Then it's into the speedboat and a quick ride across the channel separating Union Island and Palm Island. Your skillful boatsman will wind through the living coral reef to deposit you on the white sand beach where your friendly maid will be waiting to meet you and bring you inside your lovely beach house. Then it's just relax and enjoy your all-inclusive Escape as it unfolds: daily maid service, a private cook who does your shopping as well, your own private yacht bobbing at anchor outside your door ready for a day trip to Canouan perhaps and 18-holes of champion golf. Relax...  the private beach house, the household staff, the airfare to/from the island, the private yacht,  the skipper, the hostess, the food and the drink can all be included and all exclusively yours, if just for the day. Ah...another day in paradise. GETTING THERE.... This is International travel so you will need a valid passport or both a driver's license and birth certificate. Fly to Barbados (BGI) (REQUIRES A PASSPORT):  American Airlines goes from New York and out of Miami. Virgin Atlantic flys from London. Check with your local airport and see who has the best connections to Barbados. After your tickets to Barbados have been reserved, Grenadines.Net will then get you to Palm Island. Unless you plan to overnight in Barbados, you must arrive there by 16:00 to catch your connections to Palm Island. Since you will be arriving on Palm Island around 16:00, it will usually be too late to shop for food for your villa. We suggest you let us arrange in advance of your arrival to eat out at the Sunset Bar. Otherwise, let us pre-provision your beach house with food and drink to get you started. ABOUT THE ISLAND... The activity on Palm Island is subdued.  There are two bars and two dining rooms; one for full meals and one for the island version of fast food (the Sunset Bar.)  Dress on the island is casual.  You need never dress up.  A pair of swimming truncks and shorts and a t-shirt is all you need for the entire stay.  Most people bring slacks and a t-shirt for island functions; but some still wear shorts.  To bring a lot of dressy clothes is unnecessary.  Palm has a little gift shop selling tourist things and some island products.  There are grocery stores on nextdoor Union Island.  All of the basic food needs are there; but little frills. If you require any special foods, then please arrange to bring them with you.  Snorkeling is the favorite sport on the island next to doing nothing but wandering around on the island's 130 acres. Day Sails and private yacht charters are available.  Scuba classes and scuba gear are also available.  There is no TV, no newspaper, poor radio reception, no cars, no buses, and no cruise ships.  The Island Hotel has 34 rooms in pairs spread out along the beach.  There are 18 private homes on the island, plus a few rental apartments and several buildings owned by the Hotel. THE WEATHER... The temperature of the island changes very little throughout the year.  The high is about 85°F and the low about 78°F.  The refreshing rains usually come mid-August through mid-December.  There is always a breeze or wind blowing across the island which keeps the air fresh and lessens any adverse effects of the heat.  The Grenadines are in the Windward Islands. On the northeast end of the island, where our private houses are located, the wind is the strongest.  You NEVER need air conditioning but when you want to feel the cool, refreshing breezes, just open or close the windows. WHAT'S INCLUDED in "All-Inclusive "... Basically everything excepting your transportation " while off island " from your beach house can be arranged and included.  The prices published above for each beach house is the total cost per night just for the house including any taxes and service charges. Then, from the listing of available options, you can choose which services to add-on to your beach house. All beach houses are rented in an "as is condition" so please be sure to ask us for anything that might be considered critical. Include Just the Essentials you will add the maid first (this is the only service that is required as add-on), a private cook, airfare to your private beach house, a private yacht, these are optional items only if you should choose to request them. Likewise, you can let us set-up a food/drink account on next-door Union Island for your use while resident on Palm Island. There is also listed the out-of-pocket costs that you will encounter, starting with your pick-up at the Union Island Airport and continuing with the speedboat that will transfer you from Union Island over to your private beach house on Palm Island. These out-of-pocket costs you'll pay direct when using the services. Your maid will keep the beach house clean, do light shopping and marketing for you each day she comes over from her home on Union Island (both maid and cook will depart the villa daily around 4-4:30PM), and your local cook will do your cooking for you and that includes shopping, marketing, etc. The Hotel will send their buggy to collect you and your luggage when arriving on the island. Each piece of luggage costs US$20 so keep that in mind when packing for your island Escape. We have done all we can to help you to ENJOY your Escape to these private beach houses on Palm Island. Come let us pamper you. CONNECTIONS HOME...   Your flight back to Barbados departs around 11:00 and arrives in Barbados around Noon.