The Most Beautiful Tropical Islands Where Celebrities Vacation

There's never a bad time to plan a vacation to a tropical island. Think of the sun, the sand, the sea, and the serious sessions of serenity that await. Some islands attract large numbers of tourists, either thanks to their size or well-developed facilities. Places like Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, have carved out a name for themselves as dependable, mass-market, tropical destinations, with scores of properties and a fully rounded infrastructure to support the crowds. Other locations manage to pull in globally renowned figures, these include tropical islands that might be exclusive, remote, or just plain irresistible. 

Visiting a tropical island where celebrities vacation is exciting in its own right. It allows travelers that frisson of pleasure, knowing that perhaps their movie, political, or sports idol may have stood in the very same spot as them, a degree-of-separation scenario with a travel kink. Islands all over the world have welcomed celebrities, but some seem to have a knack for consistently attracting them — like the ones listed here.

Another gem for sand lovers, this Caribbean isle has 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Part of a twin-island nation along with Barbuda, Antigua has 95 miles of coastline, a heavily indented shore that curves, curls, twists, and bends to form a multitude of coves, bays, and headlands. Among the picks of the beaches are Galley Bay Beach, Long Bay Beach, and Deep Bay Beach, which all yield clear turquoise waters. Beyond the beaches, the island has a number of attractions. Betty's Hope is a former sugar plantation dating to the mid-1600s; today, it features a pair of restored windmills. 

A pretty natural wonder is the Devil's Bridge, a finger of limestone that extends over the water, eroded by the relentless action of wind and salt water. The view from Shirley Heights Lookout, an updated fortification set on a hill, takes in panoramic vistas of the island and some of its harbors. A-listers that have stayed in Antigua include Sir Paul McCartney, Will Smith, and Mariah Carey, who have all booked a room at Jumby Bay Island resort. Soccer icon Lionel Messi even spent his honeymoon at the resort in 2017.

Just say the name of this island in the South Pacific, and the mind will effortlessly wander to images of lazy palm trees rustling in the wind, verdant, steep mountain slopes, and impossibly crystal clear lagoons filled with marine life. This tropical island has long weaved a spell for romance, and our honeymoon guide to Bora Bora shows why it makes for a fine destination for lovers. It's also a place where properties have beautiful overwater bungalows worth booking for a vacation treat or special occasion. 

It's little wonder, then, that the island, which is, in fact, the crater of a former volcano formed millions of years ago, attracts couples looking for some alone time. Many celebrities have holed up in the island's plush properties, including Jennifer Aniston, who vacationed here with Justin Theroux, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, as well as Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello.  What they found was a destination of great beauty and sharp, contrasting colors, from the greens of Mount Otemanu to the blues of the lagoon and ocean.

This island has brought the world plenty to cheer about, from the world's fastest man — the inimitable Usain Bolt — to the syncopated, melodic beats of reggae. It's a land of great variety, from the undulating Blue Mountains, where coffee grows, to the many fine beaches that line its shores to waterfalls around the island. The country, which gained independence from the British in 1962, is a popular destination for U.S. vacationers. Direct flights to Jamaica via carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and United are available. 

The U.S., in fact, is the main driver of international tourism to the island. The ease of access and a well-developed tourism infrastructure has ensured that visits to Jamaica remain strong. It might help to explain the variety of celebrity vacationers to the country, an eclectic bunch that range from politicians to performers. Justin Trudeau, Janet Yellen, Tracee Ellis Ross, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, and Chance the Rapper have all visited the island in the last couple of years.

Bursting with kid-friendly resorts that make for a perfect family destination, the Maldives aren't actually a single island but an archipelago separated into atolls in the Indian Ocean. More than 1,000 islands across the ocean appear like gems set in a sea of glimmering turquoise, and on many of them, visitors will find island resorts with overwater bungalows hovering about calm water. Some are close to colorful reefs, where marine life includes whales, sharks, turtles, and dolphins. 

The single-island properties have done a fine job of positioning themselves as tropical paradises, one-stop shops where accommodation, dining, entertainment, and activities mean that guests never need to leave. This might be part of the appeal for celebrities, who can unwind away from prying paparazzi (getting to some island resorts requires a seaplane transfer, making it hard for photographers to tail the stars). It could explain why so many celebs have vacationed in the Maldives. Household names like Kate Moss, Rita Ora, Serena Williams, Adrien Brody, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kate Winslet, Gordon Ramsay, Shakira, David Beckham, Idris Elba, and many more have all vacationed here.

Technically a barrier island, Miami Beach has long been a magnet for vacationers in search of a little sizzle. Its southern part, logically called South Beach, has some fine Art Deco buildings and even an official Art Deco Historic District. Situated between 5th Street and 23rd Street and a few avenues in width, the district has a deep concentration of sensually curved, stylish structures that celebrate the architectural vernacular from the 1920s and 1930s. 

Miami Beach is also where local homeowners, including Jennifer Lopez, David Beckham, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, as well as celebrities like John Mayer, Hilary Swank, and Kate Hudson, come to take a break. By daytime, the long stretches of beachfront call out to sun-seekers, while nightfall is when Miami Beach really springs to life. Options include clubs that spread across multiple floors, hotel bars with live music, and restaurants where DJ sets inject a bit of oomph into the eating experience.

This one is another private island, but this time round, the owner is not a corporate entity. Necker Island belongs to Sir Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur behind the Virgin Group. Its business interests have ranged from a music label and hotels to an airline and space venture. Funnily, Necker Island sits close to Virgin Gorda, which isn't part of the business empire. The private island spreads across 74 acres, and visitors will find a few modest hills, some wind turbines, and a scattering of beaches. 

It's a supremely peaceful place, and for most of the year, the island's 24 rooms are booked completely. For specific days of the year, however, visitors do have the option of reserving rooms, though exclusive luxury doesn't come cheap — expect to pay thousands of dollars per night per room. The sky-high rates make it little wonder that previous guests include the likes of Barack Obama, Steven Spielberg, Nelson Mandela, and Princess Diana.

Also known as St Barths and Saint Barthelemy, this upscale French-Caribbean island has welcomed the likes of Heidi Klum and Ben Affleck as vacationers. As with many Caribbean islands, it's a place with fantastic beaches — travelers can simply unwind or slide into calm turquoise seas. For some, its shopping scene is a big draw. In Gustavia, the capital of St Barts, buildings with red tile roofs are home to luxury brand boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès.

The town itself has a fascinating history, with a French and Scandinavian background and vestiges of once-mighty forts. For visitors looking for some privacy, St Barts supplies a number of posh hotels, often located on some of the island's finest beaches, like Flamands, Pointe Milou, and St Jean. For a greater sense of seclusion, private villas are available for rent, though few sit right by the water.

Reached by seaplane 30 minutes from Nadi, home to Fiji's international airport, Turtle Island is a private island resort that seems to pull in couples. Its website even promotes honeymoon packages, where newlyweds or betrotheds can secrete themselves in one of the island's 14 thatch-roof bures (bungalows). The recurring message that it's a spot for romance has pulled in musicians in search of some couple time — Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, and Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson have all stayed here during happier times. 

Part of the Yasawa archipelago, the island has 12 beaches and soft sand that cedes turquoise seas and a clear lagoon. The property is all-inclusive, and the curated experience means that meals can be taken on a secluded beach or on a floating dock under a starlit sky. Couples can connect further during beachfront massages, rides on horseback, or snorkeling trips over vibrant reefs.