If you were to buy a beach holiday home, you may look to the Caribbean. Dream weather, enough to do (but not too much), sun, sand, sea, good food, space, all the ingredients required for a home away from home.
Welcome to Four Seasons Nevis, a luxurious oasis on the enchanting, tiny West Indies Island of Nevis. Rent a villa (or indeed buy a villa) in a secluded paradise for you and your family on what is a yet untouched and unspoiled gem of the Caribbean.
The Vibe
Nevis itself is a tranquil and relatively untouched island, with little tourist activity, unlike many other areas of the Caribbean, which is what makes it so special. You won’t find a single traffic light but you will find the whitest sand beaches, plantation heritage, and peace and quiet. The resort is on the smaller of the two Caribbean islands comprising St. Kitts and Nevis, its verdant landscape surrounded by pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters and The Four Seasons Resort takes full advantage of this setting.
How do you get there? The arrival is part of the exciting journey that gets you into a relaxed holiday mood as soon as you land at St Kitts Airport. The airport itself, as Caribbean (and in no rush) as you’d expect, welcomes you followed by a 15-minute taxi and a 15-minute ferry ride to cross the two-mile channel, before reaching the Resort. Step onto the dock, breathe in the fresh air and take a look around. You’ll be presented by the jaw dropping view of Nevis Peak, topped by its ever-present cloud halo.
Once you reach your villa, on a small part of the 350-acre, amenities-packed beachfront estate, you’ll know this is the trip that ticks all the boxes – relaxation, adventure, wellness —making it the perfect luxurious escape for families.
The Rooms
Sitting on the site of a former sugar and coconut plantation from the late 1790s, there are 189 guest rooms and suites housed within charming two-story plantation-style cottages. For larger groups or families, check in to one-bedroom and multi-bedroom suites with separate living areas and upgraded amenities or private villas (with up to 5 bedrooms), many with private pools, fully equipped kitchens, and dedicated staff. These are everything you want from a Caribbean abode for a family break, that actually feels like a break.
Interiors are chic and clean yet exude warmth with softly whitewashed walls, all areas flooded with light, brass accents and mahogany furniture aesthetically on trend. Fully equipped kitchens with sliding doors often to your own private patio or pool, ideal for plenty of splash time with children (easy enough to take them straight for a shower and nap time), while you can kick back and enjoy the luxurious loungers and a Killer Bee cocktail. Bathrooms are bright and lined in marble with both indoor and outdoor showers and deep set baths for relaxing in post a sunny beach day and soaking off the salty water.
The Food + Drink
With seven gourmet restaurants and bars, the resort offers a wide range of dining experiences that capture the culture and flavours of Nevis. The resort hosts an ample breakfast buffet each morning at EsQuilina, the main restaurant, with staff amenable to any requirement. Here, indulge in made-to-order omelettes, fresh, local fruit, seafood, cereals, breads and pastries; and of course champagne. This restaurant also serves lunch and dinner, tapping into local seafood like lobster and red snapper.
Most noteworthy is On The Dune – the newest addition specialising in fresh seafood specialties and tropical cocktails. The beachside restaurant turns into an entertainment hub, featuring live music, dancing, and entertainment, adding a touch of Caribbean flair to your dining experience (the “Kendie’s Kick” craft cocktail is a must try).
A crown jewel in the Four Seasons Nevis crown is Mango, the resort’s signature restaurant. A waterfront eatery with gourmet Caribbean cuisine set against the backdrop of jaw-dropping sunset vistas. The not-to-be-missed highlight is the slow-poached Caribbean spiny lobster.
In-room dining is a very desirable option for lunch or an early dinner, enjoyed on your own patio, often a good choice with young children who can enjoy a meal while splashing in the pool.
For a change in scene, try Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill with walls adorned by pictures of celebrities who have visited the bar – perhaps you’ll have the opportunity to meet the white linen clad Mr Sunshine himself. And a real secret gem we happened upon is the Golden Rock Inn, an 11 bedroom charming hidden guesthouse on the slopes of Mount Nevis. Found within a restored sugar mill built of elephant grey volcanic stone, punctuated with wooden window shutters painted in imperial red, their destination restaurant, The Rocks, was, interestingly, designed by Ed Tuttle, well known for his work with Aman Resorts. The interiors are filled with interesting and colourful finds from the owner’s globetrotting while the original sugar estate architecture includes the old counting house, stables and mill, and centres around reflecting ponds. The menu is modern Caribbean comfort food with dishes such as crab cakes and curried chicken with mango salad. Cocktails are top class with the ginger martini deservedly popular. This is one worth the day out.
The Child’s Play
This list applies as much to the to-do list for all the family as kids alone. Mini golf on the private lawns with the golf pros, move nights for the whole family, and master chef cooking classes in your own villa.
There are three pools. One is adults only and the other two have shallow entries – one with a splash pad – both great for kids with regular rounds from the hospitable staff providing local treats and smoothies to keep you refreshed.
The Kids club ‘Kids for All Seasons’ welcomes children from 3 to 9 (although my 18 month old was welcomed and thoroughly entertained), with permanent childcare trained staffing plus a daily changing creative calendar of activities. From scavenger hunts to putt putt golf, painting to hair braiding, crab-hunting to volcano building, it’s a good spot for children to play and cool off in the afternoon heat. And while the kids club is available, this is the type of place you spend all together, enjoying activities as a family.
Children are very well catered for with villas child proofed before arrival, cots, mini robes, bathroom amenities and complimentary dining for under 5s.
The To-Do List
Well, the list is as long as you’d want it to be. If you’re the ‘fly and flop’ type while kids run around, there’s plenty of space to do that. Or, you can choose to be as active as you’d like. With your own buggy, drive around to discover the estate. With 10 tennis courts, an excellent golf course, a long well-kept beach and a host of daily activities, there’s no shortage of options. And for water sports, snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the island is a must-do experience. The resort provides snorkelling gear, allowing you to explore the underwater world teeming with marine life. The resort is committed to environmental stewardship, particularly turtle conservation in conjunction with the renowned non-profit organisation, Sea Turtle Conservancy. Through a series of night walks and morning releases, you can participate in the protection and preservation of these majestic creatures. It’s a heartwarming and educational experience that leaves a lasting impact.
For a holiday to truly feel like a holiday, head to the spa. You’ll find an antique, sugar copper fountain and gingerbread-trimmed treatment cottages set among tropical gardens. Newly introduced Tata Harper products are available for massages, bodycare treatments and facials, completing your finished look in the salon for manicures, pedicures and waxing. The spa services caters for mini spa lovers too with the mini me facial, fruity pop pedicure and ice cream mini manicure.
Any Hamilton fans may or may not know that Nevis was where Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father of the US, called home until he was about nine years old, (a difficult childhood despite the idyllic setting). Take a tour of Charlestown offering a glimpse into his world.
And, request a buggy tour for a Green Vervet monkey spotting tour, with hundreds on property, an ideal late-afternoon botanical excursion to learn about the island’s friendly local monkeys. And as noted by on property manager Simone, “Our monkeys are Four Seasons monkeys. They’re refined.”
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