Sir Richard Branson is perhaps the world’s most famous serial entrepreneur, from music to cola, telecom, airlines, trains, space travel, and a cruise line. He has also spun his famous private island, Necker Island, into a group of ultra-high-end retreats that offer both traditional hotel stays as well as full takeovers. From the Caribbean to the Swiss Alps, the Med to North Africa and down to the Continent’s southern tip, this we look at these unique retreats.
1. Necker Island
2. The Branson Beach Estate
3. The Lodge
4. Son Bunyola
5. Kasbah Tamadot
6. Mont Rochelle
1. Necker Island
Where: British Virgin Islands
Necker Island is the original and helped set the trend to private island retreats. It’s a 74-acre island in the British Virgin Islands and sleeps up to 48 adults and six children across multiple residences with ensuite bathrooms. Explore marine life at the island’s own coral reefs or unwind on the white sandy beaches. Take advantage of endless watersports.
Town & Country writes, “There’s a kind of luxurious summer camp feeling to the place; activities ranging from pickle ball to snorkeling are on offer, and guests shuttle around in golf carts that everyone calls buggies. Meals are eaten communally—and sometimes with the Bransons, if they’re on island—and there’s a prevailing feeling that anything you want to do, you can… even if that’s doing absolutely nothing.”
In terms of accommodations, writer Adam Rathe notes, “Each accommodation block is special. You have the Bali Lo complex, which has a treehouse effect with indoor-outdoor living. When I arrived here, I stayed there for the first two months I lived in the Virgin Islands and I loved it! You also have the Temple House complex, which actually used to be Richard’s home. There’s the Bali Hi complex near the flamingo pond, with incredible views looking over the ocean. There are also 13 rooms at the Great House, with panoramic views. I think my favorite room has to be the Master Suite on top of the Great House. The size of it is incredible, you have your own hot tub, and outside bath and shower, 360-degree views of the British Virgin Islands. Guests have their own sound system, too, so they often have after parties up there.”
2. The Branson Beach Estate
Where: Moskito Island, British Virgin Islands
The three-villa estate on Moskito Island offers barefoot luxury, breathtaking sea views and a one-of-a-kind Caribbean experience. It sleeps up to 22 guests in 11 bedrooms. Enjoy the private infinity pools or turquoise waters and a private sandy beach.
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “While everyone knows about billionaire Richard Branson’s original private retreat, Necker Island, the Virgin founder purchased another exclusive playground just two miles away called Moskito Island. But instead of using it for himself and his high-powered pals, the mogul built a home and sold nine other plots for others to build their dream beach houses. While most are only inhabited by the estate owners themselves, three of the remarkable properties—The Branson Estate, The Oasis Estate, and The Point Estate.”
The 2022 Hot List winner “features two villas with private pools, outdoor bathrooms, and the main two-story Headland House, connected by elevated wooden walkways. Meanwhile, the nine-room, all-glass Oasis Estate, perched on the island’s highest point, is the ultimate James Bond–esque party pad. Nearly every glass wall opens to the Caribbean breezes, and guests can take advantage of the multiple bars (including a swim-up one), a movie and billiards room, and a rooftop with 360-degree views. But the crown jewel has to be the 812-square-foot master guest room surrounded by glass. Lastly, the eight-bedroom Point Estate is another family-focused pad with a travel-inspired design (for example, a map-like sculpture on the ceiling). Adults will love the infinity pool, while kids won’t be able to get enough of the cozy bunk bed room with a partial glass ceiling revealing the pool above. It’s also the only property with direct access to the communal Manchioneel Beach.”
3. The Lodge
Where: Verbier, Switzerland
This A luxury mountain chalet in Verbier offers world-class skiing in winter and superb hiking and cycling in summer, against a backdrop of Switzerland’s awe-inspiring Alps. It sleeps 18 adults and up to six children, located just 250 meters from the lift.
The Telegraph writes, “The Lodge is Sir Richard Branson’s family mountain retreat and is a finely balanced mix of luxury and comfort with lots of personal touches, such as the family photographs around the fireplace. It was refurbished three years ago by interior designers Laughland Jones in their trademark modern Alpine style – comfort is king, textures are rich and details are important. It’s also playful and welcoming, with rubber ducks lining up on the baths, cuddly St. Bernard dogs sitting on the beds and Christmas decorations that have been collected over the years, just like at home.”
If you want a never stop experience, the newspaper adds, you have a “24-hour bar with wall of wine – serve yourself or call on the 24-hour staff to assist. Nothing is overly flashy; everything oozes understated luxe. The driver service is available 24 hours.”
Of the accommodations, The Telegraph reports, “There are nine double/twin bedrooms sleeping 18, plus a fun bunk room for kids that sleeps six. Two master suites with centerpiece fireplaces, large balconies, huge bathtubs and rain showers take up the top floor. On the second and third floors are four large bedrooms and three standard rooms. All have both shower and bath, and all except one standard room have balconies.”
4. Son Bunyola
Where: Mallorca, Spain
Sun Bunyola is three private villas and a luxury 27-room hotel in a restored 16th century finca, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Tramuntana Mountains. There are also three private villas. The 810-acre estate on Mallorca’s northwestern coast and features a heated infinity pool and hot tub with stunning vistas, two restaurants serving fresh, inventive local cuisine, and world-class hiking and cycling.
Travel + Leisure reports, “Son Bunyola makes it easy to do as much or as little as you like. Guests can take a morning outdoor yoga class, borrow a gratis bicycle (or rent a mountain bike to navigate the island’s mountain roads, regarded as some of best cycling in the world), join a weekly history walk, play billiards or ping-pong on a shaded terrace, or hit a tennis or pickleball on one of the sun-baked courts. I wish I could report that I’d done any of those activities, but there were too many other things to absorb my time.”
For dining, the magazine notes, “Approximately 75 percent of the ingredients used come from the island, and as the on-property crops and bee hives mature, the kitchens will take farm to fork to the next level.”
5. Kasbah Tamadot
Where: Asni, Morocco
Kasbah Tamadot is a Moroccan kasbah nestled in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, one hour from Marrakech. Stay in the 10 authentic Berber tents with private hot tubs, or one of the new two-bedroom riads.
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “Sir Richard Branson’s property sits atop a bluff in the High Atlas Mountains, and so thrilling is the 45-minute drive from Marrakech—on a narrowing road which switchbacks into the clouds—that your arrival is both a disappointment and a relief. The 24-room Kasbah was once the property of an antiquarian and artist, and items from his collections decorate the rooms, most of which have their own terrace or patio but no television. The hotel promotes itself as a home base for adventurers, but its DNA is closer to that of an old-fashioned European sanatorium, the kind in which days are whiled away wandering the gardens and inhaling the fresh air.”
6. Mont Rochelle
Where: Western Cape, South Africa
Located in the Winelands outside of Cape Town Mont Rochelle is an intimate 26-room hotel with a four-bedroom villa. There is a free regular shuttle service to Franschhoek and you are located on the route of the famous Wine Tram.
Travel + Leisure writes, “The property is split into two distinct parcels…We stayed on the secondary parcel, near reception. In that cozy corner, a fireplace was often burning in the cool fall mornings and evenings. Our Pinotage Suite room category included an ample living room with space both for a sectional sofa and two twin beds and a separate bedroom with a king-sized bed, as well as a large open bathroom with a double-headed walk-in shower and freestanding tub. All room categories, of which there are five (beginning with the entry-level Shiraz room and ending with the Cap Classique Suite, which has its own plunge pool), come with complimentary use of the mini-bar and gifted bottles of white and red wine.”
