Island-Sity

Miami and Key West
The winter months are high season in subtropical southern Florida, when “snowbirds” descend in large numbers from the northern US and Canada to bask in temperatures that usually reach around 73-79F (23-26C) in the daytime and 60-65F (16-18C) at night. Miami’s big draw is South Beach, home to fabulous Art Deco hotels and intense nightlife. Sports fans might want to time their visit to see the NFL Superbowl, which takes place on February 7 at Dolphin Stadium. Add on a few days in Key West: a three-hour drive from Miami along US Highway 1, the southernmost settlement in the US has a beguilingly laid-back lifestyle.

Mining

The head office for the Ramu Nickel mega-project - a Chinese state-owned joint venture - is in Madang. United Pacific Drilling and Marengo Mining both have offices in Madang. Another major resources project is the Yandera gold mine.
Education

Madang is well-known for its educational institutions; in particular the Divine Word University that turns out some of PNG's best graduates. There are also teaching and maritime colleges, a school of nursing and a campus of the University of PNG.
Partnership Opportunities

A Marine Industrial Park will attract significant additional foreign investment into the fisheries sector. Priority issues around which Madang would be keen to work in partnership with include: Development of a town plan; recruitment and training of technical staff; improving waste management; traffic management/roads; tourism provision and promotion; and urban landscaping.

Standing tall at about 365 metres, Mount Harriet, which offers a splendid bird's-eye view of Port Blair's adjoining islands, is barely 10 minutes from the Chatham harbour of the Capital city to Bamboo flat aboard a ferry, followed by a five-minute vehicle ride.

Located in the southern part of the Andamans, Mount Harriet also has a natural trek to Madhuban Beach. However, thanks to the intermittent rain the last two days coupled with a more-than-fleeting appearance of some wild snakes moments before our arrival, our unofficial guide dissuaded us.

Talking about rain, the cabbie, who calls himself a “local” (his great grandfather was apparently one of the erstwhile Cellular Jail convicts who, like several other inmates, decided to settle down in Port Blair itself after they were set free), says that since the 2004 tsunami, the rain in the entire belt of Andamans has become rather “unpredictable”, unlike earlier when there were specific rainy months in a year.

The next day was reserved for Havelock Islands, arguably one of the most popular islands in Andamans.

Havelock Island, which is over 55 kilometres from Port Blair, focuses on eco-tourism, what with eco-friendly bamboo huts as changing rooms on its popular beaches.

The one must-see at Havelock is the famous Radhanagar Beach, which even found a mention in Time magazine. The beach is undoubtedly beautiful, especially when the tide is high. Sitting on the white sand and watching the sun set is bliss.

However, for those keen on snorkelling and swimming, Elephant Beach on this island is the place to be. While Radhanagar can be reached by road, Elephant Beach takes about 40 minutes on a motorboat or the more indigenous “dongi”.

The Barefoot Resort (places like the dining area and the bar can be accessed only barefoot), located amidst giant trees near the Radhanagar Beach, is unquestionably the best resort on Havelock Island. The resort can be at least tried for snacks, meals or drinks, if nothing else, as room prices – especially during peak season – are likely to burn a hole in one's pocket.

After spending a night at Havelock, we returned to Port Blair the next afternoon and proceeded to Baratang Island the day after. More than the island, which is about 100 kilometres away from Port Blair, it is the route to this isle that is fascinating as one has a good chance of spotting Jarawas – one of the indigenous tribes of the Andaman Islands. Though interacting with them and offering them food is strictly prohibited, some tourists do give away biscuits or “paan” to the Jarawas, who eat it with great relish.

While the administration forbids any photography, the Jarawas too react very fiercely if they notice they are being captured on camera. The journey to Baratang is mainly by land, followed by a 20-minute ride in a huge ship that is capable of transporting men as well as vehicles as large as a passenger bus.

The mud volcano near the Jarawa Creek and limestone cave in Nayadera are natural wonders on this island.

Brutally affected by the 2004 tsunami, Baludera on Baratang is an almost lifeless beach now, full of uprooted trees, and dead corals – brought ashore by the powerful earthquake and the following tsunami. According to locals, Baludera was one of the prettiest beaches on the whole of Andamans before the tsunami struck.

