Nevis is perfect for holidaymakers who want a touch of traditional Caribbean charm. Karl Cushing looks at its hotels, sights, activities and nightlife
With the lack of direct flights from Europe and the US and its natural beauty and laid-back charm, locals joke that Nevis is hard to get to and even harder to leave.
Covering just 36 square miles, the diminutive West Indian island, the smaller partner in a federation with neighbouring St Kitts, is small but perfectly formed, with the central Nevis Peak providing a lush green backdrop to the shoreline.
With its plantation-style architecture, lush flora and lack of development, Nevis gives a feel of the Caribbean as it used to be.
Nevis makes a great option for travellers looking for a more upmarket and laid-back alternative to the more developed islands in the area, and its romantic setting makes it an ideal getaway for couples and a popular choice for weddings and honeymoons.
Hotels and resorts
Based around Nevis’s oldest building, hailing from the 1600s, The Hermitage is full of character, with 15 rooms housed in colonial-style cottages amid manicured grounds.
Those seeking modern luxury and all mod cons should head for the beachfront Four Seasons Resort, which has a range of rooms including two luxury suites and four new luxury cabanas with ocean views, as well as pool areas, golf, tennis and spa facilities and numerous dining options.
The intimate Golden Rock Plantation Inn, undergoing a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, has 12 rooms in colonial-style cottages and a bridal suite housed in an old sugar mill.
The Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, another former sugar plantation, has 38 rooms and a restaurant.
Other options include the Mount Nevis Hotel, which has cottages, although the public areas and pool look a bit dated, and the Oualie Beach Resort, which, although lacking in charm, offers water sports, making it ideal for active types.
By day
Take an island tour and check out the many beaches, such as Paradise Beach and Lover’s Beach, before hitting Sunshine’s beachfront bar on Pinney Beach to sample the notorious Killer Bee cocktails.
Guided rainforest tours are offered by Sunrise Tours. For water sports head to Oualie Beach Resort or the Four Seasons, which hire out equipment and can arrange diving excursions.
For golf, tennis and spa facilities head for the Four Seasons Resort, whose spa tapas allows visitors to pick and choose from a range of treatments. For a more affordable option, check out the Chill Spa at Oualie Beach.
Maritime enthusiasts should visit the museum dedicated to former resident Horatio Nelson and check out the tree where he married Fanny Nisbet, the daughter of a local plantation owner.
Explore the impressive Botanical Garden of Nevis, stopping to have lunch at the 1787 Bar and Bistro, a great spot to unwind. Alternatively, make a beeline for Bananas Bistro, with its casual glamour and excellent food.
The buffet lunch, with local and international dishes, is a bargain at approximately £10. Alternatively, take a stroll in the sleepy capital, Charlestown, and shop for souvenirs.
By night
Nevis is not for party animals. While Charlestown has some bars and entertainment, visitor entertainment is centred around the hotels and restaurants, such as the bar at Oualie Beach Resort.
Dining options include the Four Seasons Resort, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club and the Montpelier Plantation Inn, which offer great food in an atmospheric setting. All of the above offer cocktails, wine, as well as the ubiquitous rum punch.
For an unforgettable experience try to book a place at Miss June’s. A Nevis institution, Miss June has been hosting dinner evenings in the sprawling Jones’s estate
($95 per person, including drinks) for 18 years. Booking is essential so ask your hotel for details.
The zero light pollution also makes Nevis a perfect spot for romantic star-gazing walks.
Nevis: Travel fact file
Airlines:
- British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly from Gatwick to Antigua
- BMI flies from Manchester to Antigua and Barbados
- XL Airways recently started flying direct from Gatwick to St Kitts on Mondays
- Onward flights to Nevis are provided by Liat or Carib,
- There is a ferry or water taxi service from St Kitts (about 25 minutes)
Flight time: Gatwick to Antigua is eight hours, 30 minutes, with a 25-minute connecting flight to Nevis. Gatwick to St Kitts is nine hours
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar
Time difference: GMT -4 hours
Weather: Hot and tropical climate, tempered by refreshing trade winds. Hurricane season June to November.
