Dear Subscribers,
Consider this your personal invitation to be among the first to book a stay at the most private island in the world. After almost 20 years in the private island business and visits to hundreds of islands around the globe, I came across Gladden Caye 20 miles northeast of Placencia, Belize, in the most vibrant, picturesque part of the Western Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef. The white sands popped against the aquamarine sea, but it was the second, smaller island behind it that caught my eye. This would be the ideal canvas for my dream project.
There are many luxurious private island vacation opportunities. Some offer a single home on an island for the ultimate in solitude, but they require either self-catering or intrusive staff. Others provide impeccable service in a resort setting, yet no matter how spread out the bungalows, there are still other guests, staff and maintenance crews on the grounds. With Gladden Caye, I had the solution: we built a single modern-Mayan-style villa for just one couple on the main island and housing for staff on the smaller island. The chef, manager and concierge are a two-minute boat ride away when signaled and completely out of view the rest of the time. We even installed a “privacy meter” to indicate if you are alone or if a member of staff is visiting the island for any reason. All support structures on the smaller island are hidden from sightlines of the main house, and there are no neighbors to be seen in any direction, so you can focus solely on the astonishing views. Gladden Caye is the most private island resort experience in the world – a short flight form most major cities in the United States and Canada.
Not only did we create the perfect fusion of privacy and full service, but we also took the label “all-inclusive” to a new level. Meals are prepared by a rotating group of visiting chefs from renowned restaurants and accompanied by a sommelier-curated wine collection. The on-site concierge will arrange everything from spa treatments to snorkeling and scuba diving, including scuba certification and trips to see the whale sharks that congregate in the area, a protected marine reserve. Guests arrive via helicopter flight from Belize City, because I wanted to be sure you experience the amazing aerial views of the barrier reef that made me fall in love with this spot. It’s all part of the package – at a price less than you might pay for a high-end resort shared with other couples.
Reservations for Gladden Caye are available now for stays beginning September 1. (And just in case you think two is the loneliest number, there is a second master suite in the house so you can bring another couple along.) I cannot wait for you to experience what is truly one of the most amazing locations on earth.
Visit GladdenPrivateIsland.com.
Chris Krolow
CEO, Private Islands Inc.