A natural habitat for parakeet in the region, the Parrot Island is a pleasant sight for nature aficionados, where one gets to see parrots returning “home” in droves, a little before the sun sets. What is striking is that the mangroves on this island are trimmed from time to time by the parrots themselves using their beaks in a near-perfect manner.

However, a visit to Parrot Island – an over 20-minute ride in a ferry from the harbour – would require a night's stay at Baratang Island, which one can otherwise cover within a day and later fall back to Port Blair.

Another gorgeous island near Port Blair is Jolly Buoy Island. Being an uninhabited island and a “no plastic zone”, visitors are expected to carry their own food and drinking water before they set for an over one-hour journey by sea to Jolly Buoy from Wandoor, 20 minutes from Port Blair. The island boasts splendid marine life that is best observed by snorkelling. You can spot sea anemones, sea cucumber, star fish and several other kinds of fish, not to forget the wide variety of corals. For those who are uncomfortable getting into the water, glass boats are available.

Apart from snorkelling, North Bay Island located close to Port Blair is renowned for its underwater corals – though they are not even half as good as those in Elephant Beach and Jolly Buoy Island – and authentic pearls. Pearl necklaces, bangles and household decorative items are sold by locals from small shacks on the beach.

About two kilometres from Port Blair is Ross Island, which was the administrative headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands till early 1940s. This island remained under British occupation till 1942, after which it was conquered by Japanese troops till 1945.

While the Japanese bunkers are still quite intact, one can also see vestiges of the once grand British life on the island, like the chief commissioner's residence, its gardens and ballrooms, officers' accommodation, etc. The island is maintained by the Indian Navy.

Sightseeing in Port Blair city itself can be easily covered in a day's time, the anthropological and Indian Navy museums, aquarium and the infamous Cellular Jail being some places of interest.

Wrapping up the visit to the truly unique Andamans, one wished that going to the Nicobar Islands – apparently equally, if not more astounding – was also feasible.

Tropical Villa Vacations offers 15 luxury properties in Wailea, and another 25 located around the island of Maui. We recommend it enthusiastically. After all, here’s a level of luxury that is simply unprecedented in our travels – and we go everywhere. For starters, these properties are fully stocked with everything imaginable to make your trip remarkable.

Take the kitchen, for example. Need a cappuccino maker or perhaps just a battery-operated frother? How about a popcorn maker plus popcorn? Would you believe a waffle iron, full set of Tupperware and Corning Ware, cookbooks, Henckels knives, cheese graters, a rolling pin, pumpkin pie spice, basil, Torani syrup, grenadine and Chambord liqueur? That’s just a small sample of what’s in the kitchen, to make you feel right at home, in case you want to enjoy a cup of Joe, make pastry, or bake an apple pie. In a word, we were wowed by the level of service, amenities, location and surroundings. And it gets even better – Tropical Villa Vacations has partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to offer guests up to 25,000 bonus HawaiianMiles for new reservations at any of the Wailea Beach Villas resort residences that it privately manages.

We stayed in the Wailea property, on the 4th floor in a penthouse villa, #402, accessed by a private elevator. This vacation residence, with 2300 sq-feet, offers unabashed luxury; it includes oceanfront views with a private lanai and Viking grill; laundry room completely outfitted with washer, dryer, detergent, and anything else needed; living room with huge HGTV screen and home theater; three bedrooms with the most comfortable beds we’ve ever slept in; bathrooms with double sinks and marble floors; and adjacent walk-in closets. The name of our unit, “Grand Seascape” could have also been named "The Spa," with beautiful blonde wood, golden granite counters, cream color marble floors, and Tommy Bahama furnishings.

At this elevation, guests are privileged with unequaled panoramic views of Wailea Beach, the neighboring Four Seasons and Grand Wailea Resorts, and westward towards the sparkling blue Pacific. Facing the ocean, floor-to-ceiling solid glass doors and screen doors retract for an open-air living experience. This previously undiscovered vista is simply impossible to capture in photographs. With confidence we can boast that you likely may not want to go anywhere during your holiday, if other than to lounge day and night on the oceanview private terrace, from where you can whale-watch during winter season, stargaze at night, and capture the Maui sunsets and rainbows that the island is famous for.

