By Jake Hamilton, i-escape Editor
With a 30% rise in adult-only hotel searches, these island getaways are perfect for grown-ups in 2020
Best for privacy: Hotel Pleta de Mar, Mallorca
Why go: This luxury adult-only hotel on Mallorca’s east coast is one of those secret romantic hideouts where you could happily hole up for a week. With total privacy and exclusive surroundings, Hotel Pleta de Mar has spacious muted-cream suites, a truly fabulous restaurant and luxuriant gardens bursting with wildflowers. Plus, you’re just moments from the sea.
Couples will love… watching the sunrise from the sea-facing infinity pool.
Best for vibes: Ti Kaye, St Lucia
Why go: This tranquil yet super-friendly adult-only resort on striking St Lucia is ideal for couples looking to escape the family crowds. Its rustic-chic cottages are set on a lush hillside above a remote sandy beach and have incredible sea views (a few have private pools, too). While excursions are plentiful, this grown-up hideout is all about soothing Caribbean breezes, snoozing in hammocks and sensational cocktails at sunset.
Couples will love… enjoying a blissful massage with sea views while lying face down, thanks to a special mirror in the spa!
Best for views: The Infinity 180 Luxury Suites, Alonissos, Greece
Why go: As the name suggests, this secluded adult-only hideaway on rarely-visited Alonissos island in Greece comes with breath-catching views of the blue Aegean. Getting here is all part of the experience (2.5hrs by ferry from Skiathos), but you’re rewarded with luxurious intimacy. There are three elegant suites with private terraces, plus a stupendous infinity pool and gourmet dinners. Wonderful family owners, the Woods, deliver tip-top personal service with genuine enthusiasm. They also have an award-winning spa in the garden.
Couples will love… cosying-up in the bar while enjoying Justin Wood’s exceptional cocktails.
Best for design lovers: The Bale, Bali
Why go: This hip, minimalist hotel set on a hillside in Nusa Dua is a magnet for fashion-forward romantics. Each seductive pavilion has cutting-edge designs, a private infinity pool and a garden with a daybed the size of a small house. Cleverly, The Bale combines the seclusion of private enclosures without losing a sense of open space. You can look out; nobody looks in. Your private butler is just a bell-tinkle away.
Couples will love… the exclusive Geger Beach Club which has a long stretch of soft white sands, plus classy cocktails and snorkelling gear for hire.
Best for epic sunsets: Perivolas, Santorini
Why go: Here’s something a bit special: a collection of luxury vaulted rooms perched on a cliffside above Santorini’s sparkling, sea-filled caldera. Perivolas is one of the sexiest hotels in Greece. It has a truly dazzling infinity pool and white minimalist suites with organically curved terraces spilling down the slopes. Watching the sunset over Oia’s rooftops from your terrace (rather than jostling for space at Sunset Point) is one of the world’s all-time classic views.
Couples will love… gazing out at the incredible volcano from your alfresco Jacuzzi.
Best for bohemians: Casa Morada, Florida Keys
Why go: Hit the hammock, island-style, at this 16-suite boutique hideaway tucked into a secluded cove in the Florida Keys. Tranquil and refreshingly eclectic, this adult-only retreat is located on Upper Key’s Islamorada, the most scenic spot of the archipelago. Casa Morada’s nooks and crannies are utterly charming: a hidden pond here, a lovers’ bench there, and sensational snorkelling in every direction. Secret tip: there’s a comfy hammock at the end of the pier.
Couples will love… spending a perfect evening with sundowners at the gazebo bar, then a seafood supper at the harbour, followed by nightcaps on your veranda.
Best for budget breaks: Villa Ippocampi, Crete
Why go: This welcoming adult-only hotel near Crete’s north coast makes a surprisingly affordable option for an off-season escape. The owners are a lovely Greek-Dutch couple called Nikos and Lydia who run this friendly haven with genuine affection. It has 13 simple yet stylish suites, all with kitchenettes; plus a walled garden with a sparkling pool. It’s no surprise that many guests are return visitors.
Couples will love… the romantic Penthouse Suite: whitewashed wood-beamed ceilings, a fireplace seating area, and an elegant kingsize bed.
Best for all-inclusive: The Caves, Jamaica
Why go: One reason why this fabulous beach retreat is favoured by British celebs is the extraordinary location. Tucked away on the cliffs at the western edge of Negril, its 12 colourful cabins come with an exceptional restaurant and a fantastic rum bar (help yourself!). But still, you’re going to love the cliffhanger setting. Discover secret stairways, hidden sundecks and sunken grottos that gradually reveal themselves above a sapphire sea. Be sure to catch the sunset from the spa’s hot-tub.
Couples will love… taking a leap of faith from the cliffside. The jump isn’t for the faint-hearted, but you can brag about it later on Insta.
Best for total serenity: Lunuganga, Sri Lanka
Why go: This dream house of Sri Lanka’s most famous architect Geoffrey Bawa (the father of ‘tropical modernism’) is now an adult-only hotel that oozes serenity. Lunuganga is, quite simply, a work of art. Discerning couples have the chance to stay in one of six antique-filled suites, each located in separate buildings scattering the estate. Each suite is also packed with quirky collections of art and antiques.
Couples will love… exploring the magical lakeside gardens. It has courtyards, lily ponds, walkways and romantic pavilions.
Best for adventure: Pole Pole Bungalows, Mafia Island, Tanzania
Why go: Getting to this adult-only seaside lodge on the remote island of Mafia may be an adventure in itself, but what a destination! Pole Pole (which means ‘take it easy’ in Swahili) is a place with no stress and no hassle, just sunshine and silence. The excellent bungalows, astounding cuisine and elegant Italian management allow you to explore this untrodden paradise in your own time. Take a snorkel around the incredible marine park: you might just see a seahorse or giant turtle.
Couples will love… sailing around Chole Bay on the hotel’s boat, then pulling up at a sandbank for a picnic.
Looking for more? Explore our Best Long haul Holidays 2020