What exclusive use means
With exclusive use, you are the only guests on the island. The price is quoted per night for the whole island, up to a stated number of guests, and normally includes the villas, the staff and often meals. Extras such as excursions, spa treatments, alcohol and transport are frequently charged separately, so read the inclusions line by line.
A published example
Cousine Island in the Seychelles publishes its exclusive-use terms on its own website: €11,400 per night on its last published rate card (April 2025 to April 2026), the same all year, for up to 12 adults and 6 children. The rate covers the island's presidential villa and four luxury villas, a private chef, staff accommodation, the pavilion and 1.4 km of private beach. The island lists March to April, July to August, and December to January as high season, when demand is higher and early booking is advised. Taxes are not stated on the page, so confirm them with the island. Spa treatments are bookable and may cost extra.
This is one island. Other islands in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific price differently, and some do not publish rates at all. We confirm the current quote with each island directly.
Two models: buyout or resort villa
A whole-island buyout gives you the island, its staff and its amenities with no other guests, and it is priced per night for the island up to a stated guest count. A villa on a resort island is a different product: you stay in your own house but share the island, the restaurants and the staff with other guests, and the price is far lower. A buyout suits a large family or a group that wants to be together without being watched. A resort villa suits a couple or a smaller family who want privacy but also want a restaurant and a dive centre on site.
More published examples
Musha Cay in the Bahamas publishes exclusive use from $57,000 per night with a five-night minimum. Orpheus Island Lodge in Queensland publishes exclusive use from AUD 44,630 per night with a two-night minimum. Inclusions, exclusions and dates for both are set out in our guide to what private island exclusive use costs.
What to check before you book
- The nightly rate, the maximum guest count and the minimum stay.
- Whether taxes, service charges and meals are included.
- Which activities, boat transfers and flights are extra.
- Deposit schedule, cancellation terms and weather policy.
- How you reach the island: private jet, scheduled flight, boat or helicopter.
Regions
The Caribbean and the Bahamas suit a winter escape, the Indian Ocean has its own high and low seasons (Cousine lists March to April, July to August and December to January as high season). Orpheus Island Lodge sits in the Palm Group of Islands in Queensland. Think about the journey as much as the island: a buyout reached by a charter flight and a boat is a day of travel each way, and the cost of the transfer is often outside the nightly rate.
What is usually included
Accommodation, meals, a dedicated team and the island's own boats, kayaks and snorkelling gear are typical. Drinks vary, with Musha Cay and Orpheus including them. Transfers, spa treatments, diving and fishing excursions are the common extras. Compare the same things island to island: guests, nights, tax and inclusions.
When to go
Island seasons follow the weather of each region, and the holidays are the most in demand. Book early for Christmas and New Year, and ask which months are the cheapest. Shoulder months can also mean calmer seas and easier availability, although weather risk differs by region. If you are pairing an island with a safari, our Africa safari guide covers when to go in each country.
Read more and related services
For a different kind of island stay, see our Maldives resort comparison. Our guide to what private island exclusive use costs goes into more detail. If a villa fits your group better, see villas and chalets or our villas and private resorts service. Arriving by water? See yacht charter, or by air, private jets.
Payment, cancellation and weather
Terms on exclusive-use islands are firm. At Orpheus the deposit is non-refundable, and a cancellation within 120 days of check-in carries a 100% fee, according to its page. Weather, illness and flight changes are your risk unless you insure for them, so ask for the deposit schedule and the cancellation terms in writing before you pay.
How we help
Tell us the dates, the number of guests and the kind of place you imagine. We ask each island for its current rate and terms, work out the all-in total for your party, check the transfer, and book directly with the island. See the private jet charter page for the flight.