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D rive down US 1 in the Florida Keys and you will never catch a glimpse of Little Palm Island. Therein lies the magic of this hideaway, which has been host to presidents and celebrities for decades.
If you thought the Florida Keys was simply a long stretch of gas stations, tackle shops and tourist traps, chances are you’ve never had the privilege of kicking back at Little Palm Island.
Located where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico, Little Palm is a tiny island comprised of five lush tropical acres, which are accessible only via a 15-minute water taxi or seaplane. The island has two 900-square-foot grand suites as well as 28 one-bedroom, thatched-roof bungalow suites. Designed for privacy and seclusion, each oceanfront suite has a king-size bed, separate living room, Jacuzzi whirlpool bath, indoor and outdoor shower and private veranda. All suites are air-conditioned and include ceiling fans, mini bar, coffee maker, robes, hair dryer, iron, mini safe and a separate phone line should you feel the need to check e-mail or surf the Web while on vacation.
RalphLauren.com’s Exclusive Trip Details
To make a reservation, please call
(800) 3-GET-LOST.
Thatched-Roof Suites
There are 28 one-bedroom, thatched-roof, ocean-front suites. Each has a king-size bed, living room, whirlpool bath, indoor and outdoor showers and private veranda.
Island Grand Suites
There are two suites with all the amenities of the regular thatched suites, plus his and her bathrooms, an outdoor hot tub and larger living area.
Transportation Facts
• The nearest airport is Key West, FL.
• The drive from Key West to the ferry for Little Palm Island is approximately 30 minutes. From there, the boat ride to Little Palm is a mere 15 minutes.
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With some 250 soaring Jamaican coconut palms and British Colonial furniture, the look and feel here is more South Pacific than South Florida. Perhaps this explains why Warner Bros. decided to shoot the South Pacific WWII movie PT-109 here in 1962. Hanging out here for a week? From fly-fishing to sailing and scuba diving, there are more than enough activities to keep you entertained.
The emphasis here is on getting away from it all, and the island’s spa has more than enough unique treatments for even the most jaded spa lover. Not content with the Balinese massage with jasmine Frangipani scented flower oil? Then opt for the volcanic clay body mask followed by a Balinese foot massage with tropical fruit lotion instead.
After a day of fly-fishing for bonefish, sailing or scuba diving and snorkeling on the legendary reefs of Looe Key, you relax at your dinner table on the white sand beach and watch the sun dip below the horizon. Rated the best hotel dining in Florida by Zagat, Executive Chef Luis Pous features modern tropical “Floribbean” cuisine. His offerings change daily, and include guava BBQ short ribs or coconut-conch chowder to start, followed by pan seared yellowtail snapper with lobster dumplings or Serrano ham wrapped diver scallops with cilantro crispy polenta. No wonder locals from the surrounding keys routinely venture here for lunch and dinner.
Should you wish to dine elsewhere and do a little shopping, historic Key West is 25 miles away and is an easy 40-minute trip down US 1. Aside from tourist attractions like Ernest Hemingway’s house and Mel Fisher’s museum packed with golden treasures recovered from many of the nearby shipwrecks, Key West has some excellent restaurants. Some of the best are Marquesas on Simonton Street and Antonia’s Italian restaurant on Duval Street. For a taste of what Key West used to be like in the days when Winslow Homer, Tennesee Williams and other artistic types came here, go to Pepe’s. A classic bar and grill since 1909, it’s the sort of place where you can imagine Hemingway holding court at the rustic outdoor bar.
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