Palm Island: recent visits??
 

We are considering Palm Island for a vacation and are looking for feedback from a recent (6 mos) visit there. Curious about beaches, food, nightlife, service, and travel logistics in getting there......thanks in advance.

I don't fill your 6 mos requirment since it as been a large number of years since we have been there and the island has changed hands due to the death of the original fellow that developed it. However we both flew over it last August ont he way to Union Island and then went by it by boat to Petite Saint Vincent. What I am curious about is what you are expecting there. It is a isolated private island that is difficult to get to and where there is not much other than the Caribbean typical basic economy near there. Your best way of getting there is by way of St. Vincent or by a longer route through Barbados which might cost less strangely. You need to get to Union Island somehow. From there you go by boat. Palm Island is flat except for one hill on the side and it is easy to walk around every morning before breafast. The new owners appear to be trying to make it into an all enclusive resort but if there is any night life they have to provide it or you are on your own. The best night life in the general area is booze. The beaches are very sandy and as a result not very good for snorkling. When we were last there it was a good place to be away from everything and everybody and we enjoyed it under different ownership. The nearest major resort is Petite Saint Vincent at http://www.psvresort.com. I think I would choose it over Palm Island but that is a flip of a coin. I am not certain that it comes close to anything you are looking for based on your questions. When it comes to food in the general area, most try their best to do a good job but almost everything must be flown in from somewhere. Mostly from Florida.

A friend of mine was there for ten days and had a wonderful time. However, there's not really much in the way of nighlife and the food is all at the same resort, I think. He did say the food was delicious. It was a relaxing trip for all.

Just got my March 2001 issue of Caribbean Travel & Life magazine yesterday. There is a feature story on the resort, quite complimentary. Pick up a copy of this mag at Barnes & Noble..

Unfortunately all the stories in CT&L are complimentary!

<BR>Hi Lara <BR> <BR>You are right that Caribbean Travel & Life does not publish a bunch of negative reviews of places in the Caribbean. It's not that kind of magazine, and one really should not expect it to be such. However, it does point out problems with resorts, hotels, and even islands sometimes so it's not all whitewash. Sometimes what is not said in the stories in this magazine speaks louder than any negative words ever could. They don't make a habit of printing wonderful glowing reports about places that don't deserve them, either. <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR>Ray

I haven't visited Palm Island but I have stayed at 2 resorts that were run by the same owner as Palm Island. Galley Bay Antigua and Pineapple Beach Antigua PB since has changed hands to Allegro Resorts. Both trips were excellent and <BR>I think that Palm Island would be good too. I am also considering Palm Island <BR>for a trip in Jan 2002. So if you go please post how the trip was.

Check the most recent issue of Caribbean Travel and Life magazine as they have done a whole article about this place. Sounds great.

Unfortunately, Palm Island will never be the same as it was when John Caldwell was alive. It is now a resort - like all the others.