If you live here in the Northeast, you woke up to freezing rain and general malaise inducing weather this morning. It is times like these where we thank our lucky stars for Google Earth, which has a habit of transporting us to a far away place like Petit St. Vincent Resort, a island resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
This maritime, on the edge of kitsch, resort was conceived by Hazen K. Richardson. As we understand it, Hazen was living in New England and made a habit of escaping to the Caribbean every winter. He made a living sailing blue blooded rich dudes around the Windward Islands on his boat during the winter months. In the middle of one voyage, he pointed out an 111 acre island to a particularly wealthy client and made an off handed comment about what a great resort the deserted island would make. The monie-up New Englander almost challenged Hazen, suggesting he put the money up for Hazen to create and run such a resort. Mr. Richardson, not one to let golden opportunities slide by, jumped at the offer, and with the help of architect Arne Hasselquist, created a unique self-contained 22 cottage colony paradise.
The stone cottages are peppered throughout the island, some on hillsides, some tucked behind private beaches, and most with great views. Each cottage has plenty of space, an outdoor deck, and a hammock. Most importantly, every cottage comes equipped with its own flagpole. Raise the red flag and the golf cart traveling staff won't go anywhere near your cottage, raise the yellow flag and the staff will drive up and fulfill most any request. Kind of puts a luxury twist on the old sock on the door policy does it not?
The only way to reach PSV and the resort is by boat, where Mr. Richardson and his wife will personally greet you and hand you a drink when you arrive on the lone island dock. The owners also are likely to invite you up to their gorgeous island home for a drink at some point during your stay.
The resort is all inclusive and each meal can be enjoyed in a common area, up in your stone cottage, or delivered to you on the beach. While the food is not five star, and you aren't going to find any flat screen televisions in the cottages, this is the kind of place where if you fall for it, you will fall hard, wanting to return over and over again. Count us among that set.
It is gonna take more than some silly TomKat spat to kill our travel crush on the Maldives.
Our latest Google Earth flyover has us thinking we found our Maldives overwater bungalow destination Full Moon, not that we are going anytime soon or anything.
Why? Well this resort was completely rebuilt after the tsunami, so it has that new resort smell. Add to the fray a five star spa connected to the island by a wooden footbridge, a split-level infinity pool, and brand new overwater bungalows. Usually we don't even look at the price tags on these places, because we know we can't afford 'em, but this one seems reasonable--from €110? Really? We aren't math wizards, but that works itself out to under $300, doesn't it?
Drawbacks? It is close to Malé and the airport, so you probably have to endure some fly overs, but it is a freakin' island, not like the resort is on the runway. Plus after that long haul flight to Malé you just might think proximity to the airport is a blessing rather than a curse.
If you have been to Full Moon, feel free to burst our bubble by posting a review on the hotel page.
The Days Inn Graceland is your run-of-the-mill motel. Most hotel mavens will not want to spend one more minute here than they have to, however, Elvis freaks feel a whole lot different.
This hotel is a two minute walk from Graceland, and more importantly has a guitar shaped pool you can see from space, er, at least from Google Earth.
What is the closest thing to travel dogma? Hangin' with Australians is usually a good time.
Since Nadi airport is a relatively quick four hour flight from Sydney, many Australians turn to Fiji when they are looking for a little island fun, which they tend to pronounce Fay-gee.
One Fijian resort we have recently heard Australian's praising is Castaway Island Resort in the Mamanuca group of islands.
Castaway sits on a 174 acre tropical island complete with thatched beach front bures, and a palm tree surrounded pool where you can get fruity booze drinks.
While there are plenty of island type activities here (scuba, sailing, Teivovo island hoping) the overwhelming Castaway theme is relaxation.
One cultural tip: Fiji is a very catholic society and so unwed couples sharing a villa may get some glares. On the other hand, children are apparently extremely well received here.
After you fly in Nadi, there are three ways to get to Castaway, sea plane, helicopter, and boat. It goes without saying what mode of transport we would choose--you know we have a serious sea plane fetish over here.
Each of the 40 Bedouin-style suites at the Al Maha Desert Resort comes complete with plunge pool and 180 degree views of the dunes. The kind of place Luke Skywalker and his moisture-farming family would have developed on Tatooine if the Rebels paid him well for all his hard work.
Oh, and according to a tipster, it is a dry heat:
We went during at the hottest time of year, however the humidity is far less than it is in the city and beach and with your own infinity pool to cool off in during the heat of the day and a buggy that will pick you up from your suite and take you anywhere you want to go the 44 degrees heat seemed strangely bearable!
This tipster must be from Phoenix. Those Arizona folks are always talking about this mysterious dry heat.
Check out Al Maha on Google Maps below, walking home drunk from Dubai center doesn't look like an option.
Ok, so this week we are seriously addicted to Google Earth Maldives flyovers.
Just spotted the One & Only Kanuhura in all its overwater bungalow glory.
These water villas come with large outdoor decks, plasma televisions, and an outdoor shower.
Why would you need giant plasma tvs to ogle during your stay in paradise? It makes paying $8 for a tiny bottle of water at the beach more acceptable. Wait a second, not it doesn't. Free the water One & Only. Your resort is obviously paradise, and you can charge a pretty penny for a week in paradise, so free the water--it aches to be free.
24/7 babysitting is also available at Kanuhura, which means family travelers can rejoice, while couples should not expect the resort to be free of little ones.
After the jump we have included One & Only Kanuhura's official resort map to prove how kick ass we are at finding things on Google Earth. Yeah, it is sad. This Google Earth thing is becoming an addiction.
Sometimes a guest's hellish review ends up actually more curious about a hotel.
Here is what one tipster recently said about the Holiday Inn Gagudju Corcodile Hotel in Kakadu National Park in Australia's Northwest Territory:
This place really is shaped like a crocodile.
Do not come here if you want a life - it is full of pensioners - albeit very nice ones. The restaurant and all signs of life close down at 9pm.
Breakfast with one toaster, one coffee machine and about 100 people was also interesting.
Rooms are clean but that's about it.
C'mon. How many times in your life can you say you stayed inside a crocodile and shoot friends the Google Maps url to prove it? Bring on the one toaster breakfast.
Even though Disney World is the fakest place on earth, the view of the Polynesian Resort from Google Earth is pretty impressive. The South Pacific themed hotel sits on the South shore of the "South Seas Lagoon" where you can rent speedboats and do all sorts of water activities. But the resort itself is impressive as it tries to recreate a South Pacific isle with white-sand beaches, thatched roofs, koi ponds, volcanic rocks and "more than 75 species of indigenous vegetation." All this in Orlando's gatorland is amazing indeed.
Where: Petit St. Vincent, Saint Vincent & Grenadines
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by markj
