Four Seasons Nevis

As I love a place that’s just a little off the beaten path, I was a bit delighted when I got some confused looks from friends after telling them that we’d be spending Thanksgiving week on Nevis this year.  The pretty, 35-square mile island, part of the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies, is a speck off the coast of the larger St. Kitts, and the two make up the country St. Kitts & Nevis.  The larger St. Kitts contains the international airport and cruise port, while Nevis is centered by the 3,000 feet high Nevis Peak and fringed by old sugar plantations-turned-boutique hotels, long sandy beaches, and the gorgeous Four Seasons Nevis Resort.

But before I continue, I must summarize my top five favorite things about the Four Seasons Nevis!!

1. The STAFF!!!  The staff at the FS are by far and away their greatest asset.  Genuine smiles, friendly laughs, positive attitudes.. they are especially amazing with children.  My tiny travelers are 4 and 6, and the kind FS staff would always kneel down to their level, ask them what they were enjoying that day, etc.
2. Complimentary Kids For All Seasons program.  Did you know that EVERY Four Seasons in the world has a complimentary kids program?!  My kids enjoyed it so much a couple of afternoons here that they begged to come back.  After creating fun crafts, going on scavenger hunts, and learning about coconuts.. while mom & dad got some quiet time.. this is what I call a WIN-WIN!
3. Something for everyone- truly.  With a looong stretch of beach, three pools (two family-friendly and one adult) there is plenty of room for both couples and families to spread out here.
4. Four Seasons Villas– there are just under 50 rentable villas here, which makes this resort great for families, couples traveling together, or a multi-generational trip.  You can order provisions to be delivered to your villa upon arrival, or hire a chef to do the cooking.
5. Golf!  This is a golf resort, and the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II golf course has beautiful vistas, and we did a short complimentary group tour of the course by golf cart one night, where the kids delighted to see the MONKEYS that brazenly play at some of the holes- ha!
6. Complimentary non-motorized watersports.. includes snorkeling equipment, stand-up paddleboats, and a giant ocean trampoline just offshore!  They also have four private beach cabanas for daily rental.
7. Free breakfast!  With an omelette station, smoothie station, many fresh fruits, and even an oatmeal station with mixins.. there were ample choices, and the coffee was nice and strong.  I say FREE breakfast because that is what my clients enjoy thanks to my preferred partnership!  (Also, kids under 5 always eat for free!)

Did you really think I could pick just five favorites?!

Upon landing at St. Kitts, we were greeted by Four Seasons reps who ushered us to the van that would take us a short 5 minute drive down to the pier, where we would board the boat for the 20-minute scenic ride over to Nevis.

We boated directly up to the Four Seasons’ west-facing dock in the late afternoon, the sun hanging low in the sky and bathing the island with pretty colors and long shadows.  A very friendly staff member immediately rushed over to collect my family and show us to our well-appointed ocean front room.  What I LOVE about the Four Seasons layout is that the buildings are just two stories tall, very old-school Caribbean in style with a great sense of place.  The ocean-facing rooms open directly out onto a large lawn with hammocks swinging from nearby trees, and if you are a parent.. you know it is heaven to be able to open the door and let kids run around on a lawn!!  And then you’re just 100 yards or so from the beach.

DAY 1

The next day, we woke up early and eager to check out our surroundings in the morning light!  That is, open sliding door, let kids run it out.  {Exhausted kids = happy parents}

After a delicious buffet breakfast, we continued our exploration of the resort and beach.  The grounds are lushly landscaped and absolutely gorgeous!

We spent most of the first morning at the beach, splashing in the salty sea, building sandcastles, and collecting seashells.  Pinney’s Beach at the Four Seasons is FULL of seashells- so fun for the kids!  And a few may even have made it home in our suitcases.

By afternoon, we decided to explore Kids For All Seasons and found out they were going to be learning about coconuts and making jewelry!  So fun- the kids begged to go.  We obliged and stole away for a moment to relax and try out the stand-up paddleboards.

