eileen

Hi, we are going to Nevis at the end of March and staying at Nisbet. My husband will be spending lots of time playing golf at the FS and I would like to find a nice place on Pinneys Beach to hang out, but can't use any of the FS facilities as a non-guest. (Sort of feel they should let me since my husband will be spending $180 per round at their course but they were adamant about not providing day passes) Any place nearby that rents beach chairs so I can lounge on the beach while waiting?

skbfan

A perfect place to lounge on the beach is Chevy's Beach Bar located a short walk from the Four Seasons.

Delicious food, friendly staff, cold Caribs and lounge chairs.

http://www.myspace.com/chevys_calypso_bar

A_Traveller

Sunshine's also has beach chairs you can use - it's located a few hundred feet south of the Four Season's resort. FYI - you shouldn't feel entitled to use the Four Seasons' facilities just because your husband is paying green fees that only entitles him to play golf - he lucky he can while not a resort guest - certain times of the year when the resort is fully booked they don't allow non-guest to even play the course. Four Seasons is a very expensive resort and their guests pay top dollar for the privilage of staying there - the resort does not give anything away for "free". You should know a round of golf is likely to take your husband about 4 to 4 1/2 hours to play and as a non-resort guest he probably won't get a tee off time until after 11:00AM so you'll be spending the better part of the day "waiting" for him.

joan

For what it's worth, I totally disagree with A Traveller. What kind of hospitality is that? Eileen is not asking for anything free. If the 4S is willing to take her husband's greens money, than why not be courteous and offer a lounger to the spouse? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize she'll more than likely get hungry and thirsty during those long hours he's away. Who knows? The food and hospitality could make her return as a guest someday.

That's a terrible attitude, I'm hoping they're not that short-sighted.

NancyfromCanada

I totally agree with you Joan - who are these people that think they are "above" everyone else, simply because they can afford to stay at the Four Seasons. If that's their attitude, they can keep it - Chevy's and Sunshines are much better anyways - that's where the real people are. Comments like ATraveller's just make my blood boil (in case you couldn't tell!)

eileen

Thanks Joan, one of the reason I agree with you is I am not a "free-loader" -- I have stayed at FS resorts in the past (my favorite is Punta Mita), will most likely eat at their restaurant and I am going to have a spa treatment or two, we just don't choose to actually stay at that FS because we visited both the FS and Nisbet last year while on a one day cruise stop and greatly preferred Nisbet. And since my husband will spend about $1,000 at their golf course, it wouldn't hurt to give me a chair! I understand that guests would be unhappy if they allowed just anyone to use the chairs and pool but I do think they could make a courtesy day pass available (even at a price) for spa guests or spouses of golfers. A-Traveller, I appreciate your perspective but not to worry, last year my husband had no trouble getting on the course (a round took about 3 1/2 hours) so we know the drill. I love Four Seasons Resorts, just underwhelmed with the Nevis property. Nisbet is more our speed, we like smaller resorts with charm and privacy.

A_Traveller

WOW, you are shooting the messenger. I was merely stating Four Seasons's policy not implying I agreed with it in any way. In fact just the opposite is true - I believe they are short sighted but it's the way they choose to run their resort and nothing I do or say will change their attitude. Quite honestly, like Eileen I prefer Nisbet and in numerous trips to Nevis have only stayed at 4S once (our first visit). It's difficult to justify the price and the resort, while very nice, doesn't live up to other 4S properties. FYI - I speak from experience when I say they sometimes close the entire resort to non-guests - I've missed a few planned golf games, couldn't use their spa services and couldn't spend my money at there restaurants - all because they choose to restrict use by non-guests at peak periods. Again, I don't agree with them but it's their policy. As I said, 4S has a reputation for not giving anybody anything for "free".

NancyfromCanada

ATraveller: My sincere apologies then - by reading your post I assumed that you were one of the "lucky" ones that were able to stay at the Four Seasons. I don't agree with their policies either and for that reason alone, would never stay there (not that I could afford it, LOL) - it is a beautiful piece of paradise though.

MIM04

BTW - certain times of years even FS villa owners cannot use ANY of the facilities, not even the restaurants. How would you like to drop a few million $ and not even be able to go onto the property... I would be looking elsewhere to buy

Knowing

This thread made me think of a few resorts and their "rules".
I remember being at a Sandals, which is billed as a "couples only" and sitting in the hot tub with a woman and as we were talking she mentioned that her "mother" was sleeping upstairs and they were there on a day pass from a cruise ship. HUH?
At a Hyatt, my husband was using the spa facilities and he suggested that I come and sit by the pool down there and we would go have lunch afterwards. The staff said I couldn't because even though I was a guest at the Hyatt and my husband was using the facilities, I was not.
As someone who happens to love the FS Nevis, I think they are trying to make certain that not just anyone would come along and use the chairs and pool as the beaches are public, but I agree, Eileen, that they need to look closer at their policy when the circumstance (such as yours) warrants it.

