Overview
There’s a vacation, and then there’s the kind of getaway from which you emerge as if from a fever dream.
Serenity at Little Palm Island
Just 28.5 miles north of quirky Key West in the Florida Keys, serenity awaits at a four-acre sanctum, where a stay is a fantasy indulged: a realm where you reside on an elegantly appointed, deliciously secluded tropical island, and the only decision to be made each day is between adventure or relaxation (or some optimal combination of both).
Notoriously posh, Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is the only private island resort in the U.S. — where the resort is the island and the island the resort — and yet visiting doesn’t feel like you’re still in the States at all. Little Palm Island barely seems to exist within the same dimension — the fact that a trip here doesn’t even require a passport is almost too good to be true.
Though its modern iteration as a resort destination stretches back to the 1980s, Little Palm Island, part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts collection, went offline on September 10, 2017, when it was decimated by Hurricane Irma. Rebuilding began soon after and wasn’t complete until the island’s grand re-debut on March 1, 2020. Now, two years later, Little Palm Island Resort & Spa has been recognized among the highly esteemed iBestTravel 500, a catalog of the top hotels in the world, according to our 2021 World’s Best Awards survey.
Luxurious Accommodations
Island guests can arrive via private boat, seaplane (chartered through Tropic Ocean Airways), or car. Those who drive are greeted at the Shore Station in Little Torch Key with Gumby Slumbers — the island’s signature coconut-soaked rum cocktail, invented by a former bartender and named for the delirious way it makes you feel — with just 10 minutes aboard the Woodson or Truman motor yacht separating you from lush Little Palm Island, where an alternate reality awaits.
The island’s swank accommodations are spread across fifteen thatched-roof bungalows housing thirty suites, which come with features like a plush bed, furnished deck, outdoor shower, copper soaking tub, ocean views, fire pit, and sheer privacy — an oasis of one’s own. Alternatively, visitors can stay on their own boat; Little Palm Island’s marina can accommodate vessels up to 120 feet.
Gourmet Dining Experience
Even if you wanted to keep in touch with the real world, that’s the only thing on the island that doesn’t come easy: though the cell service is strong and Wi-Fi reliable, the rebuild stuck to tradition by keeping televisions out of guest rooms, offering an opportunity to unplug and escape. Ringing phones are taboo on Little Palm Island; instead, pop into the Harry Truman “outhouse” to take calls (if you must).
The fact that over one-third of the island’s guests are repeat visitors is a testament to its transportive power and beloved status. Many of the island’s employees, too, are returning staff following the renovation hiatus.
The Dining Room is your destination for à la carte meals, though delivery via Suite Service is a must at least once to enjoy dining amidst the sea breezes from the comfort of your own luxurious enclave. Another must is dinner on the beach at sunset; with tiki torches and a menu inspired by the bountiful paradise surrounding, the experience is unparalleled. Miami-raised chef Daniel Ganem sources fresh seafood, produce, and spices from around the islands.
Resort Activities
In addition to the pool and beach, complimentary resort activities include paddle boards, fishing equipment, snorkel gear, kayaks, a Hobie Cat day sailer, and four 13-foot Boston Whalers for guests to take out as they please to nearby sandbars and reefs.
Suites start at $2,490 per night and include island amenities like welcome cocktails, motor yacht transfers, water sports, nightly turndown service, and more.
