While for Czech people, the borders of neighboring European countries are opening, Americans haven‘t been given the green light to travel yet. And who knows how long they‘ll have to wait. According to the CNN daily, the demand for private islands has therefore risen sharply due to the ongoing pandemic. What a great idea, right? Having your own island in itself brings a number of benefits, but in these times, it‘s a really priceless advantage. You can be 100% sure that no one will infect you with the coronavirus there. After all, some of the world's celebrities who decided to invest in a private island, are probably sunbathing on their own sandy beach right now, drinking cocktails and feeling grateful for their safe paradise on earth.
Clients from the United States and Canada in particular are showing increased interest in buying private islands. Questions regarding sales or rentals mainly concern islands in the Caribbean or Central America.
“People want places with easy access. Our company answers about one hundred and fifty questions a day,"
said Chris Krolow, CEO of Ontario Private Islands, a real estate company that leases and sells more than eight hundred islands. According to Krolow, demand is growing precisely because many people long for privacy during the pandemic. And how do you go about purchasing an island? The process is almost the same as when you decide to buy a house.
Pronájem Luxusního mezonetu, 2+kk, Praha, Praha 1
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"However, a problem can arise if you decide to build something on the land. In such a case, you have to obtain a building permit and follow the local regulations,"
said Krolow. Island prices range from fifty thousand dollars (which equals one million crowns) for a small island in Canada, to 150 million dollars (which equals three billion crowns) for a few acres of island with a villa in the Caribbean. The decision and final choice is entirely up to you and, of course, your bank account.
Environmentally friendly Leo
Now let's visit a couple of celebrities who‘ve already bought their own islands and are busy thinking about what they could enrich them with. You probably won‘t be surprised that the popular actor who starred in movies such as The Beach or Shutter Island, Leonardo DiCaprio, decided to buy one such tropical island for his own use five years ago. Leo bought the 104-hectare island called Blackadore Caye in Belize for $ 1.75 million. From the very beginning, it was the actor's dream to turn this place into an ecological center. And just as some poeple work in their garden, Leo has been working and investing in transforming his island for several years. This ecological resort should open to the public by the end of this year. The Oscar-winning actor and environmental activist believes his island will be "the first ecological island in the world." Rock on, Leo!
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Johnny DeppSource: Profimedia
Unwelcome guests shall not pass!
The American actress Julia Roberts, made famous by the film Pretty Woman, has somehow always managed to keep her family life a secret and drive the press away. Maybe it's because she bought her own luxury island in the Bahamas, which is said to be worth over $ 6 million, or 145 million Czech crowns. There, the Oscar-winning actress enjoys the sun and divine peace together with her husband Daniel Moder and their three children. And if she begins to long for company, she can organize a barbecue with her close neighbors, namely Lenny Kravitz, John Travolta or Nicolas Cage.
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Leonardo Dicaprio Source: Profimedia
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Julia RobertsSource: Profimedia
Yo-ho-ho, a pirate's life for me!
Last but not least, we shouldn‘t forget to mention the actor Johnny Depp. He decided to buy his own private island during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean. Enchanted by the beauty of the Bahamas, he decided to pay around $ 3.6 million for his own private paradise in 2004. His resort Little Hall’s Pond Cay features a total of six beaches, named after his children, former partner Vanessa Paradise, legendary actor Marlon Brando, and his journalist friend Hunter S. Thompson.
