Book Now
Private-pool-at-Sunset-Key
Back

Our Favorite Opal Private Retreats

The idea of isolation takes on a different meaning when on vacation. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of Opal’s best on-property cabins, cottages, and other tucked-away spaces that marry supreme privacy with the ultimate escape.


After months of steering clear of social gatherings and only meeting with coworkers via video chat, it’s understandable if you’re feeling eager for a relaxing escape. And a future retreat to Opal’s most serene private retreats and secluded spots will show you that not all alone time is created equal.

Flume Cottage at Samoset Resort [Rockport, ME]

Flume-Cottage-at-Samoset1

It doesn’t get much more remote than this 1,500-square-foot cottage built on a rock cliff that juts out above the cool Maine waters below. In fact, with the resort’s 15th fairway on one side and the waters of Penobscot Bay on the other, you might forget you’re at a resort altogether. However, if you do need access to the main resort – perhaps for dinner at La Bella Vita or a dip in the 175,000-gallon zero-entry pool – a personal golf cart is provided exclusively for your use during your stay. Whether you want to cozy up by the indoor fireplace, cook a meal for your family in the fully equipped kitchen, or take a soak in the outdoor hot tub, you’ll feel like you’re world’s away in this bayside setup.

Where to Stay Samoset Resort

Four-Bedroom Oceanfront Cottages at Sunset Key Cottages [Key West, FL]

Sunset-Key3

Based on its own island just a seven-minute ferry ride away from Key West, you’d think this cottage-studded resort couldn’t get any more secluded. But it does when you book one of these 2,500-square-foot home-away-from-homes. Here, coffee tastes a bit sweeter when you can sip it on your own private walk-out porch overlooking the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Not to mention, the two-floor retreat comes with its own plunge pool and swath of beach, so kids can splash away while you sunbathe.

Where to Stay Sunset Key Cottages

Boathouse Suites at The Harborside Hotel [Bar Harbor, ME]

Boathouse-Suites-rooftop-deck

With picture windows overlooking Frenchman Bay in the heart of Bar Harbor, Maine, you might assume that it’s the location that is the core selling point of these nautically-appointed suites. Yes, each suite has two large bedrooms, a full bath, and a private kitchen, so you don’t even have to leave your guest room at mealtime. But what really floors guests of these luxurious suites resides above the ceiling. Up on the roof, you’ll find an oasis complete with lounge seating and a hot tub, ideal for private sunbathing away from any masses.

Where to Stay Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

Maine’s Only Rooftop Pool at West Street Hotel [Bar Harbor, ME]

Rooftop-Pool-at-West-Street

Perched five stories high, this infinity-edge pool overlooks gorgeous views of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands and features a furnished poolside deck for stretching out and soaking up the sun (that is, when you’re not soaking in that view). But the beauty of this pool is that it’s seemingly never busy – part of that being owed to the fact that it’s always adult swim here (read: no children permitted), meaning no sharing the deep end with any (albeit, adorable) water-winged doggy paddlers.

Where to Stay West Street Hotel

Two-Bedroom Premium Suite at Edgewater Beach Hotel [Naples, FL]

Edgewater Premium Suite

This two-bedroom suite’s signature attractions are its extreme spaciousness (2,000 square feet) and unobstructed views of the Gulf (as it’s located on the top floor of the hotel with giant panoramic windows). There’s also a balcony spanning the length of the living space that overlooks the resort’s private stretch of seven-mile beach. Still, with a dining area, two living room areas, and kitchen, we don’t blame you if you don’t ever get much further than beyond the beachfront residence.

Where to Stay Edgewater Beach Hotel

Owl’s Head Cabin at Lake Placid Lodge [Lake Placid, NY]

Owl's-Head-Cabin-at-Lake-Placid-Lodge1

If you need a romantic escape from the realities of working from home together, there’s a place on the shores of Lake Placid, in the heart of the Adirondacks, that makes alone time feel special again. The resort’s most romantic and secluded cabin was built with couples in mind, from the hand-carved king bed to the intimate sitting area complete with a wood-burning fireplace. Whatever you do, don’t forget to toast – the cabin comes equipped with chilled champagne upon arrival.

Where to Stay Lake Placid Lodge

Poolside Cabanas at Sandpearl Resort [Clearwater Beach, FL]

Poolside-Cabanas-at-Sandpearl

Not a guest room per se – although they are the perfect spot for an afternoon nap – the outdoor cabanas that surround the Sandpearl’s lagoon-style pool are the pinnacle of tucked-away tranquility. In clear view of the ocean and surrounded by tall palm trees, these havens are outfitted with fans, an HD television, couches, a refrigerator, and even a private deck with lounge chairs when you want to lather up and lounge out.

Where to Stay Sandpearl Resort

You may also like
The Running of the Bulls with during the Hemingway Days event.

The Top 2025 Key West Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss

A look at the conch-blowing contests, Hemingway lookalikes, and mind-blowing masquerades to frame a 2025 Key West vacation around. (Feature image) © Andy Newman | Florida Keys News Bureau For such a small island – sizing in at just 4.2…

Read more
A rendering of the circus-inpsired lobby at Cirque St. Armands Beachside in Lido Key, Florida.

Cirque St. Armands: A New Sarasota Hotel with a Circus-Sophisticated Spin

Sure, it has the classic hallmarks of an Opal: signature hospitality, the best in food and beverage, and a prime location just steps from the beach. But when you see what’s in store for the collection’s newest reimagined Lido Beach…

Read more
An aerial view of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockport, Maine.

7 Questions You Didn’t Know You Had About the Rockland Breakwater

The Rockland Breakwater is more than just a scenic path extending into Penobscot Bay, Maine. Its rich history holds intriguing details. For example, did you know it’s made of the same iconic granite that was used to build the Washington…

Read more
Turtle tracks lead into the ocean.

Florida’s Sea Turtle Nesting Season: Ways to Help & Proper Protocol to Follow

We sat down with research experts from two renowned Florida marine centers – Mote Marine Laboratory (on the Gulf Coast) and Loggerhead Marinelife Center (on the East Coast) – to talk turtles. There are a lot of things that make…

Read more