Private Island is located on the Palawan archipelago in the Philippines, two hours from Manila, and will offer visitors 15 acres of private land, where they can partake in tennis, reef swimming and some of the most closely guarded sunsets in Asia.
What is opening
The island pairs a handful of beachfront villas with a single shared clubhouse — restaurant, spa, dive centre and a tennis court set back in the palms. Guest numbers are capped low enough that the main beach is effectively yours, and the house reef starts ten fin-kicks from the jetty.
What it costs (and what that buys)
Rates sit firmly at the top of the market, and they are deliberately all-in: transfers from Manila, all dining, non-motorised watersports, guided snorkelling and laundry. The pitch is simple — arrive, put the wallet away, and don't think about money until you leave.
- Getting there — scheduled charter from Manila, about two hours dock to dock.
- Best season — November to May for flat seas and clear reef visibility.
- Good to know — children welcome; the island hosts one booking party at a time on full buyouts.
Our take
We love new openings done slowly, and this one has been years in the making with local staff hired first. If a buyout is beyond the budget, our Hawaii and Greece tours deliver the same formula — great water, great tables, zero logistics — at a fraction of the price.
