A place of your own: private islands, villas and safari retreats
The appeal of having a place to yourselves is simple: no other guests at the pool, over breakfast, or in the spaces where your group gathers. You can decide when to eat, whether to plan an excursion or stay in, and how much time everyone spends together. For a family holiday or a gathering of close friends, that privacy offers a rare degree of freedom, with room for different generations to enjoy the stay in their own way.
Across this small collection of distinctive properties, exclusive use takes different forms. Some put an entire island or retreat at your group’s disposal; others centre on a private residence within a larger resort. What they share is the freedom to make the stay your own, with a dedicated team available when you need one.
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
With 30 acres reserved for your party, the island offers a rare degree of privacy: no other guests share its spaces. The Great House provides a natural place to get together, while Balinese-style houses, a beach villa, and bunkrooms are dotted around the island for quieter moments. Exclusive use usually accommodates up to 48 guests, with larger groups possible by arrangement.
The setting lends itself to a holiday shaped around the group rather than a set programme. You might start with breakfast together, then split between the water, the tennis court, and a walk along the island’s trails. Later, everyone can regroup for dinner on the sand or on the Great House roof terrace. The kitchen draws on Caribbean flavours and fresh island ingredients, and the team can arrange dining throughout the day, including a sushi lunch served from a kayak. With a dedicated staff attending to your group, plans can change as easily as the weather.
ÀNI Thailand, Koh Yao Noi
On Koh Yao Noi’s east coast, ÀNI Thailand looks across Phang Nga Bay from gardens and a private beachfront setting. Reserved for one group at a time, the resort has villas and suites for 12 to 20 guests, arranged around generous living spaces and a main pool. The scale still manages to feel personal, while a team of 24 is on hand to look after the details.
Meals, spa treatments, children’s activities, and customised excursions are part of the all-inclusive stay, leaving plenty of room for you to decide what suits each day. One morning might mean a long breakfast and time by the pool; another could take the group out by longtail boat to snorkel and explore nearby islands. Private yacht trips to the Phi Phi Islands and Thalene Bay can also be arranged. The resort is reached by speedboat from Ao Po Grand Marina, around a 30-minute drive from Phuket International Airport. It’s worth coordinating arrival times with your Travel Counsellor so the group can make the crossing together.
Cheetah Plains, South Africa
Cheetah Plains sits in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, alongside Kruger National Park. Each of the three villas is reserved for one party, with space for up to eight guests. Sleek architecture, stone, and African art give the interiors a contemporary feel, while broad views and open spaces keep the surrounding landscape close. A dedicated team - including a host, butler, chef, spa therapist, guide, and tracker - means the group can settle into its own routine, with the safari organised around its interests.
Twice-daily game drives use private, fully electric vehicles, giving guests a quieter way to travel through the reserve. Sabi Sand is known for leopard sightings, and the wider wildlife includes lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, and cheetah. As with any safari, encounters depend on where the animals are, which is part of the appeal of spending time in the field. Back at the villa, meals and drinks - including South African wines - are included. The result is a safari with the privacy of a home and the expertise of a dedicated lodge team.
Villa Boffalora, Italy
Set above Lake Como on the site of a former medieval watchtower, Villa Boffalora combines a secluded hilltop position with easy access to the lake’s towns and villages. Its terraces and balconies look across the water, while a cable car a short walk away offers another perspective on the lake and surrounding hills. Inside, the early twentieth-century house pairs Liberty-style character and frescoed ceilings with contemporary furnishings. Eight bedrooms accommodate up to 14 guests, giving families or friends space to come together without making the house feel crowded.
There is plenty to enjoy without leaving the property: a heated infinity pool, rooftop terrace, pool house, media room, and a fitness and yoga space with a steam room. Staff, housekeeping, and a villa manager are on site, with breakfast prepared by a waiter and a chef available for other meals; food costs are additional. A boat can also be rented at extra cost. For a group that wants to explore Como’s villages and return to a private home, this offers both options without compromise.
Gili Lankanfushi's Private Reserve, Maldives
Set apart from the main resort in the lagoon, this overwater residence has 1,700 square metres of space across several levels. Open-air living areas and decks close to the water give guests direct access to the surrounding coral gardens. The layout offers room to gather, as well as quieter corners to retreat to. An infinity pool, private cinema, gym, bar, and couples’ spa with sauna and steam room make the villa unusually self-contained. There is even a slide from the upper deck into the lagoon.
A private boat and a dedicated Mr or Ms Friday, available around the clock, make trips to the main island straightforward. Within the villa, a private kitchen, outdoor dining pavilions, and a cellar selection guests can shape from 400 labels give meals a more personal feel. It suits a smaller group or family wanting long stretches of privacy, with the wider resort still within reach. One distinction to keep in mind: the Private Reserve is a standalone villa within Gili Lankanfushi, rather than a buyout of the whole resort.
Your handcrafted stay starts here
Each of these stays offers a distinctive setting for bringing family or friends together, with privacy and the freedom to make the time your own. Your Travel Counsellor can help find the right fit for your group and shape the arrangements around it, from flights and private transfers to experiences suited to everyone travelling.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
