Tropical Dreaming…
I need to do some research. In my fantasies, that research looks something like this…
Don’t I wish.
Seriously, I do have to write a novella set in a “foreign, tropical location” for a super sizzling summer (say that three times fast) novella collection for Harlequin. Should be fun, only, I haven’t been to too many foreign, tropical locations.
I’ve been to exactly three Caribbean islands…not one of them more recently than ten years ago. And I’ve been to several U.S. states, but not Hawaii. Canada and Ireland aren’t exactly tropical and they’re the only foreign countries I’ve been in.
So I have to use my imagination.
I’d rather go on a research trip. Here’s where I’m thinking:
This island is called Petite St. Vincent. It’s a tiny little place off the coast of Barbados and to get to it, you have to fly to Barbados, then take a puddle-jumper to Union Island, then take a boat to Petite St. Vincent. The entire island is filled with one resort. One super exclusive, $810 a night resort, with approximately 30 individual cottages circling the island.
Every one has a private beach. There are no TV’s, no radios, no computers, no phones. If you want room services, you run up a flag. If you want utter privacy, you run up a flag. If you like to sleep with the breeze blowing over you, you leave your walls open like this…
Now, doesn’t that sound like utter heaven? Just the idea of a week away from phones and TV’s and the internet sounds like vacation enough. But put it on a tropical island with the bluest water I’ve ever seen, absolute luxury pampering by the staff who outnumber the customers 2-to-1, gourmet meals. Sounds like heaven on earth, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, to spend a week there would cost more than I’m going to make on this entire novella. So I guess I’m going to have to keep dreaming and use my imagination.
As for the setting of my story? I’m thinking St. Lucia. What a wonderful time Bruce and I had there so many years ago…
We didn’t exactly have a private beach or an entire island almost to ourselves, but it was still lovely. Lovely enough to set a story there, I’m thinking. About a female bartender from the states who’s dropped out of the world…a sexy tourist who’s not what he seems…hmm, I’m getting the picture here!
So what about you? Any alternative suggestions? What’s the most fabulous tropical vacation you’ve ever taken…or what’s your dream one?
I’m ready for a trip to that resort! Wow. Sounds like Heaven on Earth.
I’ve not gone on a tropical vacation, unless you count a day in Key West when I was about 8. I’d like to go though. I’d probably pick Hawaii for my vacation. It’s always looks so beautiful and the flora there is so great and different to here in NC.
Comment by Katie B. — April 8, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Next to Disney, a tropical vacation is my favorite! Unfortunately, I’ve never really found the “perfect” place. My favorite so far is Puerto Rico. I loved it because of the beaches, the culture, the rain forest, the history…there was so much to do. I can only lie on a beach so long before I get bored. I did also love Atlantis in the Bahamas…but I’d have to mortgage my house to go again. It was so expensive!
My dream is to someday go to Fiji. Trouble is…they’d have to anesthetize me for the long plane trip!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 8, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Oh hell honey. Why didn’t you mention this before I left this morning? Now I have to turn around and head back home. Grab my toothbrush, the kids and the dogs can stay at your sister’s, and we’re outta here. We should be able to be there in time for a late dinner and a night-time walk on the beach. I love “research” trips!
Um…you were planning on bringing ME along for that week…right?
Comment by Bruce — April 8, 2008 @ 9:03 am
Poor Bruce.
Outside of many trips to PR myself, the only tropical vacation I have been on was our cruise a couple of years ago. I would love to go back to St. Maritns for more than a day. I really enjoyed it there. The nude beaches are on the French side.
Comment by ev — April 8, 2008 @ 9:13 am
I’ve never been to a tropical island before. I’ve only been to the beaches in FL and AL. If I had to pick, I think I would choose the Bahamas. It just sounds like the perfect tropical paradise. Of course, Hawaii would be really nice too. I would love to spend time on the beaches of Hawaii, as well as see all the history of the islands.
Comment by Liza — April 8, 2008 @ 9:15 am
Les — I’m thinking we need to go to that resort for one of our plotting retreats!
Comment by Janelle — April 8, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Leslie, My dream Island is Necker Island which is owned by Richard Branson. I first learned about it while watching one of those Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous type shows. If you go to http://www.neckerisland.com you’ll know why I think it is heaven on earth. Although your Petite St. Vincent definitely has me intrigued, I like the idea of running a flag when you need or want something.
Now to be totally honest, any Island alone with my husband is my dream Island!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 8, 2008 @ 10:15 am
Of course you’re invited, Bruce! Whatever would I do there for a week without you?
Janelle…uh, no phone or internet for a week. Carly’s idea of heaven? I don’t think so…
Off to check out Neckers Island…
Comment by Leslie — April 8, 2008 @ 10:22 am
I would love to go to Tahiti. I have since I was in junior high. Not quite sure of how to leave the boys at home for that period of time. I’d even go by myself. Pathetic, I know.
Comment by katie — April 8, 2008 @ 10:32 am
I need a vacation….. those places look great. Can I go now?
