Leave the world behind at Whispering Winds, one of those rare places where your fantasies are quite likely to come true. You’ll want to slip out of your shoes and tie on a sarong the instant you arrive–then dip your toes into the gentle waves that lap your secluded, palm-lined cove. Crack open a coconut, swing in a hammock, or do nothing but listen to the wind chimes and stare at the sea—this is the ultimate spot for relaxation. This private gated residence evokes the romance of exotic travels around the globe and the serenity of the far east, right on St. Croix’s east end. A large living room shares its seashell collection with plantation furnishings and designer fabrics from the spice isles of Indonesia. Built-in cabinetry throughout the house recalls storage crafted for a sailing schooner, and West Indian-style window shutters open to admit the trade winds that give the villa its name. Your kitchen, larger than many apartments, is outfitted with fetching blue and white tiles, a stainless steel SubZero freezer and refrigerator, and a huge center island with built-in wine rack. French doors beside the indoor dining area lead to a trellised terrace where you can dine outside instead whenever you want to enjoy the sound and scent of the surf.

Two bedrooms on the main level are linked by a square, Asian-style soaking tub. Unique details, like seashell tile trim and French copper fixtures, lend extra charm to the bathroom spaces. The master bedroom faces the sea and has its own private sun terrace above the pool, while the second overlooks lush tropical plantings. On the lower garden level of the villa, you find an additional very private studio suite with its own kitchen. It opens onto a large pool, trimmed with a tile sea turtle family, where you can laze away balmy days in the water with a close-up view of the Caribbean. Though you may begin to feel as though you are on your own private island after a few days, the Danish colonial town of Christiansted is just 20 minutes away for great shopping and sightseeing. Fine dining choices are abundant, along with a nearby casino whenever you’re ready for nightlife. With its many charms, Whispering Wind’s most unforgettable feature is its white sandy beach where you can stroll, swim, or snorkel with only frigate birds for company. Search for shells each morning and collect smooth sea glass at sunset—you’ll discover a sense of well-being you’d almost forgotten was possible.