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WHO TO TRAVEL WITH

Bailey Robinson can organise trips

to any of these islands. A seven-night stay

on Laucala Island, for instance, costs from

£20,000 per person based on two adults

sharing, on a fully inclusive basis with transfers

and business-class ž ights. baileyrobinson.com

WHERE TO STAY

Coco Privé Kuda Hithi, from £19,620

a night for 12. cococollection.com

Frégate Island Private, £3,150 a night for

a double. fregate.com

Laucala Island, from £2,500 a night for a

water that laps straight up on to the beach.

Which is why Redbull co-founder and

Laucala owner, Dietrich Mateschitz - and

other private island owners - can charge

what they do (£36,000 a night for Necker,

sleeping 30, and £89,000 on Laucala for

up to 60, both all-inclusive). Because there

really is nowhere else like them.

Rooms with a view

Thankfully, for those of us whose bank

balances don't quite stretch to six-„ gure

holidays, several owners allow guests to visit

on a room-only basis. Necker sets aside a few

weeks a year for guests to come and mingle

with other strangers, and Laucala welcomes

non-exclusive guests whenever the island

isn't booked out privately.

Several Seychelles islands operate as

boutique hotels: the recently refurbished

Frégate Island Private, for instance, whose

16 private villas overlook a white-sand

beach that's widely considered to be one

of the most beautiful in the world. Or the

designer-decorated North Island (where the

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed

their honeymoon), which has 11 excusive

villas dotted amid the jungly undergrowth

overlooking marine-rich seas.

In Mozambique, Vamizi has glamorous

Balinese-style rooms that are set far apart

for privacy, as well as large family villas for

those who fancy house party-style holidays.

Also in Mozambique, Quilalea, which is a tiny

dot of an islet, boasts spectacular snorkelling

spots inhabited by ancient turtles and

endangered dugongs.

There is a sense of security and isolation

that is found rarely in other parts of the world

when visiting island retreats such as these.

They're mini-„ efdoms, where millionaires

live how they want to, without worrying

about neighbours, security, or paparazzi.

And they're in some of the most spectacular

parts of the world.

As Richard Branson put it from his balcony,

overlooking his white beach lined with

yachts, sailboards and kitesurfers: 'You only

have to look around you to see everyone

wants to come here - whether that is [Google

co-founder] Larry Page, who lives nearby, or

Nelson Mandela, who we had as a guest. I

have never found anything as beautiful as this

island. You can't help but fall in love with it.'

double room only. laucala.com

Musha Cay, from £32,000 a night for

12. mushacay.com

Necker Island, from £16,350 a week for

a double. neckerisland.com

North Island, £4,200 a night for a double.

north-island.com

Quilalea, from £660 a night for a double.

azura-retreats.com

The Brando, a new resort on Marlon

Brando's island, Teti'aroa, opens 1 July, from

£1,460 a night, for a double. thebrando.com

Vamizi, £1,300 a night for a double.

vamizi.com

1. Peninsula Villa on Laucala 2. Spectacular diving

on North Island 3. One of Necker Island's terraces

4. Night-time on North Island 5. A beach house

bath on Musha Cay 6. A sea cave on Musha Cay

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CHAMPAGNE SPECIAL