I have made it my mission to discover these hidden gems, where I can escape from the hustle and bustle of busy Singapore and spend time relaxing with my family. It makes it easier that Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia are blessed with an abundance of beautiful islands, but you still need to do your homework to come up with the best spots.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam
You’ve probably never heard of Phu Quoc, a teardrop-shaped Vietnamese island, situated 15km south of Cambodia. Although it’s 48 km long and part of a 16-island archipelago, it barely rates a mention in most guide books.

Phu Quoc boasts lush tropical and mountain zones, but what gives it an edge is that you can experience and become part of an island lifestyle which has not yet been packaged for tourism. Duong Dong, the main town, and the southern port of An Thoi are working towns and their colourful boats line their harbours, unloading catches of barracuda, shrimp and tilapia. The biggest export is fish sauce, with 10 million litres produced annually.

Khao Lak, Thailand
Our latest discovery in Thailand is, surprisingly, not on one of the islands. It’s located on the mainland of southern Thailand about 80km from Phuket airport. But Khao Lak is about to become Thailand’s next hotspot. If you a prefer a beach unadorned with loungers and umbrellas and believe that a perfect evening consists of a quiet dinner before going off to bed early, this is the place for you.

What Khao Lak has got going for it is beautiful beaches and magnificent scenery. It’s situated next to the Khao Lak National Park, which features magnificent sea cliffs, 1000m-high hills, waterfalls, estuaries and mangroves. Wildlife includes hornbills, drongos, tapirs, gibbons, monkeys and Asiatic black bears. There are some lovely coastal trails to explore and you can take a long-tail boat trip up the scenic Khlong Thap Lian estuary.

And, if you are a dive enthusiast, you’ll be in heaven as Khao Lak is the closest resort area to the Similan islands, which are world-renowned for underwater sightseeing at depths up to 30 metres.

A number of excellent resorts have sprung up in Khao Lak – including some very upmarket hotels - but most have been designed to blend in with the surroundings and offer Thai-style bungalow accommodation. Get there before everyone else does – it will soon be on everyone’s holiday list.

Pulau Tepor (Tipor), Malaysia
Opposite Rebak Marina in Langkawi is another of our family treasures; Pulau Tepor. It’s nothing much to look at from off-shore, just a hill island covered with bush and trees, with a rather rocky coastline on all but its eastern shore. However, it is on this side of the island that a small stretch of sand offers visitors a true escape.

Armed with a bottle of chilled wine, we have spent many romantic hours here till long after sunset enjoying the company of the local island’s inhabitants; a few iguana, a small troop of macaque monkeys, a family of sea otters and the odd sea eagle or brahminy kite.

To get to the island it’s best to charter a local boat and get them to drop you off and pick you up at designated times. It's best to stay at Pantai Tengah Beach, where there are many good hotels.

Kuda Bandos Reserve, Maldives
Simply mentioning the name "Maldives" conjures up images of deserted islands with icing-sugar shores and clear ‘fish-bowl’ waters, where solitude can be found in abundance and coral reefs abound. And who could dispute this, with as many as 900 uninhabited islands in the Maldives.

Due to the fact that this is one part of the world where all the beaches are ‘perfect’, it’s often hard choosing your special beach. Judging by those we’ve discovered during our holidays there, I would highly recommend the beaches in the Kuda Bandos Reserve. They offer white sand and excellent water visibility for diving, with the blue sky and the warm tropical sun above. And, like all the deserted islands of the area, they also offer a true escape. Located in the North Male Atoll it’s readily accessible from nearby resorts such as the charming Bandos Island Resort. (Note: Visitors often stop at some of the islands in the reserve for lunch but it’s generally deserted at other times and you should have a beach to yourself.)

Gili Island, Lombok, Indonesia
One of the most obscure, and therefore most undeveloped and unpopulated, beach destinations in Indonesia are the Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air). They are situated just off the north-western coast of Lombok. Famous for their white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and sublime coral reefs, the pace of life is unhurried. The only means of transport is the Cidomo, a local pony and cart. You don't need to take much more than snorkelling equipment, suntan cream, your swimsuit and a sarong.

Snorkelling here is excellent, with abundant rays, giant clams, turtles and iridescent fish. Gili Trawangan has a few backpackers and late night bars, but Gili Meno is virtually uninhabited and easy to reach by local boat. Miles of empty beaches, coconut palms and tranquil seas await the adventurous beach lover.