Rates for this villa vary, and with all of the villas, you’re best bet is to visit the website, to see current rates. In general, for this penthouse, depending on the season, rents are anywhere from $850-$1,650 per night. All bookings require a four-night minimum.

Outside, you’ll also be captivated by the location. Wailea is the premier luxury destination on Maui, and Tropical Villa Vacations’ vacation homes in Wailea sit on a prime piece of property fronting Wailea Beach. That means that the white sands are just steps away on a superb slice of beach. Yet there’s also a family pool plus an adult pool, and a workout room, as well as access right across the street to The Shops at Wailea. (We highly recommend dinner there, at Tommy Bahama – read our review of it in our story about “Maui’s Top Ten Restaurants,”)

Looking for a relaxing spa getaway? Head to exquisite St Bart’s and stay at the impeccable Villa Zen Nirvana oceanfront vacation rental. Relax just steps from the beach, and bring along friends and family or just the two of you for a rejuvenating escape in St. Bart’s.

Enjoy the best of the Caribbean at the British Virgin Islands Villa Golden Pavilion on Tortola.

Vacation Rentals don’t get much better than this expansive oceanfront villa that’s perfect for a beach getaway with friends and family. Golf, spa and beach fun is abundant at this oceanfront pool villa that includes a private chef so all you have to do is lounge and soak up the sun.

What better way to get the most out of the full Caribbean vacation than a Caribbean cruise? A luxury boat cruise in Caribbean can take you island-hopping from the lively beaches of Jamaica to the secluded coves of St. Lucia. Choices include Southern Caribbean cruises to Grenada, Dominica and Martinique; Eastern Caribbean cruises to the Virgin Islands and Bahamas, as well as full luxury Bermuda cruises.

We represent a pretty fair mix of white-collar jobs: an insurance executive, a regional sales manager for an office furniture company, a retail chain executive, a partner in a commercial real estate firm, a home builder, a lawyer, a teacher — and my wife and I, journalists. As we talked, it was clear that while we all felt lucky to still have jobs, there wasn’t one of us whose business hadn’t been seriously wounded by this not-so Great Recession.

And yet, even as business has slowed, we have been speeded up, and the dead giveaway was the growth of laptops in paradise. Five years ago, in Barbados, none of us consulted a computer. Three years ago, in Costa Rica, a few family members walked to an Internet cafe and checked our e-mail one afternoon just for the novelty of being online in a faraway place.

This year I stood in a long line in the lobby of this resort in the Dominican Republic, to wait my turn to sign up for 25 hours of Internet service for $25. Several in the family brought laptops and we checked our work e-mail daily.

It almost seems like a dream from long ago, but I can remember coming back from vacation and sitting at my desk that first day and doing nothing but catching up — on my mail, on the back newspapers, on office politics. Nor did anyone press me. It was understood: I was in a 24-hour vacation decompression zone.

Now, we keep up on vacation, we keep up on weekends (my incoming work e-mail suggests we also keep up past midnight on weekdays). And on Monday morning, we hit the ground running.

These days, rarely do I receive one of those automated e-mail responses saying, “Sorry I’m on vacation, I’ll answer when I return.”

We expect ourselves to be available.

Whether we want to or not, most boomers have had to embrace technology. But the promise, that it’s making our lives easier? A lie. Indeed, I’m convinced the opposite is true, that we’re working harder.

That’s the case in my own reporter’s world. Twenty-five years ago it wasn’t unusual for me to call the research department at the newspaper once a week for help. Now, I may call twice a year. Now, I’m expected to use all the wonderful online research tools at my fingertips.

And yet the core of my job — going out and talking in person to strangers about their stories — has not changed at all, is no easier. I heard the same thing from my brothers-in-law in real estate and office furniture, and from my father-in-law in insurance. They still must travel by car, taxi, subway, plane, and meet the clients to build the bonds that close the sales at the core of their labor. It’s the central lesson George Clooney, the baby boomer, teaches the 20-something Ivy League techno-whiz in the film “Up in the Air” — even if your job is firing people, to do it right (and by the way, contain liability claims) you need to look ‘em in the eye, and Skype won’t do.

