The world’s most expensive resort is open for business – and as you might expect, it’s jaw-dropping.
But so it should be for $100,000 (£76,800) a night.
It’s called Banwa Private Island, and while the price tag is eye-wateringly hefty it does secure guests the entire island.
The world’s most expensive resort is open for business – and as you might expect, it’s jaw-dropping
Banwa Private Island has a very hefty price tag, but it does secure guests the entire island
And what an island.
Nestling in the Palawan archipelago in the Philippines – regarded as ‘the last ecological frontier’, according to the resort’s website – it’s pretty much 15 acres of paradise on earth.
The resort website says that it’s ‘a private world where time stands still’ and where temperatures rarely dip below 30C.
The accommodation is luxury through and through.
There are six villas that each boast a private infinity pool, hot tub deck at the water’s edge and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Nestling in the Palawan archipelago in the Philippines – regarded as ‘the last ecological frontier’, according to the resort’s website – Banwa Private Island is pretty much 15 acres of paradise on earth
The Banwa Private Island website says that the island is ‘a private world where time stands still’ and where temperatures rarely dip below 30C
The flashiest way of reaching the island is by seaplane or helicopter from Manila – but transfers aren’t included in the price
There’s also a restaurant that serves food that’s been freshly grown locally or freshly caught from the Sulu Sea, and a spa, where guests can enjoy an unlimited number of treatments at no extra cost.
Activity-wise, there are lots of choices – scuba-diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, catamaran sailing, yoga and tennis.
Plus golf, desert-island style. You tee off from a jetty and try to hit a floating target green with balls made of fish food.
The resort boasts a restaurant that serves food that’s been freshly grown locally or freshly caught from the Sulu Sea
There are six villas that each boast a private infinity pool, hot tub deck at the water’s edge and floor-to-ceiling windows
The island has a spa where guests can enjoy an unlimited number of treatments at no extra cost
The island offers golf, desert-island style. You tee off from a jetty and try to hit a floating target green with balls made of fish food. The image above illustrates the utter serenity that awaits well-heeled guests
The interiors of the villas are modern and chic, with easy-on-the-eye colours and patterns
Banwa Private Island is roughly 10 degrees north of the Equator – specifically latitude 10°19.15’N, longitude 119°28.85’E
There’s intriguing wildlife to investigate, too – including Hawksbill sea turtles and tabon birds – and there’s an on-site animal expert guests can chat to about it.
Possibly the flashiest way of reaching the island is by seaplane or helicopter from Manila.
It costs $990 (£760) per way for a nine-passenger seaplane and $11,580 (£8,900) for a five-passenger helicopter round-trip.
Now that’s a sea view: Stunning vistas come at no extra cost, of course
The villas accommodate 48 people, so if you can gather that number of people together and split the cost it works out at $2,083 (£1,600) each per night, though there is a minimum stay of three or five nights depending on the time of year
Wildlife on the island includes Hawksbill sea turtles and tabon birds – and there’s an animal expert guests can talk to
Activity-wise, there are lots of choices – scuba-diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, catamaran sailing, yoga and tennis
The official name for the island, according to Google, is Puerco Island, pictured
But however guests arrive, they’ll have to pay their way as transfers aren’t included.
So on the face of it, this is a private island experience open to only the very richest people.
But there is a way to bring the price right down.
The villas accommodate 48 people, so if you can gather that number of people together and split the cost it works out at $2,083 (£1,600) each per night, though there is a minimum stay of three or five nights depending on the time of year.