© ZyperEscape to the edenic beauty of Hawaii
If ever a place existed that perfectly epitomised the meaning of holiday, it's Hawaii. America's only island state, this Pacific Ocean paradise is home to not only the ultimate in sea, surf and sand, but currently the number one ranked hotel in America, Four Seasons Resort Lanai.
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The smallest inhabited island in Hawaii, Lanai is well-positioned, post-pandemic, as a low-density, high-luxury, tourist destination. If, like me, you consider yourself a mild nesomaniac (someone obsessed with islands) when it comes to making travel plans, then you're in for a treat. A mix of the serene seclusion of the Maldives and the Pacific charm of Bora Bora, the isle of Lanai is a unique paradise. In 2012, the technology entrepreneur Larry Ellison bought 98 per cent of the island with the goal of creating a prototype for an "eco-Utopia". From hydroponic farms powered by solar panels, to the Tesla that picks you up on the tarmac, every detail is grounded in sustainability.
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A short 20-minute flight from Honolulu, the first thing you notice when you land is that it almost doesn't seem tropical. You'd be forgiven for thinking you were in Montana, thanks to pine-tree-lined roads, forests, and more than 30,000 deer roaming the farmland terrain - a remnant of the island's former identity as the world's largest producer of pineapples.
Gallery: Ranked: 10 of the most beautiful islands in the UK (House Beautiful (UK))
The transition from fruit production to hospitality has involved extensive redevelopment, and seven years later, not one, but two Four Seasons, both featuring a Nobu restaurant, have opened to the discerning traveller's delight. The Sensei Lanai property is nestled in the forest, an adults-only wellness retreat with the goal of helping people lead healthier and longer lives; its sister property on the beach is perfect for families seeking relaxation with a sprinkle of activities to enjoy between poolside Mai Tais. A crown jewel within the Four Seasons portfolio, it also has an award-winning golf course, and experiences including horse-riding and a highly recommended sunset catamaran cruise.
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For Kurt Matsumoto, the COO of Pulama Lanai, the management company tasked with carrying out Larry Ellison's vision for the island, success isn't thousands and thousands of people visiting each year. "Our goal is to attract high-value travellers through our luxury resorts and exclusive experiences. For us, it is about low-density, low-impact tourism that preserves and protects the island," he tells me. And it's that rejuvenating solitude, coupled with the likelihood that you'll bump into someone you know at the resort's buzzy restaurant, that sets the hotel apart from other island destinations.
With a new sky observatory opening its doors in July, it's not only budding astronomers who will be left starry-eyed by this hotel's unrivalled reputation for crafting memorable experiences. Just as a certain darkness is needed to see the stars, after a bleak year confined to our homes there is finally light at the end of this pandemic tunnel. As lockdowns end and a renewed sense of global optimism washes over us all, if there was ever a time to follow Jack Kerouac's advice to buy the dream ticket and take the dream ride, this could be it.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai, from about £830 a room a night.