four seasons nevis - villas for rent?
 

Hi everyone - We recently went on a long-weekend trip to Nevis and loved the Four Seasons Resort there... does anyone know where we could find listings of any of their residential villas available for rent? I was going to contact the resort directly, but was hoping for any feedback from the extremely knowlegeable crowd here!

Thanks,

Ronna

FYI - Four Season Villas can only be rented through the Four Season's Resort. You have to contact them directly, either through their website: www.fourseasons.com/nevis/ or by phone: 869-469-1111.

Actually you can rent them privately too, and not only through the resort.

There are several sites
www.wheretostay.com
www.nevishouses.com - real estate company on Nevis.
www.caribbeanway.com

GL

rdlao7 - We love the villas. If we don't want to see anybody we stay at our own house with our own pool and sun deck, our own kitchen. If we want to use the hotel facilities it is a short golf cart ride or a lovely leisurely walk through the beautiful grounds to the Great House, Pro Shop, Spa and pools or Beach.

We are leaving Tuesday for the 4S. We like to stay at villa 1501. (We're going 2 weeks this time). It rents for the same as a 2 bdrm suit in the hotel. It's about 1700 Sq Ft. with screened in front and back building wide verandas, a good sized pool deck and medium sized private pool and a lovely garden. We've stayed ther summer and winter. This time of the year we look forward to throwing open the three double veranda doors on the back of the house all day. In the Summer we didn't have to use the A.C. until the heat of the afternoon. (Always close and lock the doors at night - the doors have openable glass panels and wooden louvers.) The back of the house faces southwest and looks over the fairways to the sea. There is usually a nice breeze up on the hill. We cook at least 2 meals a day ourselves. You can do your own grocery shopping or the resort will email or fax you a grocery provisions list and have the villa stocked for your arrival. The villa also has a propane bar-b-que. We've also stayed in the 2 bdrm duplex villas along the first fairway. They rent for about twice the price of a regular hotel room. A two bedroom villa for the cost of two bedrooms. Some of them have a private plunge pool and they do have room service from the hotel. The first fairway is in the valley along the hotel and it can get hot in the afternoon. There are also three bdrm villas along the first fairway and four bdrm villas in Sunset Hill neighborhood. If you want to go all out, there are four bdrm+ villas in the Mahogany Hill area. Those are the ones the stars and big shots stay in. You can also get a private cook and nanny.

The problem about the villa rentals is that even the Four Seasons Nevis web site doesn't advertise them to any great extent. It's like they're supposed to be some big secret. And the best ones, like 1501, aren't even noted.

Be forewarned that all of the villas are privately owned and therefore all decorated and fitted out differently. The resort has strict guidelines as to what it expects to have a villa in it's rental pool so all of them will be up to Four Season's standard. For example, the first fairway duplex we stayed in (1423) had a king bed in the master bdrm and twin beds in the 2nd bdrm. 1501 has a king in the master and a double and a twin in the 2nd bedroom. That works better for two couples or a family with three children. The hotel will bring in roll-away beds for the second bedroom if you need them. Check out the furniture so that it matches your needs.

Whichever villa you choose through the hotel booking and reservations; once you're on island the hotel seems amenable to working with you to find the villa you want, They will move you and/or show you other villas that you might like to request on your next visit.

I suggest calling the resort (it's not cheap: about $2 per minute because you're talking over a satellite) at 869-469-1111 and ask to talk to Patricia in Villa reservations. She's the one who knows.

FYI: the resort has a telephone arrangement with ATT to call the States and Canada less expensively.

Wow! This is our 3rd trip to the island and I had no idea that the 4S had villas to rent. Live and learn!
Nevisian....You are a wealth of information. Thank you!

I might add that if your are taking the late night ATR from San Juan (arr. SKB around 9:00) the hotel will provide a "late night amenity" (food) for you. Request it when you make your reservation. We fly in from California so after 12+ hours of flying with two airline meals and a 25 minute 4S motor launch trip from St. Kitts to Nevis, a cold plate of grilled chicken and mango with pasta salad is very welcome! This applies to hotel rooms, suites and villa occupancy.

By the way MIMO4, You cannot rent a Four Seasons villa except through the hotel. I just checked. We're leaving tomorrow a.m. for a 2 week visit and I thought that I'd check out your claim. The resort can't stop owners who are not in the rental program from renting out their villas privately but they have no obligation to provide any hotel amenities. If a villa owner rents his/her villa out privately the renters are not entitiled to Four Seasons service or use of the resort. That means pool use, club house use and the necessary to a good vacation: daily maid service. The owners who do put their villas in the rental program sign an agreement not to rent outside the hotel rental pool. If you find a 4S villa for rent on a non-4S web site you'd better check out the facts behind it. You may not get what you think you're paying for.

