7 luxurious resorts where rich people spend their summer vacations

For those who don't want to share their private island with other vacation-goers, one resort off the coast of Belize allows guests to have an island all to themselves for $3,000 per night.

Gladden Private Island is so private that the entire staff stays on a separate island and takes a boat to and from Gladden at the guests' request. Here, breakfast on the roof terrace yields a view of the Maya Mountains and surrounding protected marine reserve.

Not all opt for private island vacations, though, Ezon said. Some non-beachgoers prefer the lush landscapes — and world-class golf — of the Emerald Isle.

And while being on a train for up to seven days might seem opposite to luxury, the Belmond Grand Hibernian packages ultra-luxe Ireland vacations into multi-day train rides, including stop-offs at 17th-century palaces, storybook castles, the iconic Cliffs of Moher, and more, for between $3,000 and $11,000 per person, per journey, according to Belmond.

The sleek, Gregorian train offers modern Irish cuisine, live music, and lavish, if compact, sleeper cabins.

Comprised of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Laccadive Sea, the Maldives have long been synonymous with luxury.

Perched over the azure Medhufaru lagoon, the Water Villas at Soneva Jani offer retractable roofs for stargazing and their own water slides, ideal for kids or the kids in all of us.

The resort includes five islands and can only be reached by a 40-minute seaplane flight or hour-long speedboat ride. The least expensive room, a one-bedroom water retreat, costs between $1,754 to $4,783 per night, depending on the season, while more spacious villas, such as the four-bedroom island reserve, go for $14,668 or more per night, according to the hotel.

Some would rather skip the beach and opt for a luxurious South African safari instead. Tswalu Kalahari sits on South Africa's largest private game reserve, occupying more than 420 square miles of stunning wilderness. The savannah and mountains of the reserve are home to more than 80 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds.

"Champagne picnics close to wild elephants, private game viewing decks, and unrivalled views provide an all-out 'at one with nature' sense of intoxication," says Chrystal Webster, editor at The Luxury Editor.

Tswalu Kalahari was even included in National Geographic’s initial selection of 24 Unique Lodges of the World, chosen for their "outstanding guest experience while supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage and embracing sustainable tourism practices," a 2015 press release said.

The cheapest accommodation here is a $500 stay on the sleep-out deck — a true wilderness experience — while $3,000 per night allows for a more luxurious stay inside.

Imagine a 200-acre estate in the Tuscan countryside, complete with picturesque vineyards and organic orchards from which the on-location Michelin Star restaurant picks the produce it prepares that very day.

Such a place exists at Borgo Santo Pietro, a five-star boutique hotel housed in a 13th-century villa. Here, guests may entertain themselves with exclusive, private, and professional-led truffle hunts, Vespa excursions, and helicopter rides over the Italian countryside, Webster said. Rates range from $620 per night for a delux villa to more than $3,000 per night for a Pool House Suite, according to the resort.

The lush bungalows of St. Regis Bora Bora sit right on the lagoon at the foot of breathtaking Mount Otemanu. Guests can simply step out of their front doors to snorkel in the pristine waters of the resort's protected underwater sanctuary.

The spacious villas at St. Regis Bora Bora range from the 1,550-square-foot Overwater Superior Villa, costing about $1,600 per night, to the 13,000-square-foot Royal Estate Villa, which can go for $19,500 per night during high season, according to the hotel.

The property is home to a restaurant created by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and it offers private butler service, making it truly possible to not lift a finger.