Petit St Vincent travel guide

Locally referred to as PSV, this is a beautiful, privately owned, 113-acre island with one of the Caribbean’s best resorts. At the Petit St Vincent you will find laid-back luxury, casual and stylish, with an excellent standard of service. If relaxation is what you want, you can get it here in spades. There are lots of trees and flowers providing a peaceful atmosphere and you can see most of the southern Grenadines from one view or another, even Mustique on a really clear day. The island is owned and managed by Haze Richardson, with help from his wife, Lynn, a staff of 80 (for 44 guests) and seven rather elderly labradors. Accommodation is in 22 secluded cottages mostly on the northeast side of the island, which have the most glorious views of the reef and the changing colours of the sea, encompassing all the blues and turquoises imaginable. Steps lead down the cliffs to the beach, where you can snorkel. The beaches benefited from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which brought lots of fresh sand. There is a tennis court, fitness track and water toys: sunfish, hobie cats, windsurfers, glass-bottom kayaks. You can have room service (especially nice for breakfast) or eat in the central building. Picnics can be arranged on the south-facing beach (hammocks and shade thoughtfully provided) or on the tiny islet Petit St Richardson. You can snorkel and dive off the Mopion and Punaise sandbar islands to the northwest and Ivan created a new one, known as Petit St Ivan. The island can be reached by charter flight from Barbados to Union Island and the resort’s launch picks you up there. The anchorage and jetty are on the south side opposite Petite Martinique, protected by a reef. Beaches are public, so don’t be surprised to see local children from Petite Martinique swimming or playing cricket near the anchorage.