Neither St. Lucia nor Nevis are noted for snorkeling and what little there is won't come close to what you found on St. John or the BVI's. You'll find slightly more around St. Lucia simply because the island is 20 times larger than Nevis (620 Sq. Mi. vs. 36 sq. mi.). For what it is worth "off-beach" snorkeling at the two resorts you are considering is virtually non-existent. Scuba is better around St. Lucia.

Kayaking and fishing are about the same on both islands.

Plenty of places to hike on both islands.

Biking is not easy on either island - lots of steep hills and narrow twisty roads make biking a challenge. Can't comment on guided bike tours.


Regarding customs/immigration - on your way back you'll clear immigration and customs upon arrival in Charlotte and yes, there will be lines at each step. Of course, no one can predict if those lines will be short or long the day you fly. Always best to error on the safe side by having more time than less.

Once you exit customs you have to re-check your bags (there's a baggage check area just outside customs) and then go through a TSA checkpoint before proceeding to the gate for your connecting flight.

A 1:40 connecting time is doable but cutting it close. It will work only if your inbound flight arrives "on-time" and there are no major hold-up in either immigration or customs. Most times you should be able to get through immigration in under 30 minutes from the time your plane reaches the gate. Customs is usually a snap, taking only a few minutes unless you are randomly singled out for a thorough check (odds of that are small). Re-checking luggage takes less than 5 minutes. Figure on 10 to 15 minutes to get through the TSA checkpoint. All together that's something like 45 to 60 minutes average time from inbound gate arrival to reach you connection departure gate.



Four Seasons has one of the best Spa facilities in the Caribbean.

Tennis is available at both resorts.

Plenty of off-resort dining options available on both islands but because of it's size getting to/from restaurants on St. Lucia is a bit of a challenge - it could take two hours to reach some places. On Nevis, nothing is more than 20 minutes from the resort.

Both resorts have TV and phones but TV has limited number of channels. Cell phone service is available on both islands but you will encounter "dead spots". Expect to incur high Roaming Fees. Check with you provider to make sure your company has a reciprocal service agreement with one of the providers on the island you choose.

jademountain.com my fav St Lucia best views private plunge pools probably would go for that for more romance. Nothing
else there compares to www.fourseasons.com quality.Beaches browner so so snorkel but amazing green beautiful island. Rain sometimes lots down there in Nov might also look at Bora Bora truly amazing if budget is good or Bali.

Happy Hunting!

Thank you so much for all the information. Great. I'll look at Jade again. Bora Bora would be awesome but too far for five nights.
RoamsAround, regarding the Charlotte connection. Just looked it up, Saturday Flight from St. Kitts arrives at 845PM. Given that it is in the later evening think that will be better for us or worse with a 1 hr, 40 min layover. Haven't been through Charlotte internationally yet. The other option is flying through Miami on a different day with a 3 hour layover. Thoughts??

Nevis vs St Lucia???

Also have you done the St. Kitts Four Seasons ferry to hotel? Whats it like getting across? Calm, rough?? What happens if you can't get across (weather). Overnight in St. Kitts and now you pay for two rooms?????

Also, what are your favorites places? Am I missing a spot?

MM

Regarding your travel - for what it is worth, when I fly I always opt for the earliest flights possible. That way, if something goes wrong you have more time to figure out alternatives and/or make other arrangements. On the way to the islands I usually book connections of no less than 60 minutes if I'm staying on the same airline and no less than 90 minutes if connecting to a different airline. On the way back my minimum connecting times are 90 minutes and 2 hours respectively.

Taking the Four Seasons Launch is worth every penny of the cost. Their representative will meet you as you exit customs at the airport. They'll take your baggage and the next time you see the bags will be when you get to your room. You'll be escorted from the airport to the marina where you'll board the launch for the trip to Nevis. You'll be taken directly to the Four seasons dock. On the way over you'll complete your check-in process and given your room keys. Once at the dock you'll be escorted to your room. The launch has a specially designed "tri-hull" that makes the ride over much smoother than regular boats and ferries. the crossing is normally not "rough' but there are occasions when the "swells are up" - since this kind of condition is rucked by mother nature there's no way to predict when they will occur - but the good news is heavy seas don't happen too often. It is extremely rare when sea or weather conditions are so bad you can't make the crossing. I've only seen that happen about 4 times in the last 10 years and each f those were when hurricanes were threatening the island. If that happens, then yes, you'll have to spend the night on St. Kitts (but chances are your flight to the island would have been cancelled so you would have never arrived).

