What is your favorite island for relaxing and vacationing?

We're going to Puerto Rico in March.

La Isola Balla…La Sicilia

La Isola Bella..La Sicilia

Palawan

St Barts.

Lastovo

Riker's.

Cook Islands. I went there 15 years ago on vacation.

Now when I go into my "safe space" in hypnotherapy, it's that beach on the Cook Islands.

Middle of nowhere on the flight path to New Zealand. Perfect.

Islands family restaurant and bar. I think all the tiki stuff is really cute.

For the Caribbean, I love Dominica best.

The South Pacific: Vanuatu

Sri Lanka (if that counts).

Madeira.

The Maldives are lovely, but unfortunately are becoming less exclusive.

England

The Mamamuca and Yasawa Islands of Fiji.

Manhattan.

Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

r13 England is not an island.

Australia.

Saba

R13, I love cold weather islands, too. The Faroe Islands would be a bucket-list destination.

Long Island

Eleuthera in the Bahamas

R20, it's what dreams are made of.

R19 Chris Arnade, who made his wealth in banking and, amongst other pursuits, has spent it literally walking the earth, recently spent some time walking around the Faroe Islands. He wrote about it on Twitter and Substack. He was a fan.

35 years ago, I would have said Isla de Mujeres.

Lesbos

Man.

Greenland

The Isles of Greece!

The AisLes of GreAsE!

An island in the Pacific...

[quote] Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

Huh?

Vancouver Island is a real life fern gully!

I'd move there if I didnt know they're gonna get obliterated by a tsunami.

St Thomas

Necker

Mallorca/Palma was nice but it’s been a damn long time.

Some of my best memories were of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef from Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsend in Queensland, Australia.

It's been awhile, and honestly I'm worried how the reef has held up.

But those dives were some of the best memories of my life.

Jost Van Dyke

Cozumel has the nicest beaches I've seen. Pure white sand and beautiful blue water, better than Hawaiian beaches imo.

I'd love to go to Seychelles one day. Has anyone been?

"Here am I, your special island! Come to me, come to me!"

Yes, Seychelles is not cheap, HUGE bugs, mosquitoes that bite...not fun

I'm lucky that two of my buddies own rental properties in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands that I go all the time, it's awesome!

R1 That large piece of garbage floating in the middle of the ocean?

...the floating Kingdom

r26 But . . . but . . .

I’m not a huge fan of tropical islands. Hawaii is overrated and I’m not a fan of just lying around on a beach. I’d like to see Capri one day. And maybe the Shetland Islands. I love Vancouver Island.

Is there an island filled with naked men?

We don’t understand the question and we refuse to answer it.

Mykonos

Lick Ricky Martin's balls for me, r1!

Islands in Saranac Lake, New York. But only with family or friends you enjoy. Same for Martha's Vineyard, where you also need money.

When I was in my 20s the answer was Ibiza.

I've been to Long Island, Staten Island, City Island (Harrisburg), Key West, and Puerto Rico, and I didn't find any of them relaxing or vacation-worthy.

But I know that back in the day (before it was developed), it was said that City Island was the place PA state legislators used to go at lunchtime to have a quickie with the guys.

Vieques

Nantucket

Lanai

the isle of MAN

R31 doesn’t belong here.

[Quote] mosquitoes that bite

That most unexpected of all phenomena!

Honestly they all run together for me. Hawaii (Kauai, especially) is magical.

I recommend Skye, R19:

Spent a day at Curacao on a cruise a while back. So beautiful. I would love to visit there for a week or two.

r31's gay card is suspended pending verifciation that he's seen both filmed versions of "West Side Story."

r31 doesn't even know the only wood that doesn't float

Paradise Island

r16 You failed at geography. England is an island. LOL.

R64 is a complete idiot. England is a COUNTRY (or part of a country) ON an island called "Great Britain." There's no island named "England." Do you think Scotland is an island? How about Wales?

Duh!

San Juan Island (in Washington state).

Not the island of Lesbos, I’ll tell you that!

Floating Island

[quote] Spent a day at Curacao on a cruise a while back. So beautiful. I would love to visit there for a week or two.

I spent a week in Curacao. Yes, the beaches and water are gorgeous, but overall, it's kind of boring

[quote] We're going to Puerto Rico in March.

We're going to PR in March too! Maybe we'll see you.

That floating garbage island. No, not Catalina. The actual one.

The ones in the stream.

Sand Island at Rooster Rock nude beach just east of Portland Oregon.

Bermuda

I like the island Manhattan (I know you do!)

Smoke on your pipe...and put that in!

