Fantasy island

Tucked away in the quiet Carribean nation of Turks and Caicos lies Parrot Cay, 1,000-acre private island getaway where celebrities and elite travelers go to lounge, spa, swim, luxuriate, and chill out.

THE LUXE LIFE

Cooling off poolside at Lotus Restaurant, the private island resort's main gathering and de facto cocktail refueling station. Dolphin tri-color swim board shorts, $48 black fashion knit swim trunks with white trim, $48, and red fashion knit swim trunks with white trim, $48, by A|X Armani Exchange.

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THE PERFECT ESCAPE

Get away in a catamaran which can be arranged through guest services along with deep-sea fishing, water skiing, and snorkeling. Rose pigment dye thermal crew, $48, blue rain wash jeans, $ 110, white cotton logo tank, $32, and dust snap waist detail pants, $98, by A|X Armani Exchange. Or simply escape with a Javanese bath or Indonesian massage at the indoor/outdoor Shambhala Spa. Black lightweight V-neck sweater, $68, and black linen dress pants, $88, by A|X Armani Exchange.

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THE ULTIMATE HIDEAWAY

Soaking up the sun and socializing by the pool gives way to private pleasures at a scluded villa. Many rooms come with outdoor showers and outdoors beds with mosquito netting. Raw wood and minimal decor complete the castaway fantasy. Caution V-neck pima cotton T-shirt, $25, and indigo camo cargo shorts, $58 by A|X Armani Exchange.

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ON THE BEACH

Untamed shore is a short stroll away from the villa. Some locals claim Columbus made his first landfall in the New World in the Turks and Caicos, although this is open to debate. The islands changed hands between the French, Spanish, and finally the British, who pressured the islands to pass antidiscrimination laws in 2000. Red: fashion knit swim trunks with white trim, $48, and stone camouflage cargo shorts, $58, by A|X Armani Exchange.

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SPLENDOR IN THE AFTERNOON

Parrot Cay's three-bedroom villas come with private plunge pools and outdoor shower gardens, and are located on a bay via a 15-minute buggy ride from the main resort. Earth extended-zip cargo shorts, $78, indigo tricolor swim board shorts, $48, blue multicolored floral button-down shirt. $88, and bleached cotton five-pocket jeans, $98, by A|X Armani Exchange.

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Aegean V-neck pima cotton T-shirt, $25, gray- and white-checkered fabric belt, $35, earth linen stripe dress pants, $125, earth extended-zip cargo shorts, $88, white '70s logo T-shirt, $32, stone bellow cargo shorts, $68, and earth pebble camouflage print swim board shorts, $48, by A|X Armani Exchange.

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PARROT CAY ESSENTIALS

Parrot Cay is a privately owned island within the English-speaking Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Territory with about 18,000 inhabitants, mostly descendants of African slaves from the late 18th century. The arid isles are known for their empty beaches and excellent diving and whale watching. The islands are about 3 1/2 hours' flight from New York and 1 1/2 hours from Miami, and the Como Shambhala Retreat on Parrot Cay is about an hour's boat trip from the airport. Garden rooms start at $590, up to a three-bedroom master villa for $4,800. For reservations, call 904-288-0036

The Out Traveler Ratings:
Turks and Caicos Islands

Gay-Friendly                  **
Legal Domestic Partnerships   ***
Adoption Laws                 **
Antidiscrimination Laws       **
HIV Information               **
Gay Scene                     **

* Excellent ** Fair *** Poor

Fashion assistant: Samuel Dela Cruz. Photographer's assistants: Derek Davis and Zachary Dilgard. Grooming by Sonomi Obinata for Mac Cosmetics. Models: Tyler for Wilhelmina, Jared and Pedro for Q, and Jon for Major. Special thanks to Crawford Sherman, Maryalice Giroux, and all the staff at Como Shambhala Retreat, Parrot Cay Island, and especially Patrick Doddy and Ali Smith at A|X Armani Exchange. For Web sites to the resort and A|X Armani Exchange, log on to www.outtraveler.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Liberation Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group