Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

Little Palm Island is a four-acre island off Little Torch Key, reached only by seaplane or by the resort's motor yacht from its welcome station at Mile Marker 28.5 on the Overseas Highway. It was once a favourite retreat of President Harry Truman, for whom the launch is named, and Michelin describes it as the only private island resort in North America. Its 30 suites are set in thatched bungalows beneath the palms, a few steps from the water, in a classic British West Indies style with vaulted ceilings, indoor and outdoor showers and outdoor copper tubs. There are no televisions or telephones in the suites, mobile phones are kept silent, and no one under 18 is admitted. The Dining Room, with an oceanfront veranda and tables on the sand, is led by executive chef Rodrigo Albornoz and changes its dinner menu daily, with a nightly tasting menu paired with wines. SpaTerre occupies a two-storey atrium among tropical planting, with yoga on the beach, and the reef beyond, the third-largest barrier reef in the world, is close for diving and snorkelling.