Isles Away from Civilization By Nancy S. Murray / Winter 2002 If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping to a secluded tropical island, isolated from the dreary humdrum of everyday life, indulge your fantasy at one of these private Caribbean island resorts. Petit St.Vincent. Within sight of Mustique, and long a favorite of captains of business and industry who have made it the destination of choice to refuel, refresh, and simply veg-out on gourmet cuisine in absolute privacy, is Petit St.Vincent, known to the cognoscenti as PSV. A 113-acre retreat almost completely surrounded by sparkling white powdery beaches, it’s comprised of 22 luxurious, be they graciously understated, cottages. Some are set high on the hillsides with unbroken views of the azure waters, others have been forged into the sides of cliffs, and several are directly on the beach. While meals at PSV are served in the main pavilion overlooking the island’s snug, often yacht-filled harbor, guests generally prefer to have breakfast and afternoon tea in their cottages, each of which has a living room, bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, and private patio. To do so is one of the legendary signature experiences at PSV. With no phones in the cottages, but rather bamboo flagpoles outside at the entrance, guests simply head to their flagpole and raise the yellow flag, leaving a short message. The room service patrol, which comes around several times an hour, will pick up the message and act accordingly. It’s an important part of the unique atmosphere of this special island that prides itself in purveying all comforts and civility, including dragging a baby grand piano down to the beach for a beach party, without the discomforts and interruptions of urban civilization.