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The Best Hotels for Island Escapists

Would you rather whisk away to Fiji or The Bahamas? If neither of those two catch your attention, don’t worry — we have more for you to choose from. Read on for our favorite island stays around the world.

The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls (Hilo, Hawaii)

4 Stars | Website | Hilo International Airport

13 | Free WiFi; Spa; Breakfast included | 1

Honoli’i Beach Park; Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden; Coconut Island Beach

Located off-the-grid on Hawaii’s big island, discerning travelers should opt to visit The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls. Set on 42 verdant acres adjacent to Hawaii’s largest privately accessible waterfall, the hotel is secluded; however, if craving a beach day and some vibrancy, Hilo and its beautiful strands are a short drive away. Accommodations are provided in several spaced-out, Asian-inspired buildings. Highlights of its make-up include The Residence, the inn’s largest suite; Jade Cottage, which boasts a private-covered lanai; Pagoda Guest House with its own kitchen, and the Harmony House with some of the best waterfall views.


Credit: Dede Brown

The Island House (Nassau, Bahamas)

4 Stars | Website | Lynden Pindling International Airport

30 | 1 swimming pool; Spa; Fitness center | 1

Old Fort Bay Club Beach; South Ocean Beach; Adelaide Beach

Bahamian retreat The Island House is a luxe escape boasting natural topicalities like sandy strands, therapeutic sun, and crystal-clear waters. Additional to its private beach access, the hotel boasts splendors such as an arthouse cinema, three different restaurants & bars, a lap pool, and the esteemed Bamford Spa. Those who crave convenience will love its privileged location on the same island as the nation’s capital, Nassau, which hosts the country’s largest international airport.


Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba (Palm Beach, Aruba)

4 Stars | Website | Queen Beatrix International Airport

46 | 2 swimming pools; Fitness center; Private beach area | 1

Palm Beach; Hooiberg Mountain; Hadicurari

Due to its location in the Southern Caribbean, the Dutch isle of Aruba sees less rain than its regional counterparts. When here, opt to stay at the 46-casita Boardwalk Boutique Hotel Aruba. The setting immediately puts you in vacation mode, from its pastel-hued interior and exterior to the lobby’s rattan lamps & tropical-wood-assembled fixtures, plus two communal pools (Sidenote: The Tropical Pool is perfect if you’re looking for an over-water hammock).


La Casa de Los Naranjos (Lanzarote, Spain)

5 Stars | Website | Lanzarote Airport

8 | Free WiFi; Pet friendly; Breakfast included | 1

Playa de la Garita; Famara Beach; Montañas de Fuego Mountains

The Canary Island of Lanzarote looks like a planet from outer space — it’s hard to believe you’re actually in Spain. Its pervasive volcanic landscape sports once-upon-a-time lava fields, ruddy & black soil, as well as undulating hills with idyllic viewpoints peering out at the isle’s plethora of whitewashed edifices and sinuous cliffs comprising its coastline. Constructed over 200 years ago, La Casa de Los Naranjos is an eight-key boutique hotel that sits at the foot of Lanzarote’s tallest mountain, Peñas del Chache. The hotel is beguiling, with its orange-tree orchard spanning its frontyard, white-clad exterior & green-framed windows at its entrance, antiquarian-chic rooms kitted out with vestiges plus modern comforts, and small in-house restaurant decked in chandeliers, vintage paintings, and a storied grandfather clock (we love the candlelit dining room). While there’s no pool, the beach is a short 15-minute drive away.


Saman Boutique Hotel (Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic)

4 Stars | Website | Samaná El Catey International Airport

24 | 2 swimming pools; Room service; Bar | 1

Las Ballenas Beach; Punta Popy Beach; Playa El Portillo

When it comes to charming stays in the Dominican Republic, Saman Boutique Hotel outranks. An ode to the Samana Peninsula jungle-scape that shrouds it, this 24-key stay imbues the beauty of nature into its DNA: Tables, beds, doors, and cupboards were assembled by locals and sourced from native trees that were thrashed by Hurricane Irma (sustainability measures, we love to see them). Our favorite space to hang out late afternoon following a day at the beach: The indolent main pool and the whopping Saman Tree with hanging rattan lamps looking over it. Oh, and if you’re hungry, the hotel’s delicious restaurant Albizia serves up a menu drawing inspiration from the Dominican Republic, greater Caribbean region, and Mediterranean.


Vomo Island Fiji (Fiji)

5 Stars | Website | Nadi International Airport

32 | 1 swimming pool; Spa; Beachfront | 1

Vomo; Beachcomber Island; Treasure Island

This 225-acre private island wonderland is the perfect place for those who want to escape crowds and the cold, replacing them with warm weather, idyllic beaches, and a limited number of neighbors (you won’t ever wait in a queue here, we promise). South Pacific seclusion pairs well with small-group or private activities: scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, and fliteboarding are at your fingertips.


Il Mezzatorre (Ischia, Italy)

5 Stars | Website | Naples International Airport

52 | 1 swimming pool; Beachfront; Spa | 2

Bay of San Montano; Monte Epomeo; Sorrento Coast

Perched atop a cliff on the dreamy Italian island of Ischia, this luxe boutique outpost is helmed by the renowned Pellicano Hotels. Rooms & suites here peer out at the Gulf of Naples and the hotel’s lemon tree-lined pool. When it comes to wellness, Ischia is the oldest destination spa around the globe — so, with that in mind, it’s a MUST that you seek some R&R at the hotel’s thermal spa, which comprises healing pools housed set in a centuries-old tower. To sum things up, “La Dolce Vita” is the name of the game here.

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