12 Super Remote Hotels for a Secluded Vacation Oasis

Their serene and relaxing environments make them well worth the journey.

ByABC News
October 18, 2015, 6:39 AM
Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa, Thailand.
Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa, Thailand.
Oyster.com

— -- intro: Our fast-paced lives and increasingly hyper-connected world may be fun and exciting, but it can also be exhausting.

When we think of a real vacation, we picture escaping the bustling cities and swapping car alarms for crickets. While backpacking up a mountain could do the trick, we’re more inclined to pick a hotel that offers the same secluded setting, but with all the amenities of a resort.

So if you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, we’ve found 12 amazing hotels that are super remote. They may take a little bit of work to get to, but their serene and relaxing environments make them well worth the journey.

quicklist: 1title: Point Grace, Turks and Caicostext: Point Grace is a luxury boutique enjoying a beautiful remote location on Grace Bay beach in Turks and Caicos. It has 28 one- to four-bedroom suites decorated in a British Colonial style; picture vaulted ceilings, mahogany wood floors, and elegant clawfoot bathtubs. Luxe amenities include an ocean-side spa, a quiet pool, and lush garden grounds filled with bougainvillea and hibiscus. There are two on-site restaurants, but suites have full kitchens if you really want to stay holed up.media: 34529524

quicklist: 2title: Geejam, Jamaicatext: Geejam touts itself as a “private hotel” and with only five modern cottages, it definitely delivers. The resort is tucked in the lush foothills of Port Antonio, about a two-hour drive from Kingston International Airport. There are no communal spaces, not even a lobby, except for the Bushbar restaurant. The on-site beach is small but lovely, in-room spa treatments can be arranged, and there’s even a recording studio. Rooms vary; one has a swimming pool, one has an outdoor whirlpool, and two have their own steam rooms. The vibe is relaxed and quiet, making it ideal for isolation-seeking couples.media: 34530381

quicklist: 3title: andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp, Botswana text: If you’re looking to be seriously remote, check out andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp. The luxurious safari lodge is on an island in Botswana's Okavango Delta, requiring transport by small plane, safari vehicle, and a boat. Both hotel amenities and safari experiences are included: excellent food; guided excursions (game drives, bush walks, river cruises); and tented suites. The nine "tents" are fully screened in and complete with high-end features like huge soaking tubs, four-poster beds, and private pools.media: 34530148

quicklist: 4title: Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge, Panamatext: The Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge/a> consists of nine two-story cabanas built on stilts above the crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea. The suites are charmingly rustic rather than chic -- there is very limited electricity -- and each has a large deck with lounge chairs and a ladder for easy access into the water. Breakfast and a three-course dinner are included in the rate. A 30-minute boat ride from Almirante, the lodge is a truly remote, peaceful retreat for travelers wanting to relax on their deck with a book or take out the free kayaks and snorkel gear.media: 34529441

quicklist: 5title: St Francis Resort, Bahamastext: Just a little over an hour-long flight from Miami International Airport, the St Francis Resort is located on Stocking Island, a ten-minute boat ride from Exuma. The property has just eight rooms in a remote spot surrounded by lush vegetation and two pretty beaches. The rooms are spacious with private balconies and stunning ocean views, but the patterned comforters are a bit dated. If you’re craving interaction, the on-site restaurant is usually bustling with guests and boaters. Free in-room breakfast, kayak and hobicat rentals, and Wi-Fi are added perks. media: 34528780

quicklist: 6title: La Bandita, Tuscany text: La Bandita is an upscale countryside inn with eight rooms and gorgeous views of the Tuscan landscape. It's in an old country house that was refurbished in 2007 to a more modern, minimalist look. Although it normally functions as a B&B, the entire property can be rented out. The property is isolated, and guests must drive down a bumpy dirt road lined with Cyprus trees for about 20 minutes to reach it. There’s a pretty pool, steam room, and a full-time gourmet chef who prepares fresh, delicious meals.media: 34529994

