By Chris Leadbeater
We all love to slip away to an island in the sun. But while the joys of Jamaica and Cuba are well documented, there’s nothing like vanishing to a wave-lashed islet so far from popular perception that you could be a modern day Robinson Crusoe. Such as…
Best for American Dreamers: Kauai
Who can do it? Anyone who fancies a slice of America with a difference. While you could never doubt that Kauai is part of the US (coffee shops and malls), it is definitely America with a tropical tint, all palm-fringed beaches and powerful volcanic scenery.
Let’s go! Kauai is pretty much the final frontier of America – and the western world. The small private island of Ni’ihau aside, there isn’t much beyond until you hit Japan. It certainly feels like the end of the line. Waimea Canyon may not be as big as the Grand, but is almost as photogenic. And the Napali Coast is simply breathtaking – a rugged enclave of steep cliffs and hidden waterfalls only accessible by hiking trail.
Top tip: Make sure you bask on Hanalei Bay, a perfect golden crescent on the north coast. A surfing paradise, it was voted the best beach in America earlier this year.
Stay: The Aston Islander, on the east coast, is a good value base. The Grand Hyatt, on the south coast, is top of the range option complete with golf course and spa.
Best for families: Marco Island, Florida
Who can do it? Families looking for an alternative take on an old favourite. While it would be a push to describe anywhere in Florida as truly remote, Marco Island, just off the south-west coast, makes for a distinct change of pace from Orlando or Miami.
Let’s go! A barrier island of just 17 square miles, Marco Island offers the quieter life that you might expect of Florida’s (comparatively) less visited Gulf Coast. Tiger Tail Beach and South Beach are lovely sandy stretches likely to please adults and children alike, while the warm waters of the Gulf are ideal for a spot of paddling, snorkelling or kayaking. And there’s always a chance of seeing dolphins splashing in the waves.
Top tip: Make sure to venture onto the mainland, either to Naples, with its excellent array of restaurants, or into the wonderful Everglades. Look dad, there’s an alligator!
Stay: The comfortable Hilton Marco Island does family suites and a kids’ programme.
Best for beach bunnies: Palm Island, the Grenadines
Who can do it? Anyone who wants to lie on a Caribbean beach far removed from the rest of the world. The Caribbean is, of course, home to a number of large, famous islands. Palm Island, a bolthole of less than half a square mile, isn’t one of them.
Let’s go! Palm Island is something of a Robinson Crusoe fantasy (only with cocktails and fine food). So small that the resort of the same name takes up most of the space, it can only be reached by boat, from neighbouring Union Island. You're surrounded by some of the most outstanding scenic nature – 30 or so islets make up the Grenadines archipelago, and neither Palm nor Union are big enough to stand out from the pack.
Top tip: Prepare for the ultimate in relaxation, the tranquillity here will de-stress even the hardiest city slickers.
Stay: Palm Island does top end luxury extremely well. With 135 acres, there's also room to stretch out amid the seclusion of this private island.
Best for active explorers: Reunion
Who can do it? Those who prefer a long walk to a day on the beach. While Reunion certainly has beaches worth a few hours of anyone’s sun-worshipping time, its chief attraction is a wealth of volcanic terrain, much of which can be covered on foot.
Let’s go! In some senses, Reunion is firmly on the beaten track. It is actually part of France, and even has the Euro as its currency. In others – mainly the fact that it lies 200 miles east off Madagascar in the Indian Ocean – it is the definition of ‘out of the way’. It is also a place that rewards exploration. Its interior, home to two volcanoes (one extinct, one recently active), is criss-crossed by over 600 miles of hiking trails.
Top tip: Don’t forget Reunion’s pretty capital Saint-Denis. Pitched on the north coast, it is defiantly Gallic. Unsurprisingly, decent restaurants are not hard to find.
Stay: The great value Mercure St-Gilles Blue Beach nestles nicely on the east coast.
Best for absolute escape artists: Rodrigues
Who can do it? Anyone who really wants to run away from modern life (for a week, at least). If Reunion is a lonely Indian Ocean outcrop, then Rodrigues is practically solitude itself, lurking some 350 miles east of Mauritius (which it is tied to politically).
Let’s go! Although it was known about by Arab sailors as far back as the 10th century, this speck of an islet, just 42 square miles in area, has changed little in the subsequent millennium. It’s a place where the speed of existence is slow, even in the north-coast capital Port Mathurin. Pointe Coton, on the island’s north-east corner is a beach ideal for winding down and enjoying the day as the locals do – with a total lack of urgency.
Top tip: Get underwater. Rodrigues is home to one of the world’s most pristine reefs.
Stay: The Cotton Bay Hotel hunkers down just next to Pointe Coton beach…
Chris Leadbeater is a freelance travel journalist. He writes regularly for the Daily Mail. His favourite destinations are Cuba, the USA and Paris.