Peter Island BVI: A Perfect Slice Of Paradise

Have you ever yearned desperately  to get away for a few days from the hectoring demands of daily life?  No, I mean really get away . . . to somewhere exotic, somewhere enchanting, somewhere shamelessly exclusive.

On the one hand, you only have a few precious days at your disposal because we both know that the world could easily run aground upon uncharted shoals without your steady hand at the helm!  We simply can’t risk Western civilization as we know it by having you fly halfway around the world to get somewhere.  On the other hand, you’re not the type who is willing to accept the pedestrian or prosaic in exchange for mere proximity.  What you need is a place relatively close yet somehow worlds away.  How does one find such a place?

You are so in luck, dear reader!  Dr. Denton, who just happens to have an advanced degree in travelology (a term not to be confounded with that online travel company . . . you know, the one with the demonic looking gnome), is about to write you the perfect prescription for your “Get me the bleep out of here” blues.  As they like to say about themselves in forgivable immodesty, Peter Island Resort & Spa is That Place.  That place you dream about . . . that place you picture as you close your eyes and blow out the birthday candles . . .that place . . .  I think you get the idea.

Here are three irrefutable reasons Peter Island Resort & Spa is the perfect slice of paradise for you and just what the “Doctor of Divine Destinations” ordered.

THE NATURAL SPLENDOR

Let’s begin with the fact that Peter Island is located in the British Virgin Islands.  Say no more!  (Just kidding, I always say more.)  Consider that this private island is 1,800 acres but only 300 acres have been developed, the rest devoted to walking trails.  The island has a fascinating history a brief synopsis of which can be read here.  The important fact for our purposes is that since 1978 the island and its only resort have been owned by a single family from the midwest who have painstakingly built a lasting legacy by wedding a pristine setting to a world-class resort.

The resort boasts five breathtaking beaches:  White Bay, Honeymoon, Big Reef Bay, Deadman’s and Little Deadman’s (I am thinking of incorporating the last name on this list on my tombstone sans the possessive.  Pithy yet descriptive).  I recommend you plan to stay at least five days so you aren’t faced with hurting one of their feelings.  For beaches, they are surprisingly sensitive and quite jealous of one another.

THE UNRIVALED ACCOMMODATIONS

Your accommodation options in paradise are fairly easy to explain if not quite so easy to select.  Let’s start with the Ocean View rooms which are very close to the lobby, pool, marina, bar and Tradewinds Restaurant.  Each of the eight buildings contains two rooms upstairs with private balconies and two rooms downstairs with private patios.

The most popular room category is the Beach Front Junior Suite pictured above.  Each of these suites has two-person Jacuzzi tubs, two-person showers and king size beds.  Hmm, you might want to be very discriminating when selecting your traveling companion.  I suspect you might be seeing a lot of each other . . . if you catch my drift.

For those who prefer to spread out a little, there are three amazing villas to choose from:  Crow’s Nest,  Hawk’s Nest And Falcon’s Nest.  Click on any of the three images below to read more about each one.  I will let you in on a little secret.  There is a fourth villa which is not available as it is for the exclusive use of the owner . . . including any guests he might want to invite, of course.  Just for the record, my next available date is tomorrow and pretty much any date thereafter.

   

THE SUMPTUOUS CUISINE

At Peter Island, the chef likes to say there are two key ingredients in every dish he prepares:  only the finest and only the freshest!  I don’t know about you but that certainly works for me.  The signature restaurant is called Tradewinds and I lifted this sentence from their website, ‘Warm breezes whisper as the delicate chimes of German china, French silverware and Italian crystal fill the air.”  Good grief!  I am going to have to spend a month’s salary on Rosetta Stone programs just to eat there.

I have already decided my first morning I am having “Jean Kelly’s Famous Coconut-Crusted French Toast With Bananas and Pancake Syrup.”  For dinner I am vacillating between “Grilled Scottish Salmon” and “Plantain Wrapped Locally Caught Snapper”.  I suspect I have plenty of time to decide while waiting for the owner’s engraved invitation to arrive.

Warning:  Clicking on any of the images below could lead to a sudden rush of digestive juices for which I refuse to bear any medical responsibility.

