Set against the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, the 2000 acres of Grenada’s Ronde Island leave a powerful first impression. “It’s the ultimate paradise,” describes the island’s exclusive agent, Trevor David, ” and a blank canvas waiting for the right artist.” The striking cliffs, pristine tropical forests and rolling green hills evoke a younger earth, and in fact, that this highly desirable island is untouched by development comes as a surprise to many international real estate specialists. Chris Krolow, CEO of Private Islands Inc., is among them. “With billions of dollars being pumped into resort projects in the surrounding areas, it’s amazing that the property has remained undeveloped,” he says. “This is the largest private island available in the entire Caribbean- just imagine the possibilities.” Read more »
The country of Greece is home to more than 2000 stunning isles, and surrounded in a mystique that may arguably be credited with inspiring the world’s love affair with private islands. The glamour of owning one of these unique properties was popularized nearly a half-century ago when Jacqueline Kennedy wed Aristotle Onassis on his isle of Skorpios, and the ensuing storm of paparazzi immortalized the private island as an unequalled symbol of prestige and luxury for the jet set. But from the rocky outcroppings of the Mediterranean to the forested mountains rising from the Ionian Sea, these isles have long been the playground of the elite- both mortal and otherwise. Read more »
From the star-studded Bahamas to emerging markets in Central America, private islands are a unique- and increasingly profitable- real estate investment.
Attracted by the celebrity caché and skyrocketing price tags, a growing number of savvy real estate investors are turning an eye to private island purchase. From established enclaves like the Bahamas to rising Central American stars like Belize, privacy-conscious individuals, development firms and even cruise lines are driving this exclusive luxury market. Read more »
Imagine gazing from the window of a small aircraft, soaring across a coastline brushed by the sea and dotted with thousands of beautiful, unspoiled islands. Below you, the tide is visibly broken by whitecaps at each island’s shore, and you notice how seemingly uninhabited the area feels. Few houses, little population, no excessive maritime traffic; this is Nova Scotia, Canada’s ocean playground, and yet it doesn’t appear to be the huge private island market that its geography all but demands.
On the other hand, Georgian Bay, two hours north of Toronto, Canada, is a huge market. Fly over the area and you’ll see not only islands but any number of houses, cabins and cottages of all sizes. So many, in fact, that overcrowding can potentially be an issue for those at the end of a mass exodus from the metropolis, bumper-to-bumper in cottage country- the retreat of choice, it seems, for the weary urbanite. Read more »
After a visit to the unforgettable Indian Ocean nation of the Maldives, many things will assuredly stand out in your memory. A small nation comprised of nineteen coral atolls, the Maldives is world-renowned for its sparkling white beaches, perfect clear waters, and a rich cultural history. The beautiful resorts that dot the country’s many small isles are famous for providing discriminating travelers with the ultimate tropical experience- and now two of these hideaways have set an unprecedented standard for luxury at an exclusive rental for US $1M per week.
Two of the most iconic island resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili, are extending the opportunity to exclusively rent their complement of resort services for seven days. Read more »
Through the vision of H.H General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, Nakheel is creating the most exclusive property development ever, The World.With The Palm, Nakheel puts Dubai on The Map. Now with The World, Nakheel puts the map on Dubai. The World consists of over 300 man made islands strategically positioned to form the shape of the world map, lying 4km off the coast of Dubai. The World will be the most exclusive and sought after community offering the most exciting residential and leisure opportunities in the fastest growing tourist destination on the planet. This is the ultimate destination where the only limit is your imagination. Read more »
One of the great island regions of North America is actually located hundreds of miles from the ocean. Here, private islands are a dime a dozen (just an expression - they actually go for a bit more than that!), and sailboats and motorboats take pride of place over cars as the preferred method of transportation. Million-dollar homes are located within site of humble cabins, and cruise ships ply the waters with nary a calypso band in sight. This is the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River, between Ontario, Canada and New York, U.S.A. Read more »
If you want to find Pitcairn Island on a map, search Google Earth and wait for the program to pinpoint the barely visible dot in the middle of the South Pacific. Just because you can’t see any other land on the surface of Google’s orb once you’ve located Pitcairn doesn’t mean Google Earth is malfunctioning. Pitcairn really is that isolated - a volcanic rock under two square miles surrounded by pounding surf in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of Pitcairn island - not many people have. This storied island isn’t located on any flight routes and getting there is strictly for the determined. The other alternative is to arrive by accident and that possibility seems as remote as the island itself. Its utter isolation is why the descendants of its modern day population sought it out in the first place. Read more »
Here we will discuss the perils and pleasures of island ownership, along with the perks and pitfalls of being completely surrounded by water. That can be a joy on a beautiful sunny day, when the lake is calm and the water is warm, but a bit frightening during a storm when the wind is crashing the water over the dock and you know that you cannot safely take the boat to the mainland. Of course, that’s the time to throw a log into the woodstove and put on a Garrison Keillor tape and just sit back and relax in your private little world and laugh at those crazy Lutherans in Minnesota. Read more »
When I tell people that I sell private Islands for a living, many of them tell me that it has always been a dream of theirs to own one, or at least experience living on one. For many people, there is a special allure to a private island that even the most spectacular waterfront estate cannot begin to match. In British Columbia we are blessed with a protected and breathtakingly natural inland waterway that contains numerous private islands, deserted coves, marinas and exquisite waterfront properties. The Canadian Gulf Islands are part of the same archipelago as the San Juan Islands in Washington State and have many of the same characteristics. The bulk of Vancouver Island provides shelter from Pacific storms to the islands being in the lee along the island’s east coast. Generally the climate is sunnier and warmer the further one gets away from the mainland mountains which trap cloud and create precipitation. Read more »
By Liam Gladstone 10/02/2007 
The country of Greece is home to more than 2000 stunning isles, and surrounded in a mystique that may arguably be credited with inspiring the world’s love affair with private islands. The glamour of owning one of these unique properties was popularized nearly a half-century ago when Jacqueline Kennedy wed Aristotle Onassis on his isle of Skorpios, and the ensuing storm of paparazzi immortalized the private island as an unequalled symbol of prestige and luxury for the jet set. But from the rocky outcroppings of the Mediterranean to the forested mountains rising from the Ionian Sea, these isles have long been the playground of the elite- both mortal and otherwise. 
From the star-studded Bahamas to emerging markets in Central America, private islands are a unique- and increasingly profitable- real estate investment. 
