Romantic escapes
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Laguna, Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean, $2.49m
Where: Northwest of Jamaica and south of Cuba in the Greater Antilles, with international flights arriving at Grand Cayman, and a further 10-minute flight to the 10 sq mile island of Little Cayman.
What: A beachfront retreat on the north side of the island, with a large reception room, outdoor pool and terrace, and 5,800 sq ft of living space. As well as five bedrooms and bathrooms, there is a separate apartment for staff.
Why: Set on 300ft of white sand, this property on Little Cayman is secluded and ideal for couples who love wildlife (the bird sanctuary is nearby) as well as fishing, diving and snorkelling.
Who: Cayman Islands Sotheby’s International Realty, sircaymanislands.com, tel: +1 345 525 3003
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Dolphin Boathouse, Wootton Creek, Isle of Wight, UK, £1.7m
Where: On an island off the south coast of England, accessible by ferry from Southampton (75 minutes by train from London Waterloo) or helicopter.
What: A former boathouse in a quiet part of the island, with 400m of private waterfront, two private slipways and a pontoon. The house has seven en suite bedrooms, as well as a master-bedroom suite with its own private sundeck and terrace.
Why: Ideal if you love the sea, the boathouse has a hot tub, sauna and wood-burning fire.
Who: Knight Frank, knightfrank.com, tel: +44 1962 850 333
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Rue St Antoine, Paris, France, €1.47m
Where: In the 4th arrondissement, a short walk from Bastille metro station and 45-minutes’ drive from Charles de Gaulle airport.
What: A “petit bijou” one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a period building with 1,000 sq ft of living space and views over Paris.
Why: Light, newly renovated and not overlooked, the apartment is a short stroll from the museums and cafés of the Marais district and the Place des Vosges, once home to Cardinal Richelieu and Victor Hugo.
Who: Savills, savills.com, tel: +44 207 016 3740
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Hidden Bay Retreat, Alaska, US, $7.75m
Where: In the Kootznoowoo Wilderness Preserve, 20 miles north east of Sitka, where daily flights to Seattle and Anchorage take off. By sea, it is a two-hour motorboat journey to the nearest village.
What: A three-bedroom house built as a retreat and set in private woodland on the only piece of habitable land within a million acres of old forest. From the hot tub on the deck, you can watch sea lions and humpback whales in the bay.
Why: The master bedroom is a “love nest” on the top floor, with vaulted wooden ceilings and large windows to view the northern lights.
Who: Sotheby’s International Realty, sothebysrealty.com, tel: +1 206 448 5752
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Villa Joya, Florentine Hills, Florence, Italy, €2.1m
Where: In the hills surrounding the Tuscan capital, 15km south east of Florence airport and 50km north of Siena.
What: Formerly a limonaia, this fully furnished two-bedroom villa has 100 sq metres of living space and a one-bedroom staff apartment. The gardens contain water features and a pool. There is a large gate at the entrance.
Why: A short walk from the Piazzale Michelangelo, the villa has been redesigned as a high-end retreat, including an outdoors sound system and an open-air cinema.
Who: Knight Frank, knightfrank.com, tel: +44 207 629 8171
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