VIP-on-sea: hotels with private beaches

The hottest asset a hotel can have in the height of peak season? Its own private beach. Whether the stretch of sand is officially closed to public access or just so remote or tricky to reach that it’s de facto resort guests only, private beaches keep the vibe exclusive and stay serene even in busy season.

Book into one of the resorts below, set on dreamy coastlines from Crete to Malaysia, and there’ll be no fighting for a spot on the prime stretch of sand. You can rock up, spread out and get the proper R&R time you deserve…

Daios Cove, Crete, Greece

Perched on the Cretan north coast where a hillside lined in Mediterranean scrubland kisses the variegated blues of Mirabello Bay, Daios Cove is every bit the Greek island fantasy resort. Its secluded and very private cove is sheltered from other hotels, allowing guests to keep the golden sands and calm warm waters all to themselves. The unbuttoned Beach House restaurant is the perfect sand-side place for a light alfresco meal of salt-crusted fish before drifting up the hillside for cocktails and panoramic views at the Crystal Box bar, where drinks are designed by World’s 50 Best Bar entry The Clumsies. 
High Life says: Don’t just stick to the beach – the on-site KĒPOS by Goco spa is one of the best in Greece. Choose from a BXR gym for training, a muscle-soothing water circuit and high-tech diagnostics and treatments ranging from cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen to vitamin infusions.

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North Island, Seychelles

A villa at The Prince and Princess of Wales' honeymoon spot doesn’t come cheap – there are just 11 of them on the entire 200-hectare private island – but drop the cash for a stay at North Island and you’ll be treated to some of the most beautiful, most private beaches you’ll find anywhere. The eastern side, where the secluded villas are set, is lined in an expanse of bleached sand lined in cerulean breakers. In the west, jungle foliage crisscrossed in rugged paths spits hikers on to a primordial stretch occupied by darting crabs and sea turtle nests. On any of the beaches, you’re unlikely to see another soul. And hey, if it's good enough for Kate and Wills...
High Life says: Venture into the island’s grassy lowlands and you might be lucky enough to meet the resident giant tortoises. The oldest, Brutus, is thought to be around 160.

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Hideaway Beach Resort, Maldives

Occupying its own private desert isle in the northern reaches of the Maldives – a 75-minute seaplane journey from capital Malé – this dreamy resort has earned its ‘hideaway’ moniker. You’ll have only your fellow guests to share the island’s ring of icing sugar sand with – that is, if you even see your fellow guests, given the resort’s level of privacy. Check into an overwater villa suspended over a turquoise lagoon for the opportunity to step from bed to sea each morning, or plump for a greenery-coddled beach villa for 24/7 access to the soft white sands.
High Life says: It’s not all just lounging around. As well as the full roster of water sports, the resort boasts a rare full-sized football pitch, plus basketball, padel, badminton and tennis courts – the latter formerly graced by legend Novak Djokovic. 

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Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia

Strictly speaking, you may have to share the beach at this private island resort – with tropical birds, monkeys and wild boars that is (such is life on a wildlife-dense tropical island). But for the most part the exotic fauna sticks to the rainforest and you get to enjoy Pangkor Laut’s paradisiacal scene of quiet coves, turquoise waters and plush accommodation, which ranges from overwater villas to ‘estates’ of up to four bedrooms nestled in jungle hillsides. A spa village taking inspiration from across Asia lends Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicine or local Malay expertise to further your relaxation.
High Life says: For a cultural hit, visit in October, when the resort celebrates the Opera in Paradise festival, dedicated to Luciano Pavarotti, a former resort guest.

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Nana Princess Hotel, Crete, Greece

Life at Nana Princess revolves around time on the beach, whether you’re a couple seeking some low-key sun or a family after a waterside experience with all the facility’s bells and whistles. Flanked by docks, the stretch of sheltered sand is dotted with thatched parasols and equipped with a beach bar serving up ice-cold drinks to temper the intense Cretan sun. When you eventually make it off the sands, you have a water park, three restaurants and a wellness club to hold your interest.
High Life says: If you can forgo the holiday lie-in, the resort’s east-facing aspect makes beach sunrises something worth waking early for. 

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