It may be cheaper to rent directly from the 4S and cut out the middleman, but there are agencies that will rent you a 4S villa, with all the bells and whistles that go along with it.

They may go through the hotel, but you don't.

CW

We just got to the Four Seasons today and asked about the rumor that some or any of the villas are rentable from the owners directly through outside agents. NOT true. Travel agents do rent villas for their clients but through the hotel. The cost is the same and the agent gets a 10% spiff. MIMO4, the sites that you give are agents/brokers here on the island. They rent for you through the hotel. The villa owners are under contract with the hotel and do not rent their villas privately. There is no savings to the renter. CW, you can pay a travel agent or a local broker but the agent pays the resort for you and charges you their fee and is paid a booking fee from the resort which you don't get back, do you? In the long-run, booking from an outside agent/broker costs you more than booking direct. If the 4S is the ultimate renter why not start with them? There are also other properties on Nevis available for rent that aren't on the Four Seasons resort.

Also, to all the people who have been suggesting Mango's as an alternative dining place to the Four Season's: Mango's IS a 4 Season's restaurant just beyond the 18th hole. It used to be called "Beachcomber" but the resort took it over after the last hurricane, rebuilt it and opened it for casual, island dining.

Nevisian - since you are in the "correcting" mode you probably forgot that the Beachcomber actually operated for several years "after the last hurricane" (Wrong Way Lenny) until about 4 or 5 years ago when the land was purchased by the family that runs The Hermitage. There was a long dispute between heirs of the former owner and Hermitage that took a year and several court orders to finally find in favor of the Hermitage. During the court battle the heirs of the former owner operated it as the Beachcomber on a sporadic basis. After prevailing in court the Hermitage owners made some small renovations to the property and operated a restaurant there for about a year until they sold the land to Four Seasons who gutted the building and re-opened it as Mangos.

To Nevisian,

You might want to be a little more gentle with your 'expertise' in responding to MIM04. Her mother lives on Nevis and MIM visits often and her knowledge of Nevis extends far beyond the Four Seasons resort.

It's probably a moot point, and after this I will be mute...but you might enjoy a conversation with a Nevisian about his/her feelings about the 4S.

Marion

Marion - I am a Nevisian too. Mimo is incorrect and should give out the facts as they are. Especially if they affect someone's vacation. There are a lot of differing views on the Four Seasons among nevisian but the economy hasn't been healthier since the resort opened. Many of the Nevisian's who are vocal against the resort just don't get the business of running a business. They're learning now and that's good for everybody.

a-traveler, thank you for the history. Yes, the Hermitage tried to get involved in The Beachcomber but - it is a Four Season's restaurant.

Just to put my 2 cents in, It is true that one cannot rent a villa from 4 seasons without first going through 4 seasons. However if you are a "friend" of a villa owner, they can have you stay as a "guest" in there villa at any time. I just so happen to be related to a 4 seasons villa owner and love to make new friends all the time. ;)

Sugar Mill Real Estate on Nevis does rent the FS Nevis Villas at the same price the hotel does. One can rent directly through Sugar Mill.

MIM04
Here is the reply I recieved from the 4S villas:

"Certainly homeowners can do some of their own marketing if they wish, however further to the Rental Agreement Contract it does state that the Homeowner agrees that rental of their property shall be managed exclusively by HEF (Hotel Equity Fund V, L.L.C.) and the Homeowners shall refer all possible rental opportunities to HEF.

[the resort] was not aware of the Sugar Mill Estates website promoting rentals and using Resort photos, so he will be contacting [Sugar Mill Estates]. However, some Travel Agencies and Wholesalers such as Caribbean Way, the other website you mentioned, are partners of the Four Seasons Resort and have authority to use our photos."

F.Y.I.: "HEF" is the 4S internatoinal booking office.

There is a villa in Nevis that is on the hillside in the rain forest that has a pool overlooking the Ocean . It is amazing and not far from the 4 seasons .

Check it out on line . Seceret Garden ,Nevis
Monkeys come done and eat right off the fruit trees in the garden .

Can someone explain the differences between the villas the Four Seasons? It seems like there are different types and locations. I know the distinction with the Sunset Hill and Mahogany Hill homes. Where are the different villas located? Are some villas attached to others, so that they are like condos? Do all villas have private pools? Some villas seem to have square or rectangle pools while others have an egg shape? Also... are the villas recently updated with marble, granite countertops in the kitchens, stainless steel appliances?