Comment by Jaci Burton — April 8, 2008 @ 10:34 am
My great-grandmother was a Tahitian princess so it has been a dream of mine to go there. I would like to do the whole trace your roots thing…..
Comment by Kirsten — April 8, 2008 @ 10:39 am
Leslie, Petite St. Vincent sounds wonderful…great place for a honeymoon or a second one..
I have been a to a couple of islands…except St. Lucia…I went on a cruise of the Lesser Antilles several years ago, so I got to see a few islands…my fav was Martinique, second was St. Maarten…both those islands have a wonderful history and a sense of mystique about them…I was quite impressed by the local people and the architecture as well…Hawaii was also wonderful. I visited Oahu/Waikiki and it was awesome…they have the most beautiful sunsets there…I could definitely see a transplanted heroine and a visiting H meeting here…same with the other two locales…St. Thomas was nice too, but I felt like I was still in the US…Barbados was beautiful too…the water there was the bluest I had ever seen…I was a little scared when we walked down the gang plank and I could see the bottom of the ocean I know that is was pretty deep, but I was a little worried that the ship would be able to stay afloat because the bottom looked so close to the top…I know, crazy, but that was my initial thought…
The island you talked about would definitely be one I would love to go to…you described the perfect dream vaca with that one…I may have to visit that island someday…good luck with your research…
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if you had the means to visit all the possible locations as part of your research?
I hope everyone has a wonderful day…
PS… Jules, Amazon finally mailed your book to me…I can’t wait to get it so that I can inhale it, which is probably what’s going to happen on my first reading of it…I will slow down for the second and third go round though…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — April 8, 2008 @ 10:40 am
That’d be some fun research if you could actually go there!
That should be fun. The two places that I’d love to go would be Hawaii and Maldives.
I’ve been to Phuket before and I loved it! I believe any island in Thailand would be just as nice. I plan to go to Bali soon
Comment by Bunny — April 8, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Kirsten, that’s SO cool. You definitely need to put this as one of your short term goals!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 8, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Hey, Paula! (Okay, NOW I have the song in my head, LOL!) WOW! You’ve been around the world, haven’t you? You could play tour guide! Hope you enjoy Phantom Pleasures!
Comment by Julie Leto — April 8, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Leslie: PSV sounds AWESOME! The last “tropical” place I went wasn’t all that nice. In fact, I think the English translation of the name is “armpit.” But that’s just a guess.
Comment by Amy Addison — April 8, 2008 @ 11:16 am
It does sound like heaven. I love the caribbean.
Comment by flip — April 8, 2008 @ 11:23 am
That resort sounds like heaven. I would love to go there. Maybe this would be a great fifth friday prize.
I was in Hawaii as a child, but have never been anywhere exotic.
Comment by Debbie — April 8, 2008 @ 11:53 am
Leslie: Your tropical island sounds heavenly. Knowing my luck, though, I would send up the wrong flag!
Comment by katie — April 8, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
oops…..forgot to finish my sentance…never been anywhere exotic as an adult. My husband just does not keep me in the lifestyle I grew up accustomed to.
Comment by Debbie — April 8, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
Wow, all of these places sound great, when do we leave??? The only tropical place I have been to was Hawaii and that was 26 years ago.
Maybe it time for hubby to spring for a little romance in the tropics. 
Comment by Ardie — April 8, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
St. John is my favorite — you fly into St. Thomas & take the island ferry over. We stayed at the National Park campground- my sister and her husband started going in the 80’s. You can either bring your own tent, etc., rent a platform canvas tent [think girl scout camp!] or rent a ‘room’ that is one of 4 in a row. These have concrete walls between each unit, but have screening on the 2 outer walls. They come with camp stove, cooler, & basic untensils. You share a bathhouse. There’s a small campers store and also a restaurant open daily. Part of it’s beach used to be a cruiseliner stop - It was an awesome 2 weeks - of just kicking back and relaxing..
Comment by Cate Sparks — April 8, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
My fantasies are pretty easy…as long as there are gorgeous beaches, tropical foilage, crystal blue water and gorgous flowers…and HOT cabana boys and waiters to wait on me hand and foot, to massage sun tan oil on my back…and a hot SEAL of my own to take back to my secluded little cabin when it’s time to retire. What was that movie w/ Pierce Brosnan and Woody Harrelson?? The diamond heist?? Pierce is actually the thief in that one…but I’ll take him any way I can get him, and Selma will just have to move over…that’s my fantasy!!!
I might have given this a little thought….
Comment by Melissa — April 8, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Wow, after seeing those pictures I’m ready to pack my bags & go!! Alas, lack of finances prevent me from that!!!
Bruce, I’m sure you & Leslie should get away for some research! Just think of the fun you could have!!!
I’m sorry to say I’ve never been anywhere tropical, unless you count the humidity in Michigan when I visited my in-laws many, many years ago! Visiting Hawaii would be on my list including a day exploring the active volcanoes. They are fascinating.
