Top 3 Paradise Resorts for an Offline Getaway
Find yourself scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at every spare moment? Constantly on the lookout for that email that needs an urgent response? Perhaps you’re glued to a computer 10-plus hours a day. If any of these patterns ring true, then an offline getaway could be just what the doctor ordered. It’s also the perfect excuse to escape somewhere magical. Can you even remember what it was like before a smartphone ruled your life? Well, some pretty darn spectacular resorts are ready to remind you. Their no-tech philosophy and remote beaches are perfect for switching off and slowing down to island life pace. Digital detox in paradise, anyone?
1. Petit Saint Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Photo credit: Petit Saint Vincent
Bordered with powder-white sand and luminous aqua waters, this tiny tropical island hideaway is where digital detox-ers of all walks go for off-grid timeout. Petit Saint Vincent is nestled just below St. Vincent, 40 minutes from Barbados, in the Caribbean’s sparkling Grenadines. Its 22 luxe pavilion-style cottages and beach villas are devoid of telephones, Wi-Fi, and televisions. Instead, a color-coded flag system is used to communicate any guest needs to staff. You may or may not receive cell signal. Iguanas outnumber people (there’s a 100 guest capacity). And the castaway vibe comes with hidden hammocks and conch-lined paths. Between the two yoga pavilions, a Balinese spa, a wellness center, and a bevy of water sports, there’s plenty to fill your tech-free days in this stellar offline getaway destination. Rates (all-inclusive) start at $US 1,200 per night.
2. Lizard Island Resort, Australia
Photo credit: Lizard Island Resort
An all-inclusive with front row seats to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island Resort is a chic haven of off-grid seclusion and serenity. With no cell coverage and limited Wi-Fi, guests can soak up the breathtaking beauty of the natural surroundings. The 40 rooms, suites, and villas are drenched in contemporary coastal style – some have gorgeous private plunge pools, and a no kids under 10 policy keeps the peace. What’s in a typical day on Lizard Island? Morning yoga on the beach, essential day spa pampering, a choice of nature trails, and a picnic on a secluded beach (there are 24 to explore). Finish it off with a sunset Champagne cruise or a gourmet beachfront degustation. And of course there’s unlimited access to the world’s greatest reef. Not a bad way to unplug and get that much-needed offline getaway. Rates (all-inclusive) start at $US 1300 per night.
3. Turtle Island Resort, Fiji
Photo Credit: Turtle Island Resort
Designed as a blissful disconnection from reality, this South Pacific island oasis is largely a tech-free zone that honeymooners love. Its 14 “bures” (guest villas) lack radios, TVs, and Wi-Fi. There’s little (if any) cell signal, and in-room phones cannot dial the outside world. All-inclusive rates come with exquisite sea-and-farm-to-table meals, top-shelf booze, a bure mama (personal concierge), massages, sunrise horseback rides, Champagne picnics, and sunset cruises. Plus umpteen land and water activities. Couples can live out their Blue Lagoon fantasies (the film was shot here), and those very aqua waters provide a panoramic backdrop to the lavish accommodations. Handcrafted by Fijian artisans, bures feature vaulted palm-woven ceilings and luxe tribal cues. Turtle Beach is 100% solar powered and has a Turtle Conservation Program. With 60 staff and 28 guests max, there’s plenty of care and attention, and a breeze of romance is always in the air. Rates start at $US 2,000 per night.