Are there any villas that are better... how so? Sorry for so many questions.. just want to know! Haha thanks.

The villa locations vary throughout the property. Mahogany Hill and SunsetHill as their names imply are on the slope leading up the sides of Mt. Nevis. Mahogany Hill is a gated community area on the northern side of the resort/golf course and the Sunrise Hill area is a few fairways away on the south side - I hope that makes sense. The majority of villas on the resort property are free standing, although there are a few new ones (smaller units - I believe called Palm Grove) that are on the golf course nearer the main resort that are attached 2 BR units. They are designed so they can be rented seperately (2BR) or together as a 4 BR unit. All rental villas are privately owned and while units of the same size are similar in design they all have their own distinctive features, room layout, etc., hence some have oval pools while others have rectangular pools and still others have freeform or infinity edge pools (it all depends on the owners tasts and preference). All are very upscale with granite and/or marble countertops, upscale furnishings, colorful fabrics - all reflecting the owner's individual tastes. All villas are extremely well maintained. As for the "finish" of the appliances, again that depends on the owner's taste - some are stainless steel, some are white, others match the custom wood cabinitry. Don't sweat the small stuff - these are all $1 million to $5 million villas - there isn't a bad one on the property.

Boy this post won't die! That's great. Trojan - Palm Grove Villas are along the 1st and 18th fairways across from the Sport Pavilion and Spa. They are two and three bedroom duplexes and three bedroom cottages. Some have plung pools (an extra cost to the owners so not everybody put them in) The "plunge pools" are 8'x16'x5'deep..just right for a cooling off dip. The gardens are shared property but well planted for privacy. Palm Grove villas are close enough to the resort to warrant room service. The Sunset Hill neighborhood is really two areas. There are two free standing villas in Sunset North above the 6th tee and along the 16th fairway. The two bedroom (1601) is the smallest free standing villa on the hill. It has a pool that is about 12'x14'x6'deep. The three bedroom (1602) is pictured on the 4S website as an example of a Sunset Hill villa. The other section of Sunset Hill (South) is across a ghaut and most of the villas in that neighborhood are 3-5 bedrooms and with there own pool. The private gardens on Sunset Hill are all beautiful and lushly maintained. Room Service is not available from the hotel in Sunset Hill. The kitchens are well outfitted and the daily flatware is silver plate and the china is German to give you an example. 4S will grocery shop for you or you can do it yourself. Grocery shopping in Nevis is a fun experience in itself. A taxi driver will take you around and stay with you if you don't want to rent a car and drive on the left side of the road. Mahogony Hill is about the 12th(?) fairway and at the present time, the highest villa neighborhood and the furthest away from the resort. The villas are 4-5 bedrooms and on larger properties. Most of the big muck-a-mucks stay up there. Whichever neighborhod you choose a four seater gas golf cart should come with the villa rental so you will be able to get around on the property.

Trojan - I just caught an error in my last post. The Plunge Pools at the Palm Grove villas ar NOT 8'x16'x5'. They are more or less 8'x10'x5'. Some of the first ones are even smaller but that's why they call them "plunge pools" You really can't swim in them. There is also a three bedroom two storey design that you might not want to choose. The original two storey duplexes are short on indoor living space and long on outdoor veranda facing the neighboring property. If there are noisy kids in the back yard of the next door unit they can be along side your veranda. The two bedroom duplexes are better situated for privacy.

So really, these Palm Grove villas aren't really "villas" but more like condominiums with separate pools and gardens? Interesting.. So, there aren't any free standing palm grove villas? What Palm Grove villa do you reccomend?

Palm Grove Villas are a mix. The older villas are back-to-back duplexes (2 units with a common wall). The resort just finished 5 or 6 free standing villas in Palm Grove two years ago. They were more popular with long term renters. If you get a duplex, stick with the one storey units facing south (catch the breeze) or pay a bit more for a free standing villa along the first fairway. If you want more privacy there is one two bedroom free standing villa in Sunset North with a beautiful garden. To be honest; we're talking about the only 5 diamond resort in the Caribbean and although the villas are privately owned, the resort has strict guidlines as to their condition and amenities. If it isn't 4S quality it isn't in the rental pool. I've been in numerous villas in all the neighborhoods and they are definitely rich people's second homes. The owners come from all over the globe so you get a different taste in each villa. Some have sleek modern furnishings, some have lovely antiques, all have great artwork. You get German China instead of Melamac plates and silver plate instead of stainless steel untensils in the kitchen. The master bedrooms have king beds and the second bedrooms have a mix of King, Quenn, twins, 1-double and twin beds. One 4 bedroom in Sunset has all kings. Don't be afraid to ask the front desk to show you different units if you are not satisfied with the one they assign you. Before I retired and decided to move to Nevis, we stayed in Palm Grove and the 2 bedroom on the hill (1601). I hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did ours. Maybe you'll want to move here too!

