Lost Paradises: 8 Secret Islands You Can Rent All For Yourself

Imagine a vacation where the only person hogging the pool float is you—and only you. Blissful, uninterrupted, sun-soaked peace. No strangers splashing nearby, no kids cannonballing into your personal space, just pure, customizable paradise. For a few glorious days, the world shrinks to you, your chosen people (if you even feel like inviting anyone), and a private island that feels stolen from a billionaire’s daydream.

What most travelers don’t realize is that renting an entire island isn’t just a fantasy reserved for celebrities and tech moguls. Private islands exist at every corner of the globe, from rugged Scottish hideaways where you can play lighthouse keeper for a weekend to chic Aegean escapes where the water is so blue it looks filtered in real life. Want something wild and remote? Done. Prefer beach-club energy with no crowds? Also an option.

Some islands are shockingly affordable—think cheaper than a fancy resort—while others carry more zeroes than your bank app is emotionally prepared to display. But price aside, all promise the same irresistible reward: total privacy, total freedom, and the ultimate travel flex. Because nothing says “I needed a break” quite like disappearing to an island with your name on the booking.

Hvaler, Vesterøy, Norway

In Norway’s Hvaler archipelago, famous for the most sunny days in the country, you can rent your own rugged little island. What to expect from a little Nordic island? Small private beaches, lots of rocks, a cozy cabin with a kitchen hut, and a basic privy, for we are all humans after all. It’s simple, serene, and shockingly soothing. From about £250 per night, you forget about the resort glitz and go all in on barefoot walks in the mornings, fresh sea air, and the kind of quiet that resets your brain.