Just starting to research some things for our trip in late January of next year.

My husband dives, I don't. Any comments on local dive shops - good or bad?

We're staying at the Marriott - any commentary on that?

Are we going to need a car? We usually get one when we travel, but.....

Commentary on places to eat? We're very flexible. Usually do coffee in the am, a supermarket type lunch (sandwiches, snacks,etc). Dinner - usually a couple of nice ones and a couple of casual ones during the course of a 7-10 vacation.

Thanks so much for any help.

St Kitts does not have good diving and only passable snorkeling, so if that is a priority, you might want to rethink SKB if you haven't already booked.

There are limited reefs and one major wreck - a ferry that sunk (in the 80's?) with loss of life and dive operators are sometimes reluctant to go there.

The Marriott gets uneven reviews. I personally do not care for it because it is HUGE and overwhelms the island.

Driving is easy and is on the left. I'd rent a car as cabs get very expensive.

There are several good places to eat. I know there is one downtown that we usually go to that is good. Maybe Ballyhoo? (I think.)

I am sure you will get more info - there are sveral people on here who are knowledgeable about St Kitts.

Stonewalls is a great restaurant -- very unique atmosphere. We also enjoyed Fisherman's Wharf, the restaurant at Ottley's and Ballyhoo's as Diana indicated.

Try Marshall's for an upscale dining experience, Sprat Net for casual dinner and Rawlins Plantation for an excellent West Indian Buffet Lunch in a lovely pastoral setting. There are numerous other places to eat in all price ranges.

Like Diana says dive sites in the waters off of St. Kitts are only so-so and she is right that dive operators will not take you to the wreck of the Christina (it's sinking was really a tragic event for the Kittisians ans Nevisians). If diving is a main priority you might want to go elsewhere.

If you decide to go definitely rent a car as things are pretty spread out around the island. It will give you the opportunity to come and go as you please and if you are the type of people who like to get out and about you'll find the will be less than taking taxis everywhere. Visit the Fort at Brimstone hill - it is one of the most impressive in the entire Caribbean.

We just returned from St Kitts. We didn't dive, but agree that the snorkeling was adequate but not as nice as some other places we have been. There are a couple hotels that cater to divers e.g. Bird Rock Beach Hotel, they have a web site.

We stayed at a self catering place, we saw the Marriott and it appeared to us big and institutional and not very attractive. Plus it is on the Atlantic (rougher surf than Caribbean side).

I recommend a 4WD unless you want to stick to the (one) main road. We hired a standard car and regretted it. Driving is not difficult but roads are full of livestock, dogs and in the towns, children - so be careful and be prepared to slow down quickly. Normally we take the local buses but I agree with the other posts that on St Kitts a car would be an advantage, and taxis are very expensive.

We did not find the dining to be so great on St Kitts but we did not try as many places as some other posters have. We did have a nice brunch at the Golden Lemon, and some OK food at Ballahoo's in Basseterre. Had very mixed experiences with the food at Bobsie's, but really enjoyed the atmosphere and there was some good music there at the weekend. We found dress to be casual at the places we went.

There are two supermarkets in Basseterre, we found the IGA to be better than Ram's. Slow going paying by credit card there so advise cash. You probably know this already but for diving would recommend Bonaire.

We found that if you want to do any hiking you will need a guide. We very much enjoyed seeing the fort at Brimstone Hill. Perhaps it was the time of year but there were a lot of mosquitoes about, so I would recommend taking some insect repellant.

It's been many years, 14 to be exact, but it was the first time I got to dive in the caribbean. I dove both a reef, and the next day we did a shipwreck. I actually followed the DM through several compartments of the vessel. I don't remember it looking like a ferry, but more of a cargo type of boat. The dive was great to me, but then again it was my first time diving in the caribbean, and I've since been spoiled by diving in better locations such as Grand Cayman.

Is this possibly the same ship that they won't take you to anymore?