The Top 10 Best Private Beaches in the World

"In my scheme of things, vacationing is not about keeping up with the Joneses, it's about getting as far away from them as possible," says Mike Thiel, Founder and President of the 27-year-old Hideaways International. "Of course, I'm not really talking about your neighbors; I'm talking about all those other people out there--the masses. It's a definite challenge steering clear of the madding crowd when you're looking for a quiet part of the world, one where you can recharge your batteries. But it can be done!"

Palm Island Beach

And Mike should know. His exclusive travel club, Hideaways Aficionado Club, is in the business of creating the ultimate vacation experiences for its discriminating members, wherever in the world they wander.

Just consider a typical vacation scenario: a beach littered with blankets, screaming kids, and flying frisbees. "If you're like me," says Mike, "that image makes you cringe." Ready for the alternative, the kind of travel where the density of the nearby beach is one couple per quarter mile, and you end the day in a hidden haven?

The Beach House, Palmetto Point, Barbuda
Tucked away on largely undeveloped Barbuda, this simple and simply perfect hideaway sits on a private lagoon, just steps from a tranquil slice of the Caribbean.

Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, French Polynesia
You can't resist the charms of this enchanting resort on the private isle of Motu Toopua, with its overwater bungalows and the powder-soft white sand in perfect arcs of palm-fringed beach.

Covecastles, Shoal Bay West, Anguilla
Enjoy sophisticated villa living on a nearly deserted stretch of Caribbean waterfront.

Guana Island, British Virgin Islands
There are seven almost-always-empty beaches on Guana; the island is a nature reserve with just one (simply divine) resort.

Hotelito Desconocido, Costa Alegre, Mexico
Immerse yourself in the uncomplicated richness of this beachfront sanctuary; Spanish for "little unknown hotel," this resort brings a whole new meaning to "lights out," with no electricity.

Kamalame Cay, Andros Island, The Bahamas
Here, enjoy three uninterrupted miles of talcum-soft white sand, palm trees, gorgeous gin-clear waters, and hardly a soul in sight.

Yasawa Island Beach

Yasawa Island Resort, Fiji, South Pacific
Experience the exquisite indulgence of marooning yourself on one of 11 deserted beaches and enjoying a lavish picnic (radio in when you're ready to be rescued)!"All beaches are not created equal," says Mike. "At these ten, you get all the beauty, none of the crowded distractions, and the added benefit of enjoying them from a nearby world-class hideaway. Hideaways Aficionado Members also receive the red carpet reception when visiting these escapes of The Hideaways Collection -- discounts, room upgrades, perks, and more."

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Little Torch Key, Florida
This hidden treasure, just 28 miles east of Key West, is a sultry, deserted atoll, ringed by a sliver of powder-white sand and surrounded by turquoise waters (and you can only get to it by boat or seaplane, adding to the allure).

Palm Island Resort, Palm Island, The Grenadines
Share this serene 135-acre island with iguanas, land turtles, herons, and just a few guests as you meander along sugar-soft white beaches.

Hotel Villa del Sol, Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Villa del Sol is synonymous with one of the most beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Playa La Ropa. There's nothing like enjoying lunch in your bathing suit at its sybaritic beach club overlooking a perfect arc of power-soft sand and calm blue water.

For three decades, Hideaways International has explored the vacation road less traveled, searching for the world's most exceptional escapes, including exclusive resorts, boutique hotels, specialty cruise ships, private yacht charters, secluded villas, cozy castles, and even entire Caribbean islands. Hideaways Inter-national's recommendations are profiled in The Hideaways Collection directory, Hideaways Guide, Hideaways newsletter, and Hideaways Insider e-newsletter. For more information, visit www.Hideaways.com, or call (603) 430-4433.

(Courtesy of Hideaways International)