Thanks! There is a Nevisian Villa special on the FS site and it says it includes a Palm Grove Villa w/ Plunge Pool and complimentary golf cart plus other incentives. Do you think I can request a stand alone 2 bedroom villa for the same special?

The villas at the FS Nevis seem to be the most reasonable to me. At other resorts, such as Little Dix Bay or Parrot Cay, the villas are ridiculously expensive! Does anyone know of other resorts such as FS Nevis that have reasonably prices villas with two bedrooms?

It never hurts to ask. I'd imagine a lot would depend on the season and the hotel's bookings. And the villa of choice's availability. Some (most) of the owners come down for the winter. The Palm Grove Villas picture on the 4S web site is one of the single storey 2 br. duplexes. You can see by the roofline that they share a common wall. The view, if I'm not mistaken, is taken from the backyard plunge pool patio of one of the 3br. free standing Palm Grove villas at the dogleg of the 1st fairway. The 2 br duplexes are along the fairway and the free standing 3 br villas are around the hole. The buildings are quite strategically placed for privacy from each other. The golfers will be going past your back veranda/yard. The plunge pool is great for cooling off after a hot sunbath on your own patio and for a midnight dip -plus- you always have the three distinctly different pools and jaccuzzi along the beach too. Check this site out http://www.fsestatesnevis.com/VillaMap.html it is the villa sales departments site and may give you a better idea of the property.

I assume going in the summer would allow more room to ask for a certain villa?

FS Nevis seems like it can't be beat... the prices arent ridiculously expensive for a luxury villa WITH a kitchen, and the lush and beautiful scenery on the island makes up for the beach [which seems to still have very clear water, just not very turquoise].

Nevisian, is there much to do on St. Kitts that isn't on Nevis? Are there day trips to other Caribbean islands nearby other than St. Kitts?

Oh, also, what kind of villa is this in the photo:

http://www.fourseasons.com/image_lib...87_496x620.jpg

Is it the two story Palm Grove Villa? I thought all individual villa residences came with pools for each family staying in each duplex. I noticed that villa also has an infinity pool, which is what I would prefer.

That is one of the 2 storey villas along the 18th fairway (on the other side of the lily pond). The pool belongs to the front villa. It is not shared with the other unit in the duplex. If you notice, the other side of the duplex does not have a pool. Some owners did not put them in. This pool must be new, I don't remember seeing it. It's obviously bigger than a plunge pool and has enough patio space for lounge chairs. I doubt that it is an infinity edge pool but it certainly is better than a plunge pool. I was in this unit 10 years ago. You can see the ocean from the upper storey (master bedroom balcony) beyond the 18th green. The unit that has the pool faces West. The breezes come off the mountain behind it so keep that in mind. I've been told that the resort is on a big upgrade campaign for units of this age so this one may have been rehabbed. For example, the kitchens and bathrooms were originally white tile and they are upgrading to marble. The furniture was wicker and most of the owners I talk with say that the resort is asking them to update the chintz and wicker look.
Try this URL for a look at the floorplan for a 2 storey unit http://www.fsestatesnevis.com/resale.html

Ah I see... that villa seems like it needs to be somewhat updated with newer furniture, etc. Will most of the villas be updated by June 2008?

I guess I just have to call the hotel and ask them about which villa w/ a pool to rent for the $1125 price per night.

TrijanBMW - I asked a friend in housekeeping and she thinks that unit has been upgraded. Since it is always pictured in the adds, it is very popular. She also said that the villas are always in better condition that the hotel rooms since they rent less and the owners pay individual attention to them. Personally, I don't think that you will have a problem with any of the villas. Mid-summer isn't high season so the resort should be able to give you a choice if the first unit they assign you isn't up to your expectations. They really do deserve their 5 diamond reputation. I wish SKBFAN would chime in here about St. Kitts. The sugar train doesn't run during the summer so you'll have to rely on a rental car or taxi. Taxi is best. You must visit Brimstone Hill fortress, Rawlins Plantation and the old part of downtown: The Circle. St. Kitts is building an entirely new downtown for cruise ships and although the shopping will be St. Thomas-like, it isn't the original Basseterre. Walk around Basseterre for a day. Get to know the people. The Cricket grounds are new for this last years International matches, The Roman and Anglican churches are worth a look see. Ferry service between the islands is every day and frequent. We go shopping in St. Kitts. For us it's like shopping in the next city down the road. Ballyhoo restaurant in the Circus (main Square) is good for lunch. You could also take a day trip to St. Martin by flying out of Nevis in the early morning and back about 7pm. Rent a car at the airport in St. Martin. Be back to the airport ahead of schedule. They will stop check-in when they say they do and woe to him who arrives 5 minutes after their time. Take Winair or Liat. The hotel will arrange it for you. We grocery shop for French cheeses and specialty foods there.

