What are your favorite islands? — A discussion thread about island destinations

Name your favorite islands and why.

I’ll go first:

1. Tasmania, because I live here 😃 And people inhabited and looked after this island for over 40,000 years!

2. Taiwan, because of the amazing food and Eva Airlines (also my favorite airline)

3. Ios (Greece) because we hosted an incredible unconference there a few years ago, and those sunsets!

I haven't visited that many islands but I really loved Sardinia! 🇮🇹 So many beautiful beaches and the water was spectacular. First time I saw flamingos just chilling on the beach 🦩

I also really liked my time in Fuerteventura, one of the Canary islands 🇪🇸 – great place for surfing, and some very pretty sand dunes. The nearby Lobos island had an amazing beach as well and it's great for snorkeling.

On my list: Tasmania and Maria Island next to it 😆

Madagascar. The scenery, the people and wildlife you can't find anywhere else

Madeira Portugal, Great Kepple Australia, Brampton Island off the coast of Mackay Qld and my most fav was Koh Nunyuag a dive Island off the coast of Phuket Thailand it's three little islands all joined together by white sandy beaches. great place to do your dive courses. Unreal!

Nukuoro Atoll in Micronesia is probably the prettiest I've been to. But my heart is with Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands because I lived there when I was young and I would just love to go back one day.

I am partial to the islands of Tahiti as I spend part of the year there. Before spending a lot of time there over the past 10 years, I used to think that all the islands and the beaches would probably be the same, and would get maybe boring! Now, 10 years later, I can say that each island is different. The sunrise and sunset and the full moon are different on each island and the view of the expansive horizon. The formation of the pass through the coral reef is different, the tides, the winds, the natural phenomena. As the weeks pass being surrounded by nature and the ocean, it all reconnects you with yourself and you feel part of the planet. You start to be able to discern things you did not notice before that make each island unique.
I frequently go swimming with the whales that spend a few months there. Last June when I was there, I was able to swim with an octopus friend for an hour and half in a coral garden. I hope you can come the next time I am there.

Mauritius! I've been a few times and let me just say it is so stunning, the people are beautiful. Some of the clearest waters I've ever experienced. Unfortunately they recently experienced a oil spill due to a boat going to close and crashing into a reef, a still yet to be resolved tragedy. And like many other islands, hit very hard due in recent times. But I will be going back as soon as I have the chance to! x

One of my favourite islands is Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima), located in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. It’s quite small but it is home to the famous Great Torii Gate which marks the entrance to the shrine there. The island is smothered in natural beauty and there are wild deer roaming everywhere. When I went I camped on the island with some friends and visited the shrine. It’s just a short boat ride from Hiroshima and I’d highly recommend.

1) Cuba - for the rich music and dance culture - it's a dream destination for dancers, especially Havana. There's natural beauty and beaches too:) but I usually have a hard time tearing myself from the dance floor

2) Hawaii/Big Island - the beautiful and powerful natural expanses from beaches to (the whole island being) an active volcano, plus the culture of Aloha and the expressiveness of hula dancing

3) Koh Lipe, Thailand - loved the small scale and the remoteness of the island (when I was there in 2014 there were no cars, only golf carts) and as a beginner snorkeler I had one of the best experiences of my life on a boat excursion to nearby snorkeling spots

My favorite is Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Ooooh I chase an endless summer around the world. But oddly... it's not the Maldives, it's not hawaii, it's not (fill in the blank with a million islands I went to last year)... it's Manhattan. lol.

My husband's favorite are the Solomon Islands - the people, the beauty, the history all combine for an incredible experience. I think mine is Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia. C'mon, you gotta love a place where you can go snorkeling with salmon and a bear walks out of the woods to join you!

Bermuda hands down is my favorite island destination, even though it is technically made up of a number of islands! While it's not beach weather year round, it is the perfect spot feature pink sand beaches, lush greenery, turquoise water, colorful homes, and an easy bus and ferry system around the island. Highly recommend either flying or hoping a cruise around late August/Early September.

Hmm, although I've only been once, I'd have to say Shikoku (Japan) is something else. It's the home of yuzu, some dramatic seascapes, and one of the weirdest weeks in my life.

I just got back from Crete, Greece and it was absolutely beautiful! your sitting on the beach and your looking at crystal blue waters and then right behind you is a snowy mountain peak while enjoying delicious food!