Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines offering an all-inclusive experience with drinks and dining included, access to its 41 rooms, suites and three private villas, a water sports pavilion, and other recreational facilities such as a fitness center, tennis and bicycles to explore the island, plus the use of a 37-foot classic sailing boat and catamaran. There's also a newly renovated spa on offer with treatments at an additional charge. While the Caribbean islands of The Grenadines may not be on everyone’s radar, the new Argyle International Airport (SVD) on the archipelago’s capital of St. Vincent, makes the island nation more approachable than ever. And now, one private island resort, is offering a buyout option for friends and family to enjoy the entire property for themselves.
Guests who buy out this entire resort will have access to its 41 rooms, suites and three private villas, a water sports pavilion, and other recreational facilities such as a fitness center, tennis and bicycles to explore the island. There is also a newly renovated spa on offer with treatments at an additional charge.
The buyout program also offers an all-inclusive experience, so guests can drink and dine as much as they'd like at Royal Palm, an all-day restaurant and Sunset Bar & Grill, open for lunch and dinner, with a lively all-day bar featuring the region’s best sunsets. It also includes unlimited non-motorized water sports (snorkeling, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, and kayaking), rum tastings, culinary classes, movie nights under the stars, yoga sessions, and more. Use of the rose-hued Pink Lady—a 37-foot classic sailing boat reminiscent of a bygone era—perfect for days of snorkeling, swimming and exploring the Tobago Cays and surrounding beaches with lunch, snacks and beverages also included. There is also Catamaran Yanni, which also offers similar excursions.
The Palm Island buyout package is priced from $150,000 USD for up to 100 persons for seven nights, from April 2022 onward, based on availability. Guests have the ability to stay less than seven nights, but the $150k/week rate still applies.
For more information, visit the resort’s website, to book, contact the reservations team via email at reservations@eliteislandresorts.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
History of Palm Island: Originally known as Prune Island, the white-sand fringed oasis in The Grenadines was leased in 1966 for 99 years by Americans, John and Mary Caldwell, from the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for $1 USD per year. The caveat was that they built a hotel to provide employment for local people. At that time, the island was uninhabitable with a swampy, low-lying interior, but with its iconic, stunningly white sand-beaches framing its shoreline.
The Caldwells planted coconut palms to reclaim the land, a practice Johnny had learnt from previous projects, giving him the nickname “Johnny Coconuts.” And so, Palm Island evolved and by leasing a few select building plots for private homes the funds were raised to construct a 10-room hotel, The Palm Island Beach Club, which they ran for the following 30 years.
In 1999, the hotel was purchased by the current owners, James Lane, an Englishman, and Rob Barrett (the now founder of Elite Islands Resorts), an American. Extensive renovations followed to create 41 rooms and suites, a spa and other amenities for hotel guests. Two of the private residences were also purchased to create villas, and a plant nursery was crafted to cultivate fresh produce and herbs for hotel’s restaurants. A new villa will be available later this year.
Although the geography of this area can sometimes be challenging, the ethos here is always to come back stronger. And so the story of Palm Island is ever moving forward and it is in this element that James Lane Jr., the resort’s managing director, hopes that its visitors will love and appreciate and want to be part of it, as much as he does. James and his entire team are passionate about preserving the natural beauty, the flora and fauna, and of course the very important jobs for the local community, that he has inherited.