     

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, one of my personal standards for measuring a property is if it is represented by Island Destinations, one of our favorite tour companies whose tag line is “The Authority In Luxury Travel”.  Peter Island Resort & Spa is in their portfolio, by the way.  Otherwise, you can rest assured I never would have brought the matter up.

In any event, Cindy Parsons, one of their destination specialists, has this little personal endorsement, “For ultimate privacy, book the Falcon’s Nest Villa; it’s practically your own little hotel within a hotel and is completely secluded. Step out to 360 degree views of the U.S and British Virgin Islands. The butler is on hand to drive you down for nightly entertainment.”  I so love to have my butler drive me down to my nightly entertainment.  Don’t you?  Next time you find yourself hungering for a brief respite, contact us and we will order you a perfect slice of paradise as only the incomparable Peter Island Resort & Spa can serve it.

Finally, I am curious about something.  How many of you had never heard of Peter Island before reading this blog post?  Comment and let me know.

Namale Fiji . . . Where The Livin’ Is Easy

In Fiji, so they say, there are many paradises but only one utopia.  “They” in this particular case are the authors of the online brochure for Namale Resort & Spa.  You have to love the audacious confidence of that tag line.  If I execute my assignment properly, by the time you finish reading this post that claim will sound less like hyperbolic exaggeration and more like honest evaluation.

One of the chief frustrations of writing about some of the world’s most breathtaking hotels and resorts is that there is never time to give them their full due.  That is particularly true here.  Elizabeth Barret Browning’s most famous sonnet is #43, admittedly better known as “How Do I Love Thee?”.  You recall that those opening words are followed by “Let Me Count The Ways.”

With that bit of literary inspiration, I offer my humble (or as close to humility as I ever get) version of “Namale, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  Let’s begin with a spectacular setting because absent that any resort is immediately disqualified from a serious traveler’s short list.  Setting encompasses beauty and atmosphere of course but, if you are like me (heaven help you), you would likely add serenity as well.  This picture to the right suggests about as much separation from the maddening crowds as one can imagine.  If you are desperately seeking seclusion, this warm handshake between the emerald rainforest and the azure sea is the perfect rendezvous.

In addition to the setting, this resort is world-famous for its discriminating service.  I say discriminating because the true art of gracious service is unfailingly finding that thin line between a trifle neglectful and a tad too intrusive.  Try these numbers on for size:  the property hosts only 44 guests at any one time so that their needs may be anticipated and their wishes fulfilled by their staff of 140.  I suppose you could argue that the service pictured below is slightly over that line but I beg to differ.  After being a little over served, you have to get back to your villa somehow, right?

In general, I have next to no use for the muddled opinions of the celebrity set with one exception:  I do value their seemingly natural instinct for sating their self-indulgence.  They say when driving through the mid-west, always choose a diner with lots of cars in the parking lot.  A corollary would be, when seeking a great resort, find out where the stars congregate.

So for what it’s worth, I am given to understand that the likes of NBA coach Pat Riley, actors Russell Crowe, Edward Norton (wasn’t he one of the characters with Jackie Gleason on The Honeymooners?), Meg Ryan and Mike Myers, and musician and producer Quincy Jones have found their way here, as well as many more “A listers”.  Donna Karen, who I am told has some fleeting familiarity with fashion, has said, “Namale is an ultimate escape . . experience its bliss!”

Namale, how else do I love thee?  Ah, there is always your sumptuous dining.  As the aforementioned brochure explains, “Private three-course lunches and five-course dinners can be enjoyed anywhere you like — be it the twinkling main bure, your private bure or villa, in a romantic, seaside cave, or on the beach at sunset.”

Decisions, decisions! I think tonight I want to have my five course gourmet dinner in this exact spot to the left!  Should the gentle ocean breeze grow a bit nippy, I have no doubt that another glass of vintage Cabernet will suffice to warm me from the inside out.  In case you are wondering, I am sadly not at Namale as I pen these words.  That was a momentary flight of literary, not to mention holiday, fantasy.  Dreammakers are allowed to dream too!

Namale, I love thy refined accommodations.  Since we are running short of time, I will refer you to the online brochure for an explanation of the room distinctions between Bures, Garden Tropical, Ocean Tropical, Villas, Bula House, etc.  I shall also let the picture below do the job of a thousand words which, yikes, according to my word calculator, we are rapidly approaching.  I must scurry on!