quicklist: 7title: Pigeon Cay Beach Club, Bahamas text: The intimate, budget-friendly Pigeon Cay Beach Club is located on beautiful and secluded Cat Island in the central Bahamas. With only seven beachfront cottages, the atmosphere is friendly and laid-back but also private. The simple, rustic cottages have dated decor and no TVs or Internet, but they include fully equipped kitchens and furnished outdoor spaces. The beach is the best part of Pigeon Cay -- it’s quiet, secluded, and gorgeous with turquoise blue water and powdery white sand. This isn't an updated or lavish property, but the very affordable rates make Pigeon Cay a good choice for those looking to get lost in Cat Island's natural beauty. media: 34529617

quicklist: 8title: Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa, Thailand text: The gorgeous Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa sits just north of Koh Phangan's northeastern Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach and is one of the island's top luxury options. But to get to it, guests must either take a 40-minute speedboat ride from Koh Samui or drive 45 minutes from Koh Phangan pier. Its quiet hillside location (complete with sweeping ocean views) and the beautiful, intricate wood carvings that characterize its design are stand-out features. The beach here is lovely but small, though a better beach can be accessed on foot within five minutes. Some rooms have swim-up access, and some villas have private pools. The included breakfast buffet spread is impressive, and the main restaurant has great ocean views and hosts theme nights with live music.media: 34528996

quicklist: 9title: Petite Anse Hotel Grenadatext: The Petite Anse Hotel Grenada is a charming, upper-middle-range hotel with a remote location on the island. From the airport, it takes about an hour and a half, along a long, narrow, very windy road tracing up the west coast of the island, to reach. Its 13 rooms are situated in natural gardens on a hill overlooking the sea, with views of the Grenadine islands. It’s not a luxury property, but it has a small pool, pretty beach, and a cozy restaurant and bar. Petite Anse feels like a well-kept secret, and it's a perfect respite for those looking for an escape from the pre-packaged, generic beach holiday.media: 34529798

quicklist: 10title: Raven Hall Hotel, Yorkshiretext: The 52-room upper-mid-range Raven Hall Hotel is situated on a coastal cliff that offers sweeping views of the surrounding moors and Robin Hood's Bay. Though the remote location is a 30-minute drive to the nearest towns, the hotel is in the middle of the beautiful North York Moors National Park, with a main hiking trail running through its 100-acre grounds. Rooms have a contemporary Scandinavian design, and for guests seeking something more spacious and private, eight environmentally-friendly Finnish lodges are available with kitchenettes and lovely porches. There are a plethora of amenities, including an on-site restaurant that serves locally-sourced seasonal foods in an elegant space with panoramic views over the countryside and bay, as well as a nine-hole golf course built into the cliffside and a lovely indoor pool with sauna. media: 34529211

quicklist: 11title: Cabbage Key Inn; Cabbage Key Island, FLtext: The Cabbage Key Inn is a mid-range property offering six quaint rooms and eight cottages on a beautiful, secluded island that is reachable only by boat. The 100-acre island is filled with nature trails and lush flora and fauna, plus an on-site marina. Rooms feature original wood floors and private antique-style bathrooms, and some have fireplaces (though no TVs). Cottages feature fully equipped modern kitchens, separate living rooms, and multiple bedrooms, as well as exceptional water views; some have private docks and screened-in porches. Cabbage Key Inn Restaurant and Bar serves tasty American classics and is popular with guests as well as locals and boaters.media: 34530290

quicklist: 12title: Virgin Islands Campground, Water Island text: The Virgin Islands Campgrounds is located a quick eight-minute ferry ride away from St. Thomas. The campground is natural and lush, in keeping with the environment and vibe of this small island. The property provides an elevated camping experience, or “glamping,” as the staff calls it. There are six tented, screened cottages with queen-size beds as well as an indoor suite with a private living room, kitchen, and bedroom with a king bed. There are shared toilets, showers, and cooking facilities for the cottages. It’s not for everybody (it is a campground, after all), but the property, and Water Island, is a special place for those who enjoy laid-back, quiet nature.media: 34528577