LAUCALA ISLAND

Fiji RECOMMENDED BY Greg Ashmore, Ginine Schulberg and Louise Brown

This Pacific Eden has earned legions of fans for its enormous villas, dramatic glass-edged infinity pool and environmental practices. Owned by Red Bull ‘baron’, Dietrich Mateschitz, Laucala is the quintessential “billionaire’s trophy”, according to Greg. The service is impeccable, which Louise puts down to the high staff-to-guest ratio, and the 25 residences are vast sanctuaries of rustic opulence wrought in stone and carved wood. Indeed, each is more “like a mini resort” than a traditional resort villa, says Greg. Guests can while away the hours horse riding through the coconut groves; indulging at the spa; playing a round on the 18-hole golf course; and exploring the underwater world in the DeepFlight submarine, a twoperson semi-submersible and an unmissable highlight, according to both Ginine and Louise.