R45 - I'm with you. I don't see what's so special about an island - there are good beaches on the mainland. Plus it's just SO touristy with limited things to do.

A few hours at a beach for a couple of days is max for me. I don't understand people who stay on the beach their entire vacation - I get bored too quickly.

To be fair, R65, nobody outside of the UK really gives a shit about Scotland or Wales.

R74, is that Sauvie Island (aka Big Dick Island)?

Ive been to Hawaii twice but was only on the beach for a few minutes. The whole vibe of the islands completely relaxed me. I (finally) couldn't feel my shoulders--I was that relaxed.

Wonderful place to visit

Island Magic!

R81, everyone lauds Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, but I've always thought it was stupid. Never knew about the BBC version, however.

R79 Collins Beach on Sauvie Island is to the NE of Portland. It usually has a more relaxed feeling than Rooster Rock and Sand Island. Maybe because Rooster Rock allows booze and is straight shot freeway drive from Portland?

Mustique

Sheesh, I thought this would be a real DL travelogue. Except for the Cook Island poster no one has been to Oceania? No Tonga or Fiji fans? Been to Maui, Kauai, St. Thomas and St John, all good, St John the least crowded. Santorini was wonderful back in the 90s, I hear it's mobbed now. Crete was....spectacular. His name was Manos and he was huge.

R76 Really?

r65 Haiti is an island even though it shares the island with the Dominican republic. Are you serious?

R85, I want to hear more about the South Pacific. Vanuatu is my only exposure to that part of the world. It is an amazing island, btw.

R86, Plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery

Faial

Great Britain is not an island for a relaxing sun drenched vacation.

r91 Of course, but it is an Island. LOL.

La Isla Bonita!

US Virgin

[quote]Haiti is an island even though it shares the island with the Dominican republic. Are you serious?

Haiti is NOT an island. It's amazing how ignorant people are. It's an island COUNTRY, but there is no island called "Haiti."

Great Britain is an island. England is not.

Borneo is an island. Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia are not.

Japan is not an island. Its islands have their own names: Hokkaido, Honshu, etc.

Oh shut the fuck up you old school marm

If seeing volcano and lava is anything you're interested in, Vanuatu is the best place for it.

canary islands are the best compared to all those shitty places mentioned

Hawaii and Japan are archipelagos.

Hawai’i is also an island.

Fantasy Island but be careful what you wish for

I can’t believe that people have actually said St Thomas! It is a decrepit, filthy, third world, trashy cesspool.

Welcome to America r102

Mercer Island - it’s a Bellevue/Seattle suburb, but it’s built by and for people who never want to make direct eye contact with their neighbors.

It has a land bridge.

R102, excuse you. And what in the hell is wrong with decrepit and filthy 3rd world shitholes?

[quote] I can’t believe that people have actually said St Thomas!

I said it, and you're not wrong that parts of it are a dump, but I knew people who lived there and showed me some very lovely beaches. And I rather enjoyed shopping in the 'decrepit, filthy' mall, listening to the local patois which truly sounded like another language. St Thomas is easy to get to and you can explore the other islands from there. I admit it wouldn't be my first choice for an island vacation but neither would any of the Caribbean islands, they're all pretty much desiccated, plundered husks.

Mem'ry Island

ile de Montreal

Holbox in Mexico. Although it’s supposed to be underwater in about 10 years. It’s gotten overrun with tourists during the whale shark migration season, but otherwise it’s charming.

Shelter Island.

Atlantis

what no mention of Fire Island???

r95 You are playing semantics. Island country and Island are the same thing.

R8, what was Cook Islands like?

It was cookin’, of course.

I've been to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands - it was a bit cool when I was there so I didn't love it. It's very picturesque - the volcanic landscape is similar to the Hawaiian Islands. French Polynesia was more impressive. Bora Bora is amazingly beautiful (though almost 100% honeymooning couples) so Moorea is a better choice for general vacationing.

Aitutaki in the Cook Islands is apparently amazing, but I haven't been.

I would normally pick a Greek Island as I absolutely love Greece - but I think the mainland is better value and not as busy. I usually opt for the Peloponnese. Though next trip I might give Syros a try - Ermoupoli looks really nice in the photos.

R116, that sounds gorgeous!

How would you say the South Pacific islands compare to the Caribbean?

Much, much better.

R59 & R19, If you do choose Skye be sure to make a reservation ahead of time for lodging. I once forgot to and OMG, had to drive all the way back to Inverness in the middle of the night. Not cool, very stupid move.

[quote] Cook Islands. I went there 15 years ago on vacation.

