It is a sort of escaping time when it comes to islands in summer. Perhaps it is the manner in which the ocean surrounds you in all directions, or the manner in which the lifestyle is slowed down to the beat of the waves. To me, island escapes are not just the vacation spots, but the places where I have felt the most alive, where I have woken up to salty air in the morning and went to sleep under a sky full of stars.

And in case you are fantasizing about your next adventure, here are some of the summer islands that should be included in your bucket list.Before starting the list, one thing I want to mention is that if you want to experience a stress-free trip then make sure to book Heathrow airport cheap parking and enjoy a luxurious start of your trip.

Santorini, Greece - A Postcard Comes Alive.

The first time I came to Santorini was like I had entered the pages of a travel magazine. White houses crashed over the precipices, blue-tiled temples gleamed in the sunshine and the Aegean stretched away endlessly beneath.

I remember that I was standing in Oia watching the sunset and hundreds of strangers stood together quietly all with the same wonder as the sky turned to gold and then to purple and then to deep blue. But what impressed me most of all was the rhythm of life. Afternoons were spent wandering around small jasmine-scented streets, evenings were spent at fresh seafood dinners at the water, and mornings were spent with fat Greek coffee and bougatsa (sweet custard pastry).

Zanzibar, Tanzania - Spice and Serenity.

Zanzibar is an island that is attractive to all five senses. Stone Town is a maze of streets, wood doors, lanes and spice markets. I smelled cinnamon and cloves at the very entrance of one of the stores where the proprietor got me to taste it all, fresh nutmeg and turmeric straight off the sun. But beyond the bustle the beaches in Zanzibar are as smooth as I have ever seen. Palm trees that blow to and fro, like they are breathing you in, white sand, ocean blue afternoons would make the perfect evenings when the dhows (traditional sailboats) would be floating in the distance as the sun sets into the sea.

Note: Always check meet and greet luton before travelling and book according to your needs.

Bali, Indonesia - Spirit Surf.

Bali is one of such places that remains in memory. I visited the beaches, yet it was a mix of culture, spirituality and pure natural beauty that I had. The days usually started at the sunrise in Seminyak Beach where surfers rowed and locals walked their dogs through the beach.In the afternoon I would be in Ubud, walking through rice terraces so green that I could not believe it was real.

Maldives - The Dream that Delivers as promised.

When I was planning to visit the Maldives, I figured that it may be one of those destinations where Instagram made it look much more beautiful than it is in reality. I was wrong. Having landed on an island on which I was entirely surrounded with water so clear that it did not seem real enough, I understood why people called it paradise. It was day after day: snorkeling with reef sharks, sleeping in hammocks on the lagoon and seeing the ocean change to blue, then to silver in the moonlight.

The memory that remains is a dinner on the beach without shoes with sand between my toes, with lanterns dancing, and waves murmuring. It was a mere thing, but one you remember and keep always afterwards, the sort of thing you store up and bring around with you.

Maui: The Island of Adventure and Awesomeness.

Maui is a live post-card. I recall getting up early in the morning to go hiking the Road to Hana, a zigzag road with waterfalls falling on the side of the road and beaches hidden in the cliffs.

The scenery appeared to change at every twist and turn, one minute it was a tropical rainforest and the next desolate lava plains.What I will not forget is the time that I was on the top of the Haleakala Volcano at sunrise.

The clouds were spread out below me like a cotton sea, and as the sun rose upon the horizon it was as though the world itself exhaled. It is the type of place that makes you think how large and beautiful the planet is.

Hvar, Croatia - Sea, Sun and Slothful Nights.

Hvar is not the most well-known place like Santorini and Bali, which is its advantage. The island perches on the Adriatic, whose waters are glittering a deep blue and the rhythm of life appears to be created to make the person breath out. My days there were usually opened by a plain breakfast on a terrace looking out upon the harbor fresh bread, cheese, and figs, which were sunshine in taste.

Afternoons were spent swimming in secluded coves, or hiring a small boat to row about among the neighbouring islands. I do recall sitting out in a bay that was still and swimming into the water and thinking that the entire seaway was mine. Evenings, however, were best. When the sun went down the Hvar Town streets were full of cafes, music and the smell of grilled seafood floating through the air.

Final Reflection

Islands have a tendency of reducing life to basics. When you are running after sunsets or hearing waves breaking on the beach, you do not even consider the due date or e-mail.You instead consider tastes, appearance, and short-lived experiences that become tales that you will recount over the years. Santorini shows you beauty. Bali teaches you connection. Maui humbles you with nature. Zanzibar charms you with the culture.