When less is more: Five premium off-the-grid vacations

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Set your out of office and log off your devices—there's no better time than now to find refuge in the great outdoors.

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This article is part of a lifestyle series brought to you by RBC Echelon, a suite of private wealth management services for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Each article will explore different topics of interest for ultra-high-net-worth families, including design, travel and more.

If you’ve spent too many hours peering at screens in recent months, log off, unplug and recharge by swapping Zoom calls for bird calls and Wi-Fi for big skies. Tech-free vacation retreats can clear the way for elevated mindfulness, uninterrupted time with loved ones, and an overall boost in well-being.

Whether you’re longing for the solitude of a private tropical island or rounding up the family for a week of treehouse adventures, our curated list of off-the-grid vacations is brimming with options. These five premium experiences will make you want to stash your screens and commit to a digital detox.

1. Sleep under the stars with an ultra-exclusive urban glamping experience in Beverly Hills

Delight someone special in your life with a lavish affair on the rooftop of a classic Beverly Hills hotel. Perched on a private terrace ten stories above Rodeo Drive, this alfresco occasion is certain to impress at every turn.

Start the evening sipping tasty craft cocktails and taking in sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills as a private gourmet chef prepares an eight-course dinner customized to your taste with first-rate, seasonal ingredients. Just when you think the meal is coming to an end, sumptuous s’mores will be served with a flight of vintage champagne next to the veranda’s roaring fireplace.

As the sun dips beneath the horizon, watch the city transform from day to night before retreating to your own 10-foot-tall tent, complete with a queen-size bed, fur rugs and a sparkling crystal chandelier.

2. Bask in seclusion with a week marooned on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island

Palm-fringed, white-sand beaches surrounded by clear, turquoise waters are just the ticket to making everyday stress a distant memory. Relish a week of relaxation on a private Caribbean island where your every wish is accommodated.

infinity pool Necker Island

Located in the British Virgin Islands, Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island invites groups of up to 48 guests to enjoy exclusive access to 74 pristine acres comprising Balinese-style accommodations, sparkling infinity pools, floodlit tennis courts and endless watersports.

You’ll spend your days snorkeling coral reefs, hiking through tropical landscapes, keeping an eye out for pink flamingos and lemurs and feasting on dishes bursting with Caribbean flavors. From kayaks brimming with fresh sushi in the pool to property-wide champagne refills served in a snap, unforgettable moments abound on this bucket-list getaway vacation.

3. Rent a treehouse in Costa Rica’s rainforest canopy

Switch up your surroundings by checking into an extravagant suite high in the treetops of the Costa Rican jungle. With stunning backdrops straight out of Tarzan, this extraordinary treetop villa places you at eye level with hundreds of local bird species.

foot bridge outside Pacuare Lodge

Daily escapades include invigorating whitewater rafting trips through rocky canyons and dense rainforest, thrilling zip line adventures through the treetops and picturesque hikes to hidden waterfalls. Return each evening to your home-away-from-home by taking the private suspension bridge to your expansive covered deck, equipped with a hammock, a spring water-fed swimming pool and 360-degree views.

You can also rest easy knowing that Pacuare Lodge is dedicated to sustainable tourism: every building is built from reforested wood, staff are hired from local communities and the property runs on clean energy generated from a steam turbine. Plus, the resort has purchased 840 acres of unspoiled rainforest to help conserve the local ecosystem and ensure its guided tours are carbon neutral.

4. Trek through British Columbia’s backcountry with the remote CMH Bugaboo Lodge as your base

Does discovering hidden corners of the world satisfy your wanderlust? This all-inclusive retreat takes intrepid travelers by helicopter to a series of Canada’s least traveled spots to enjoy exhilarating heli-hiking and heli-skiing.

Evoking the landscapes of the Austrian Alps, the picturesque Bugaboo spires are a year-round playground, full of striking glaciers, alpine meadows and magnificent mountain views. Whether you’re gliding down slopes blanketed in snow or trekking up peaks cloaked in clouds, CMH’s adventure-packed itineraries accommodate nature lovers of all abilities.

bugaboos lodge

Since opening in 1965, the historic CMH Bugaboo Lodge has been recognized as the birthplace of today’s heli-skiing industry. Sitting at an elevation of 4,888ft, the 32-room log chalet is an ideal resting place to return to each evening for hearty chef-prepared meals, rejuvenating dips in the rooftop hot tub and luxurious guestrooms outfitted in alpine décor.

5. Surrender to Montana’s stark wilderness in five-star luxury

Find peak rest and relaxation on a ranch retreat that harks back to the early-20th-century Western frontier, with accommodations ranging from covered wagon and canvas cabin glamping experiences to guest rooms adorned with authentic homestead furnishings.

With complimentary mountain bikes, e-bikes and an array of hiking gear, guests are invited to explore the resort’s 6,600 acres of pine forests and wildflower valleys. You’ll also have a chance to enjoy horseback riding, fly fishing, archery and wildlife spotting.

Fostering a connection with the land, the ranch’s chefs showcase Montana’s top gastronomic gems, including Montana wagyu beef, locally caught fish and farm-fresh produce in each meal. Celebrating cowboy traditions, the ranch hosts a variety of themed dinners, including rodeo barbeques, family-style picnics and barn dances with live music.

Weave self-care into your time in Big Sky Country by booking a forest meditation and wildcrafting session, or a therapeutic massage in the Conestoga wagon turned into a serene treatment room.

The world’s most soul-stirring getaway places are waiting with vibrant jungles, crystalline seas and night skies illuminated by infinite stars. Set your out of office and log off your devices—there’s no better time than now to find refuge in the great outdoors.


RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.


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