St Kitts and Nevis Hotels
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Choosing a Caribbean island on which to vacation can be a tricky—and confounding—undertaking. There are, of course, the overwhelmingly popular spots like the Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, et al, but, depending on the season, there may be more crowds than one would wish for. However, for those who want all the best of a Caribbean vacation—sun, sand, warm waters, and gentle breezes accented by luxurious resort amenities—a stay on St. Kitts and Nevis, located in the Lesser Antilles 1,300 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, is a safe bet for some truly relaxing solitude.
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What makes the two islands—which together constitute one country—so
appealing is that they have yet to be discovered in a big way by the
international beach jet set. With a handful of resorts and smattering of
hotels and other lodgings, only about a half-million visitors travel
here each year, compared to multiple millions on nearby islands.
Likewise, while other Caribbean islands were being developed beginning
in the mid-20th century, St. Kitts & Nevis maintained their status as a
place of sugar production, a status only abandoned some seven years ago.
Therefore, the islands are lush and vegetative like nowhere else in the
region, making them unique for recreational opportunities.
Thanks to its young age as a tourist destination, the ecosystems here are some of the best preserved on the planet, and nature activities take center stage. Some must-dos on a St. Kitts and Nevis getaway are hikes through ancient lava formations, tropical forests, and around secluded lagoons. To be sure you don’t miss any of the natural wonders here, book a nature excursion either by land or by sea (there’s even a train tour through the interior), and immerse yourself in the lush environs. Snorkeling and scuba diving here are also must-have experiences—grab a catamaran trip departing from the capital city of Basseterre, head to the deserted coves along the southeastern peninsula, and jump in to turquoise blue water.
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Back on land, the islands offer up some really wonderful chances to
sightsee and shop, party and be pampered. Numerous tiny towns dot the
islands, awash with beautiful Colonial-Era architecture and sprawling
plantation homes that have seen second lives as stately hotels and inns.
For retail galore, the Pelican and TDC malls in Basseterre offer local,
handmade arts and crafts, batik prints, jewelry, leather goods, and much
more. And when the sun sets, nothing beats a night spent on The Strip on
Frigate Bay. Live steel band music rings from dozens of beachside bars
and clubs, adjacent to a similar number of casual cafes and high-end
eateries serving up classic Caribbean fare—barbecue chicken and ribs on
sizzling outdoor grills, fried plantains, and powerful fruity cocktails.
Once you escape the crowds and cruise ships so common on other islands,
it becomes obvious that a vacation to St. Kitts & Nevis is a different
type of Caribbean getaway all together. Yet everything that makes the
region a hot spot for visitors is still here—there are just fewer people
who know about it.
