Golden Rock Plantation Inn
You'll probably feel very
warm and fuzzy at Golden Rock, one of the sweetest hotels in the Caribbean.
That's mostly because of owner Pam Barry, whose soft-spoken cheerfulness
will make you feel comfortable and right at home. Then there's also the
family dog, Beebee, a black lab, who'll happily guide you up the mountain,
and LaRue, Pam's pet orange-winged Amazon parrot, whose antics are sure to
entertain. This lovely, romantic hotel was originally Pam's great, great,
great, great grandfather's plantation, built in 1815, and after it became a
hotel and changed hands a few times.
Surrounded by lush flowers, looming trees, and wonderful hand-made stone
walls and terraces, the hotel is located at the edge of the rainforest. Pam
calls it the "gateway to the rainforest", where the monkeys scamper, the
birds twitter, and the greenery grows wild. From its high, cool vantage
point, the hotel looks out at the neighboring island of Montserrat and
Redonda, and on very clear days you can see Antigua as well.
The 16 rooms are located in cottages around the property - one or two in
each cottage - furnished in four poster beds made of island-grown mahogany
or bamboo, with porches looking out over the magnificent views. Ceiling fans
and the evening drop in temperature keep the rooms cool. There is one
three-bedroom unit for larger families. The piece de resistance, of course,
is the trademark sugar mill on the property, which is usually reserved by
honeymooners or families, since it has two bedrooms, up and down, and
stone-walled showers.
The 96-acre grounds offer a variety of choices: walking the nature trail to
try and glimpse the island's unique Green Vervet monkey, hiking up into the
rain forest, or sitting in the gardens reading or just watching the sea.
There's also a huge spring fed 50-foot pool and tennis courts. Complimentary
racquets and snorkeling gear is available. Inside the barrel-vaulted Long
House building, the bar was built inside an old oven. In the same building,
there's bumper pool, a TV and VCR, hundreds of books and a telescope for
island watching.
Golden Rock also has its own beach pavilion on Pinney's Beach for swimming
and lunch cooked outside on a charcoal grill. And many other activities are
organized for guests: boating, snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba, horseback
riding, and golf. The hotel serves three meals daily with a large breakfast
and lunch menu, and is known for it's lobster dinners as well as its
delectable lobster salads and sandwiches (and shrimp), served on ample,
home-made bread.
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The Hermitage Plantation
This
authentically West Indian inn has its humble beginnings as a small wooden
house, and the oldest one in the Lesser Antilles. That was when the
Lupinacci's bought the property back in the 1970's. Since then, they moved
from Pennsylvania to Nevis, where they decided to share their wonderful home
with others. The house grew, and then spawned other small houses in its
likeness - and the result is a wonderful collection of clapboard cottages
decorated in traditional gingerbread, and outfitted for comfort.
Full of antiques, four poster canopy beds, oriental rugs and many creature
comforts, the Hermitage oozes charm. The 15 cottage rooms are scattered on
the plantation's hillside property, surrounded by mango trees and other
tropical delights. They have porches, hammocks, mirrors, hair dryers and
ceiling fans, and units with small kitchens are available.
A cozy, old English-style bar easily services the guests, who then enjoy
dining on the outdoor dining veranda that faces the garden grounds. If
there's no one tending bar, ring the cowbell. If that doesn't bring anyone
home to serve you, an honor system prevails and you serve yourself. On the
property, there's also a freshwater pool, tennis courts, gardening gazebo,
and herb garden to see, as well as old plantation ruins, like a stone
cistern.
Unique to the Hermitage is its riding stables, where guests can enjoy three
different rides around the countryside. There are also carriage rides
available in a traditional Caribbean planter's carriage, which can handle
three adults and two children. It's no surprise to learn that owner Richard
Lupinacci also runs the island's horse racing as president of the Nevis Turf
and Jockey Club.
Hermitage is known for its excellent continental cuisine, and draws many
guests on Wednesday nights for its West Indian Buffet and scratch band
entertainment. There's no glitz, no karaoke or disco nights at Hermitage.
Just quiet days, peaceful nights with the singing frogs that sound like
crickets, and perhaps a visit at breakfast by a finch hoping you'll share
the sugar from your tea.
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Montpelier Plantation Inn
Montpelier is a romantic
hideaway located 750 feet above the Caribbean Sea on the island of Nevis.
This small luxury hotel has accommodations in 17 newly renovated rooms and
is considered to be one of the finest resorts in the Caribbean. The hotel's
private beach offers guests complete relaxation while golf at the Four
Seasons offers an alternative for the more energetic. The Terrace Restaurant
offers fine dining each evening with commanding views of St. Kitts and
Nevis. All of
the Inns seventeen rooms are alive with the light of the Caribbean and
offer both comfort and stylish living. Our spacious rooms offer views of the
sea and the lush hillside. Rich fabrics and furniture are an elegant mix of
traditional and tropical design. Each room has a private veranda open to the
sun, to the wind and to the sea. Included in all of our room rates is a full
cooked breakfast and afternoon tea.
