A little depressed that summer's winding down? We get it. Check out these 10 sunny islands escapes to take your mind off the looming winter months.
Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands
Soggy Dollar Bar was once accessible only by water (there's now a rough road, though most visitors still arrive by boat), so thirsty sailors would brave the waters to make it ashore, and pay with wet, disintegrating bills. Read more about the bar and restaurant offerings here.
Maldives
The luxury Maldives resort Soneva Fushi offers every indulgence money can buy—except those that compromise its goal of "decarbonizing."
Kauai, Hawaii
No surprise here: Readers gave Kauai's striking Na Pali coast a generous 89.3 points for scenery in our 2012 poll. See the coast's complete scores in Top 10 Islands in the United States.
Cambodia
Song Saa, Cambodia’s first private island resort is a sustainable property (built from local, natural materials) with an overwhelming opulence (the spa commands its own island) and a focus on wellness. Read more about the resort here.
Kadavu, Fiji
Kadavu, the smallest and least developed of Fiji’s “big” islands, is best known for scuba diving and bird watching. But if you like your beach fading out of sight in both directions, this miles-long sandy stretch, on the north side of the island, is the perfect choice. Read more about it here.
Whitsunday Islands, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef earned 87.4 points for scenery in our 2012 Reader’s Choice Awards—it's not hard to see why. Read more about it in Top 10 Islands in Australia & the Pacific.
Taha’a Island, French Polynesia
If it weren’t for the fact that the water, over a floor of hard white sand, is only about waist deep, you’d feel as if you were at sea while in the bungalows at this away-from-the-tourists (but with Bora Bora still visible on the horizon) resort. Read more about the island in My Five: Overwater Bungalows in French Polynesia.
Puerto Rico
When galloping gourmet Anthony Bourdain ate at this Playa Jobos spot, he declared, "Food tastes better when you're not wearing shoes." It's a common reaction to the Sonia Rican, which features a smattering of tables, a salsa-pumping jukebox, and a view of locals shredding the waves. Read more about it in The Best Beachside Bars and Restaurants in the Caribbean.
St. Lucia
A 70-acre plantation that has been lovingly refurbished by a stylish and statuesque Austrian and her two daughters, Balenbouche has four cottages for those who want to experience the island in its natural, but cultivated, state.
Praslin, Seychelles
A plane makes its approach to Seychelles' Grand Anse beach in Praslin, arriving from Mahe Island. Read more about the beache here.
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