Nothing is better to visit and nothing is worse to own than a private island. Fortunately, there are plenty of them to rent in the Caribbean, which obviates the hassles of ownership—think Richard Branson riding out Hurricane Irma on Necker, the island he bought for $180,000 in 1979. But not all private islands are created equal and, ironically, the more private they are, the more hassle it often is to rent them.
“Mustique and Jumby Bay are private, but you’re still sharing them with other people, and then there are islands that are only big enough for small parties,” says Sienna Charles founder Jaclyn Sierra India. “Sometimes, the island’s so private it isn’t fully staffed, or the accommodations aren’t up to snuff. It’s similar to renting a yacht or a huge estate.
If some billionaire owner puts their heart and soul into it, and it’s up to highly exacting standards, it’s obviously going to be a better experience.” The perks also vary widely. “It depends on the purpose of the trip,” says Luca Fella of Black Tomato.
”Moskito [Branson’s other island] has lots of activities and things to do. For a more barefoot, low-key getaway, we might suggest Petit St. Vincent.
” In choosing an island, an important factor to weigh is the difficulty of getting there. While Fella says that seclusion is “often the whole point,” India maintains that more of her American clients are traveling to the Caribbean for shorter getaways or long weekends, making convenie.
