As PSV is an all-inclusive island resort, all meals are
included and can be enjoyed anywhere; fresh fruits,
pancakes or eggs as you like them in your private
villa - check, jerk chicken caesar salad in your
hammock at the beach - check, rum-laced pina
coladas at Goaties Bar - check check check!
That said, the main Pavillion restaurant and the
informal beachside restaurant are only a short walk,
cycle or mini-moke away. The kitchen, led by head
chef Andi Cahyono, offers a plethora of global dishes
with a Caribbean influence; from fine dining á la
carte menus to informal beachside lunches, making
use of freshly caught fish, island-grown produce and
locally produced spices and spirits; as well as an ever-
growing wine cellar - which has been a pet-project
for GM Matt since his arrival - and now boasts a
varied mix of new and old world wines, which can
be enjoyed with a meal or in a delightful and
informative tasting session.
Divine BBQ grilled jerk chicken, aged steaks and
local fish stews aside, I also developed a slight
obsession with the chocolate and caramel tart, which
was actually conceived by former pastry chef Matt!
- Most people choose a souvenir to take home, I
was the welcome recipient of a whole dessert tart,
carefully packaged in my still treasured PSV
lunchbox, which I managed to make last as far as
Union Island - oops!
When the boredom of palm-fringed, white sand
beaches and food and drink on tap kicks in, (who
am I kidding?!), there is, somewhat surprisingly, a
lot on offer on this tiny island.
You can walk the entirety of the island in about an
hour, and there are built in ‘gym’ equipment stops
if you fancy a workout. Grab a bike and cycle the
winding paths of the bluff, head to the pavilion for
some restorative yoga, and the early morning sunrise
hike up Marni Hill is a must for the panoramic views
(and to burn off copious amounts of chocolate and
caramel tarts…).
Surrounded by some of the most beautiful waters
imaginable, it would be rude not to venture in! There
is no swimming pool on PSV, instead ocean
swimming is where it is at. There is paddle boarding
and windsurfing available, as well as a Jean-Michel
Cousteau Diving Centre, which was opened by Jean-
Michel, son of the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau,
in 2014.
And it was here I found myself early on day two,
wet-suited up, tank on, OK sign at the ready, for
some beginner exploration in the shallows of the
beach and jetty. Although not a complete beginner,
it had been a while since I had scuba-dived, and the
gentle currents off the shore were the perfect place
to revisit signals and techniques, before two other
guests and I were taken by boat to one of the
surrounding and mesmorising dive sites, for a full,
nearly hour-long, dive. Eels, shrimp, schoals of
tropical fish, nemo (I know it’s not the technical term
but it impressed my two year old!), we saw them all,
under the watchful eye and tuition of dive master
Dan and his team.
So beautiful are the waters here that I jumped (quite
literally, off the side of a boat, into the middle of the
Caribbean Sea!) at the chance of a further snorkelling
trip, this time onboard PSV’s luxury schooner -
Beauty. And what an apt name, for the wooden
schooner; that sailed us an hour or so to Tobago
Cays (recognisable as Captain Jack Sparrow’s ‘Rum’
hideout in Pirates of the Caribbean), was simply
breathtaking!
The journey there was also breathtaking, quite
literally as we hit some high winds that meant I spent
a good 57 minutes of the hour long journey trying
not to fall overboard, much to the delight of Captain
Simba and his crewman Donnelly - who reassured
me the experience was not as near-death as I was
going to make out when I arrived home.
Snorkelling, around the uninhabited islands that
form the cays, offered the opportunity to drift along
the coral reefs; spotting rays, starfish bigger than my
child, and gaze in wonder (*not open-mouthed awe,
that doesn’t work with a snorkel), at the playful
turtles. We had time to hike a peak on one of
the islands, where Donnelly ventured off, knife in
hand, to return with some much needed, freshly-
scythed aloe vera (with remote tropical islands
come mosquitoes!), before we climbed back on
board Beauty to enjoy a freshly bbq’d feast of
shrimp, snapper and steak, with some very hot sauce
and some very strong rum! Before a much calmer
journey back.
Back on dry land, it seemed only right to add in
some last-minute, additional me-time, courtesy of
the tree-top spa. Since Matt and Anie took them
helm, and in recognition not only of Anie’s roots
but also of the superiority of Indonesian massage
principals, they have turned the spa here into one
of Balinese wonder. Arriving just in time to miss the
deluge of a total thunderstorm-induced downpour,
I made my way through the winding treetop
walkways to one of the private therapy rooms, and
as rain casaded around me drifted off into a peaceful
oblivion during my hour-long, full-body, Balinese
massage - ahhhhh.
The whole experience on PSV, aside from being
one of pure, exclusive luxury, was also one of pure,
unplugged realignment. Since returning I have been
less attached to my phone, more able to switch off,
and have barely been on social media (aside from
posting envy-inducing pictures of PSV!).
Now I just need to plan this year’s trip to ensure my
detox levels are maintained...and to get another
chocolate caramel tart...
Rates at Petit St. Vincent start from £8 70 per room
per night, based on two sharing a one bedroom cottage in
low season. Includes three meals daily, all non-alcoholic
beverages, the use of non-motorised water sports and all facilities
at the resort.
www.petitstvincent.com
63