mpkp

We arrive in Nevis on Thursday the 15th after a few flights and a long day. Thought we would get a taxi to Hermitage -- where we will stay for 5 nights -- and have dinner there. The next day we thought about taking an island tour with one of the taxi guides to get the lay of the land but I thought about this taking all day -- can y'all recommend anyone? How much would this cost? Would it be better for us to arrange this directly or go through the Hermitage? I thought perhaps we would wait until Saturday to pick up the car and keep it for a week. We return home the following Saturday.

Thanks

A_Traveller

There are plenty of very good guides on Nevis and it will be easiest if you ask the staff at the Hermitage to arrange a guide for you. The cost will be the same no matter who you use. It's been a while since we took a guided tour but if I not mistaken I thnk the going rate is $20US per hour with a 3 hour minimum. Rates may have changed but it shouldn't be too much more. As I said, the rates will be the same no matter who you use as they are set by the Tourist Ministry. Three hours will give you an excellent feel for the island. Anything longer will just enhance your tour.

You are wise to consider a guided tour early in your stay. It will give you a great feel for what the island has to offer and a familarity with the roads for when you travel on your own in the rental car.

mpkp

Thanks! I did not know if having the hermitage arrange it meant they would add an additional fee -- but if that is not the case,I will ask them to do so.

I thought perhaps a full day with the guide but-- is there enough to do with a guide or would a half day be better?

A_Traveller

There's plenty to do on Nevis and a full day's tour will give you a chance to see the island more in depth - it's really your best option if you don't mind the added expense. A half day is fine but only scratches the surface. Choose what works best for YOU not what others tell you.

One hint, strike up a dialogue with your guide, tell him about things that interest you, your likes & dislikes(i.e. do you like to explore ruins, do you like to see sweeping vistas, are you beach oriented, etc.) and he will modify his tour so it will be "your tour".

iw

mpkp,
I couldn't agree more with A_Traveller. Also, I am wondering where you are from with that y'all. We met people in St. Barts and when my husband asked, "Where are y'all from?" They laughed! They were from Ohio and we are in Virginia, but both lived in North Carolina.
Anyway, we used Chip in Nevis. He is funny and grew up in Nevis. He is reliable and he has a new air conditioned van.
The hotel should not charge any fee to arrange a taxi driver or tour. Our hotel staff very kindly arranged dinner reservations and trips. They do accept tips for their time.
I also think it is wise to schedule an island tour early so that you can get a feel for what you want to do once you have the rental car. Also, from what I understand, if you want a day trip to St. Kitts, your rental car company will arrange a car for you to have there for the day. Check on that, if you are interested in seeing another island that is very easy to get to.
Please post a trip report upon your return. I look at our pictures daily and I long to go back.

mpkp

Thanks -- We are in the Atlanta area and I am a damn yankee (one from the north who comes and stays as opposed to a yankee who comes for a visit) according to my husband because I grew up in New York. But I have been here since 1979. He was born and raised here.

We have often found value in having a guide when it is affordable. We tend to learn more about the local area, not waste time getting lost, and often they know about things that we have not heard of and find enjoyable.

I did want to go to St. Kitts and wondered if we would want the car there or a taxi driver/guide.

We have 8 full days there -- can we do St. Kitts in a day or would we want to go over twice -- perhaps once with a guide and once on our own?

We would like at least one rainforest hike -- but I am not so sure about going to the very top vertically on vines! Is one hike -- St Kitts or Nevis easier? Less vertical vines? Otherwise perhaps hike in the rainforest but not to the top.

iw

Atlanta....very southern!
Umm, can you do St. Kitts in a day? You can do an island tour in a half day.
As far as hikes go.....hummm. We are 39 and 41 and in shape...tae bo, boxing, jump rope, running, weights...Just to give you a background. I did the rainforest hike with O'Neill in St. Kitts with 2 lower back ruptured disks (newly ruptured a week in advance of the trip) and was fine. It was a good and easy-ish hike. One vine involved with O'Neill helping me that time. DH did the Mt. Nevis climb last year with Jim Johnson in Nevis and I opted not to go. It was very tough. Jim, in Nevis, will taylor the climb to you. I know that he took a family of four, with two small kids, to the rainforest and they said that it was not hard and they had a blast. He will make it what you want it to be.
In St. Kitts, I have read a lot of good things about Royston, but have not experienced him. He will also custom design the type of hike that you want.
Depending on the time that you want to experience Nevis, will decide what you do or don't do on St. Kitts.....You will know once you get there. Things are so easy to arrange, once you are there.
O'Neill also said that he will look at the shape that his customers are in and figure out the best plan for them.

So, in short, HIKE>>>>>somewhere...It will be a great experience.