Last, but certainly not least is the exposure one gains to authentic Fijian culture.  Below is a picture of a troupe of tribal dancers telling a traditional story through age old movements.  I know. to the uninitiated, i.e., folks like me, it  looks a little like the Hokey Pokey but rest assured it is not.  (Speaking of which, as a quick nod to the philosophically inclined, what if the Hokey Pokey really is what it’s all about? Hmmm.)

OK, I have managed to count down five ways I love the Namale Resort & Spa.  I have yet to mention the bowling alley and indoor golf (seriously), the incredible snorkeling, and the magnificent spa.  See why this is frustrating?

 

I think we can all agree that it would be more than a little cruel to tantalize you with this exquisite haven of happiness without presenting a way to experience it for yourself.  As I check my back pocket, it just so happens . . . imagine that . . . I have a great offer from our partners at Travel2 for an all-inclusive 9 night stay.  Let’s leave the more mundane matters like price to a future conversation.  But if this post has whetted your appetite to know more about Namale Resort & Spa and how you too can experience its wonders, reach out to us through our website.  And if you are still not convinced, take a look at this video!

The Chubby Chaste Island, aka Virgin Gorda, BVI

My business partner stoutly refuses to let any opportunity slip by without contorting the most innocently dropped term or phrase into some sort of twisted pun.  His wife, with the obligatory spousal roll of the eyes heavenward, loves to remind him that puns are the lowest form of humor.  I must warn those of you with the same affliction — and full disclosure compels me to admit that I too love to torture the language in similar fashion — are going to have to bite your tongues more that once when reading this post.  You will understand why very shortly.

The name of the incredible isle (see list of categories on the right side of the home page) I have chosen to feature today is Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.  The name, which means “fat virgin” in Spanish, is derived from the fact that the  “island’s profile on the horizon looks like a fat woman lying on her side.”  (OK, behave now.  I told you this was going to test your restraint.)  Honestly, I am not seeing the fat virgin myself but then I flunked college psychology because every Rorschach image they showed me looked like a Hostess Twinkie dipped in melted chocolate.

Virgin Gorda is the third largest and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands.  One of the chief delights of the island is its numerous yacht clubs.  I too would belong to a yacht club were it not for the unfortunate fact that I don’t actual own a yacht.  I know, it seems grossly unfair to me too!

This is a picture of the Bitter End Yacht Club.  (Your second opportunity to curb your not so punny instincts.  Oops, there I go!)  This is but one of several yacht clubs on the islands.   Perhaps one of the most popular aspects of the island is an unusual formation known as “The Baths”.  The BVI tourism site describes the area as “a geological wonder comprised of awe-inspiring granite boulders, which form sheltered sea pools on the beach’s edge.”  Their site has a fascinating description of the geological process that produced this phenomenon.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay

I am just going to pause here and let you get every bad wisecrack, gag and chestnut (don’t even go there!) out of your system. . . . .  Just thought of another one? . . . . Are you done?  Okay, may I now please tell you about a truly amazing resort?  Thank you!

All kidding aside, something I seldom set aside, this is one of the world’s great resorts in one of the world’s most breathtaking settings.  It is situated along a crescent-shaped white sand beach in the midst of lush mountain foliage. If you get totally bored on your stretch of pristine beach (poor baby), just hop on a complimentary water taxi and motor off to any of seven other beaches.

If you love fine dining (do I really need to ask?), you will quickly decide you have landed in the middle of paradise.  The Sugar Mill is set in an open air stone mill nestled along the beach.  Every table has a sweeping view of the bay with nothing to obstruct either the sound of the gently lapping water or the caress of the lightly dancing ocean breeze.

You may recall my mentioning our friends at Island Destinations.  Well, by a very fortunate  . . .and of course completely random . . . confluence of circumstances, they just happen to have a most amazing offer of a guaranteed upgrade at time of booking, $100 Spa service credit + $150 Dinner credit.  No, I am not stuttering.  Yes, all three.  Reach out to me and I will tell you about some other cool items such as included breakfast and airport greeting.  Oh, and if you insist, we can also chat about the price although that seems so very gauche.

“Wasting Time” at Carlisle Bay

“I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away.
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay, wasting time.”

