The best vacations to have, in my opinion, are the ones where we travel to a different world: a place with exotic food and fascinating cultures, a place with no resemblance to home and all the stresses we face there. This is easy enough to do when traveling to another country but to get that full experience of ‘this is a completely unique place’ is to take your vacation on an island getaway. We had a look around to see which islands are the best to visit and here is our list of the top five island getaways. If you disagree or have suggestions, please let us know in comments.
5. Bora Bora
Bora Bora is the island that was created for relaxation and has been dubbed the “Jewel of the South Seas”. It is a small island by comparison to most being only about 6 miles long and 2 miles wide but this small land mass is packed full of beauty and wonder. It is commended internationally as the best honeymoon destination and that is what they’ve worked on as their catch. When you think of ‘Bora Bora’ the accommodation that comes to mind are their bungalows on the water. Many of these bungalows have glass floors so that guests can watch the teaming life swim by in the lagoons where the bungalows are built on. Bora Bora gives her guest the opportunity to either be active with a wide range of activities such as: visiting the local village, dine at world class restaurants, explore the dormant volcanoes via hiking or safari, boat tours, snorkeling, diving and even helicopter tours. Bora Bora is an island that will never be forgotten once you visit.
4. The Galapagos Islands
To most people, when they hear the words ‘The Galapagos Islands’ they think of Charles Darwin, the Grandfather of the evolution theory, but they are more than a trip into the history of someone who walked them back in 1831. The Galapagos Islands with their wild landscapes and creatures that seem to be out of Jurassic Park itself gives her visitors the exciting encounters they crave. The islands are home to the world’s largest tortoises, iguanas that swim in the sea and unusual bird life and give explorers the opportunity for incredible journeys. The activities awaiting you on these islands are catered to families, hikers, divers, avid bird waters and guided tours. The best tour is called Darwin’s Footprint Tour where you will be able to walk in evolution’s grandfathers own footsteps and explore the most amazing nooks and crannies that he did, these tours range from 4 to 8 days. There are a large number of packages to choose from when visiting, each being catered to whatever you are looking to see and experience on these magical islands and you can choose between having a land based vacation and a sea-based vacation. There is something for everyone on the islands of adventure.
3. Santorini
Santorini is an island just off the coast of Greece so incredible food that will change your life is a given and a must, especially the Santorini Sfougato and Melitinia. The island is home to a small wine industry created using their own grapes and techniques of agricultural chemistry going back generations, the pride of all wines on the island is the Vinsanto (the holy wine). There are a lot of theories that link Santorini to the lost island of Atlantis and suggest that this was the island that inspired Plato. When visiting Santorini, the one thing that will stay with you are the beaches, the water is the bluest of all blues and the sands are red and black. The architecture in Santorini is known for their blue domes and white walls and their extraordinarily preserved Akrotiri and the ancient city of Manolas. One of the must see places in Santorini is the caldera which has been preserved by closing the islands pumice quarries. The island has been ranked as one of the top islands to visit in the world by magazines such as Travel+Leisure and have been revered by the BBC and US News.
2. Bali
Bali is the island of the gods. Not much more needs to be said but allow me to continue. Bali is loved for her culture, her food that is mouth-watering, vastly vegetarian and organic, but you can still find some incredible duck. The resorts in Bali are so diverse that you can find the one that is perfectly catered to your every whim. The main religion in Bali is Hinduism which gives visitors a chance to experience a multitude of different festivals, celebrations, and temples. The amazing thing is that not many travelers have yet had the chance to experience Bali which makes this island less crowded, less expensive and less worn out than many other island getaways. The activities you can indulge in include, cruises, spa treatments, hiking, safari tours, monkey forest (yes, that's me with a monkey on my head), diving, snorkeling and touring some of the most outstanding tributes to ancient architecture in the world. If this is your island getaway pick, plan your trip around one of their unforgettable festivals
1. Maui
Finally, the top island to visit for your perfect island vacation, the crème de la crème. For most Hawaii vacationers, Maui isn’t just right, its perfection. TRUST ME, this is where I finally settled and live to this day. The island isn’t too big so that you don’t get to see it all, it isn’t too small so that you see everything on the first day and spend the rest thinking “been there and done that”, and it’s not so crowded so that everything is always fully booked, like I said, it’s perfect. Maui gives her guests anything and everything that the Aloha State could possibly offer. During your visit, you’ll get the lowdown on the islands fascinating history, the exquisite culture and the exotic wildlife. The activities are numerous, from the diving, snorkeling, and surfing, the traditional hula dancing and golfing on the fairways alongside the coast, take a drive to see Maui’s breathtaking views, safari at the Haleakala National Park and so, so, so much more. Once you visit, it’s the place you’ll never want to leave. It will capture your heart and soul, any retirement plans you had before will change as Maui is the modern world’s ultimate paradise.