10 November 2023 , 10:43
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Sir Richard Branson's private island is usually open to those who can afford to hire the entire location, or for celebrity guests he invites such as Barack Obama, Harry Styles, Mariah Carey and Kate Winslet.
However for the first time, the breathtaking spot in the British Virgin Islands is opening up for bookings from the public - and it's got everything you could want for a once-in-a-lifetime trip from white sand beaches and lavish rooms to an impressive amount of activities.
Although the island has already been available for bookings from the public, until now it's only been possible to rent out the entire island rather than just a room. Now, you can book individual rooms for stays between December 11-26, 2023, although unsurprisingly it doesn't come cheap.
Necker Island is opening for holiday stays (Virgin)Rates start from $5,400 (approximately £4,421) based on two people sharing a room per night December 11-20, or from $5,850 (approximately £4,790) for stays between December 20-26. Still, that at least includes guests' accommodation, meals and drinks, return boat transfers from Virgin Gorda or Beef Island airports, water sports and your activities.
It doesn't include flights - when we took a look on Skyscanner, flights from the UK to Virgin Gorda start from £1,522 while Beef Island was a little cheaper with flights from £696.
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Although the island has already been available for bookings from the public, until now it's only been possible to rent out the entire island rather than just a room.
You can find out more on virginlimitededition.com.
Sir Richard Branson said that it's his 'favourite hideaway' (BBC/Plum Pictures/Kari Lia)Still, for those who do book one of the coveted stays, there's plenty of luxury on offer. For a start the 74-acre island boasts some ridiculously gorgeous white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and colourful coral reefs, as well as over 140 species of wildlife (there are guided tours you can take of the island to see some animals such as Lemurs!).
The island also offers plenty of activities such as boat tours, water sports, snorkelling, yoga, meditation sessions and tennis courts, as well as FIVE infinity pools. As for the food, there will be world-class chefs on hand to serve up food that can be tailored for each guest - and there are plenty of cocktails too of course.
There's even a 'Necker Squids Club' for kids with pool time, tennis games and activities such as pirate hat making.
"Necker Island is my home and favourite hideaway," Sir Richard Branson writes on the website. "I invite you to explore this idyllic island paradise for yourself and to be inspired by its beauty."
Of course for most of us the idea of staying on a private island is nothing more than a nice idea to daydream about - but the good news is that if you're after winter sun holidays, there are plenty of more affordable options. For example Europe's least rainy city is just three hours from the UK and boasts amazing beaches and a desert, while at the moment there are plenty of deals on long-haul holidays such as Mexico, the USA and Thailand if you are looking to tick them off the bucket list.
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