Back From Four Seasons Nevis, will answer quesitons
 

We have just returned from the Four Seasons nevis and had a great time. We are a family of four. Would be happy to answer quesitons

What was the island of Nevis like? Was the beach outside the resort nice? What about the pool? I have heard wonderful things about the service -- how were the rooms, food, etc...Did you get off the resort and explore the island at all?

I am so glad you posted.We are considering getting married at the FS in Jan.Its actually between there ,Cap,and Peter Island.Were you pleased with the resort??From your post I gather you took your children.Would you consider this resort to be geared toward kids??How was the beach?Service?accomadations?Thanks so much....

Ellene,
Please tell me about the room, beach/water condition and the service. some people said the down stair room is not nice as the up stair room? would you recommend a meal plan or not. how is the gym condition. do they have seafood on the menu? Is the beach private? we are considerting between FS Nevis or Punta Minta can't decide. Anything else you would like to share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Do you think is worth of a trip to FS Nevis?

i went to FS nevis in July, and answered questions under #19 on this board if you want to look at that.

I will say the gym facilites were wonderful , as were the rooms. we had a 2nd floor room, and it was wonderful having a screened in porch (we had mountain view)

also, there was plenty of seafood on the menu- at all meals including breakfast! i think one morning my husband had a lobster hash and eggs. feel free to email me with any more questions.

Honeymonner14:
The island is beautiful, dry, it is a volcano island. The town is very rural, one or two paved roads, very small town. The beach is beautiful,very quiet and very long, tons of lounges. The service at this hotel is what sets it apart from other Caribbeanr resorts we have been to. IT is great. Accommodating but not overbearing, genuinely friendly. The food is very good, we were there for 11 days and never got tired of it, varied menu, three dining areas. We did several excursions off the island, a catamarn tour and snorkeling to St. Kitts, chartered a fishing boat, a walking tour of an old sugar plantation to see the monkeys(there are tons) and spent an afternoon with a marine biologist snorkeling and exploring a local cove.

Blair9535
Although there were many kids at the resort, it is summer vacation. They had one pool that was for families, the other an adult pool. Both pools are right on the ocean, and are beautiful. There were many honeymooners there, and we spoke to several of them, and noneof them minded the kids, nor did they feel they got in the way. The rooms were great, very large not formal like at other four seasons. Huge bathrooms with good amenities, tons of extra towels left in the rooms. We were on the second floor, and had a view of the mountian, we loved our rooms.Beach food and service were all great.

Sanda
The downstairs rooms were renovated after the hurricaine, and the upstairs rooms were not. We stayed upstairs, and thought the accomodations were lovely, and probably more private than downstairs. The upstairs rooms have a screened in balcony, ours overlooked the mountain, and was beautiful and well appointed. The bathrooms are great, large and good ammenities. Service is teriffic, accommodating, not overbearing, sincerely nice. Great with kids. I would not recommend the meal plan, we went off it after 4 days(we were there for 11). Especially if you are travelling with kids, because the kids menu is available in all the restaurants and the average entree is 6.00. We saved $200 a day going off(we were 3 adults and 2 kids)The beach is has general access, there were one or two vendors selling necklaces etc, but they were not intrusive, There is security everywhere, and we were never bothered. The gym is ok, not great. There is one eliptical, and the bikes are on the older side. It was never crowded. Fully attended at all times.I would go back. You can now fly into nevis directly, and that would be easier than the launch, although I do have to say the boat ride was fun. Depending on where you live , there is some non stop service into st kitts. We did the two planes and a boat thing, and that was difficult, but we were there for an extended stay, and it didnt bother me. I understand united now flys non-stop into ST kits from nY, and there is non-stop service out of Phila.
There are many seafood options on the menu, and there is a shack on the beach next to the hotel called Sunshines that makes great grilled shrimp and lobster and killer drinks for a change of pace.If you are traveling with kids the kids club there is great, and will take kids at 3 years old.

