By Alice Tegg, Editorial and Marketing Assistant
Whether you’re child-free by choice or parents looking to recharge the romance, these adult-only island retreats promise an unapologetically grown-up getaway.
Best for privacy: Hotel Pleta de Mar, Mallorca
Why go: Hotel Pleta de Mar 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, this luxurious adult-only hotel has spacious muted-cream suites, a truly fabulous restaurant and luscious 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. Ti Kaye’s 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, The Infinity 180 Luxury Suites on rarely-visited Alonissos island in Greece come with breath-catching views of the blue Aegean. Getting to this secluded adult-only hideaway 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 at The Bale has cutting-edge designs, a private infinity pool and a garden with a daybed the size of a small house. Cleverly, they combine 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 barefoot luxury: Ponta dos Ganchos, Brazil
Why go: If there’s one word to describe Ponta dos Ganchos, it would be idyllic. Though not technically an island, it perches on the tip of a peninsula protruding off the east coast of Brazil, surrounded by jade green sea. Large contemporary cabanas boast panoramic views over Ganchos Bay from their private decks. Some also have their own plunge pools. Add to this waterfront massages, a picturesque secluded beach and totally spoiling service, and you’ve got a honeymooner’s dream.
Couples will love… private dinners on an island reserved just for you, complete with soft lighting and smooth music for absolute romance.
Best for affordable fun: Salt of Palmar, Mauritius
Why go: The vibrant, punchy décor, beaming staff and plethora of free activities at Salt of Palmar make it a veritable adult-only playground. There are watersports galore, yoga and cookery classes, horse-riding, holistic programmes and more; if you can imagine it, you can do it. You’re also encouraged to experience the real Mauritius by meeting local people and supporting communities through skill swap initiatives, street food tours and more. The culturally curious will be in their element.
Couples will love… booking activities via the hotel’s app, so you can spend less time planning and more time playing!
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, the colourful cabins at The Caves 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’ll have bragging rights for life.
Best for wild adventures: JapaMala Resort, Malaysia
Why go: It’s a bit of a schlepp to reach JapaMala Resort, but untamed nature awaits the adventurous. Lying a few hours off the coast of mainland Malaysia, this adults-only eco-hotel promises unspoilt jungle, pristine seas and laidback luxury. The snorkelling and diving is world-class, guests can kayak to secret coves and trek through wild jungle, and then retreat to one of the rustic-chic villas, immersed in the trees for utmost privacy.
Couples will love… sipping sundowners in the cocktail pavilion, suspended over the rippling turquoise sea.
Best for total serenity: Malabar Hill, Sri Lanka
Why go: Prepare for blissful seclusion and superstar service at Malabar Hill. Set back from the Weligama coast, concrete villas are hidden in the gardens encircling a palatial pavilion, with epic forest views that reach all the way to the sea. Here, you can escape the bustle of the bay while staying close enough to catch waves every day. Lounge on four-poster day beds that line the canopy-level infinity pool or, if you’re not in the mood to mingle, chill in your villa’s plunge pool in uninterrupted peace – simply text the team when you want a cocktail.
Couples will love… watching colourful birds flit past as you eat a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast on your private terrace.