Private Isle Escape

To walk from my desk to today’s first meeting, I had to first pull on my green rubber Hunter boots, wrap myself in a thick cashmere scarf, shove hard against my office door, and make a slip-slidey run for it through several inches of snow. By the time I  arrived at the meeting, mere yards away, I looked like I’d just trekked across Siberia.

View from my office door back to the main building

Back safe and warm at my desk, watching the snow pile up on my glass ceiling and on the roof outside my door, I have only one thing on my mind. Escaping to a private tropical island, far from the arctic climate of Manhattan. Today is my boyfriend J and my fifth year anniversary, so I am envisioning somewhere sunny and serene, with just enough privacy for romance and enough civilization for beachside champagne and delicious meals. There are three that fit the bill perfectly: Coco Point, Mustique, and Petit St Vincent, or “PSV” as those in the know would say (and I count myself as “in the know” after a few minutes—or hours—spent perusing their website and various reviews).

Coco Point, which I was lucky enough to visit a few winters ago, is nestled on the private island of Barbuda, just off the coast of Antigua. If its miles of white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and verdant palm trees and hibiscus sound like an idealized version of the tropics created just for a postcard, it’s because this is the most postcard worthy place I’ve seen in my life. All is exactly as it should be in the most discerning of Caribbean fantasies. Guests stay either in the main lodge or in villas scattered around the island. There are a very limited number of guests allowed on island at any one time, so you get to know one another quickly. It feels more like a club than a resort—in fact many families have gone for the same week for years, so grew up together in this particular slice of heaven, albeit for one week a year.

Mustique, a private island owned by shareholders from around the world, features a main lodge as well, the Cotton House, as well as one hundred villas and private home spread across the island’s 1400 lush acres. The Cotton House and villas are designed beautifully—they are luxurious but not in a very nouveau, McMansion sort of way, and they seem to nestle into the coastlines and cliffs they reside on. If you want a dose of celebrity with your private island retreat, Mustique is the place to go: Princess Margaret, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger are frequent visitors to this secluded paradise.

Petit St Vincent, a tiny private island that has been run as a boutique resort by the same family for 30 years, seems to combine the best aspects of Coco Point and Mustique. Its 115 acres are dappled with a mere 22 intimate, perfectly composed cottages.  Some are high up on hilltops overlooking the majestic landscape and ocean beyond, while others sit right on the beach, inviting early morning tanning sessions and late night skinny dipping. In front of each house there is a flag pole—raise a yellow flag and stick a note inside if you want drinks, food, or anything else delivered to you at any time of day or night. Raise a red flag for privacy, and you will be left alone. The same system applies to the many hidden beach spots around the island—hike to a private little cove, but don’t get too used to roughing it—raise a flag and champagne and chocolate cake can be delivered to you beachside in moments. Can I raise a yellow flag outside my office door and have a private jet delivered to take me to PSV right now? Yes please!

images: my own, Coco Point Lodge, Mustique-Island and Petit St Vincent websites