On a Friday, we landed back at J.F.K., an airport with a baggage claim system so spectacularly dysfunctional, you’re instantly transported from paradise to the brutalities of daily life.

On Sunday, I drove through a snowstorm to spend an afternoon interviewing a couple for my next column.

I want to be clear: no complaints here. I work in an industry that’s bleeding jobs. In the last year, for my articles, I’ve interviewed hundreds of unemployed boomers face to face. There isn’t a time I don’t think, there but for the grace of God ...

Still, for those of us left standing, the workplace is growing tougher, as I tried to confirm from my e-mail messages and calls to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on the Monday morning after vacation.

In the third quarter of 2009 (the latest data available), at a time when unemployment grew from to 9.8 percent from 9.4, business productivity grew at an annual rate of 8.1 percent, the highest since 2003. We were doing more with less. And while productivity is a broad economic term, and can be influenced by numerous factors including capital investment and the organization of production, one important variable is “effort of the work force,” i.e. — all that laptop tapping we do on vacations, weekends and ‘round midnight.

Even more striking to me is the government’s predictions about what is going to happen to us boomers in the workplace over the next decade as we reach what used to be considered retirement age.

A lot of us will go right on working.

In 1988, when the World War II greatest generation was hitting retirement age, 11.5 percent of people 65 and older were still working. By 2008, 16.8 percent of those 65 and older were working, and by 2018, when those 65 and over will be mostly boomers, 22.4 percent are expected to still be working, according to a new study by Mitra Toossi, an economist with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

She projects that by 2018, 14 percent of 79-year-olds — 1 in 7 — will still work, versus 6.1 percent in 1988 (1 in 16). “It is an amazing change in a short time,” Ms. Toossi said.

Some of this is good — we’re healthier and want to work longer. Some is social policy — a change is now in progress in the age when people are able to retire with full Social Security benefits, from 65 to 67.

And some is just really bad news. The economic downturn has depleted retirement and savings accounts and that means many will have no choice.

For the time being, lots of us are staying in condition to work until we’re 79 by keeping at it on vacations and weekends.

One of the people whose e-mail messages I answered from paradise was Allan Goldstein, 60, a college professor from Manhattan. He wrote that he had a possible column idea for me. In my e-mail messages back, I didn’t tell him I was in paradise — didn’t want him to think I had better things to do than write him. I didn’t want him to envision this reporter living the fat life in the tropics, while he was freezing in New York City.

On a Wednesday at 5:17 p.m. I e-mailed him, suggesting we speak by phone on Friday (when I’d be home). “Hi Mike,” he e-mailed back 16 minutes later. “I return from St. Croix on Friday evening. O.K. if we talk over the weekend?”

A huge fish, a suckling pig and several types of vegetable, including sweet potato and pumpkin, are wrapped in banana leaves and slow cooked for 5 hours. The result is tender and delicious. This is followed by a meke, a dance celebrating the Fijian warrior tradition . . . Unsurprisingly, the food at Turtle is exquisite.

Eight of the islands beaches are available for private use by individual couples for a day at a time. Each has its own glorious qualities. One is long and wide and perfect for horse riding, another a dream for snorkeling, a third is tiny but perfectly formed and flanked by palm trees leaning almost horizontally." This from the leading luxury travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveler.

This is an entirely new tier of resort--one so exclusive it only accommodates 28 people at a time. Your stay here is distinguished by a private "bure" on a beach and all the delicious lobster, champagne and fresh fruits you could imagine. The Fijian people are famous for their hospitality, and today's Turtle Island staff has been called the friendliest in the world.

Turtle Island vacations come with sunken Jacuzzis, private decks, secluded beaches and the kind of snorkeling that tends to evoke underwater sighs. Regular Kava ceremonies bring you closer to a native culture that takes pride in its roots, and day trips to neighboring mountains and nearby markets let you unwind in style. You can even indulge in the four-hand Lomi Lomi massage that former guests have called the ultimate in decadence.