Nestled among the leeward islands of the West Indies is small slice of paradise called Antigua.  Those of you who have not obliterated your cerebral cortex with a few too many Cuba Libres across the decades will recall from first year Spanish that the word means “ancient”.   The island was named by Christopher Columbus who, were he still around, would be nearly six hundred years old so it’s not as if Chris has a lot of room to talk himself!

One of the most appealing aspects of this incredible isle is the climate which pretty much makes it the poster boy for the word temperate.  Try the mid-seventies in the winter (break out the parkas) to the mid-eighties in the summer (break out the piña coladas).  The 45 inches of annual rainfall is the perfect amount to keep the island lush without spoiling too many outdoor activities.  Throw in nearly constant northwest breezes and low humidity and it’s a minor miracle that the entire island is not one big nudist colony.  Clothes?  Who needs clothes?  (I do, for one. Don’t dare smirk like I’m the only one!)

If you are terminally ADHD and “wasting time” sitting on the dock of the bay seems like, well . . . wasting time, not to worry.  Here is a page where you can fill up every empty nanosecond with land or water activities and excursions of every stripe imaginable.

Carlisle Bay

Such an incredible isle begs for a complementary resort of equal quality.  Fortunately for visitors to Antigua, Carlisle Bay fits the bill quite nicely.  That is, if you happen to belong to that select circle of people (pretty much called humanity) that favors white sand, swaying palm trees and turquoise water all set in the midst of an emerald green rainforest.  If not, I am thinking of a radio-active, mosquito infested atoll in the Pacific that should be perfect for you.

For a small property, the dining options are quite liberal.  There is a brand new restaurant Ottimo featuring Italian cuisine served by the pool.  OK, technically it is not served by the pool but by a very nice waiter in the pool area.  Don’t be pedantic!

Another option is Indigo on the Beach with a nice selection of grilled seafood and sumptuous salads.  A third option is East which, by some uncanny coincidence, serves food from the Far East.  Weird, huh?   “Make it a point to enjoy an incredible meal at Carlisle Bay’s restaurant East. The venue offers a complementary mix of Japanese, Thai, and Indonesian cuisines that you can experience all at once.”  –Laurie Palumbo, Chief Operating Officer at ID Travel Group.

If you are not craving a jumbo honey prawn right now, I have lost my magical touch.  I know, what touch would that be?

You must know by now, avid reader, you are not going to get out of here without a mention of their famous Blue Spa.  After perusing the offerings, I am thinking seriously about signing up for the Lomi Juma Massage Ritual if for no other reason than I haven’t the foggiest notion what that is. But since the description mentions fusion, it has to great for my back, right?

Here are two final reasons you should call me in, oh I don’t know, say the next ten minutes and book this property.  It is represented in marketing by Pineapple-Hotels (incredible customer portfolio) and it is represented in sales by ID Travel Group (a stunning stable of properties).  Those two affiliations, in my book (and, need I remind you, I am the author here), automatically bestow credibility.  Oh, a final and clenching consideration:  you can get expert assistance booking your travel plans from the great team at Travel Leaders.

Any flimsy excuses you might have had for “wasting time”  have been blown away.  It’s decided then.  You’re headed to Carlisle Bay, Antigua for your next vacation.  Congratulations!

 

You Say St. Martin And I Say St. Maarten

Before you jump in and shout, “Let’s call the whole thing off!”, let me quickly point out we are both correct . . assuming we are both talking about the enchanted Caribbean island located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles.  St. Martin is the common English spelling and St. Maarten is the traditional Dutch spelling.  St. Morton is a complete mauling of the name and indicates you probably have way too much salt in your diet.

Christopher Columbus discovered St. Maarten on November 11th, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and thus named the island after him.  If I had known back in college days that all you had to do to get an island named after you is become a saint, I might have behaved a little better.   I am not suggesting by the picture below that this constituted Christopher’s mode of transportation.  I remember from zoology class that there are such things as sea horses but I am relatively certain these are not examples.

One of the peculiarities of this tiny island is that it is shared by two sovereign nations, Holland and France.   This fact no doubt explains the provocative phrase the tourist board likes to bandy about. “Where European sophistication and raw island passion have fallen in love.”   Another way to say it is St. Maarten is a “Caribbean Paradise with European Panache”.   Suffice it to say that there is a lot of “Old World” charm on this “New World” isle.

