All of us have our own preferences for places to go on holiday. We may not stick to one specific location, but often to one particular kind of place. One person may love skiing, and so circulate between spots like Aspen, Nagano, and Chamonix. Another may be safari-obsessed, and head mainly for Africa but also the Indian subcontinent. Often we won’t move much outside these certainties.
If it’s relaxation and paradise you’re out for, then you can rarely go far wrong with an island break. As you no doubt know, about seven-tenths of the world’s surface are covered by ocean. In those oceans are plenty of islands – and each of these has a tourist industry devoted to those getaway breaks. The ones when even the coast isn’t quite “away” enough.
The world has five oceans in total, but the Southern Ocean is pretty much free of habitable islands. Here we will look at one island destination in each of the four remaining oceans.
The Atlantic Ocean: The Azores
The Azores, of course, does not refer to a single island but an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. Almost midway between Europe and the Americas, they are isolated enough to provide seclusion. All the same, they have enough of an infrastructure to support a rich tourist experience. Between Sao Miguel, Pico and Terceira in particular, you will find wildlife, sunbathing and luxury resorts. It’s a tropical island getaway like no other.
The Indian Ocean: Andaman & Nicobar Islands
There are one billion people in India, and despite a substantial landmass this makes it a densely populated country. However, off the coast, you will find the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This represents an idyllic break from the hubbub for many Indian holidaymakers.
Not just them, though, as it has become a place to go for people from all over the world. This is a relatively unspoiled gem in the Indian Ocean. Get to Port Blair if you want to check out museums and monuments, or enjoy the many peaceful beaches.
The Pacific Ocean: Vanuatu
A recurring feature in the World Happiness Index surveys that evaluate quality of life, Vanuatu is a place to spend time in. If you don’t want to feel pressed for time, this is your heaven. Beach life is, of course, excellent here. You can also take a walk in nature or visit the vibrant Porta Vila Market. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll find few places more peaceful in which to do it.
The Arctic Ocean: Svalbard
If you want to get away from it all, then a break on a Norwegian island chain in the Arctic might be in order. One word of warning – if you want to sightsee by day and hit the town at night, be aware that there aren’t many towns. Those that there are aren’t densely populated. But Svalbard is beautiful, with museums and Arctic safaris well worth your time.
The main town in the archipelago, Longyearbyen, is welcoming and picturesque in that classic Norwegian way. Svalbard may not be the most conventional holiday break, but it’s a captivating one for sure!
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