Whether we realize it or not, we all keep a mental list of Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat, simply because they are magical.

Spice Island Beach Resort on the West Indies island of Grenada is on my Top 10 list, by virtue of both its natural beauty and supremely civilized amenities. It’s glamorous, gorgeous and generously appointed. Just ask Britain’s Princess Anne, who arrived for a stay shortly after my memorable one-day visit.

Most folks are familiar with Grenada because the United States invaded the tiny island in 1983 in response to a perceived Communist buildup in the Caribbean.

Located in Georgetown, the capital city, Spice Island is a manicured oasis with 32 beachfront suites — actually, more like villas — and 17 equally sumptuous suites with private gardens and plunge pools, marble baths and bars stocked with full-sized bottles of top-shelf liquor.

It’s an all-inclusive resort and that doesn’t just mean drinks and a buffet. The daily rate, which starts at $806, includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus pre-dinner cocktails and afternoon tea. Oliver’s, Spice Island’s elegant open-air restaurant, serves Creole and international cuisine, capitalizing on the abundant seafood of the West Indies.

Burn off those calories with golf, tennis and cycling on land or snorkeling, kayaking or sailing Hobie-cats on the turquoise waters. And if you still aren’t relaxed, indulge in a massage at the salon and spa.

Owned by Sir Royston Hopkin and his family, Spice Island exudes an aura of both warmth and exclusivity that is difficult for hotel chains to match.

That said, drag yourself away from this luxurious oasis for at least a few hours to experience the considerable charms of Grenada, where the locals shop for fruits, vegetables and crabs in the market square. (Think twice about driving yourself. Roads are narrow, twisting and motorists drive on the left, a reflection of Grenada’s past as a British colony.)

An old air strip, built during the Communist regime in the 1980s, is deserted now. Goats nibble at the weeds sprouting between cracks in the asphalt.