Looking to travel to a private island but you don’t want to travel to another country right now??? We have the perfect place for you! Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Florida Keys is an exclusive adult-only private island. This hidden gem offers only 30 private suite bungalows. This truly is a great vacation destination for those looking for privacy, romance and social distancing. After over 20 years of waiting to visit Little Palm Island, I finally had the privilege of this getaway with my husband.
How do I get to this private island????
We took a United Nonstop flight from Newark to Key West airport. The flight was just a little over 3 hours. The Key West Airport is small and easy to navigate. The baggage claim area was thankfully quick and seamless. If you know me you know I am a big “Plan In Advance” type of person so we pre-arranged a private car service to take us from the airport to the marina dock which took about 30 minutes. At the Marina Dock is where we truly felt our vacation began. We were offered their signature rum drink, The Gumby Slumber (see below) and made to feel comfortable while we waited for the beautiful wooden vessel, The Truman, to take us to the island. Or if you wish, you can opt to take a seaplane from mainland Florida airports or the Bahamas to Little Palm Island.
Want a taste of Little Palm Island? Here’s what you need and how to make The Gumpy Slumber at home:
Ingredients:
1 part Pineapple juice
1 part Cranberry juice
1 part Orange juice
1 part Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
1 part Parrot Bay Rum
Fresh coconut
Directions:
Mix ingredients and serve chilled
Garnish with fresh coconut
For an extra kick, marinate the coconut garnish in 151 Rum
What is there to do at Little Palm Island?
Henk and I are both beach people, we personally preferred to spend our day sitting on the beach rather than the pool. The pool is a very nice area with beautiful decor. Lounge chairs and daybeds are first come first serve. There is a nice bar in the pool area which is easily accessible from the beach area, too. We enjoyed sitting on the beach oceanfront in lounge chairs each day relaxing listening to the water's edge. It was the most relaxed I felt since March 2020.
The Beach Service was excellent. They were attentive but at the same time not too overbearing. It was absolutely the perfect type of beachside service that I would expect in a luxury laid back relaxing vibe of a resort.
Relaxation, Time Alone and Reconnecting were our main reasons for this getaway. If you are one to want to do more there are fun activity options including: Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Fishing, Sailing, Eco Tours, Wakeboarding, Paddleboarding, Kayaking, and Day Trips to the Dry Tortugas.
Let’s Talk about Dining
This is literally the best service on the island! There is only one restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Which was totally fine with us because the resort offered five options for seating locations: Oceanfront in the sand...under the stars...lit by tiki torches or the Upper Outdoor Terrace of The Dining Room or Indoor seating in The Dining Room or Private Dining or Chef’s Table Experiences. The first night we dined in the Sandy Oceanfront Dining Area but then each Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner following the first night our preferred spot became the comfortable booth seating on the Upper Outdoor Terrace of The Dining Room.
Added Bonus: World Renowned Executive Chef Danny Ganem is on property and created the most wonderful menu experience including his Foie Gras Creme Brulee appetizer which is a MUST! We felt extremely spoiled enjoying his dishes each evening.
Is this vacation right for me???
This is a vacation destination for those looking for a quiet, relaxing and romantic getaway. It’s also perfect for those celebrities wanting the utmost discretion and respect of privacy. A famous actor was on his honeymoon during our stay. Everyone on the island respected the privacy of him and his wife. No paparazzi, no guests interrupting him for a photo...just all around respect.
Our accommodation, and all of the accommodations, were built with privacy and romance being the key element. There were plenty of places to lounge and relax inside and outside our suite. It was very much a luxurious Robinson Crusoe type of vibe.
If you are someone looking for the highest level of social distancing, I recommend a private flight into Key West Airport followed by a private transfer with then a stay in an Island Premier Suite. With over 1,000 square feet of luxury living, ocean views, outdoor tub, private deck and an exclusive sandy beach with loungers, a hammock and a fire pit combined with in room private dining you can literally have your own piece of paradise safely and comfortably.
In regards to the Covid-19 Protocols: the resort staff are required to wear masks throughout the property, guests are required to wear masks indoors, and the general makeup of the island is socially distanced due to the limited number of guests on island as well as the spacing of areas to lounge.
How can we help make you VIP???
I have great relationships with people on property and the sales team so clients of Jet Set Getaways will receive VIP status and the below perks at no additional cost!!!!
$100 resort credit once per stay
$100 breakfast credit, per day
Property will offer early check-in and late check-out upon availability
Property will offer upgrade at time of check-in, subject to availability
Are you ready to travel to Little Palm Island??
If you have any specific questions please feel free to follow us on instagram, send us a DM or write your inquiries on the “contact” section of this website.
Written by Julie Shotmeyer CEO of Jet Set Getaways
