Island Escapes: 5 Idyllic Retreats in Paradise

It’s January - and it’s cold (very cold) in the northern United States. In Chicago, aka the Windy City, temperatures plummet when that icepick wind comes roaring down across Lake Michigan. They call it “The Hawk,” or “Mister Hawkins.” And they shiver.

Januarys are tough on the City of Big Shoulders. It gets cold there. Very cold. How cold? Chicagoans’ coldest day ever was—in January, of course—on Jan. 20, 1985. The temperature fell to minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 32 degrees Celsius.

Chicago is currently bracing for its 2026 January cold snap, with wind chills expected to clock in at minus 40 degrees, coincidentally the point where Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers read the same.

We therefore dedicate this edition of Luxury Defined and its portfolio of ultimate tropical island escapes to the good people of Chicago (and indeed all who dwell in the northern chill) that might dream of walking barefoot, sunscreened in the warm winds of a sunny, sultry shore.

We offer one of the finest properties in the Caribbean—Pelican Bay in Antigua’s exclusive members-only Mill Reef Club; or, farther afield in a hillside villa on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. For ultimate privacy in paradise, there’s a 40-acre private island with multiple luxury dwellings, infrastructure, and a deepwater marina in the Bahamas’ Exumas archipelago.

The local forecast? Sunny and mild with zero percent chance of “Hawkins.”

Villa Les Amis du Vent in Mont Jean, Saint Barthélemy

Perched on a promontory above the Caribbean Sea, the rambling Villa Les Amis du Vent hugs its 3.843-acre plot in the exclusive Mont Jean neighborhood on the island of Saint Barthélemy.

At Villa Les Amis du Vent, Saint Barth-based architect Francois Pécard’s contemporary design evokes Mediterranean charm and the island’s traditional architectural style and materials. Majestic, rounded arches and columned verandas look out from cool white interiors to the panorama of the sea, Tortue Islet, the beach of Anse Maréchal, and Marigot Bay.

Inside, pale gray and white social spaces give way to three spacious en suite bedrooms—each with a private outdoor shower—and a total of five luxurious bathrooms finished in warm tints and pastel accents.

The bright and spacious living room’s arched doors open to the sundeck and graceful curves of the free-form, walk-in, heated swimming pool. The fully kitted island kitchen opens onto a covered terrace for lounging and dining alfresco.

Little Norman’s Cay, Exumas, Bahamas

Little Norman’s Cay is an exclusive, completely self-sufficient 40-acre private island in the Bahamas’ Exumas archipelago.

The luxurious, 7,200-square-foot main house has a private beachfront location on the island’s eastern ridge. The adobe-style architecture takes inspiration from the American Southwest: Barrel vault, hand-painted ceilings; a rustic kitchen; and a central courtyard are among the details.

There’s a primary suite with a splendid sea-view bathroom (one of five bedrooms in the main house), as well as two self-contained guest houses. Amenities include a resort-worthy pool, a cinema, and a billiards lounge.

Infrastructure includes a deepwater marina and boathouse, and extensive staff, service, and maintenance buildings, all powered by solar energy and back-up generators. There’s also the potential for future development sites.

The white-sand beaches; rolling hills; and calm, turquoise waters make it a haven for recreation. Neighboring the island is a world-class resort with a 5,000-foot airstrip and a megayacht marina, just minutes away by boat.

Pelican Ridge at the Mill Reef Club, Antigua

Pelican Ridge represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own within the members-only Mill Reef Club—one of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Perched 150 feet above the surf, the property is a sanctuary of privacy and luxury. Its timeless design is at one with the natural beauty of Antigua, part of the Leeward Islands nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

The vision of Filipino-American architect and interior designer Daniel Romualdez, the four-acre property features a 9,700-square-foot main house anchored by a beautiful swimming pool. The airy indoor-outdoor living spaces embrace the cooling easterly trade winds and uninterrupted vistas of the Caribbean Sea.

Highlights of the four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom home include a light-filled living room with high ceilings and tall walls of glass to showcase the sweeping sea vistas. A loggia has another captivating sea view and an elegant dining space.

Villa Aldia Bianca in Porto San Paolo, Sardinia

The dramatic Villa Aldia Bianca abides in a private, gated community of independent seafront villas within the protected marine preserve of Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo on the northeast coast of Sardinia.

The villa’s white walls and tile roof rise above a plot (roughly 2,000 square meters, or about a half-acre), embedded in the brushy, Mediterranean maquis scrubland of Cala Girgolu Bay, with a front-row-center view of Tavolara Island from the catenary-shaped swimming pool’s basking deck.

Clad in local exposed stone and granite, with terracotta floors and exposed wooden beams, Villa Aldia Bianca spans two levels, offering a view of picturesque Tavolara from every vantage of cool gray monochrome private quarters and spacious open-plan common spaces.

The main floor features a large and bright living area characterized by large windows overlooking the sea and the garden. Also on this level, there is a fully equipped kitchen, a private bedroom with en suite bathroom, and a double bedroom also with a private bathroom.

From the garden, dotted with aromatic Mediterranean plantings, the beach is easily reached by a short footpath, or by car in about a minute.

Villa One at Legend Hill, Mauritius

Mauritius, an island nation 1,100 nautical miles off the coast of East Africa, is the stage for Villa One.

This spectacular cliffside aerie occupies the most exclusive address at Legend Hill, in the Black River (Rivière Noire) district on the island’s west coast.

Villa One is a striking, glass-walled contemporary villa on the slopes of Tourelle du Tamarin Mountain.

The residence maximizes indoor-outdoor flow from the dramatic living room, dining area, open-plan kitchen, and infinity pool deck with a 180-degree view of the sea and mountains. Indoor and outdoor lounges are perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying the sunset views.

The bedrooms, all with dressing rooms and en suite baths, have access to a terrace or the landscaped gardens, harmoniously integrated into the mountain foothills.

Ownership comes with ready access to the five-star services and amenities of the Legend Hill Resort and Spa, featuring gastronomy by three-Michelin-starred Chef Glenn Viel.

Source: Christie's International Real Estate