Just wondering where you went snorkeling with the marine biologist? Is that the woman who first gives a "hands on" experience in her aquariums first, before the snorkel trip? Robert

United doesn't fly into St. Kitts at all- you must be thinking of USAir (they have a code share).
Do you think it is easier to fly to St. Kitts, than try to fly to Nevis?

I got the info on United from a local. I know that US air flies into st kitts non stop from Phila. Up until a few weeks ago, there was no radar on Nevis, and pilots had to land via instruments, causing many cancellations. I think it is preferable to flying non stop to st kitts then ferrying to Nevis as opposed to chainging to ge to Nevis

I'm still curious about the female marine biologist mentioned on this post, since I do reef surveys. Any other posters who've visited Nevis know of her operation...its name and the site which she snorkels at? I would be interested in contacting her for the next reef survey. My wife and I spent two weeks on Nevis several months ago, and were unable to make arrangements with her; unfortunately, my wife grew ill during our stay. She's noted for conducting "hands on" tours of her aquariums before taking the groups out for snorkeling tours. Please advise and thank you. Robert

Hi Robert,
This is probably the place that went in where Prinderellas used to be.
Her name is Barbara Whitman, and the name of the place is Under the Sea.
Check out undertheseanevis.com
When we were there last, she was off-island, and so we did not get to go to her place, so we went snorkeling with Cap'n Knox out of Oualie - not quite as educational, but the rum puch was great! :)

Thanks, Diana; I heard she was written up in Caribbean Travel & Life magazine, but I couldn't track down the issue. I will check into doing reef surveys with her operation. Robert

We spent an afternoon with Barbara Whitman, at Under the Sea which is now at Oualies, it was the highligh of our trip.

Hi,

Thanks for writing about your trip to FS Nevis- My husband and I are going for a week later this month and I have read a lot of wondeful things about it. We are going to stay in a Mt. side room- I read they are similar to Mt. View rooms- do you know if there is a big ifference. We dont plan to be in the room much anyway- so, we are wondering how is Pinney's beach? What is the sand like? Is the water clear, blue and w/o a lot of coral? How does it compare to other beaches you have been to? How is the food? What spa services do you recommend and do you have any other special recommendations-besides hanging out w/ the marin biologist:) Do the other guests wear formal dinner attire (sundress vs. formaldress)? Thanks so much- I really appreciate it.

Jean

We had mountain view rooms, from what I understand, the only difference is they dont face the mountain directly, but are the same size(quite large with great bathrooms). I would recommend requesting 2nd floor as they are more private than the first. The beach is beautiful, but not clear blue water, darker beacuse it is a volcanic island(we have been to Turks and Caicos many times, the water is clearer and bluer there). The food was consistently great, although service sometimes a little slow in the dining rooms. Dress shirts for men in the formal dining rooms, and sundresses for women is fine)
Besides marine biologists, we did the catamaran sail with snorkeling in St. Kitts(very nice). Not a ton of coral in this area, compared to other places we have been. The diving was decent, not great,(paradise reef was pretty). The hotel offers many excursions and all the companies they use were great. We did a monkey walk( a tour of an old sugar plantation were monkey now live) and chartered a fishing boat(less successful, deep sea fishing mostly and not a good time of year).

I had a facaial(very good) and my husband had a massage on the beach(also very good). We both had regular massages as well and enjoyed them. The spa is beautiful, and very relaxing. You might want to book your spa appointments before you get there.
Golf and tennis are very big at thre resort as well

ellene and Diana; Thanks for the feedback. Ellene; I'm glad to hear that
the snorkeling trip with the marine biologist, Barbara Whitman, was the highlight of your trip to Nevis. I can't wait to contact her and conduct some reef coral and reef fish surveys via her operation. Thanks again! Robert

Robert,

Be sure to tell us your findings. I did some diving and snorkeling on Nevis while there and found things to be in very good shape and the fish life varied and numerous.

With so much bad news re fish depletion and coral bleaching these days, I could use some good news. :)

Thanks for your reply ellene- the information you shared is appreciated.

