A resort that's accessible only by boat or seaplane; an island that was once the fishing retreat of presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Nixon, among other VIPs; a stretch of private, powder-soft beachfront steps from your thatched-roof bungalow...that's just an introduction to one of Florida's most exclusive resorts.

The Little Palm Island Resort & Spa occupies an entire five-acre island three miles offshore in the lower Keys. It's about two and a half hours from Miami by car, and only 28 miles from Key West, but this resort is another entity entirely, a sanctuary for those who crave a remote, rustic retreat, a place evocative of Hemingway's Florida.

How remote is Little Palm Island? After checking in at the shore station, located on Mile Marker 28.5 on the Overseas Highway, guests step off the "mainland" to be transported via boat (which are themselves custom-made, beautiful mahogany launches) to the island. Once here, you are greeted at the dock and led

A resort that's accessible only by boat or seaplane; an island that was once the fishing retreat of presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Nixon, among other VIPs; a stretch of private, powder-soft beachfront steps from your thatched-roof bungalow...that's just an introduction to one of Florida's most exclusive resorts.

The Little Palm Island Resort & Spa occupies an entire five-acre island three miles offshore in the lower Keys. It's about two and a half hours from Miami by car, and only 28 miles from Key West, but this resort is another entity entirely, a sanctuary for those who crave a remote, rustic retreat, a place evocative of Hemingway's Florida.

How remote is Little Palm Island? After checking in at the shore station, located on Mile Marker 28.5 on the Overseas Highway, guests step off the "mainland" to be transported via boat (which are themselves custom-made, beautiful mahogany launches) to the island. Once here, you are greeted at the dock and led along crushed seashell paths to a thatched-roof bungalow that has every appearance of a rustic island hut from the outside, and every creature comfort expected of an elite resort inside. The bungalows are divided into two separate one-bedroom suites, each with a glorious king-size canopy bed veiled in butterfly netting, living area, and private veranda overlooking the resort's serene beachfront and the turquoise waters of the Florida Straits.

The rooms are quite spacious, with 550 square feet in which to spread out, and they come in three varieties of décor: Indonesian, Polynesian, or British Colonial. (For the full Hemingway-esque fishing-lodge experience, go with British Colonial.)

For those who want more, there are two Island Grand suites, which have the best ocean views, dual bathrooms, and an outdoor hot tub. To keep with the resort's "get lost" theme, there are no telephones or televisions in any of the rooms, and guests are encouraged to hand over all connection to the outside world. To stress the point, the lone public phone on the island is housed in a renovated outhouse that was once used by Harry Truman.

Visiting Little Palm Island is all about tranquility—and that includes its fabulous beach. You won't find kids building sandcastles or a fleet of personal watercraft roaring by. The resort doesn't allow children below the age of 16. Instead, the powdery white-sand beach and warm waters of the Florida Keys are there for your total indulgence—perhaps best savored from the vantage of a comfy hammock. For those who crave something more active, choose from kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing.

On land, the resort's acclaimed Indonesian-themed SpaTerre and "Floribbean" dining (guests are invited to participate in a full-day meal plan, due to the island's remoteness) are two reasons never to leave the island. Other cozy public spaces include the lagoon-style pool, Zen garden, and Great Room library.

Kim Grant has been writing about the best places to stay in North America since the day after graduating college in 1984. Since then she has written over 35 guidebooks and for countless websites and print publications. She is also the editorial director of a forthcoming website on the best places to stay and the travel acquisitions editor for Countryman Press.