Comment by Donna M — April 8, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
Kirsten–that’s *very* cool!
And yes, a Plotmonkeys gathering in the Caribbean sounds a-okay with me.
Cate–I’ve heard of St. John! Roughing it on a Caribbean island beats a four star hotel in my hometown, that’s for sure.
Comment by Leslie — April 8, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
I love tropical islands but the best exotic place on earth for me is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I had the good fortune to live there for three years and I can’t wait to go back!!!
Comment by Carol R — April 8, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Good afternoon everyone,
I’m late swinging through the jungle today. I’ve been working on a new plot.
Let’s see, I love looking at pictures of tropical places and thinking about actually being there but the truth is I don’t like heat or humidity. That’s why I live in Colorado.
So, I guess I’ll have to pass on the tropical locale. I’m a mountain’s, cool breezes kind of girl. The pictures are beautiful though. The water looks delicious. I’m so weird, I know.
Hope everyone is having a great day,
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 8, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
The best tropical vacation I had was to Oahu and Maui, many years ago.
Comment by Estella — April 8, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Wow, that looks and sounds lovely, Leslie! Not much tropical island experience here, alas… I’ll just drool at your photos and dream
Comment by Fedora — April 8, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
I love everything about palm trees, beaches and tiki tourches I’ve been to Hawaii three time and I love it there I remember the first time I went to Maui and we steped off the plane and the first wiff of air was so floral and watching the turtles in the surf from our balcony in the early mornings. taking the road to Hana curvy one lane in spots. water falls and lush tropical foliage. Every Island has it’s unique qualties. love drinking lava flows and taking in the Islands. The only problem since moving to Florida it takes longer to get there. Mahalo
Comment by Michele — April 8, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I’ve never been on a tropical vacation, other than day trips to Galveston Island. Galveston is 30 or so miles
southeast of, and across the Causeway from, Houston. Beautiful location, but not what I would call a
tropical vacation!
My selection for my someday tropical vacation: The Hawaiian Islands!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 8, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
I would love to go to Tahiti.
Comment by Jane — April 8, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
Hey everyone! Leslie what a wonderful blog topic. I personally am also in love with Necker Island. I watched the fabulous life special and fell in love. But my absolute favorite vacation spot (I know im cheating its not a caribbean island) is Capri. I went my junior year of high school and fell in love. It is so peaceful and beautiful. The perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself. I am so going back.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
Comment by Tyne — April 8, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
I love anywhere in the south Leslie! Oh my this is a hard one. I haven’t been to any tropical islands but I have seen many shows, specials and pictures. I have always wanted to go to Aruba! It looks so idylic and peaceful. I also love saming the name! Have fun selecting your tropical island!
Comment by Melis L. — April 8, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
Jules the song is my head now too…traveling to some of those places were compliments of the US military, but the cruise and the trip to Hawaii were gifts to myself. Whenever I need a mental health break, I take off…even if I don’t have the money…isn’t that what credit cards are for? Lol….I am planning several trips this summer…Korea, Dominican Republic, San Fran and AZ…IU will be going to AZ next month for a friends graduation then maybe the other trips…BTW, one of my goals is to travel to a majority of the countries on the globe…big goal, and I hope I can accomplish it; if not the entire thing, then at least half…hahahahhahahahaa…
I really can’t wait until Phantom comes in the mail…hopefully it gets here tomorrow so I can sink my teeth into it.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — April 8, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
[Hm, sorry if this double posted but the first one isn't showing]
Leslie,
I strongly suggest you go on a research trip. I also think you need an assistant, and that I’m your gal.
I haven’t been to many tropical places either, I hear places in cancun are just gorgeous. One of my friends got married there and her wedding pics are *amazing.* One of the places I have been to that I thought had some amazing places, was Taiwan. The southern half has beautiful beaches, and a bunch of other stuff. [I missed it because when I went there had just been huge earthquakes so a lot of it was inaccessible...]
Comment by limecello — April 9, 2008 @ 12:27 am
drat - I guess url’s can’t be posted?
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Comment by limecello — April 9, 2008 @ 12:30 am
Hey, Cher, maybe it’s just something about Colorado, but I prefer the mountains and cooler temperatures myself. Having lived in Colorado my whole life, I feel spoiled because of how wonderful it is.
As for foreign countries, I’ve only been to Canada, Ireland, and the UK, all of which are most definitely not tropical.
Those pictures, though, have me seriously considering trips to Hawaii and the Bahamas sometime this year, depending on how things work out. They make me wonder what I might be missing out on spending all my time in colder climates.
Comment by Karin — April 9, 2008 @ 12:29 pm
only hawaii , but loeved it. i love vegas too. jamica would be gret to visit
great revies for slow hands. cant wait to get my hands on it.
Comment by kim h — April 10, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
The tropical island is really heaven on earth
but unfortunately the cost is too high. How about going to tropical islands in Asia for a change? Its cheaper
Comment by badztrip — April 15, 2008 @ 10:54 am