Do not hesitate to if you want to get started on your own dream vacation today. Turtle Island is one of the world's best-known luxury destinations for a reason, and today it is nearly always full. Reserve well in advance and you could find yourself planning a picturesque horseback ride to the Blue Lagoon in a matter of months.

Privately, the president was to hear from the CIA later Monday about the attempted attack on the Northwest Airlines flight and meet with John Brennan, his top counterterrorism adviser, who is leading the review into what went wrong. The president has summoned Homeland Security officials for a broader meeting Tuesday in the White House Situation Room.

Even without those reviews, the president has a full agenda for the new year.

Lawmakers from the House and Senate must resolve differences on a health care overhaul nearing passage. Obama's departure for Hawaii was delayed until Christmas Eve, when the Senate passed its version of the White House's top domestic priority.

Financial regulations are on the verge of winning their own version of an overhaul. A State of the Union address to Congress is due during the first weeks of 2010. And the escalating war in Afghanistan is not going to run itself.

Even though it was called a vacation, the trip to Obama's childhood home was hardly the holiday most Americans seek. Between golf outings, he phoned his homeland security secretary and counterterrorism adviser for regular updates. Rather than restaurant recommendations, the president was handed thrice-daily updates from the White House Situation Room. And an attack that killed seven U.S. intelligence officers put him on the phone with the CIA director before heading to the island's North Shore for a party with high school friends.

Such a hyped-up tone was exactly what officials sought to dodge.

"I asked the president if he had any special message for you guys," deputy press secretary Bill Burton deadpanned to reporters on the way to Oahu on Christmas Eve. "He would like for you to relax and to not anticipate any public announcements or news-making events."

It echoed almost exactly what Burton told reporters as they headed toward Obama's summer vacation off the coast of Massachusetts. That trip saw clambakes interrupted with the renomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, recreation replaced with mourning the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

This week shouldn't have come as a surprise, really. Presidents don't truly get to leave behind 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

One aide traveled back and forth between a makeshift White House complex - at a hotel on Waikiki - to Obama's rented residence with secure memos. A third-floor room overlooking a sea of whitecaps had its curtains drawn while officials used it as a secure briefing room for the National Security Council. And officials - sometimes in sandals or gym clothes - visited reporters in a the hotel ballroom they used for workspace.

"We reserve the right to screw up your day at a moment's notice," a smiling Burton casually told reporters seeking the president's schedule one afternoon.

So even though Obama wore casual slacks on New Year's Day when he took his daughters to see a 3-D version of the film "Avatar," that BlackBerry on his belt wasn't for fashion. For a wartime president who dodged dealing with a terrorist attack on Christmas, it's just one reminder he's never completely distanced from his job as commander in chief.

When we got there, a few thousand years later, it looked like a hole in the ground and, once inside, the smell was not entirely pleasant. What was all the local fuss about? But then I understood. As we climbed out gingerly and stood still, the view to sea was breathtaking, the silence was as timeless as Homer. A guide had told me the previous day that on much of Ithaca you can idle away hours and the only sound you hear is the occasional tinkling of goats' bells. Right on cue, I could hear a nearby goat - a cliche moment, but nonetheless memorable.

Despite its status in classical legend, mass tourism has so far passed Ithaca by. At barely 45 square miles in area, it's tiny, tranquil and largely unspoilt. It gets day trippers - mostly to its charming main town, Vathy, rather than to the Cave of the Nymphs - and a few island-hopping sailors.

But it's well worth making a visit to 'dwell in shining Ithaca', as Homer urged, at least for a few idle days of peace and stillness, interrupted only by the goat bells. In the north-east of the island, Kioni is one of the prettiest little harbours I have seen on any coast - three windmills on a low-lying promontory, and below, a few old houses in the Venetian style much favoured in Ionian Islands, which in the late medieval period were occupied by Venice.

There are two splendid beaches easily reached by car or foot - Polis on the west coast of Ithaca and Filiatro on the south. In both, fine white pebbles turn the clear sea a milky turquoise. Rent a boat in Kioni and find remote bays and inlets where you will be completely on your own.

