Many people dream of an island vacation. Escaping to an island getaway is a great choice for a vacation adventure, even if it’s just for a couple of days. Many of the more popular islands can be quite busy, especially during peak travelling season, so many tourists are turning to smaller and less well-known locations for their warm, relaxing getaways.
When going away on an island holiday, you want to make sure to protect your health and your belongings. Make sure to check into travel insurance to provide you with a bit of peace of mind. When considering insurance, you will want to find the best travel insurance quotes to meet your budget and your personal travel needs.
Korcula, Croatia
To get to Korcula, you will need to take a ferry from Dubrovnik, Croatia. The ride is about three hours, but is well worth the time taken. The island itself features beautiful, sandy beaches and some of the freshest seafood you’ll find anywhere. The town of Korcula is just as charming, as are the olive groves, vineyards and tiny villages that dot the countryside of this small, relatively unknown island.
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Although gaining in popularity, Isla Mujeres is still less of a tourist attraction than nearby Cancun. The island is just eight miles from Cancun, across the Bahia de Mujeres, and for the longest time held just a simple farming village. Today, it offers luxurious accommodations, water sports and excursions to remote islands for fishing or day trips.
St. Eustatius
Also known as Statia by the locals, this Caribbean island’s main claim to fame is a volcanic peak, near the top of which sits the capital city of Oranjestad. As it has yet to be discovered by great throngs of tourists, this island can be quite peaceful and quiet. Although the beaches aren’t quite as extensive as those on some Caribbean islands, St. Eustatius has a charm all its own. Here you can visit a fort from the 17th century as well as one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries located in the Western Hemisphere.
Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin means “Granite Island.” This island, part of Singapore and existing near Changi Point, is much different than the mainland. Where much of Singapore is a fast-pace modernised world, the island of Pulau Ubin seems permanently stuck in the past. Fishermen still still live in stilted, wooden houses with thatched roofs and it can be a very refreshing change of pace. The island itself has thick forests and you might just spot some of the islands indigenous animal life, such as monkeys and wild pigs, during your visit. For those wanting a nice, comfortable beach experience, look for East Coast Park.
Water Island
This tropical paradise is located south of Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. To get there, fly into St. Thomas and take a water taxi ride out to Water Island. This island has only 200 residents, and offers warm beaches and bike rides through breathtaking scenery. The island’s main claim to fame is Honeymoon Beach, which was used during the filming of the Brad Pitt movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
Mustique
Mustique, which is located in the Grenadines, is pretty unique as far as island getaways are concerned. The island itself is a private island owned by the Mustique Company. There are 1,200 people living on the island, but there are never more than 500 tourists at any one time. Those 500 guests have nine islands covering 1,400 acres to choose from, making seclusion and peace easy to come by.
Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Located in the Celebes Sea, near Malaysia, this island is a diver’s paradise. Those in the know consider it one of the top dive spots in the world, and the dive sites appear to be frozen in time as they have suffered little of the stresses placed on other tropical reefs over the last several decades. Here you can see impressive schools of turtles, breathtaking coral reefs and even hammerhead sharks. When you’re done diving, there’s plenty of rain forest on the island itself to explore.