The Amalfi Coast has a crowd problem in high summer, and one villa company thinks it has the answer: rent an entire island. Isolaria, a small rocky isle sitting between Sorrento and Positano, can now be booked on a full buyout basis through Exceptional Villas — something of a rarity, since most private islands along this stretch of coastline are either family-owned or run by resorts that don't hand over the keys to a single party.
Getting there is part of the appeal. The island is reachable only by boat, though a helipad and two private docks make arrivals flexible. It sits inside a protected marine area, so the surrounding water is clean and full of sea life, and the island itself hosts migratory birds and other wildlife. There's a private nature trail for guests who want to walk it all off after lunch.
At the centre of Isolaria is a five-suite villa sleeping up to 10, plus a separate annex for two more guests. The style is understated Mediterranean — big airy rooms opening onto shaded terraces, gardens heavy with scent, and an infinity pool positioned to melt visually into the sea. A live-in team handles the rest: a chef cooks every meal from ingredients sourced on the island (wood-fired pizza at sunset is the signature move), and guests can join a cooking class to learn traditional Italian dishes. A waiter and a maid complete the crew.
The real luxury, though, might be location. From your private dock you can hop to Capri for shopping and seaside dinners, swim at Spiaggia Grande in Positano, or visit Amalfi's medieval cathedral — then return to an island with nobody else on it.
Naturally, all this comes at a price. Rates start at €47,619 (about $55,127) per night, with a seven-night minimum that totals €333,335 — roughly $386,000 per week. Split among 12 guests, that's around $32,000 per person for a week of total privacy in one of Italy's most coveted spots. Steep, yes, but comparable to booking out a dozen top suites in Positano — without the queues.