Nevis Trip Guidance
Feb 24th, 2015, 03:21 PM
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Nevis Trip Guidance
We are headed on a four night trip to Nevis in march w/ a group of friends and need some guidance to round out the trip. We’ll be staying at the four season. This is our first trip to Nevis. Since we are there for a short time, we want to maximize our time by having a loose schedule of great places/activities so we can just relax on our down time w/out having to plan our next stop.
We are food aficionados, so finding the “out of the way,” great drinking and dining experiences is certainly something we aim to include in our travels. We are already scheduled to visit these restaurants for dinner:
Friday - Four seasons
Saturday - Great House
Sunday – sail to coconut Grove for dinner
Monday - Mango
Question #1: What are the “must see” beach bars during the day time for good food/drink/people watching? (i.e. conch/ribs/boat drinks/etc) maybe give us your top 3-4
Question #2: Is there a suggested itinerary of a self-guided driving tour to see the island that hits some of the good daytime eating/bar spots around the island and also a few historic stops? Maybe 3-5 hours total and in some logical order for driving. Which Polaris or car rental places do you suggest?
Questions #3: On Sunday and Monday, we are given a choice of activities from which to select (see below). We are active people, so any of them sound interesting. I’d appreciate some guidance on which would be the most interesting (see the island, etc) if anyone has done these.
Sunday (choose one/or none and do something else).
1. Ultimate Nevisian Challenge Bike Tour
Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours
This Nevis island tour is for intermediate and experienced cyclists only and involves a full tour of this beautiful 36 square mile destination. Your tour will take you through charming villages such as Newcastle, Camps, Butler, Gingerland, Brown Hill and Long Point as well as historical plantations such as Golden Rock, Garners Estate, and Eden Brown to name a few. This round the island tour also travels through Charlestown, the historical capital of Nevis, before returning to the start point in Newcastle.
2. Kayaking
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Enhance your Nevis experience by viewing it from a unique point of view - the sea side. Kayak along the pristine coastline, past steep cliffs, beautiful beaches and remote bays. Once you reach the perfect spot to stop, dive in and explore the undersea life as you swim and snorkel.
3. The Source Trail Hike
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
A moderately challenging hike through lush cloud forest. An ideal spot for panoramic views. On your way you will hike by two tropical ravines and into a cave. You will be introduced to the fauna and flora of the island, including bamboo and fruit trees such as bananas, citrus, avocados, mangoes and guavas.
Monday (Choose One
1. Catamaran Sail
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Enjoy the sea breeze while lazing on the sun deck of the Catamaran, listen to the sounds of the waves lapping against the hulls, take a sip of a tropical rum punch as you cruise the crystal clear waters along the coast of St. Kitts & Nevis. A stop for snorkeling at Shitten Bay in St. Kitts affords guests the exciting opportunity to snorkel in 15 feet of clear blue water and enjoy the spectacular array of colorful sea life including parrot fish, trumpet fish, blue runners, turtles, sand dollars and coral. Let the fun begin!
2. Coastline Journey
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
This bike tour takes you through historical Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, viewing various historical sites and locations along the route. You then travel along Long Point Road viewing the old Dogwood Lighthouse near the coastline. Other sites include historic Bath Hotel and hot streams. This tour incorporates paved roads, double off road trails and a climbing gradient of between 3-5%.
3. Rainforest & Ruins Hike
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Hike into the rainforest and coconut plantations on the slopes of Nevis Peak. Along the way, experience the beauty and tranquility of a cool, tropical ravine full of massive volcanic boulders worn smooth by a millennium's rainfall amidst majestic trees and lavish tropical plants.
Thanks for any commentary
We are food aficionados, so finding the “out of the way,” great drinking and dining experiences is certainly something we aim to include in our travels. We are already scheduled to visit these restaurants for dinner:
Friday - Four seasons
Saturday - Great House
Sunday – sail to coconut Grove for dinner
Monday - Mango
Question #1: What are the “must see” beach bars during the day time for good food/drink/people watching? (i.e. conch/ribs/boat drinks/etc) maybe give us your top 3-4
Question #2: Is there a suggested itinerary of a self-guided driving tour to see the island that hits some of the good daytime eating/bar spots around the island and also a few historic stops? Maybe 3-5 hours total and in some logical order for driving. Which Polaris or car rental places do you suggest?
Questions #3: On Sunday and Monday, we are given a choice of activities from which to select (see below). We are active people, so any of them sound interesting. I’d appreciate some guidance on which would be the most interesting (see the island, etc) if anyone has done these.
