4 Private Islands For A Once-In-A-Lifetime Vacation

Each offers a fabulously unique experience.

By
Published April 04, 2025
Ocean Cay, MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas
Conrad Schutt

What is paradise? Or maybe the correct question is, where is it?

Merriam-Webster defines paradise as “a place or state of bliss, felicity or delight.” Jimmy Buffett, biting into a cheeseburger after 70 long days of living the vegetarian life, sang about paradise as a carnivorous relapse. Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses tells us that paradise is his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana, where “the grass is green, and the girls are pretty.” In a poignant interpretation, Phil Collins sings of “another day in paradise” as the luxury of not being homeless and broke. Paradise can be many things and found in many places, including the more obvious — a getaway to a private island.

It may not be as inspirational as gratitude for a roof over your head or as nostalgic as yearning for your hometown, but travel can be magical. It’s about taking a break from the routine of life, the monotony, the dishes in the sink and the emails in your inbox. A break from the constant noise in your brain (and on your damn phone) — this is the gift travel offers, the gift we all need now more than ever, the gift we dream about.

But is this version of paradise attainable? Is it too far, too expensive or too out of reach? Maybe not. Below are some of the world’s best-kept-secret private islands that just might make it on your travel bucket list. Each offers a unique experience, so keep reading — one of them is sure to be your paradise.

The Private Island of Old House Cay, South Carolina

It doesn’t get more private than this, friends! Located about 10 minutes from Hilton Head, SC, and accessible only by boat (you can bring your own or opt for a ferry transport), this collection of three private islands is yours (and only yours) for the renting. Rates start at around $300 per night, though the owners offer great specials throughout the year. The 2,000-square-foot home accommodates up to six people. Lounge in the hammock or sunroom. Take the kayaks out for a spin, explore the islands by boat or foot, or bring a book and get lost in another world.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas

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One great private-island visiting hack is to make it a package deal with a cruise of your choice. MSC Cruises boasts one of the most celebrated and enjoyed private islands of all, located in the Bahamas. You will find over two miles of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and plenty of lounge chairs, cabanas and rafts to soak in the Bahamian rays. Food trucks, snack bars and cocktail bars are easy to find, and your drink package from the ship is active on the island, too. MSC’s Ocean Cay offers cruisers direct pier access (yes, you walk right out of the ship onto the island), minimum crowds and a picturesque red and white lighthouse, which you can (and should) climb for elevated views. The only people you will see on this island are your fellow cruise-mates and MSC staff, who happily cater to your every need and desire. You will, of course, have to book a cruise to attain this slice of paradise, but MSC is known for its affordable rates and offers short, all-inclusive trips to Ocean Cay for as low as $170 per person for a two-night sailing.

 

Ranguana Caye, Belize

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Off the coast of Placencia, you’ll discover Ranguana Caye, a two-acre island on the edge of the Belize barrier reef. The island is home to three cabanas for overnight stays, accommodating no more than six overnight guests at one time. You will have access to hammocks, kayaks, hot showers, housekeeping and The Edge of Paradise Bar & Grill. If you feel like trying something new, consider fly-fishing, lobster and conch hunting, or hermit-crab racing. Visit during June or August, and you may witness the hatching of baby sea turtles during nesting season. If you want the most bang for your buck, book the all-inclusive package, which includes all meals and is priced at about $150 per adult, per night.

Off the coast of Placencia, Ranguana Caye, you will discover this two-acre island, which sits on the edge of the Belize barrier reef. The island is home to three cabanas for overnight stays, accommodating no more than 6 overnight guests at one time. You will have access to hammocks, kayaks, hot showers, housekeeping and The Edge of Paradise Bar and Grill. If you feel like trying something new, consider fly-fishing, lobster or conch hunting, or hermit crab racing. Visit during June and August and you may bear witness to the hatching of baby sea turtles during nesting season. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you’ll want to book the all-inclusive package which includes all meals and is priced at about $150 per adult per night.

 

Little Raccoon Key, Georgia

If your idea of paradise involves being surrounded by nature, this reef island just off the coast of Georgia may be for you. Explore the marine, land and bird life that awaits. You can expect to see dolphins, pelicans, blue crabs and turtles in the waters of Little Raccoon Key. Book a four-hour day trip that departs via boat from Jekyll Harbor Marina or glamp it up and rent the private island’s luxurious 26-by-15-foot canvas, weatherproof tent. There is only one reservation booked per night, so you and your guests will have the island to yourselves, with access to a gas grill, groceries upon request and even chef-prepared meals if you choose. Glamorous camping at its finest, you’ll experience the serenity of the rustic outdoors with the luxury of a memory foam bed and designer sheets. Leave your sleeping bags at home and enjoy your very own slice of paradise in the great outdoors. Plan to spend about $399 a night. Split it with your besties and give yourselves an affordable vacation to remember.

Okay, Girlfriends, this is your sign to book the trip, call your favorite travel partner and burst into a little Eddie Money: “I got — two tickets to paradise...”

Which of the above would YOU like to visit? Let us know in the comments below.

Suzanne E. Hayes is a freelance writer based in Simsbury, Connecticut, where she’s raising three children and finding plenty of real-life inspiration along the way. Her work explores family, identity, and the beautifully messy moments of modern womanhood. Suzanne’s writing has appeared in Working Mother, Woman’s World, Kveller, Guideposts, Under the Gum Tree Literary Magazine, and more. With honesty and heart, she brings stories to life that resonate long after the last line is read.