6 Luxury Summer Holidays for Couples, and How to Fly There Privately

A romantic summer trip is usually planned around the hotel and the view. For couples who fly privately, the trip is just as much about the airport: how close it is to the villa, whether a business jet can land there in August, and what the last 20 minutes look like, by helicopter, seaplane or boat. This guide takes six of the most popular places for a luxury summer holiday for couples and looks at them the way a charter broker would: the best airport for a private jet, which size of aircraft suits the trip, rough flight times from London, Paris and Dubai, and the transfer options that really exist on the ground.

Why couples charter in summer

Three reasons come up again and again. Privacy, because a light jet for two is a very different experience from a packed holiday flight. Time, because private terminals mean arriving 20 minutes before departure rather than two hours. And airports, because a business jet can use smaller fields that airlines do not serve, which often puts you much closer to the hotel. Summer is also the busiest season for charter in Europe, which means plenty of aircraft repositioning and, with some flexibility on dates, a good chance of finding a private jet empty leg at a fraction of the normal price.

1. Santorini, Greece

Flying there: Santorini (JTR) has a runway of roughly 2,100 metres and a small, busy apron that was rebuilt to handle nine airliners at a time. It accepts business jets, but in July and August parking is tight and handling must be arranged in advance, so brokers often fly in, drop passengers and reposition the aircraft to Athens or Mykonos. Light and midsize jets are the usual choice. London to Santorini is about 3 hours 30 minutes in a midsize jet, Paris about 3 hours and Dubai about 5 hours. If you are already in Athens, helicopter and light-aircraft transfers to the island are offered by Greek operators, which avoids the airline queues altogether.

On the ground: Oia and Imerovigli are the classic choices for cliffside suites, private plunge pools and caldera sunsets. A private sailing trip around the island, a winery afternoon and a slow dinner above the Aegean are enough to fill a short stay without feeling rushed.

2. Amalfi Coast, Italy

Flying there: The reliable gateway is Naples Capodichino (NAP), which has a dedicated general aviation terminal and handles everything up to heavy jets. Since July 2024 there is a second option: Salerno Costa d'Amalfi (QSR) reopened with a 2,000 metre runway and is being expanded with a new terminal and a general aviation area, which brings private flights much closer to Positano and Ravello. From Naples the fastest way to the coast is a helicopter transfer of around 20 to 25 minutes; by road the same journey can take well over an hour in summer traffic. London to Naples is about 2 hours 15 minutes in a light or midsize jet, Paris about 1 hour 50 minutes.

On the ground: Positano, Ravello and Amalfi offer pastel villages, sea-view terraces and long lunches. A boat day to Capri, a vintage car along the coast road and an evening in a Michelin-starred dining room make this a favourite for luxury summer vacations for couples who want culture and style in equal measure.

3. Maldives

Flying there: Every private flight arrives at Velana International (MLE) on Hulhule Island, next to Male. A new 3,400 metre runway opened in 2022 and the airport handles large-cabin and ultra-long-range jets without difficulty. London to Male is roughly 9 to 10 hours nonstop, which calls for an aircraft such as a Falcon 8X, Global or Gulfstream; from Dubai it is around 4 hours and a heavy jet is comfortable. The transfer is the memorable part. Resorts beyond the Male atolls are reached by seaplane, mainly with Trans Maldivian Airways, which runs the largest seaplane fleet in the world. Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so a private jet arriving at night means an overnight near the airport or a speedboat to a closer resort. Several resorts also run their own aircraft or Twin Otter charters.

On the ground: Overwater villas, private-island resorts, floating breakfasts and house reefs. The Maldives is less about sightseeing and more about stillness, which is exactly why couples keep choosing it.

4. French Riviera, France

Flying there: Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) is one of the busiest business aviation airports in Europe, with two general aviation terminals and FBOs that are used to the summer rush. Cannes-Mandelieu (CEQ) is reserved for business and general aviation and has a weight limit, so it suits light and midsize jets heading to Cannes or Antibes. For Saint-Tropez, La Mole (LTT) is a short-runway field that takes small jets and turboprops with specially qualified crews, so most heavy-jet passengers land at Nice and take a helicopter: about 20 minutes to Saint-Tropez and about 7 minutes to Monaco. London to Nice is around 1 hour 50 minutes in a light jet, Paris about 1 hour 15 minutes, which is why the London to Nice route is one of the most flown in European charter.

On the ground: Beach clubs at Pampelonne, boutiques in Cannes, markets in Nice and quiet evenings in Eze or Villefranche-sur-Mer. The Riviera suits couples who want sunshine with a lively social scene nearby.

5. Bali, Indonesia

Flying there: Ngurah Rai International (DPS) in Denpasar has a 3,000 metre runway and handles business jets of all sizes, with handling agents on the field. The challenge is distance. London to Bali is well beyond the range of most business jets, so the trip is either flown in an ultra-long-range aircraft with a technical stop, or planned as two legs with a night in Dubai or Singapore. Singapore to Bali is around 2 hours 30 minutes, Dubai to Bali around 8 hours 30 minutes. Many couples combine a commercial first-class flight to the hub with a private jet for the last sector. Helicopter charters operate on the island, although most villa transfers are simply by car.

On the ground: A private pool villa in Ubud with rice-field views, or a clifftop resort at Uluwatu for sunsets over the Indian Ocean. Temples, waterfalls, spa rituals and yoga give the stay a slower rhythm than the beach-only islands.

6. Seychelles

Flying there: Seychelles International (SEZ) on Mahe has a runway of just under 3,000 metres, parking areas set aside for business and charter aircraft, and regular private jet traffic from the Gulf and Europe. London to Mahe is about 9 to 10 hours nonstop in a large-cabin jet; Dubai to Mahe is around 4 hours 30 minutes. From Mahe, Praslin is a 15-minute hop with Air Seychelles, and Zil Air runs helicopter transfers directly to private-island resorts and to La Digue. Yacht charter out of Victoria is the other classic way to move between the inner islands.

On the ground: Granite boulders, pale sand and water clear enough to see the reef from the villa. Mahe, Praslin and La Digue each have a different pace, and the private-island resorts are among the most secluded anywhere.

Booking the flight: charter or empty leg

For a couple, the aircraft is nearly always bigger than it needs to be, which is good news on price. A light jet covers London to Nice or Naples comfortably; a midsize jet makes Santorini relaxed; the Maldives, Seychelles and Bali need a large-cabin aircraft or a stop. Book through a broker or operator listed in our charter section, confirm airport slots and parking early for July and August, and ask about one-way pricing. Summer repositioning flights to and from the Mediterranean are frequent, and our empty legs index collects the flights operators are flying anyway. Empty legs rarely suit fixed dates, but for couples with a flexible week they can turn a private flight from an indulgence into a reasonable option.

Once the flying is settled, the rest of the planning is about pace: a villa to disappear into, or a town to dress up for in the evening. Think about room style, flight time, transfer length and how much of the day you want to spend moving. Couples who want to go further in comfort can read our guide to the Dassault Falcon 8X, an aircraft that makes the Maldives and Seychelles a single nonstop flight from Europe. The best summer escapes are defined not only by where you go, but by how easily you get there.