Petit St. Vincent:
Paradisiacal Private Island Living in the Grenadines

Could there be any fantasy more pleasing to the overrun mind than a lingering getaway on a private island? Petit St. Vincent Resort in the Grenadines holds out not only that fantasy, but also the reality -- and then some.

What Makes It Dreamy:

Tucked on its own a 113-acre private island just 40 miles south of St. Vincent, Petit St. Vincent is an idyllic little paradise with two-miles of white sand beaches, calming crystal turquoise waters, and 22 discreet and luxuriously comfortable cottages in which to lay back and unwind. There are no casinos or nightclubs to empty the mind and wallet, and none of the hectic activity programs of most Caribbean resorts. It's a true island getaway -- and the gettin' is great.

Unlike so many Caribbean resort properties, Petit St. Vincent isn't part of some vast corporate hotel chain. Rather, it's the personal property of Haze Richardson, who lives on the island with his wife, Lynn, and their seven yellow Labs. The Richardson's ideal of what makes the perfect island hideaway permeates every aspect of Petit St. Vincent, and they've been perfecting it for 34 years. There are no televisions on the island, no phones in the cottages, and room service is available from the ever-changing menu for every meal of the day. There are is a lighted tennis court surrounded by sweet-scented vegetation, hiking trails across the diverse island terrain, and a plethora of watery diversions including snorkeling above stunning reefs just a few strokes from the shore. There is also a fleet of Hobie Cats, Sunfish, Windsurfers and Kayaks available at no extra charge, as well as a 28-foot fishing boat, Jahash, for charter, and the catamaran Friendship II, for cruising. Plenty to do or, with nary a push from the staff, nothing to do at all.

Peace & Privacy

Those guests who are starved for absolute privacy can certainly get it on Petit St. Vincent. Thanks to a charming flag-pole/message box communications system at every cottage, it's possible to avoid even the staff and still have everything you need. Hoist a yellow flag, and a member of the staff will pick up your message and carry out your desires. Hoist a red flag -- meaning, essentially "Leave me alone!" --and you absolutely will not be disturbed. It's this kind of quiet attentiveness that keeps guest coming back year after year. Indeed, the resort averages around 40% repeat customers, with a typical stay of a week to 10 days.

For more information:

• call (800) 654-9326 or Leading Hotels of the World at (800) 223-6800