Luxury beach & island escapes

Some places are worth doing little in.

There are holidays filled with places to see and things to do.

And then there are the ones where the greatest decision of the day is whether to stay beside the pool or wander down to the beach.

At Willow & Bird, we create luxury beach holidays and island escapes around exactly what switching off means to you — from private islands in the Maldives and hidden corners of the Caribbean to Mediterranean hideaways and wonderfully remote beaches far beyond the obvious.

When should you go?

The Maldives might be calling in February. Greece in June. Mauritius in October. Thailand when winter arrives at home.

But seasonality is more nuanced than a green or red weather chart.

Different coasts of the same country can have completely different weather patterns, and travelling just outside peak season can sometimes mean quieter beaches, exceptional value and a holiday we’d actually prefer.

Tell us when you can travel.

We’ll tell you where we’d go.

There’s always a beach somewhere.

Arrange a consultation

A beautiful hotel isn’t enough

Would you actually want to spend time on the beach?

Where would we want our room to be?

Are there enough restaurants for the length of the stay?

Which room would we book with our own money?

Does beach front mean you can step out from the villa onto the sand?

“I ask myself, when it’s time to leave, would I want one more day?”

Where could a beach escape take you?

  • Indonesia

    Bali is only the beginning.

    Travel beyond the obvious and Indonesia becomes a world of tiny islands, beautiful beaches and wonderfully remote retreats.

    Think Sumba, Lombok and islands reached by boat where the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.

  • Seychelles

    Nature did most of the decorating.

    Granite boulders, jungle-covered hillsides and beaches that look almost unreal.

    The Seychelles works beautifully for couples, honeymoons and families — particularly when we combine islands with completely different personalities.

  • Palawan, Philippines

    The screensaver, but real.

    Limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, tiny islands and intensely turquoise water.

    Pair beautiful resorts with a little exploration and Palawan becomes much more than somewhere to lie on a beach.

  • Porto Heli, Greece

    The Greek Riviera, quietly done.

    Pine-covered hills, secluded coves and some seriously special resorts make Porto Heli feel wonderfully removed from the busier Greek islands.

    Add a day exploring the coastline by private boat and it becomes a very different kind of Greek escape.

  • Jumby Bay Island, Antigua

    An island almost entirely your own.

    Reached only by boat, Jumby Bay has no cars, no crowds and very little reason to leave. Beautiful private residences, bicycles instead of traffic and the Caribbean just beyond your door.

    For families and couples who want privacy without feeling remote from everything that matters.

  • Turks & Caicos

    Come for the water. Stay for the villa.

    Grace Bay is beautiful, but some of the most extraordinary experiences here are found beyond the obvious — private islands, enormous beachfront residences and resorts where privacy is the real luxury.

    Perfect for families, celebrations and those occasions when a hotel room simply isn’t enough.

Frequently asked beach holiday questions

  • It depends on when you’re travelling and what you want from the holiday. The Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Thailand and Indonesia can all offer exceptional luxury beach holidays, but the right choice depends on season, journey time, hotel style and whether you want to explore or completely switch off.

  • Yes — and some of our favourite journeys do exactly that. Safari and beach, city and island or culture followed by complete relaxation can make an exceptional multi-destination luxury holiday.

  • Yes. We’ll consider location, privacy, view, beach access, pool, layout and whether we think an upgrade is genuinely worthwhile rather than simply recommending the highest room category.

  • Absolutely. Through Little Explorers, we look for family-friendly beach hotels with suitable accommodation, manageable transfers, children’s facilities, good dining and beaches that genuinely work for younger travellers.

  • Once we understand how you like to travel, we can help with the details that turn a beautiful hotel into a holiday that feels completely considered.

    We might look through the restaurant menus and tell you which tables we’d book before you arrive. Put together a shortlist of experiences we think you’d genuinely enjoy. Talk through room categories and whether the upgrade is actually worth it. Or suggest what we’d do with a completely empty day.

    Then there are the things you might not know exist.

    Through our relationships within the luxury travel industry, we can introduce you to special experiences, privileges and insider options that aren’t always obvious online.