I could ramble on about the myriad activities (take horseback riding on the beach, as a random example), the splendid and variegated beaches, the night life that never ends (can you say 14 world-class, Vegas style casinos) and the dozens of dazzling places to dine but, as you no doubt have observed from past posts, I am a humble man of very few words.  You haven’t noticed?

I would much rather husband our brief time together and tell you about an amazing resort located on this Caribbean gem.  I am referring to none other than the incomparable

La Samanna

The name of this resort comes from the owner’s three children:  Samantha, Natalie and Amanda.  It’s fortunate he wasn’t more prolific or the resort might be unpronounceable.

In the words of the The ID Travel Group brochure, “La Samanna, an Orient-Express hotel, lies in 55 acres of lush, tropical gardens, overlooking Baie Longue stretch of white
sand beach.”  This property is ideally suited for anyone looking for a place to relax and let the gently lapping waters of the bay gingerly wash away the accumulated cares deposited there by a frenetic lifestyle.  If stress is the poison that kills, La Samanna is the antidote that revives.

That doesn’t mean that resuscitation has to take only one form.  An exuberant toast shared by new-found friends under a canopy of stars can be just as invigorating as an afternoon nap in a gently swaying hammock.   A sumptuous dinner in an elegant bistro famous for their French cuisine, with apologies to Shakespeare, can serve as well to “knit the raveled sleeve of care” as a restful night’s repose.

Here is one of those insider tips we love to share in these “Incredible Isles” posts.

 “For a couple looking to dine at the most exclusive and romantic table on the island, Le Cave is the spot.  Located in the wine cellar of La Samanna, guests can arrange a private dinner with a customized tasting menu and wine pairings.  It is the most amazing setting for a special occasion.” –Jennifer Molloy, Reservations Manager.

If even these prescriptions are insufficient to straighten out the kinks in your tortured psyche, then there are always the nine beckoning spa treatment rooms where the combination of Asian transcendental music and lightly dancing magical fingers will have you slithering out of the treatment room like a great gray slug.  OK, not one of my more gentile metaphors but, you have to admit, it does evoke a powerful, if rather slimy, mental image.

I know you will be completely shocked when I tell you, I just happen to have a very special offer should you at this point be gathering up possessions to sell so you can experience La Samanna for yourself.  I am not going to give you a lot of details because 1) that is not what we do here and 2)  if I did, I would have to add a couple of hundred words in mice type of legal disclaimer.

So let me just hint that my little offer includes upgrades, paying for less nights than you stay, some free insurance and such.  If you are intrigued, contact me and I will quite gladly send you the offer . . . along with the mice type disclaimer . . . suitable for framing!

One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives

First things first.  The title of this blog does not contain any typos.  To demonstrate it we need to journey back to your freshman English class with Ms. Pringle and parse this title.  Don’t memories of parsing sentences, declining nouns and conjugating verbs just make you tingle all over?  OK, first you have to stop thinking about the girl who used to sit in the row ahead and two seats over.  She is now twice divorced, sixty pounds overweight and has a drinking problem, so try to get a grip.

Element One:  One&Only

This is an absolutely incredible collection of resorts in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.  We are talking places like Dubai, Mauritius, and Cape Town.  At the risk of contributing to the delinquency of hormonally charged teenage guys around the blogosphere, this is one of the rotating pictures on the One&Only website homepage.  My own hormones, sadly, are a mere shadow of their former selves and yet I confess my opinion of hanging basket chairs has just skyrocketed exponentially.

I also have to admit that to call a resort chain One&Only seems a little incongruous to me. Shouldn’t a chain called “One” & “Only” have only one link?  Aren’t you glad your mind doesn’t work like mine?  At any rate I am very glad this particular chain has several links because every one of their resorts is in a class by itself.  As they like to put it, each of their resorts “delivers a distinctive experience born of its environment and local culture.”

Element Two:   Reethi Rah

I know it sounds like a pep squad cheer from some small Ivy League school (Reethi Rah, Sis Boom Bah)  but it actual means “Beautiful Island” in Dhivehi.  I will take their word for that because, while my English may not be all that stellar, my Dhivehi is non-existent.  Reethi Rah is an all-villa resort with 130 of the “most luxurious and spacious villas in the Indian Ocean.”

