Key West Smart Splurges

This exclusive island hideaway is just a boat ride or seaplane off Florida’s Little Torch Key, yet feels worlds away. The five-acre private atoll, ringed by a sliver of yellow sand and an iridescent green-and-blue speckled lagoon, is a romantic haven, indeed: secluded, swank, and sexy. The resort’s 30 luscious bungalows and suites are decked out in British Colonial grandeur with mahogany furnishings, chandeliers, four-poster beds with mosquito netting, separate his and hers bathrooms with outdoor showers and claw-foot tubs, and curtains heavy enough to keep out the light if you and yours choose to stay in bed till noon. Expect private verandahs with ocean views, some with jetted-tubs, chaise lounges, and at least one encounter with adorable resident key deer; unlike their northern cousins, these deer are not timid and roam the island snacking on berries and crumbs, sometimes right from your table. The candle-lit dining room serves up primo yet pricey French-Asian fusion cuisine, hosts live music, has outdoor tables on the sand, and more than a few nooks for canoodling. Long docks stretch over the water with lounge chairs arranged in pairs, a lagoon pool and bar is blissfully quiet, and aside from sailing excursions, swimming, and spa pampering, there’s not much else to do except bed down and unwind in the closet thing to paradise in the continental U.S.