eileen

Boy, I sure didn't expect to ignite so much discussion but it's been interesting! My husband gave me a four seasons gift certificate for the Spa to use while he is golfing -- what will be interesting to discover is if the Spa has a separate area with lounge chairs and maybe even a small pool (many of the FS resorts do, I know) for spa guests to use. And here's another reason it's more of an issue at the FS Nevis for spouses -- most resort golf courses have a separate clubhouse with a restaurant as well as a comfortable lobby area or porch where a spouse can sit and read and just relax -- FS Nevis does not have such a clubhouse so last time I went to Mango's restaurant and had lunch. Such an area would be nice ...
And you know what else I don't like --- staying at a resort and having to pay for beach chairs or pay a resort fee! This is a common practice in Hawaii, you would think for the price of your room a chair on the beach would be included!

MIM04

Eileen I have been to the spa several times. Its wonderful, it has hot and cold pools, reallly nice lounge chairs and tons of fluffy towels, cold water, relaxation room, etc. You can basically spend the whole day there and relax before and after treatments. Then I like to have lunch by the beach. You can also get food served at the spa. Have fun

joan

First, I too want to apologize to A Traveller. Once again I have learned how to spell Ass-u-me! I just assumed you thought eileen was looking for "free".

This is such a strange thing for a hotel to do, I can only conclude that there isn't enough room physically to accommodate both 100% occupancy and paying day guests. Or maybe it's the ratio of staff to guests that the 4S adheres to. Do you all think that is it? Or maybe it's just bad management, since you seem to think this 4S lags behind the others.

iw

We usually hang out at the 4S bar once during our stay for a drink and hit the over priced gift shop and head on down to Sunshines. This year, we will head to Chevy's. The expanse of beach b/n the two places is big and I am sure that if you have lunch or a drink they will let you use the facilities at either place. One of the guys out front who assist with taking guests to a room might help. We met an awesome guy last year who took me on a tour of 2 rooms at the 4S. I feel sure that he would have helped me find a comfortable spot for the day. We received great and friendly service at the bar.
Also, consider taking a cheap cab ride down to Oualie Beach, where I know you will get good service with an available restroom and beach chairs. Just a little thought.

MIM04

Joan - sometimes when the hotel is not open to the public its because they have a group in which rents out the entire resort. Other times they are just totally sold out and cannot accommodate the guests and others. It does make sense because paying guests need to be first priority, imagine spending $1000 per night and not being able to get a chair at the beach or a seat in the restaurant, etc.

Nevisian

Why are you all jumping on the 4S instead of answering Eileens question?

Sunshine's is on the beach on the west side of the resort. Have a drink called "Killer Bee" and relax. Perhaps a Windstar or Barefoot cruisewill be in - they all visit Sunshine's - and you will meet some great people.

Eileen, you have a point that if your husband is paying to play, the resort should offer something for you to do too. I don't know where you got your info but we have sunday brunch at the cabana all the time. We also book spa treatments. It is traditon to have our last night's dinner at the resort (the 7:am plane to SJU is sooo early). Just pay cash. As with all good hoteliers, the paying, staying guests come first. We also eat at Nisbet's, Olde Manor, Montpelier, and Golden Rock whenever we want. We just make reservations and IF THEY HAVE ROOM for us, they are glad to have our business. The 4S's closed bookings when non-guests are restricted happen a couple of times a year (HBO for one). Usually, off-season. If any of you have ever won an incentive vacation with your company you know that the company wants to sequester it's top salespeople or employees in one place (controlled environment) The 4S in Nevis is a perfect place for such a conclave. Maritz Travel is one of their big incentive bookers and they set the no outsiders rule. The resort just enforces it for their big client. Sometimes, they just don't have the room. If you were there during a peak season or whole resort booking you may have noticed the large white ten along the fourth fairway. They need that for space for meetings, presentations and sit-down dinners for 800. Supposedly they are building new facilities along the fourth fairway to meet their needs. They have already added a third pool (down by Sunshine's) and more beach facilities.

No, I don't own 4S stock but we do like to vacation at a 4S wherever we go. It is a quality of service we want and expect and the Nevis property offers that service.

By the way Eileen, The beach pool and cabana at Nisbet's is a great place to enjoy paradise. To put a different spin on the problem... who want's to hustle for a beach chair in a sold-out hotel when you can get pampered on the big white sand beach or mountainside pool and have a rum punch to cool off? Let your husband go play golf. You get a good book to read and some 30 SPF suntan lotion and hit the beach at Nisbet's, Sunshine's, Chevy's or one the pools at one of the mountainside manors.