All the One&Only Resorts, Reethi Rah included, are known for their signature Spas by ESPA.   Apparently you can dash from a steamy sauna directly into a stimulating ice fountain which honestly sounds a tad too stimulating for my taste.  I am more of a “tranquil, one-hour, full-body, please don’t hurt me massage”,  kind of guy.

You need not fear that your palate will have to take a back seat to all that pampering.   I know you will love the international cuisine and spectacular wine cellar at The Reethi Restaurant.  The Tapasake serves tapas-style Japanese dishes in an over-the-water setting and Fanditha is a “boho chic” beach restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine. I have always believed if you are going to be chic, you might as well go the whole nine yards and be boho chic.  Not to sound immodest but I have been told I pull it off fairly well.  Wait, maybe that was bozo chic.

Here is a little insider tip about the property from Nancy Brassem, Destination Specialist at ID Travel Group.  “The courtyard situated before accommodations features a chaise lounge.  At the base of each couch, the resort provides a warmed foot bath and foot massage before your even enter your room.  What a welcoming, relaxing start to your trip!”

Element Three:   The Maldives

The Republic of The Maldives, also called the Maldives Islands, is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean southwest of India.  It is a double chain of twenty-six atolls.  You are probably wondering how the heck does one get there.  One excellent way is to fly Emirates from any one of several US Gateways to Dubai.  Stop off a couple of days and experience the United Arab Emirates.  Next, hop an Emirates non-stop flight to Malé International Airport.  Then comes the fun part.  Take One&Only’s luxury yacht for the 75 minute boat ride to the North Malé Atoll and the Reethi Rah. 

Piece of cake, right!  Come on, where is your sense of adventure? Just think.  When friends ask where you got that glorious tan you can shake your pom poms and shout, “Reethi Rah, Sis Boom Bah!”

Incredible Isles – The World’s Best Island Destinations

I am pleased to announce that I have created a brand new category on this blog!  As the title of this post reveals, the new category will be called “Incredible Isles.”

Yes, avid reader, I am keenly aware that my list of categories on this blog is proliferating like a family of cabbage patch rabbits.  I am trying to restrain myself . . . I really am!  I have even considered professional help but I can’t seem to find anyone certified in treating “compulsive category creation syndrome”.  The fact that I seem to be the only one afflicted with this malady might explain the dearth of psychiatric specialists in the field.

But enough about me . . . assuming that’s ever possible.    Did you know that there are reputedly 180,497 islands on planet earth?  Can you name all of them . . . in reverse alphabetical order?  OK, neither can I.  But I do feel I am safe in saying that not all of them are incredible.  As your devoted guide in all things travel, I plan to obviate the need for you to visit all 180 plus thousand to sort out the incredible from the inconsequential. You’re welcome.

As a wily follower of Travel By Terry, you can sit back, relax and have the world’s most incredible isles and their corresponding exquisite resorts delivered right to your doorstep . . .  or in this case desktop, laptop or hand held device.  Over the course of the next few weeks, months and years (don’t worry, the decade will fly by before you know it), you will learn about exotic locals like Vanua Levu, Fiji and Cap Juluca, Anguilla (Gesundheit!).  Not to mention you will discover other places so exclusive they are only whispered furtively among the au courant after a backwards glance as “Private Islands”.

Hawaii? Bermuda? The Bahamas?  That’s fine I suppose for the hidebound traditionalists.  But if you have even a thimble of Robinson Crusoe’s blood coursing through your veins (or Thurston Howell III, for that matter), those places will never do.

John Maynard Keynes is said to have lamented, “My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.”  I will have failed you if that solemn day comes when you hear God utter an ominous “Check, please!” and your last regret is that you have not visited some of the world’s most incredible isles.  I like to think of these outcroppings as precious stones that fell from God’s overturned jewelry chest when He was chortling over our audacious pride.   But that’s just me.

As an added inducement to your patronage, this week only I am offering an iron clad guarantee.  If anyone drowns along the way, I will refund an entire year’s subscription to this blog.

You don’t know about the subscription?  That comes later when my ineffable charm has the hook firmly planted.  Anyway, what could be more fair than that?

So strap on your water wings, you are in for one grand island hopping adventure.  In the days ahead, I promise you enough cocktail party fodder to last you a lifetime.  Should you want to experience one of these jewels for yourself, we just happen to have a new travel partner who specializes in incredible isles.  What an amazing coincidence!