Sunday (choose one/or none and do something else).
1. Ultimate Nevisian Challenge Bike Tour
Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours
This Nevis island tour is for intermediate and experienced cyclists only and involves a full tour of this beautiful 36 square mile destination. Your tour will take you through charming villages such as Newcastle, Camps, Butler, Gingerland, Brown Hill and Long Point as well as historical plantations such as Golden Rock, Garners Estate, and Eden Brown to name a few. This round the island tour also travels through Charlestown, the historical capital of Nevis, before returning to the start point in Newcastle.
2. Kayaking
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Enhance your Nevis experience by viewing it from a unique point of view - the sea side. Kayak along the pristine coastline, past steep cliffs, beautiful beaches and remote bays. Once you reach the perfect spot to stop, dive in and explore the undersea life as you swim and snorkel.
3. The Source Trail Hike
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
A moderately challenging hike through lush cloud forest. An ideal spot for panoramic views. On your way you will hike by two tropical ravines and into a cave. You will be introduced to the fauna and flora of the island, including bamboo and fruit trees such as bananas, citrus, avocados, mangoes and guavas.
Monday (Choose One
1. Catamaran Sail
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Enjoy the sea breeze while lazing on the sun deck of the Catamaran, listen to the sounds of the waves lapping against the hulls, take a sip of a tropical rum punch as you cruise the crystal clear waters along the coast of St. Kitts & Nevis. A stop for snorkeling at Shitten Bay in St. Kitts affords guests the exciting opportunity to snorkel in 15 feet of clear blue water and enjoy the spectacular array of colorful sea life including parrot fish, trumpet fish, blue runners, turtles, sand dollars and coral. Let the fun begin!
2. Coastline Journey
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
This bike tour takes you through historical Charlestown, the capital of Nevis, viewing various historical sites and locations along the route. You then travel along Long Point Road viewing the old Dogwood Lighthouse near the coastline. Other sites include historic Bath Hotel and hot streams. This tour incorporates paved roads, double off road trails and a climbing gradient of between 3-5%.
3. Rainforest & Ruins Hike
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Hike into the rainforest and coconut plantations on the slopes of Nevis Peak. Along the way, experience the beauty and tranquility of a cool, tropical ravine full of massive volcanic boulders worn smooth by a millennium's rainfall amidst majestic trees and lavish tropical plants.
Thanks for any commentary
Feb 24th, 2015, 04:40 PM
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Which "Great House" are you dining at on Saturday? If you mean "Nisbet Plantation Great House" consider changing that to either Mill Privee or Restaurant 750, both at Montpelier - they have much better food than Nisbet.
FYI - Coconut Grove 9very good food) is only about a 5 to 7 minute ride by car or taxi from Four Seasons. I don't know why you'd want to "sail" there unless it's part of an organized "sunset cruise".
To answer your other questions:
1) Beach Bars - Sunshine's, Lime, Double Deuce and the newly opened Turtle Time are all on Pinney's Beach just a few hundred yards south of the Four Seasons. Chrishi Beach (aka The Love Shack) Bar is located at Cades Bay, about 3 or 4 miles north of the Four Seasons. All are very good for lunch.
2) There's only one place to rent Polaris ATV's (by the way, you CAN NOT drive them on the beaches) -http://www.funkymonkeytours.com. You can find a list of Nevis car rental companies here: http://www.nevisisland.com/car-rental-agencies. You can get a free road map from the 4S concierge and/or your vehicle rental company that you can use to easily plan your own driving tour. There is only one main road on Nevis that circumvents the island (it's 18 miles around) and most major points of interest are easy to reach from the main road. Simply exit the 4S resort and turn either right or left - no matter which way you go you'll end up back at the resort.
3) For your activities each day you are basically choosing between biking, a water excursion or a hike. If I were you, I skip the biking (you can easily see most of the same things on your self-driving tour) and choose one of the water excursion and one of the hikes. For what it is worth, the snorkeling will be better on the Catamaran trip than on the Kayaking trip. If it helps, the Source Hike can be a bit muddy and is a bit strenuous whereas the "rainforest/ruins" hike is easer.
Hope this helps.
FYI - Coconut Grove 9very good food) is only about a 5 to 7 minute ride by car or taxi from Four Seasons. I don't know why you'd want to "sail" there unless it's part of an organized "sunset cruise".
