Holidays in the Caribbean: Lisa Snowdon discovers a new level of fitness and luxury at Parrot Cay

By Lisa Snowdon

PUBLISHED: 13:00 EST, 19 November 2012 | UPDATED: 13:00 EST, 19 November 2012

Parrot Cay sounds as if it were once a real-life Treasure Island; a place where you might have bumped into Long John Silver and other pirates of the Caribbean. If you didn't know, it might almost come as a disappointment to discover that the Parrot Cay resort, situated on its own large private island in the Turks and Caicos, is the ultimate in fancy luxury resorts not a treasure chest, peg leg or eye patch in sight.

I had actually chosen Parrot Cay for a very special mission. I was planning to try Pilates for the first time as part of a vigorous daily exercise programme: my goal was to lose weight and tone up.

Stretch on the sand: The exercise programme at Parrot Cay includes lots of Pilates and yoga classes

My journey to Parrot Cay involved flying to Miami and then heading for Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. From here it was a short drive to the port where I hopped on a boat to take me to Parrot Cay.

At reception I discovered I was staying in a beachfront villa that came complete with my own butler, Jonson, who was waiting for me with a golf buggy (the only transportation on the island).

My accommodation for the next week was fabulous: 'Lovely,' I told Jonson. 'Just so lovely.' Indeed it was: a spacious living room with whitewashed walls and Balinese furniture; patio doors led outside to a decking area with a private pool. It was dark but I could hear the ocean and it made me smile.

The four-poster bed in the separate bedroom draped in light breezy cottons was also mightily uplifting. Jonson offered to unpack for me but I politely declined I couldn't bear the thought of him having to sort through my underwear and bikinis. He did however run me a bath using the most deliciously smelling Como Shambhala products. As I slipped into the hot, relaxing water I felt just a little bit like a princess.

Back to nature: Lisa takes a break in actor Bruce Willis' beautiful Parrot Cay garden

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Holidays in the Caribbean: Lisa Snowdon discovers a new level of fitness and luxury at Parrot Cay