, extensive water sports and activities, a dive center, dedicated kids services and refreshing spa (mandatory for PZ), the hotel’s practical comfort and modern design is what friends and families want to relax and enjoy a unique getaway.

A room with a view

The 2 year-old hotel has a large choice of accommodation available from the Garden and Beach View Villas as well as Beach Houses and the spacious Over Water Villas (where we stayed) with its own private sundeck and water hammock. The ocean view is absolutely breathtaking and fantastic with a good novel. (I had the 1,300 pages “World without End” by Ken Follett to enjoy the sea and the sun).

Blogger @ work

Only 4 hours away from Malaysia (a little more for Europe), we strongly recommend you to dive quickly into Maldivian water if you haven’t yet, as it’s the lowest country in the world, and with the concerns of global warming there’s a great possibility of much of the islands being inundated with water from rising sea levels.

So hurry up, there may no longer be Maldives.

Frog.