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Mt. Nevis Hotel & Beach Club
Unlike most of Nevis' hotels,
which are converted plantation inns, Mount Nevis is new with more modern
amenities, yet with the flavor of a small inn. Located mid-way up a hill
overlooking the sea, neighboring St. Kitts and Mount Nevis, this hotel has
one of the - if not the best - views on the island.
Owned and operated by the Meguid family, the hotel was built in 1989 on a
17-acre tract. Though it's a short ride to the seaside, Mount Nevis has its
own beach bar and beach about 5 minutes away, which gives guests two places
to enjoy themselves without leaving the hotel.
The comfortable, near luxury rooms are located in four separate buildings
joined by small stone paths leading to the pool and restaurant, each with
eight one-bedroom (or four two-bedroom) units in each building. Cleverly
designed as two bedrooms apartments, those apartment can be easily split up
into two rooms. One of the rooms is the deluxe bedroom. That room has a
king-size bed that can be made into twins and refrigerator. The second type
of room, the junior suite, has a king bed and a pull out double sofa, a full
kitchen, and sliding doors to a patio. All rooms have direct dial phones,
air conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV and VCR's. The rooms are decorated
in wicker and flowered prints and have tile floors.
Activities are limited here as are crowds. Spending the whole day at the
hotel can be pure pleasure. The pool overlooks the wonderful view, and
there's a hammock there as well. There's also an indoor fitness center, in
case guests get very motivated. Transportation is provided for the few
minute trip to the beach at Newcastle Bay where the Beach Club provides a
full complement of water sports, a bar, restaurant and beach pavilion.
The food at Mount Nevis is known to be amongst the best on the island, a mix
of Caribbean and continental flavors. The tables are set in an open
area off the main reception area and bar, so that all of the views can be
enjoyed during dinner. The food at the Beach Club, known locally as
"Newcastle Pizza Beach," is more casual, but tasty and includes wonderful
homemade pizzas, Mexican dishes, salads, hamburgers, and the like.
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Nisbet Plantation Beach Club
Located on the reef-protected
north shore of Nevis, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club is a small, tranquil
ocean-front estate which boasts of the only white sand beach on the island.
A mile-long coconut palm dotted stretch of white sand awaits you at the end
of palm lane, a beautifully manicured coconut palm-lined lawn escorting you
to the Great House. Previously a coconut plantation, this 30 acre
meticulously cared for property will delight you with its charm and
graciousness.
The guest rooms are located in one and two-story cottages scattered about
the property, all with screened in porches and balconies some with views of
the ocean. Each room features telephones, mini-bars, in-room safes, ceiling
fans, hairdryers and tasteful rattan furnishings of tropical flavor.
Air-conditioning was recently added to the Premier rooms and soon all the
rooms will be air-conditioned.
The atmosphere is laid back enough that you can do as much or as little as
you want. A newly resurfaced tennis court is available for play. Snorkeling
is good once you get beyond the seaweed (a common problem on the island) and
the fresh water pool is calm and inviting. If you just want to lie on the
beach, that's acceptable too. Scuba, sailing and sport fishing as well as
horseback riding and golf can be arranged.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served at Coconuts poolside restaurant with a
beautiful view of the sea. Dinner in the Great House dining room is a
wonderful affair. Tables set out on the verandah overlooking the property
are especially favored by the romantic type. The menu as well as the
ambiance is divine. Before and after dinner, enjoy cocktails and good
conversation in the Great House bar and on certain evenings live
entertainment is featured.
Nisbet Plantation Inn is an ideal vacation spot for couples, honeymooners
and anyone desiring peace and serenity. This place is incredibly beautiful
and picturesque. If you love the beach for its beauty and tranquility, you
will not find a substitute anywhere on Nevis.
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Oualie Beach Hotel
This resort is a very unique
Caribbean experience. The property is owned by the Yearwood family of Nevis
whose ancestors came to the Caribbean from the UK in 1650. The Hotel is
right on the beach and has just 32 rooms located in gingerbread Caribbean
style cottages a mere 40 to 60 feet from the beach. All the rooms face the
beach with breath taking views of sunset and the neighboring Island of St.
Kitts just 2 miles across the water.
Oualie bay is a calm, shallow, sheltered cove. Children and the less
efficient swimmers feel safe and at ease in the water. On site are most of
the activities that one would normally associate with a much larger resort.
These include snorkeling, spa treatments, scuba, windsurfing, mountain
bikes, ocean kayaks, sailing, game fishing, car rentals and guest email
access. The staff can arrange for nearby rainforest hikes, golf, tennis and
horseback riding.
The restaurant is purposely casual, so relax, you do not have to dress up
fancy just to have dinner! Chef Ricky serves excellent and affordable West
Indian and Continental cuisine with the catch of the day usually landed
right at the Oualie dock, thanks to the game fishing boats based there.
Oualie Beach is your perfect choice for an Island vacation where you can
relax in a stress free, casual and informal setting.
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