DAY 2

The next day I toured the Four Seasons Nevis Villas, which are not only plentiful but also extremely diverse!  I checked out a 3-bedroom villa with traditional decor and a lushly landscaped private pool with views of Nevis Peak, and I also saw a sleek 5-bedroom villa higher up on the hill with modern decor and a private pool with views of the Caribbean.  With 76 villas (46 of which at the time of my visit are in the rental pool) there is definitely something for everyone!  Villa rentals are really popular with groups of friends, multi-generational families, etc where everyone wants to be under one roof.  Here at the Four Seasons, you can pre-order provisions for your villa kitchen, or have a chef cook your meals.  Each villa comes with a golf cart for easy access to the whole property as well.

This afternoon the kids begged to go to Kids For All Seasons again, so the hubs and I escaped about 5 minutes down the beach to a little cluster of beach bars, the most well-known of which is Sunshine’s (aka home to the “killer bee” cocktail).  We opted for the breezy, open-air Turtle Time.  A few laid-back tourists mingled around the bar while locals enjoying a lazy late lunch filled the back.  The bartender concocted a Tipsy Turtle for me, while the hubs enjoyed a local brew, Stag.  These bars are literally just a couple of minutes walk from the Four Seasons beach.

Back at the resort, we made the most of the rest of the day, building sandcastles until the sun no longer appeared over the horizon.  Then it was time to clean up, enjoy another tasty dinner, and tuck in early to do it all over again the next day!  I do love island time. 🙂

DAY 3

Today was like any other day, really.. wake up, go swimming, walk within 10 feet of Prince Harry from England.. wait WHAT?  Prince Harry was scheduled to make a stop in Nevis on his two-week Caribbean tour to release baby sea turtles as part of a turtle conservation program.. AND he had a brief reception to attend at the Four Seasons!  So after some morning swimming and lunch with freshly blended fruit smoothies…

This evening we enjoyed the complimentary golf course tour with golf carts that the resort offers a few times a week.  It is a great way to see more of the 350 acre property, view the course better, and spot the little monkeys who like to play at some of the holes!  The kids, of course, loved this part!!

DAY 4 – Thanksgiving Day

Wake up, run around grass, walk on beach, enjoy buffet breakfast, swim.  Then, we enjoyed a little island tour to see more of charming Nevis and also to learn a bit more about the history.  For example, did you know:

• Alexander Hamilton (one of America’s founding fathers) was born on Nevis?
• Christopher Columbus, upon landing on Nevis in 1493, actually named the island – “Nuestra Señora de las Nieves,” or “Our Lady of the Snows” (aka Nevis) because of the thick clouds which encircle the top of Nevis Peak.
• Sugarcane used to be king, and helped Nevis grow very wealthy in the 17th century.  Since then, many of the ruins of old sugar plantations are still visible, or have turned into small hotels!

For our island tour, we selected two hours, so while not enough time to completely encircle Nevis, we drove through Charlestown, down the lush south coast a bit, and popped into Golden Rock Plantation and also Montpelier Plantation– both lovely spots for lunch, or a stay!  Montpelier has 19 rooms and is Relais & Chateaux, sits up higher on a hill but does take guests down to a beach when they wish.  This is a great, romantic spot for couples.. either to enjoy dinner or stay a couple nights before moving down to the Four Seasons.

Also, today, our last full day, was Thanksgiving- the perfect time to reflect as a family on all of our many blessings!  We thoroughly enjoyed our last Nevis evening as we embarked on a sunset catamaran cruise, plying the western coastline with views of St. Kitts in the distance and cups of rum punch in our hands.  Many blessings, indeed.

As a Virtuoso and Four Seasons Preferred Partner advisor, my clients enjoy the following value-added amenities at the Four Seasons Nevis:

• Complimentary daily full American breakfast for two
• $100 spa services credit
• Upgrade if available upon arrival
• Early check-in/late check-out based on availability

Contact me today at laura@hauteholidaystravel.com to plan your trip to Nevis (and beyond!)  Cheers!

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