Diana; Interestingly, I just finished the book "Earth In The Balance" by Al Gore. He discussed diving in the Caribbean and seeing the coral bleaching. The build up of CO2 and resultant global warming has made the oceans uncomfortably warm for the tiny organisms which dwell in coral polyps, which also give them their color. They vacate the coral and only the white coral skeletons are left, thus the "bleaching" effect. It's happening on a global scale, and coral reefs are in rapid decline. Scientists are interested in this process because the coral reefs are akin to the canary warning the the coal miner of danger in the air. Enjoy the reefs while you can! Robert

Hi again ellene,

I have a couple more questions for you.

Was the ocean at Pinney's beach warm? Did you go to other beaches on Nevis and if so, how was the water there? Also, I heard from another poster that the sand is really hot on Pinney's- was it like that when you were there?

thanks!
Jean

Ellene,
can you tell me more about the tennis? did it seem like the pro's were really involved and were a lot of guests playing?

Robert,
Al Gore's book doesn't even meet the standards of pseudo-science. He has as much credibility as the Unabomber.

Uni2; Here's a "Best Kept" secret you may be interested in about beaches on Nevis. One of the most beautiful beaches is called "Lover's Beach." If you drive from the airport towards 4 Seasons, in less than a mile on the right, you'll see a dirt road, quite worn, with a small hand-painted sign announcing "Lover's Beach." It's worth the chuck-hole filled, 600 foot jaunt to see: remote and only occassionally visited by tourists who find out about it by word-of-mouth. No concession stands or buildings, just several miles of sand, protected waters, and a great view of the other nearby islands.

Joeyjojo; You're incorrect about Al Gore's books regarding global warming and the loss of coral reefs via bleaching effect. True, a few scientists were skeptical when it was first published, but research since then is mounting to prove its a reality. Robert

thanks Robert, I will visit "Lover's Beach" when there later this month.

Robert-
Is lover's beach walkable from the Four Seasons? Is there anything walkable from the Four Seasons-I love to walk.

Regarding tennis,
The pros seemed great. I signed my son up for lessons, and the pro was involved with him, I then watched him teach the next player( an adult), and he was definitely involved with him. This gentleman actually had lessons twice after my son, so clearly he was doing something right. Tons of guests were playing, court time had to be reserved at least a day out, and it was August. The courts were in good condition, there was ice water, chilled towels and evian next to each court. Some once came out once during each session to check and restock.

Flying Circus; it's about 5 miles, one-way following the highway which circles the island. Head north. There's also a neat hiking trail just south of 4 Seasons which beging at Shallow Ghaut, a little creek which forms a beautiful marsh and wetlands area. The trail heads up to Montravers Estate Ruins, and joins a longer trail called Upper Round Trail. You could also drive to the Goldern Rock Plantation Inn and take the short trail to see the monkeys or continue on to the trail leading to the top of Nevis Peak. I'd go with a guide on the longer trail; it gets treacherous with many slippery places. When we were there, a hiker slide several hundred feet down into a gorge due to the damp rainforest floor caused by continual mist and/or rain. Robert

I am planning our 35 wedding anniversary. Not sure if the oceanfront/view room is worth the differance from other rooms. Could you advise on this point ? What type of room would you suggest. Thank

Could you advise on the type of room to stay in ? Looking at an oceanfront room but the price is approx $1,500 per week more then mountainview. Is it worth it if you can share on this point.We are going just questioning the room type. Thnak you

My husband and I just celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary there last week. We stayed in the Mountain Side room and before we arrived I called and asked if we could have a private room since it was our anniversary. I would not pay the difference to be on the ocean because the Mountainview rooms are just a very little bit more of a walk from the beach and they are more private in that they face the golf course and Mt. Nevis oand not the ocean where others are most of the time. This is the quietest time of year, so anywhere would have been private, but the views from our room were spectacular and we loved it- 1,500 would not be worth it since the rooms are the same in terms of interior layout and the oceanfront rooms are set on the grass a little ways back on the beach (and the mountain view rooms are right in back on the oceanfront ones). Anyway, it was amazing and we loved it, good luck:)

Ellene, thank you so much for the information. Very helpfull,