Richard Branson found Necker when he was spending a weekend in the Caribbean 25 years ago. He fell in love with it, claiming it was the most beautiful place he had ever seen, and subsequently bought it. As one might expect of an exclusive tropical hideaway, there is a welcome predictability to the kind of guest who is attracted to the island. Previous visitors include George Michael, Michael Douglas, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Prince Charles. Normally this island paradise is expensively rented out as a single unit - one family or group of friends takes over the whole place - but several times a year the island is rented out, like a hotel, for 'Revitalisation' or 'Celebration' weeks. The island has its own spa, water sports and team of personal staff. The great joy of Necker is that activities normally added expensively to the bill at the end of a holiday are 'all-in' and 'on demand'.

The main building on the island, the Great House, has 10 rooms, some with private Jacuzzis and private terraces. There are also three beach hut-style cottages, wittily named Bali Hi, Bali Lo and Bali Cliff, which offer an open-air lounge and dining area as well as more privacy.

Everything can be tried here, including water-skiing, wind-surfing, wake-boarding, snorkelling, scuba-diving, yoga, pilates, meditation and tennis. However, a great deal of negotiation and compromise has to take place and inevitably what the majority wants to do on a particular day takes precedence. There is also the opportunity to go on an 'adventure walk' past places with names such as Windy Point, Sea Grass Bay and Orchid Valley. And if you get too exhausted by all this activity you can have a massage in Necker's new spa, Bali Leha, overlooking the sea, before taking a swim in one of the island's four swimming pools.

Operators include Azure (01244 322 770; www.azurecollection.com); Carrier (01625 547 020; www.carrier.co.uk); Elegant Resorts (01244 897 999; www.elegantresorts.co.uk) and ITC (01244 355 400; www.itcclassics.co.uk).

The only time to go to Necker (unless you can rent the whole island) is when rooms can be booked individually for a week, in September and October (dates vary each year).