Bora Bora, French Polynesia
a diver in a cavern system known as Neptune’s Throne off Negril, Jamaica, Caribbean
Anse Victorin beach on Fregate Island, Seychelles
fishing shacks on Fogo Island off Newfoundland in Canada
Likuliku Resort on the island of Malolo, Fiji
traditional stilt houses, known as palafitos, on Chiloe Island, Chile
a beach at Soneva Fushi Resort in the Baa Atoll, Kunfunadhoo Island, Maldives
JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa hotel on the Isle of Roses, a private island in Venice, Italy
people enjoying the geothermal spa, Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, Iceland
the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Big Island Hawaii
a Brown Pelican at sunset on a fishing pier, St. Simon's Island, Georgia
Wickaninnish Inn on Chesterman Beach on Vancouver Island, Canada
a rainbow and the Pitons, near Soufriere, St. Lucia, Caribbean
a pool at the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Dorado, Puerto Rico
Sveti Stefan island in Budva, Montenegro
an empty beach in remote Nosy Ankao, Madagascar
Waecicu Beach in Labuan Bajo, on Flores Island, Indonesia
a beach, as seen from a ferry, the beach on Nantucket, Massachusetts
Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Island, Australia
Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
Mangrove in Walakiri Beach, after sunset, East Sumba, Indonesia
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Bora Bora, French PolynesiaKiss the clock goodbye in one of 89 villas—most built over the pristine lagoon—at the St. Regis Bora Bora. Kayak, sail, or simply chaise-lounge with views of Mount Otemanu. Butler service, a restaurant menu by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and traditional taurumi massages round out the relaxation.
Photograph by Douglas Peebles, Getty Images

Visit the world's best island escapes

Dine in a candlelit grotto, dive with manta rays, or lie back for a waterside massage

ByElaine Glusac
December 10, 2018
2 min read

The sea in all its styles, from big-wave drama to lapping lagoon, sets the scene at the world’s most spectacular island resorts. Whether guests arrive by boat or by plane, an island escape affords a remove that a mainland property can’t mimic. Untethered and unbound, isles from the tropics to the Arctic compel adventurers and sunseekers drawn by the dream of downtime. Here are 21 of our favorite island resorts, from Caribbean idylls that have bounded back after the 2017 hurricane season to eco-retreats in Africa.

This article originally appeared in the December 2018/January 2019 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. This version was updated on March 26, 2019.
Chicago freelancer Elaine Glusac writes about travel and food. Follow her on Twitter @ElaineGlusac and Instagram @eglusac.

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