Nothing says “I’m on vacation” quite like the feeling you get when you leave everything behind—quite literally—and travel by boat over an expanse of water to your own little bit of paradise. It’s that wind-in-your-face freedom, a “cares-of-the-world-be-damned” attitude that comes from making a clean break with reality and embracing the possibilities that lie across that water—if only for a week or two.

Strictly speaking, you could reach most of these sequestered resorts by helicopter if you have deep pockets and a gotta-get-there-now mentality. But personally, we think that flies in the face of the whole hideaway mystique—you know, that je ne sais quoi that comes from being escorted on board a private launch and then whisked across the water, sea breeze in your face, to an idyllic island setting. Your watery journey may be relatively slow, but it provides a much-needed transition from hectic airports and taxi rides to relaxed island living. Read on, and you’ll discover what true tranquility is all about.

May/June 2011