’Net Junkie
No man is an island,
but he can live on one
Living 24-7 in a world-class vacation destination, we Hawaiians tend to take our glorious surroundings for granted. That is, until as tourists ourselves we find ourselves in the chilly, murky waters off the California coast or near penniless in unreasonably arid Vegas. On your next holiday, consider purchasing or renting your own private island. It's not as far-fetched an idea as you might imagine. While it certainly helps to be a millionaire, a surprising number of islands are on sale for roughly the price of a luxury sedan or high-end SUV.According to www.privateislandsonline.com, Canada boasts more islands than any nation in the world, and its innumerable lakes offer a wealth of private island purchase opportunities. For example, you can buy Little Rocky Island, a quaint piece of land that lies in Halifax County's tranquil Beaver Harbour, for $68,000 Canadian. That's a mere $44,471 to you and me.
Of course, islands in the northern climes tend to go for much less than those in balmier locales such as, say, the Bahamas or Belize. If you desire a more tropical getaway, Money Key, which lies in the glassy-blue waters of the Florida Keys, would be an ideal acquisition. For $3.2 million you are afforded five lush acres of private island, complete with a 3,500 square-foot bungalow. Your living quarters are equipped with a gourmet kitchen, cathedral ceilings, satellite television and 360-degree panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. For photos, see www.vladi.de.
A well-to-do New Yorker need only take an hour-long drive from Manhattan to escape to Echo Island, a 1-acre retreat that rests on a peaceful New Jersey lake. The island's three-bedroom, two-bath main house appears to be in excellent shape, while a pair of boathouses and four boats add certain value to the package. At $449,000, or roughly the cost of a better-than-decent Waikiki condo, the entire island can be yours.
Then there's the majestic Isola Gallinara, located on the Riviera. Its stately watchtower, which offers a breathtaking view of Monaco just across the way, was built by the Saracens centuries ago. Like the watchtower, the island's chapel also dates back to the Middle Ages. Cough up $7,500,000, and there's a good chance its seller will throw in the helicopter pad.
’Net Junkie drops every Monday.
Contact Shawn "Speedy" Lopes at slopes@starbulletin.com.
Note: Web sites mentioned in this column were active at time of publication. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin neither endorses nor is responsible for their contents.