Vathy, incongruously for such a sleepy place, possesses a hip and trendy boutique hotel, the Perantzada. Originally a rich Greek merchant's mansion in the mid-19th century, many rooms have recently been lavishly refurbished with bold colours, art work and imaginative split-level interiors using the sea views by some of the top modern designers, including Philippe Starck. It is in the town, a short walk to a dozen tavernas - the cheap and very cheerful O Zois was our favourite - but still feels like a seaside hotel, with wonderful sunsets from the hotel balcony.

If you are keen on exploring the Galapagos Islands, it is better to take the help of a local guide. If you want to indulge in a luxurious Galapagos Island vacations, you can very well join a traveler-oriented yacht or a cruise ship.

Often you will come across packages which will be customized according to your needs. Though it cost a pinch on your pockets, the experience is truly remarkable. A land tour is preferred for those who wish to experience the delight of watching the landscape. You can also rent a horse or a bike.

If you are wondering the perfect time for Galapagos Island vacations, that would leave definitely leave you a bit confused as different times of the year holds special fascination in this part of the world. Be ready to witness the beauty of the greater flamingos in the month of February while July lets you indulge in a playful mood with whales and dolphins on the coastal part of Isabela. So go ahead and book your Galapagos Island vacations right away!

"If you've looked at seven days in Anguilla or St. Barts, you know they're not hurting for customers." But many resort areas in the warm and balmy region, including those in Mexico and Jamaica, have been overbuilt, he said.

"There's traffic that will be generated to those locales -- at the right price," Lewis said. A good travel agent should steer you in the right direction. Jamaica has beautiful beaches, a rich African-Caribbean heritage and dozens of vacation resort properties and hotels.

But Michele Olivier, a senior vice president with Sunset Resorts in Jamaica, said the island is rebounding from several setbacks, including cuts in flights by government-owned Air Jamaica. "And we are not a drive-by destination," she said. But other airlines, including budget carriers such as JetBlue and AirTran, have stepped in this year to fill the void, she said.

And resort properties on Jamaica are offering many deals and packages to lure all kinds of travelers, including honeymooners, adventure travelers and families. "We've just tried to get very creative with what we offer," she said.

Olivier said improvements in infrastructure such as airports and roads in Jamaica have been "tremendous" during the past five years. And despite some highly publicized but isolated criminal activities on the island, "We're getting the word out that it's actually very safe. "The Caribbean has gone through hurricanes, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), 9/11, but we've always bounced back," she said. "People want a warm place to visit, not too far from home. . . .

"Jamaica is a well-established, mature destination. There are no language issues, no currency issues. "I've worked all over the Caribbean," Olivier said. "I came down after my graduate degree and never left." Mexico Warm, close by and surprisingly affordable -- what's not to like about our neighbor to the south? How about H1N1 (swine flu) and drug violence?

For Ms. Dawson, a 48-year-old Manhattanite and self-described “city chick,” it turned into one of the most romantic nights of her life. She spent the rest of the day plucking a dozen mussels from the buoys off the dock and digging for clams on the beach. She picked tomatoes and peppers from the garden and brought everything inside to make paella. Most importantly, the couple had the island all to themselves for the week, for a reasonable $3,250, plus $500 for use of the boat.

“It was one of the best vacations I had ever taken,” said Ms. Dawson, who, as a regional director for the Body Shop, travels constantly and unplugs almost never. She stumbled across the island when searching for rentals on the Internet; the couple already has plans to return.

Bill Huggins, Jonathan Island’s proprietor, is not the type one normally associates with private-island ownership. Mr. Huggins, a 51-year-old mortgage broker, and his wife, Alison, bought the property in 1998 because it was close to their primary home (in Narragansett) and yet felt totally remote.

“At first my wife wasn’t interested in it at all,” Mr. Huggins said. “One day I took her over there, and she said, ‘Oh my God, this place is beautiful. Please get me this house and this island.’ ”

Now, Mr. Huggins and folks like him are sharing their gems with travelers, as private-island rentals become attainable for those traveling on a more modest budget.

