In conjunction with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation
Our flight to St Kitts & Nevis was with British Airways and operated via Antigua on both routes. The stop-off in Antigua is a “technical” one and does not involve leaving the aircraft.
The “base” for our 4-night stay in St Kitts was the impressive St Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, a mere 10 minutes transfer from St Kitts airport.
Overlooking the emerald green Atlantic Ocean on the Windward side of the island, the hotel provided us with a high standard of accommodation and an ideal location from where to begin our exploration of the island.
St Kitts boasts a significant history. Christopher Columbus first discovered the island back in 1493 when it was populated by native tribes but it wasn’t colonised by the Europeans until the British arrived in 1623. It’s strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was the best in the Colonial Caribbean.
We were hosted by Jennifer Hensley from the St Kitts Tourism Authority in London. Jennifer’s love and passion for her homeland was infectious from the outset and her knowledge and that of our locally-based guide contributed significantly to making the whole experience a very special one.
On the first morning of our stay in St Kitts, we embarked upon our Island Tour, taking in some of St Kitts’ most breathtaking scenery and panoramic views.
Among our stop-off points was the famous Brimstone Hill Fortress & Heritage Park. This is one of the best preserved historical fortifications in the Americas.
Formulated in 1690, the fortress was abandoned by the British in the mid 19th century which led to it’s structures gradually decaying through vandalism and natural processes. The restoration process began as early as the early 1900’s and HRH Prince Charles reopened the first area to be completely restored in 1973. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque naming Brimstone Hill to be a National Park in 1985 and it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.
We were learning so much from our host and from our guide about St Kitts throughout our tour as well as stopping to view several more of the island’s many attractions which included Romney Manor. Once owned by Sam Jefferson II, the great, great grandfather of Thomas Jefferson (3rd US President), it was renamed following it’s acquisition by the Earl of Romney.
Romney Manor is affectionately known as the “Home of Caribelle Batik”, one of the most sought after batik products in the Caribbean today. Visited by thousands each year and hosting the rich & famous, we were treated to a demonstration of this intricate art.
Our host for the afternoon and for dinner was Karen Keusch, one of the owners of the impressive Ottley’s Plantation Inn. This former sugar plantation is now home to what I can only describe as a retreat from the hectic pace of our day to day lives. The hospitality afforded to us here was out of this world. Nothing was too much trouble and the hosted dinner that evening was very special and absolutely delicious. The ambience which the property offers, coupled with it’s stunning setting makes it easy to see why so many of their guests return to stay at Ottley’s year after year.
The following morning, we took the short ferry ride to St Kitts’ sister island, Nevis.
We were greeted by our host, Julie from the Nevis Tourist Board. Once again, both Julie and our guide demonstrated a fantastic knowledge of and passion for their island.
Our Island Tour took us to many places of historical interest including the Hamilton Museum and Botanical Gardens as well as allowing us to spend some leisure time at one of the island’s beautiful beaches, taking lunch at Sunshines, a beach bar which has been frequented by many of the rich and famous in recent times.
Our hosted dinner that evening took place at the stunning Four Seasons Resort, following which we stopped-off at the local Rumours bar where our group showed the locals what karaoke is really about; our host from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Lorraine Grant, demonstrating what the X-Factor is missing. What a Diva!
We spent the night at the quaint Oualie Beach hotel before returning to St Kitts the following morning. Our whistle-stop visit to Nevis was a short one but was very rewarding.
During the day, we visited several other hotels and locations in St Kitts such as the Timothy Beach Resort, Frigate Bay Resort, Ocean Terrace Inn, Bird Rock Beach Resort, Sugar Bay Club and Rawlins Plantation. The diversity of these resorts and hotels demonstrated that St Kitts is able to offer something for everyone, from honeymooners to families, from the explorer to the beach-lover etc. Please don’t hesitate to call me to discuss your specific requirements.
Our final afternoon in St Kitts saw us visit the famous Reggae Beach where we sampled just what Caribbean life is all about, namely sun, sea, beach, and… rum! This place is a “must visit” when in St Kitts.
And so, to our last night in St Kitts. A stay in St Kitts would not be complete without a visit to the island’s “Hip Strip”.
Although much of the island’s nightlife revolves around the hotels, which host folkloric shows and calypso and steel bands, the ever-growing collection of beach bars along this strip is the place to party on weekend nights. Here, we joined the locals in partying into the very early hours of the morning in true Caribbean surroundings.
So, did we do all of that in such a short period of time? Well, the answer is a definite “yes” and a lot, lot more. Do people really realise what hard work it is being a Travel Agent? I haven’t been able to convince anyone this is the case yet!
St Kitts & Nevis are fantastic places to visit, whether it be for a “one-stop” holiday or as part of a twin-centre option with other Caribbean destinations such as Antigua, Barbados, St Lucia etc. Air-links from these islands to and from St Kitts & Nevis operate on a regular and efficient basis and the flying time is no more than 30-40 minutes.
We were indebted to our hosts in St Kitts & Nevis, to Jennifer from the St Kitts Tourism Authority here in London (not too good in a hammock) and to Lorraine Grant and her colleagues at the Caribbean Tourism Authority for affording us this opportunity to experience these magnificent islands.
