Are you ready for an Island getaway? The journey to Mustique is fairly easy from the island of Saint Lucia. The only access to the island is by air at the luxury private airport or by sea. Visitors can either take a quick 20 minutes flight or sail as we did which will take you a bit longer. Either way, it is filled with beauty as you pass Saint Vincent and cross the Grenadines. The island paradise of Mustique holds that feeling of wonderful natural seclusion- a place set apart from the world, rich in wildlife and beauty, where the lucky few come to spread their wings.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and intimate, almost as if the island is a private club. And in a way, it is. The small island is located in the Grenadines and is privately owned. All guests on Mustique must be approved by the Mustique Company, ensuring privacy and safety, and there are no pesky paparazzi for miles.
It was November, when we sailed from St. Lucia to Mustique Island via a 42-foot catamaran with our friends. This island stay was part of a 19-day sailing adventure. Upon our mooring, we were required to immediately check in with the Mustique Company to receive our permit to stay before stepping foot on the white sandy shoreline. This island is indeed very private and ensures that the guests of the island enjoy their privacy. Visitors are not permitted to have free rein to drive the island alone and snoop around as this is strictly prohibited in this ultra-exclusive location. One however, can hire a taxi driver who will provide a drive around the island and tell you about the exquisite villas and estates available for rent as well as who owns some of them. A week’s rent here on average at a beautiful villa will cost over $50k. This does come with butlers, a chief, gardeners, and housekeeping, all of which are typically around-the-clock services.
One might wonder, who inhabits this island. They come from every corner of the jet-set world. Mick Jagger, Bryan Adams, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few people who still own homes here. Princess Margaret owned a home here as well until her death. Even Prince William and Kate honeymooned here and are frequent visitors still.
Our first evening moored on the island near Basil’s bar we were all exhausted from a long sail, afternoon cocktails at Basil bar, getting provisions, and touring the island with a private driver. Therefore, we decided to stay aboard the sailboat vs going ashore and enjoying the nightlife with the locals at Basil’s. If you know Mustique, you know this place is where you dust off your dancing shoes or leave them behind and just dance barefoot day and night! So, it would have been a long and crazy evening.
The next morning, we awoke to our new friends, a couple of the locals who maintain the marina, and were out checking mooring maintenance 30 feet below. They asked if we had come to the bar last night. Our reply was No, but that we would be there this evening. Their reply was reminiscent of a scene from the movie “Pretty Woman” when Julia Roberts returns to the Beverly Hills clothing shop on Rodeo Drive. “Big, Big mistake, huge”. Well, that was what my inside voice heard. Lol.. with disappointment. What was actually said was “Oh no you guys missed Mick”. What?! Followed by our jaws dropping and asking “You mean Jagger”? The reply came back from their little skiff, “Yah, Mick was in town and was singing karaoke with the boys last night at Basil’s.
Well, it was at that point we learned what would later become our motto… Note to self: Don’t leave dreams on the table, escape the everyday with… Our Passport 2 The Art Livin’.
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