There are still, of course, glitzy islands available for rent, owned by celebrities and magnates like Richard Branson, whose Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands rents for $36,000 per night and up.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jonathan Island starts at $375 per night, and Melody Key, an island in the Florida Keys owned since 2003 by Nick Hexum, lead singer in the band 311, runs $1,400 per night for up to six guests. And Forsyth Island, a 1,744-acre refuge in New Zealand, costs about $1,400 a night.

“Every island is different,” said Chris Krolow, chief executive of Private Islands Inc., a real-estate agency specializing in the sale and rental of islands. “We have a few islands that are really out in the middle of nowhere, where you bring your own food, all the way to the very luxurious Rania Experience, with seven staff per person,” he said, referring to a package based in the Maldives.Counterintuitively, the island-rental trend might have its roots in the recession. In a down economy, island owners don’t want to shell out for the high cost of maintaining them. “Owning an island is an expensive hobby,” Mr. Huggins said. He pays a premium both on repairs and heating fuel, and when his mortgage business started to slow in 2007, he listed the island on the Internet.

Like urban subletters, some private island owners are happy just to break even. “The idea is not to make big money,” said Farhad Vladi, the founder of Vladi Private Islands, another island realty, and owner of Forsyth Island. “The idea is to cover the running costs and to keep the wheels in motion.”

For the renter, the appeal is obvious. Islands by definition offer that most valuable of amenities: privacy. During the few weeks a year he and his family can get to Melody Key, Mr. Hexum fishes for his dinner and writes songs outside in his underwear — neither of which is easy at home in Los Angeles. “It’s been good for my spirit to totally unwind,” he said. “Being on an island is such an incredible contrast to L.A.”

Private rentals can also be an antidote to the typical island resort, with a high volume of guests.

“I guess we’re kind of tired of the traditional hotel,” said Ron Kilius, a Toronto-based owner of a healthcare company, who vacationed this year on Royal Belize, an island off Belize with three homes that became available for rental in 2009. Whether guests rent just one of the houses for as low as $600 a night, or all three for $2,115, they can be assured that no other vacationers will be there. “My wife and I are pushing 60, so we don’t like a lot of hullabaloo.”

For the most part during their vacation, they lie about and read. “I guess after 30 years of marriage, what do you do?” Mr. Kilius said.

For couples without long guest lists, the private-island wedding has also become popular. Molly and Kurt Pitts held their wedding in November on Melody Key, partly to limit attendance. “We really just wanted something small, and we both love the water,” said Mrs. Pitts, a lending assistant in Tifton, Ga. After the ceremony, the couple stayed on for a week. “It was so peaceful; you don’t have anybody bothering you,” she said. “If you got a usual condo somewhere, you always have people around, hooting and hollering.”

Private islands aren’t for everyone. Those who want museums and nightclubs and 24-hour pharmacies should look elsewhere. And on some — Jonathan Island included — guests need to watch their water and energy use. Ms. Dawson admitted that being stuck on an island could have been a nightmare. But, she pointed out, “you’re kind of in the mind-set to figure out how to make it a good situation.”Other island owners have taken a more proactive approach in the conservation department. Melody Key, for example, lies “pretty much off the grid,” according to Mr. Hexum. The house has solar panels and a cistern, but a propane generator and extra water are in reserve for guests who want to take long showers and leave the lights on.

As Ms. Dawson indicated, it’s best to mentally prepare for the private-island experience. Even loners might find the hermetic isolation a bit overwhelming. “Time on an island is very different from time on the mainland,” Mr. Krolow of Private Islands Inc. said. “Two or three days can feel like a week.” To that end, he recommends that first-timers limit their adventure to a few days, and book the remainder of their vacation at a resort.

But solitude is in the eye of the beholder. Jim Arthur, a resort-wear manufacturer, will be renting out the 26-acre island in French Polynesia that he owns with his wife, Inger Pettersson, starting in 2010 — in hopes of meeting interesting people. At $2,500 a night, all-inclusive, the rental isn’t cheap, but the area is famously pricey, and Mr. Arthur is not out to make money. The couple plan to be as present or absent as guests please, but they hope to find, amid all the quiet, a sort of community. “My wife and I are world travelers, and we like to meet new people,” he said. “That’s one of our main reasons for doing this.”