To answer your other questions:
1) Beach Bars - Sunshine's, Lime, Double Deuce and the newly opened Turtle Time are all on Pinney's Beach just a few hundred yards south of the Four Seasons. Chrishi Beach (aka The Love Shack) Bar is located at Cades Bay, about 3 or 4 miles north of the Four Seasons. All are very good for lunch.
2) There's only one place to rent Polaris ATV's (by the way, you CAN NOT drive them on the beaches) -http://www.funkymonkeytours.com. You can find a list of Nevis car rental companies here: http://www.nevisisland.com/car-rental-agencies. You can get a free road map from the 4S concierge and/or your vehicle rental company that you can use to easily plan your own driving tour. There is only one main road on Nevis that circumvents the island (it's 18 miles around) and most major points of interest are easy to reach from the main road. Simply exit the 4S resort and turn either right or left - no matter which way you go you'll end up back at the resort.
3) For your activities each day you are basically choosing between biking, a water excursion or a hike. If I were you, I skip the biking (you can easily see most of the same things on your self-driving tour) and choose one of the water excursion and one of the hikes. For what it is worth, the snorkeling will be better on the Catamaran trip than on the Kayaking trip. If it helps, the Source Hike can be a bit muddy and is a bit strenuous whereas the "rainforest/ruins" hike is easer.
Hope this helps.
Feb 24th, 2015, 05:24 PM
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Yes, Neve is on 4S property - it's in the "main building" next to their more formal restaurant. Coral Grill.
I'm guessing you are on some type of "corporate junket" which explains why you have set excursions to choose from and 3 of your dinners are at 4S (Neve, Mango, and one of their other venues which you just described as "Four Seasons") and one "sail to" dinner at Coconut Grove (it's an excellent restaurant and they cater a lot of "special function" dinners for groups staying at the 4S).
If you you truly are "...food aficionados..." and looking for "...great drinking and dining experiences..." and you are not locked into having 3 dinners at 4S restaurants consider skipping Mango and dining at one of the Montpelier venues I mentioned in my earlier response. The food at Montpelier is exceptional - Mill Privee offers a nightly 5 course tasting menu while Restaurant 750 offers a 3 course dinner with a selection of appetizers, entrees and deserts. You won't be disappointed dining at Montpelier.
Have fun!
I'm guessing you are on some type of "corporate junket" which explains why you have set excursions to choose from and 3 of your dinners are at 4S (Neve, Mango, and one of their other venues which you just described as "Four Seasons") and one "sail to" dinner at Coconut Grove (it's an excellent restaurant and they cater a lot of "special function" dinners for groups staying at the 4S).
If you you truly are "...food aficionados..." and looking for "...great drinking and dining experiences..." and you are not locked into having 3 dinners at 4S restaurants consider skipping Mango and dining at one of the Montpelier venues I mentioned in my earlier response. The food at Montpelier is exceptional - Mill Privee offers a nightly 5 course tasting menu while Restaurant 750 offers a 3 course dinner with a selection of appetizers, entrees and deserts. You won't be disappointed dining at Montpelier.
Have fun!
Feb 25th, 2015, 02:55 AM
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Just to throw a couple of things into the mix, consider having lunch at one of the plantation inns up in the mountains. No trip to Nevis is complete for me without lunch at Golden Rock Plantation. The grounds are built around the ruins of an old sugar plantation and have terraces and koi/lily ponds overlooking the sea.
Another beautiful spot for lunch is Bananas, up in the rain forest. The owners have an artistic sensibility, so the restaurant is decorated in rich colors, with artwork scattered throughout. The grounds have beautiful flowers and vegetation. The food is great too -- a modern take on traditional island foods.
Finally, though I have a decided brown thumb and am not a special fan of gardens, if found the Botanical Gardens worth a visit. You could include a stop in your driving tour.
Another beautiful spot for lunch is Bananas, up in the rain forest. The owners have an artistic sensibility, so the restaurant is decorated in rich colors, with artwork scattered throughout. The grounds have beautiful flowers and vegetation. The food is great too -- a modern take on traditional island foods.
Finally, though I have a decided brown thumb and am not a special fan of gardens, if found the Botanical Gardens worth a visit. You could include a stop in your driving tour.
Feb 26th, 2015, 05:04 AM
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any suggestions of good history books to read prior to trip?
Also, the funky monkey guided atv tours had good reviews. Any thoughts there?
Lastly, from my brief reading, it seems like much of the nightlife centers around the pinney beach bars. Is that correct?
Also, the funky monkey guided atv tours had good reviews. Any thoughts there?
Lastly, from my brief reading, it seems like much of the nightlife centers around the pinney beach bars. Is that correct?
