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Doing the double
If you like the idea of a twin-centre holiday without going through passport control twice, St Kitts & Nevis is for you. The two islands that make up this Caribbean country are just 3km apart, so it’s a short hop from one to the other in a speedboat.
Nevis is the quieter of the two and the location for Elizabeth Hurley’s 2022 film Christmas In Paradise. Visit the birthplace of US founding father Alexander Hamilton, amble through the pretty Botanical Gardens and join a guided hike to the top of Nevis Peak. The larger island, St Kitts, is where the capital Basseterre is located.
Explore the lush landscape on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tour, hop on board the Scenic Railway and learn about the history of rum on the Kittitian RumMaster tour.
Four reasons
There’s a lot to like about the Four Seasons Resort Nevis – the three huge pools looking out onto the sandy beach, the deluxe villas nestled among the fairways of the 18-hole golf course, the friendly staff and the excellent restaurants for starters. We feasted on fresh seafood at On The Dune and Caribbean delicacies at Mango.
We also hit the dance floor in the beachfront bar after sampling the tasty and deceptively strong punch. During the day, when we weren’t splashing around in the adult-only infinity pool, we got stuck into the outdoor games, playing shuffleboard, table tennis and pétanque. We also tried eco golf, which is essentially a driving range facing out to sea, using balls that turn into fish food upon hitting the water!
There were four elements that made our stay extra special. Firstly, our Nevisian massage at the deluxe spa – an invigorating full-body treatment using a local blend of oils. Next, our pickleball [a cross between tennis and ping-pong] lesson with the charismatic Jose, who, after a few practice shots, quickly had us volleying balls around the court. The sunset bar on the end of the pier, where we enjoyed sundowners in the breeze, was another winner. And last but not least, the speedboat transfer to the hotel from the airport – trying not to spill our welcome drink while bouncing across the waves – set the mood for all the fun that followed.
Park life
Over on St Kitts, The Park Hyatt has a more tranquil vibe. It’s a 20-acre property, compared with the 350 acres of the Four Seasons, but never feels busy. The rooms and suites all look out to sea – and many suites have a rooftop plunge pool. The main pool took our breath away, with a gently sloped walk-in entrance and an infinity edge facing the beach. The equally stylish adult pool is set one level higher up to maximise on those stunning views.
There are two off-shore snorkelling areas where you’ll see plenty of fish without having to swim very far. Or head out on kayaks and paddleboards from the watersports centre. There’s a well-equipped gym, too, but we chose to get our fitness fix from an early morning Hatha yoga class in the open-roofed replica sugar mill, which is a great setting to aid relaxation. We undid our good work with the tasting menu at the award-winning Stone Barn restaurant. Every dish was exquisite, with the standouts for us being the black cod and the passion fruit crème brûlée.
On our second night, we opted for the Destination Dining experience in a private poolside cabana, which is perfect for a romantic rendezvous. A rejuvenating massage at the beautifully designed spa was a lovely finishing touch to a fantastic few days.
Island explorers
On St Kitts, we joined Blue Water Safaris’ mini speedboat snorkelling adventure. Bouncing across the waves in a self-driven two-person dinghy was exhilarating – as long as you can cope with occasionally being airborne! You stop at a snorkelling spot to check out the colourful sea life before zooming back to Frigate Bay. There, we popped into Boozies on the Beach for a delicious lunch, and the Monkey Bar for a moreish rum punch. On the neighbouring island, we sampled Nevisian cuisine at local favourite Bananas.
Brightly decorated and surrounded by gorgeous flowers, it’s just the spot for a leisurely lunch. We also visited Sunshine’s – a beach bar that’s a short walk from the Four Seasons hotel, famed for its Killer Bee rum cocktail. And we can confirm the walk back to our room was more of a zigzag than on the way out!
How to Book
Three nights at Four Seasons Resort Nevis in a Nevis Peak View Room (room-only basis) and four nights at Park Hyatt St Kitts in a One King Bed Room (bed and breakfast) from £2,849pp, based on two sharing. Price includes return economy flights from London Gatwick, UK airport lounge passes and transfers to the Nevis Hotel, the St Kitts Hotel and back to St Kitts airport. Based on 2 September departure for seven nights. Contact Elegant Resorts Reservations on 01244 897294 or visit elegantresorts.co.uk to book. See visitstkitts.com and bluewatersafaris.com for more information.
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