When life gets too busy the words "island getaway" bring instant respite, with images of lazing on the beach, reading a book while reclining in a hammock, or sipping a pina colada and watching the sun set. An island escape is the ideal retreat, offering a rare dose of nature and solitude. The following close-to-Singapore destinations provide unrivalled beauty unique to each other.
PANGKOR LAUT, MALAYSIA
Pangkor Laut presents the ultimate in luxury. Located on Malaysia's west coast, Pangkor Laut Resort (www.pangkorlautresort.com) is the only hotel on this privately-owned island. Voted World's Number 1 Best Resort by Conde Nast in 2003, this hideaway's combination of luxury, natural beauty and exclusivity means it continues to attract those who don't mind spending a little bit extra to enjoy the utmost in seclusion and pampering.
Getting there To fly, travel with Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com), Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com), Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) or Air Asia (www.airasia.com) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and then transfer to Sultan Abdul Airport and fly onwards with Berjaya Air (www.berjaya-air.com) to Lumut. The resort's ferry service will then transport you from Lumut to Pangkor Laut. To drive, Lumut is seven hours from Singapore and three and-a-half hours from Kuala Lumpur.
PANGKOR ISLAND, MALAYSIA
Adjacent to Pangkor Laut lies larger Pangkor Island. Here you'll find many hotels, ranging from budget to mid-priced. Most are right on the beach and although this island isn't as stunning as its little sister isle, Pangkor offers a large measure of privacy and is extremely affordable.
Stay $$ Anjungan Beach Resort (www.anjunganresort.com) has rooms from just RM150 and promises a wide range of activities including island hopping, snorkelling, SCUBA diving and kayaking. Pangkor Island Beach Resort (www.pangkorislandbeach.com) is situated on a beautiful white sandy beach and has a wide range of room types to choose from priced from RM210, plus individual Malay-style wooden villas from RM550 per night.
$ Quality budget options include Golden Beach Hotel (Tel: 03 2691 1000/2692 1000), Palma Beach Resort (www.palmabeachresort.com.my) and Seagull Beach Village Resort (www.seagullbeachvillageresort.com).
Getting there There's a 30-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur with Berjaya Air every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To get to Kuala Lumpur, fly with the airlines mentioned for travelling to Pangkor Laut.
If you're in South Korea on business, consider spending the weekend on Jeju-Do - formerly known as Cheju - South Korea's biggest island. Formed by an outpouring of lava after a volcanic eruption over two million years ago, this island with its crater lake and lava tubes was designated a natural UNESCO World Heritage site in June 2007. Although downtown is distinctly city, the landscape is rugged and minutes away is a hidden tropical paradise - enticing beaches, rocky cliffs, lava caves and cascading waterfalls.
Stay $$$ For resort-style ambience check into the stylish Hyatt Regency Jeju (http://jeju.regency.hyatt.com), offering five-star luxury on Jungmun Beach.
$$ Ramada Plaza Jeju (www.ramadajeju.co.kr) is a very large hotel which is more business-like in feel but is close to nearby golf courses. Jeju Grand Hotel (Tel: 064 747 5000) is boutique in size and close to restaurants, nightlife and Halla Mountain and National Park. Lotte Hotel Jeju (www.lottehotel.com) has a great kids' club with a variety of programmes hosted in 3,000 square feet of facilities, plus a casino for grownups.
$ Budget options in the city centre include Robero Hotel (Tel: 064 757 7111) and Jeju Hana Hotel (www.hotelhana.co.kr)
Getting there From Singapore, Garuda Indonesia (www.garuda-indonesia.com) and China Eastern (www.flychinaeastern.com) fly direct to Jeju with a total flight time of 10 hours. Otherwise, it's a six-hour flight to Seoul with either Korean Air (www.koreanair.com) or Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), then a one-hour hop to Jeju Island with Asiana Airlines (http://flyasiana.com), China Eastern, All Nippon Airways (www.ana.co.jp) or Korean Air.
PHU QUOC ISLAND, VIETNAM
The turquoise waters and sandy beaches of Phu Quoc island are just 50 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City. Set in an untouched natural environment, this island's laidback ambience is ideal for relaxation. Yet to be discovered by throngs of tourists, anticipate total seclusion and tranquility.
Stay $$ La Veranda Resort (www.mgallery.com) is a charming boutique property on Duong Dong Beach, decorated to evoke the elegance of a time when Vietnam was known as Indochine. Rates are reasonable, averaging US$200 per night. Chenla Resort and Spa (www.chenla-resort.com) has spacious one and two-bedroom sea view and beachfront bungalows, plus Jacuzzi and pool villas and a stunning main infinity pool. Prices start at around US$270 per night.
$ Budget resorts are plentiful and value-for-money, with many situated directly on the beach. Try Saigon Phu Quoc Resort (www.sgphuquocresort.com.vn), Cassia Cottage (www.cassiacottage.com), Mango Bay Hotel (www.mangobayphuquoc.com), Sea Star Resort (http:/seastarresort.com), the unusual and welcoming Freedomland (www.freedomlandphuquoc.com) and Beach Club (www.beachclubvietnam.com).
Getting there Fly two hours to Ho Chi Minh with Malaysia Airlines(www.malaysiaairlines.com), Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com), Garuda Indonesia (www.garuda-indonesia.com) or Thai Airways (www.thaiair.com), then one hour on to Phu Quoc with Vietnam Airlines - flying five times daily.
LAGEN & MINILOC ISLANDS
El Nido, Palawan Island, Philippines El Nido is the coastal city of Palawan Island in the Philippines. With its tranquil crystal waters and dazzling beaches, El Nido remains a well-kept secret and offers plenty of space for you to relax and unwind as you take in your majestic surrounds.
Stay The breathtaking, slightly opulent and well maintained El Nido Lagen Resort (www.elnidoresorts.com), Lagen Island and its sister property El Nido Miniloc Resort, Miniloc Island have a monopoly on accommodation. Both offer striking and wondrous views of the ocean and white sandy beaches.
A myriad of activities are included in your accommodation price ranging from fish feeding and island hopping to snorkelling and SCUBA diving. Whether you decide to take advantage of the action or just laze on the beach, there's something for everyone. Both resorts are in a part of El Nido that is truly a last Shangri-La. Each is perched above a cove surrounded by spectacular limestone karsts, fronting spectacular beaches and lush green forests. Rates start from US$260 for Lagen and US$200 for Miniloc.
Getting there It's a three-and-a-half hour flight to Manila from Singapore with Philippine Airlines (www.philippineairlines.com), Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com), SilkAir
(www.silkair.com), Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com) or Garuda Indonesia (www.garuda-indonesia.com). From there, the resort will arrange a private charter on ITI Airlines to El Nido.