I really can't decide if I want to go to Nevis. I try to convince myself that the beach is really nice, but when I see photos of Turks & Caicos, I think to myself that the beach seems supreme there. But then again, I say to myself... well there aren't any resorts that I really like on T&C. Amanyara is too expensive for a two bedroom suite/villa [which is what we need], and Parrot Cay is too expensive for a 2 br. villa/suite too. Grace Bay Club is in our price range, but I don't exactly like how the hotel is 4 story condo buildings with only two small pools.. same with Somerset, and The Palms. Nothing seems to beat the FS Nevis with the reasonable priced 2 bedroom villa with the private pool.

I've heard that the Four Seasons Great Exuma is far away from the main town where the restaurants are, yet there are some amazing excursions to the cays in the Bahamas. The beach at the FS is also amazing it seems, but there are only 2 bedroom suites w/o private pools.

Other reasons too don't seem to beat Nevis in the room category... Raffles Canouan Island has nice suites but the cheaper ones don't have kitchens or private pools. Jumby Bay's villas are too expensive. Ritz Carlton St. Thomas has reasonable priced condos, but they're lacking privacy and a private pool...

In the end, I think to myself... well Four Seasons Nevis seems to have it all. Very nice resort with three pools, plenty of tennis courts, a closeby town, restaurants, history, golf, and a top rated spa. I have the option of booking a villa with a private pool. The scenery is gorgeous, yet it just lacks that stereotypical white sand Caribbean beach and the excursions to different beautiful cays. I think I am just thinking too hard about this!

I really can't decide if I want to go to Nevis. I try to convince myself that the beach is really nice, but when I see photos of Turks & Caicos, I think to myself that the beach seems supreme there. But then again, I say to myself... well there aren't any resorts that I really like on T&C. Amanyara is too expensive for a two bedroom suite/villa [which is what we need], and Parrot Cay is too expensive for a 2 br. villa/suite too. Grace Bay Club is in our price range, but I don't exactly like how the hotel is 4 story condo buildings with only two small pools.. same with Somerset, and The Palms. Nothing seems to beat the FS Nevis with the reasonable priced 2 bedroom villa with the private pool.

I've heard that the Four Seasons Great Exuma is far away from the main town where the restaurants are, yet there are some amazing excursions to the cays in the Bahamas. The beach at the FS is also amazing it seems, but there are only 2 bedroom suites w/o private pools.

Other reasons too don't seem to beat Nevis in the room category... Raffles Canouan Island has nice suites but the cheaper ones don't have kitchens or private pools. Jumby Bay's villas are too expensive. Ritz Carlton St. Thomas has reasonable priced condos, but they're lacking privacy and a private pool...

In the end, I think to myself... well Four Seasons Nevis seems to have it all. Very nice resort with three pools, plenty of tennis courts, a closeby town, restaurants, history, golf, and a top rated spa. I have the option of booking a villa with a private pool. The scenery is gorgeous, yet it just lacks that stereotypical white sand Caribbean beach and the excursions to different beautiful cays. I think I am just thinking too hard about this!

I wish there was a resort just like the Four Seasons Nevis with all of the activities, close proximity to a town, yet somewhat isolated, but with a better beach. Nothing seems to beat a Four Seasons.

Yes, you are thinking too hard about this. This is a one time trip and if you like 4SNevis you will come back, if you don't like 4S Nevis then you will spend a bit more and try Parrot Cay or Exuma: the next vacation. This won't be the last trip you take - will it? Vacations are supposed to be carefree and relaxing. You are getting yourself into a tizzy. Choose whichever resort seems to suit your criteria today and go for it. Your criteria may change for your next trip. And the stereotypical white sand beaches aren't typical, they are rare. Sand is sand colour and the beaches of Nevis and St. Kitts are light golden (except for two black beaches on St, Kitts) and lovely. The ocean is not teal blue because the water is deeper than the shallow sandbars of the Bahamas or the Caymans. Good luck in choosing and have a great vacation wherever you decide to go.