My favorite Caribbean Islands are Anguilla, St. Barth's, Nevis and Virgin Gorda (not necessarily in that order). The truth is, of the 30 or so islands I've visited there have only been two I didn't care for and won't visit again.

Lastly, I'd choose Nevis over St. Lucia, but that's just my opinion. Others may have a different opinion. You see, I don't think one island is necessarily better or worse than another, the islands are just different and as they say n France, Viva La Difference!!!

Great advice on flights. Thank you so much.
Will keep that in mind when booking for sure.
You have great top spots can't wait to check out those later.
Nevis it is. Boat transfer info is so helpful. Will book FS transfer for sure.
Think Mid Nov for Nevis is risky vs last week in Nov. It is a difference of two weeks- Thoughts??? That Thanksgiving weekend could be crazy in airports. Are we nuts to fly Sunday after Thanksgiving via Miami. Stared thinking maybe we should do mid nov.
Also, what are top 10 must do's in Nevis / FS?
-monkey tour in golf cart
-spa
-killer bee at Sunshines
-Hike with who and where? How long is it? Don't want to spend a full day - half is ok/
-where is best snorkle spot for tour?
-etc etc.....

Thanks so much. So helpful.

There's no appreciable difference in weather during anytime in November - it's essentially the same all month long.

Yes, traveling on Thanksgiving weekend will be hectic do to large numbers of people - flights will most likely be full no matter where you go and no matter what airport you travel through.

For lots on info on what to do/see on Nevis go to www.nevis1.com - if it's not discussed on that website it doesn't exist.

There are plenty of different hikes you can do. Depending on which one you take they'll last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. You'll find lots of info on the nevis1 website. The staff at the 4S will gladly arrange a guide to take you anywhere you want to hike.

Best snorkeling in the area is at Shitten Bay, off the coast of St. Kitts. 4S does daily 1/2 Catamaran tours that will get you there and back. Just ask the Activities Director to set you up. FYI - "off beach" snorkeling around Nevis is almost non-existent.

you'll see wild monkeys everywhere - just walk along the paths around the 4S golf course (early morning and late afternoon are best) and you'll be sure to come across several troops. Las week I saw at least 50 crossing the ninth fairway. Tourists seem to be fascinated by them, we locals view them as sets who ruin edible fruit plants and crops.

Kind of a cool thing to do in Nevis, off the beaten path, is the Botanical Garden. If you rent a car for a day, it's a nice place to drop by for an hour or two.

Thank you so much for all the tips....
We booked. Can't wait.

mamamo - just wondering how you enjoyed your trip to Nevis. I am juggling with the same decision (Nevis vs. St. Lucia) for a honeymoon. Nevis looks great but it sounds like it may be a little to 'underdeveloped' for our taste as compared to St. Lucia. Since you have been to so many other islands in the Caribbean I am curious to know what your thoughts are after visiting Nevis. Thanks!

Mbarrett03,
Saw your note on Nevis. We aren't going until later this year. I just got back from Turks in May. Booked Nevis super early with points.

I am really pumped for it. Haven't read a bad review on Four Seasons and the more I talk to people I am really happy with our decision. Four Seasons emailed me a ton of information on activities (kayak, spa, monkey tour, horseback on beach, rain forest tour, snorkel, etc. Etc. I don't think we will be able to fit it all in.

Since we are only there five nights st Lucia seemed to spread out for what we wanted and I wasn't crazy about the two hour ride to hotel on windy curvy roads from airport. My cousin went to both FS and Jade st Lucia so she helped me. Good luck!!!!

STL no doubt!