[quote] I've been to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands - it was a bit cool when I was there so I didn't love it. It's very picturesque - the volcanic landscape is similar to the Hawaiian Islands. French Polynesia was more impressive. Bora Bora is amazingly beautiful (though almost 100% honeymooning couples) so Moorea is a better choice for general vacationing.

Please tell me more!

I have always wanted to go to the Cook Islands and Tahiti.

Is it worth the trip? Are the people nice? is it necessary to know French?

It's still a dream of mine to visit both places.

[quote] Haiti is NOT an island. It's amazing how ignorant people are. It's an island COUNTRY, but there is no island called "Haiti."

I believe the island is named Hispaniola.

[quote] If seeing volcano and lava is anything you're interested in, Vanuatu is the best place for it.

Hawaii has Kilauea volcano.

It's easier and cheaper to get to, and no passport is required.

Plus, you have all the conveniences of traveling within the U.S.

I had a lusty tumble on Thunder Island with Jay Ferguson back in the 1970s.

Isle of Wight

Love Island!

Also Oahu.

To be a "favorite," an island has to check off all the boxes.

Good weather.

Friendly people.

Good food.

Reasonably priced.

Lots of attractions - historical, natural, cultural.

Easy to reach.

Modern conveniences.

I think that this is what makes Hawaii pretty much a universally liked island vacation.

It pretty much has all of these, except for the price thing. Hawaii is damned expensive.

Also, a five hour flight from the US West Coast is pushing the convenience thing.

But apart from these two things, Hawaii pretty much checks off all the boxes for a premiere island destination.

The relaxing part of the question disqualifies any island we have to fly to.

R125 “It pretty much has all of these.” No it doesn’t. The prices aren’t reasonable. Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States. The food locals eat is shit: Spam and macaroni salad is not the basis of a healthy diet. The scenery that hasn’t been destroyed by beachfront high rises is nice, but “historical?” The Moana? And the people aren’t very friendly. Hawaiians would prefer you went somewhere else.

I like Hawaii but it doesn’t seem to fit even your list requirements, let alone mine.

Youse need ta ask dumbass mutha fuker

Teafcake was a Brooklynite at one point, IIRC.

Menorca, Spain and Bora Bora.

Agree with those who aren't as interested in tropical islands (even though I do enjoy hot sunny weather). I'm also lukewarm on the more solitude-based private/isolated vacation spots. I enjoy immersing myself in the hustle and bustle of different cultures in different cities and towns. If I want to relax and have solitude, I can create that myself while on the same trip. My "wish I could visit now" favorites posted so far are Mykonos, Madeira, and Mallorca. I'm also drawn more to mountainous/rocky islands. This thread has given me serious wanderlust now.

I don't see the appeal of the Cook Islands. In another thread, somebody got incensed that I also wasn't interested in the Maldives.

[quote] To be fair, [R65], nobody outside of the UK really gives a shit about Scotland or Wales.

I'm outside the UK and would be interested in visiting Scotland.

Christina Thompson who is the editor of the Harvard Review and married a hunky Samoan guy got a grant to visit all the Polynesian South Pacific Islands and a and stouts about it here:

Christina Thompson editor of Harvard Review married hunky Samoan and got a grant to travel to all the South Oacific islands. She writes about it here.

Sorry.

St. Martin. Easy direct flight.

You didn’t get into Harvard, did you R135?

Nah, night school. That’s how I know about her.

Mauritius, for a warm climate.

Iceland and Faroe Islands in the Northern Hemisphere.

The barrier islands on Florida’s east coast.

Sanibel used to be. My Mom and Dad had a winter place there. It was great. I left my clothes and my golf clubs down there and could play. I'd bring a bag of books and a bottle of vodka and order a take-out meal from the Bubble Room which was usually enough food for three people or three meals. A great, cheap, easy getaway.

Between the hurricanes and the Red Tide, though, it's gone to shit.

Haiti and the DR share the island of Hispaniola, r87.

Off to the far eastern shore of Oahu next week … happy camper

r141, r140. Florida's beaches rival any in the world in the right conditions. When I think of the best beach days of my life they are, Kauai, Siesta Key, Clearwater, Key West/Bahia Honda, Miami-for a year while working 3-11 and spending every free morning at the beach, with the sun damage to prove it, Negril and a couple of cold water days in Oregon, N. Cal, Maine and P-town. Overall, there is a clear winner:

I went to PR for a weekend it was ok but I felt way more relaxed at a day at a Japanese Spa even though I had to go to New Jersey, which is generally speaking, a bad idea but not in this case.

r141, did you ever notice that for Sanibel, if you move the letters around a bit it spells Lesbian?

La Gonave