albee622

what is the story with the beaches, will avid caribbean-beach-adoring family be disappointed? help

faithie

for where ...???

albee622

i know, how ridiculous of me not to put "where", you kinda get lost reading all this stuff for hours here and there, anyway, i was referring to the beaches in nevis, four seasons, thanks!

Sunnyboy

For the most part the beaches on Nevis are darker sand. Specifically, the beach at the Four Seasons has a golden brown tint. The landscaping along the beach at the resort is exceptional and the areas directly to the north (known as Paradise Beach) and south (known as Pinney's Beach) of the resort are thickly lined with palm trees and other natural vegetation. These beaches combine for a stretch of about two miles of uninterrupted beach that is very picturesque but if you are expecting sugar white sand and turquoise blue waters you won't find it on Nevis. Because the island is volcanic in origin, the sand is dark and the drop-off at the water's edge is more pronounced. These two attributes combine to give the surrounding waters a steel blue hue. All of the remaining beaches on the Caribbean side of Nevis are essentially like the one at the Four Seasons with the slight exception of the one at Oualie Beach. You'll find lighter (almost white) sand beaches on the north side of the island but because this is the Atlantic side the water can be rough at times (especially near Nisbet Plantation Resort). Further to the northeast Herberts Beach and Camps Beach have light sand and slightly calmer waters due mainly to the close proximity of the off-shore reef but there are large areas of turtle grass which make swimming "different". Hope this helps.

happymz

Sunnyboy explains it well - I would just add that though the waters aren't as turquoise as perhaps they are off other coral-based carribean islands, they're also not quite dark like off the coast of the Northeast US - I still felt as though the Nevis waters were colorful & beautiful.

We loved Oualie Beach the most on Nevis - you can walk out for what seemed like 40-50 yards!

myislands

Pinney's Beach on Nevis, in my opinion, is truly beautiful! Great palm trees, long stretches of white sandy beach, and a GREAT view back over Nevis Channel to St. Kitts! I stay on St. Kitts usually, but I love the days I take the catamarn trip over to Nevis so that I can enjoy Pinney's Beach, and walk up to the Four Seasons!

I am sure you wil love it.

You might want to check out another message board dedicted to St. Kitts and Nevis.

myislands.myeyez.net

-Krista

Sunnyboy

Sorry, but Krista (myislands) is misleading you a bit when she says Pinney's Beach has "white sand". It is simply not "sugar white", "salt white" or "powder white" or any other kind of white sand like you will find on the coral based islands of Anguilla, Aruba, Anegada, the Bahamas Out-Island, to name a few, and it is definitely darker than the sand on most of the USVI's, BVI's, St. Barths, and St. Martin. While the sand on Pinney's Beach may not be as dark as it is further north (say at Nelson's Springs, Cades Bay, Tammarine Bay or Lover's Beach) it does have a "brownish" tint. Don't get me wrong, the beaches on Nevis a very pretty and picturesque and they are certainly uncrowded. In short there is nothing wrong with them other than the fact that they do not fit the stereotypical image that most people have in their mind when they think of a tropical island beach and that's because photo's of island beaches the see in magazines, brouchures, on TV, etc. are taken with filters or are computer enhanced to make the skies bluer, the sand whiter, the foliage greener and the waters more tourquoise - it is part of the dream or mystique the marketing gurus are "selling". I've traveled extensively in the Bahamas and the Caribbean for over 20 years and I am now fortunate to own a home on a Caribbean Island. I can fully understand why the first time or occasional traveller desires a "perfect white sand beach" which is why (on this and other forums) I rarely recommend Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and other volcanic based islands to those people who put a "white sand beach" at the top of their priority list. If having "white sand" is that important to a traveler then the beaches on Nevis will disappoint them. That said, those of us who are seasoned island travelers have learned there is more to a Caribbean vacation than the color of sand on the beach and there are many, many beautiful beaches throughout the Caribbean that are of dark sand and that rival the white sand beaches when it comes to sheer natural beauty.

albee622

thousands of hours later, the four seasons in nevis and the island itself sounds to me as if it is paradise.....still looking but nevis is winning out.....anyone who can add to this is is welcomel, thanks again, and one more thing, the maldives would win out but it is soooooo far to travel

MIM04

I agree with Sunnyboy about the beach -but I still think you will love Nevis. I have been - well almost everywhere in the Caribbean and Nevis is one of my favorite places. Really you cannot go wrong.

MIM04

Just to add - basically what I agreed with was that its not the bright white color - but the beaches really are beautiful there. It is a lush, beautiful place! Have fun.

blamona

I've been to the Maldives, they are my favorite in the world!!! If those are your tastes that you are looking into, you really need to consider Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and Harbour island or Exumas in the Bahamas. What makes Maldives so spectacular, is that they are flat coral based islands. The above mentioned are similar. Those are very upscale islands, with spectacular resorts! (Exumas even has a Four Seasons!) Sorry if this confuses you, but if you are looking for the Maldives in the Caribbean, those are better bets.

tamara

If white sandy beaches and luxury is what you are looking for, try kamalame Cay off the coast of Andros in the bahamas www.kamalamecay.com
It a small luxury property that is truly paradise.

ejcrowe

Albee, honey, you're making me stressed out just reading about your stress. If FS Nevis and Caneel won't work for you, and if you're leery about staying so near Atlantis, take a look at:

Four Seasons Exuma -- it's got the beaches that you're looking, plus the tradish FS ameneties.

Sandy Lane on Barbados -- if price is truly no object and you want luxury in a room, go here. The beaches are beautiful on Barbados, the spa at SL gets raves, and there's a concierge willing to book snorkeling for your teens and restaurants for you.

You could also take a look at Necker Island in the BVI--small, private island, quietly luxurious, and near enough to Tortola for frequent daytrips.

You could also book the 2-room suite at Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda in the BVI. These are the most luxurious rooms at the resort known for casual elegange, and I don't think they would disappoint.

Good luck, and if you're able to make a decision, let us know.