The Palm Island Resort

This place is ABSOLUTELY amazing. We just came back earlier this week and my friends and I are still dreaming about this place. From the friendly staff that constantly goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome and relaxed, to the stunning beaches featuring private hammocks, to the water sports, to the wildlife, I am so glad we experienced Palm Island. We did a private lunch for 4 at Hammock 4 on our last day (there's a private lagoon with swings where you can dip your feet over the water!) Highly recommend! The Yannis catamaran trip to Tobago Cay where you swim with sea turtles is a must! The spa is also insanely beautiful, and the masseuses weave a crown on your head at the end. We also visited Sparrow Beach Club on Union Island, where the food was AMAZING. We ate Tuna and Marlin caught fresh THAT morning, and the Sparrow driver was SO sweet and proud of his island! Finally, we took a trip to Happy Island, which was a trip in itself!

If you are searching for an island getaway that is off the beaten path, Palm Island is perfect! I don't recommend for children -- simply because this resort caters to an adult crowd. Older teens and adult children will also enjoy.

Visited Palm Island in June 2018 for 7 nights and overall had a wonderful experience.

As is mentioned in many reviews the journey to the island itself is an adventure especially if you are not a fan of small planes (8 seater from St Lucia). However, In actual fact the 30 min flight across St Vincent, Mustique etc on the way to Union Island served only to heighten the feeling of a secluded tropical island getaway which we were looking for despite the trepidation we felt at St Lucia airport seeing the puddle jumper pull up!

The staff at the resort were excellent. Friendly, professional and accommodating to the needs of the guests and we very much enjoyed our conversations and general interactions overall. I think it unfair to name check all the wonderful staff at the chance of leaving someone out.

Accommodation wise we had no problems whatsoever. Our room was great for what we needed in terms of comfort and a good nights sleep. We have stayed at the Parrot Cay's, Gansevoorts etc of the world that some guests would consider to be a bit more chic or luxurious but i dont think that it is really the vibe that Palm Island is going for. It is a very simple and understated type place that is undergoing some updates with superior beachfront rooms as well as our favorite restaurant 'sunset grill' that we ate lunch at each day with its fantastic view.

I have to admit we are not typically all-inclusive type people but this place was outstanding in regards to food options with the majority being a la carte rather than a mass production buffet we typically associate with all-inclusive resorts. Every meal we had was excellent with a variety of options.

Beaches and the island as a whole were wonderful with clear waters and swaying palms as well as easily navigated pathways around the island for walks or bike rides. It really is a wonderful place location-wise. Also be sure to take advantage of one of the boat trips to the tobago cays, Mayreau etc as the grenadines are beautiful islands and being able to swim with turtles was a great experience.

Prior to visiting the island i read many reviews on tripadvisor and the overall great reviews are consistent with what we experienced. The negatives that i read revolved around 'lack of beach service/older accommodation/forced niceties from the staff'. In reality i managed to walk the twenty steps to the beach bar for a drink if needed, slept comfortably each night and enjoyed all my chats with the staff from management to the gardeners managing the island. Only thing that needs improving/updating at this place is the website. It simply does not do Palm Island justice and is pretty average in all honesty.

It is difficult to please everyone all the time but we loved this place and look forward to returning next year and we never return anywhere. See you next year.

My wife and I stayed 8 nights in Palm Island during June 2018. Ignoring the somewhat difficult travel to and from, the stay was the most relaxing vacation we’ve ever had. The pace of the island is slow. There are few organized activities and excursions. This is a place for sitting in the sun, enjoying the beautiful water, snorkeling with the fish and eating delicious food.
The resort decor had an 80’s or 90’s feel. It’s not intended to compete with some of the super-luxurious hotels in the BVIs or nearby St Lucia. Instead, the focus is on comfort, with large, comfortable furniture and nice beds. Don’t expect wonderful tile work or outdoor showers. The architecture is cozy but understated, with the owners clearly trying to fit in with the beautiful environment instead of overpowering it.
The resort is managed by Katie, a gregarious and fun loving french woman who runs a tight ship. She clearly trains and vets her staff well, because the service provided is incredible. The staff is always ready with a drink refill and a big smile. The restaurant wait staff are managed by Cyril, a young, friendly and ambitious gent from Madagascar, who may continuously forget your first name, but will more than make up for it with his conversational skills and knowledge of travel and the island itself.
Our biggest concern before booking was the snorkeling and we were not disappointed. The island has 5 beaches which are all available to guests. Three of the beaches contain some form of coral reef, although many of the reef spots around the island are mostly rubble. That said, they are filled with beautiful fish and we saw numerous sea turtles, eagle rays, and several nurse sharks. A day trip to Tobego Keys is a must, where we saw dozens of sea turtles and snorkeled all day in the beautiful offshore reef, which is more alive than the reef surrounding Palm Island.
Overall, we had a wonderful, laid back trip. We didn’t go for a party and were glad we didn’t find one. While some of the guests viewed the bar and restaurant as a sort of summer camp where they could engage in nightly drinking and meet-and-greets, we were able to avoid that scene. In other words, if you want to make friends you can, but if you’d rather get away from the world and spend your time talking to iguanas (like we did), you can do that.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are a visual kaleidoscope of colors; a land so beautiful that it’s hard to take it all in. Palm Island strips away most of the man-made distractions and allows you to surround yourself in the beauty of a very special place.

What a fabulous resort! This was my first time here. The location is absolutely stunning and is everything you picture about a tropical getaway, but that isn’t the best part of your trip. The best part is the resort staff.

From the moment they greet you when you arrive to the moment they see you off, they are the warmest and friendliest people you will ever encounter at a resort. The general manager Katie has put together an amazing team of people who truly do everything they can to make your stay amazing. There are too many wonderful folks to name, but Cyril (the restaurant manager) and his staff are simply the best.

As far as the accommodations and the island are concerned, we stayed in a beachfront room. The inside of the room was well appointed, but it was the walk out the front door that made it out of this world (pic below). As a side note, if you have the resources check out the Southern Cross Villa. It is truly a special accommodation on the island. The fact that there are only a limited number of rooms on the island makes it simple to find a place for yourself on the beach. The waters are crystal blue and perfect temps. They have a good amount of activities if you’re like me and want to be active (hike, bike, kayak, snorkel, etc) or like my travel companions, you can simply relax in the sun with very few people to bother you. If you like fishing ask them to arrange a trip for you with Sebastian of Grenadines Fishing. It’s a separate cost, but he’s a fabulous guide for all the different fishing options.

Union Island is the major island across the water and had some shopping and some restaurants, if you’re so inclined. I would recommend Sparrows restaurant as they have some great local dishes, like the Smoked Marlin.

Finally, if you’re that person that mosquitos find no matter how many other people are around (like me). Make sure to use the insect repellant provided or bring some of your own and also bring some Benadryl itch cream. I have this issue no matter where I go in the tropics (Tahiti, Hawaii, etc) and it also happened here. The staff seem to do a good job of doing what they can to limit the issue, because most of our group didn’t get bitten once. Even though the bites were annoying it certainly didn’t take away from this truly amazing experience. I only put this here so that if you’re that person (and you know if you are) that you go prepared.

Thank you to all of the Palm Island staff for a truly memorable experience. I certainly see why they have so many return visitors. We will certainly be one of them.