By Lisa Hanley | August 10, 2024
If you like the sound of pristine beaches and lush green botanical landscapes, then Nevis is the perfect setting for your next summer escape. For a peaceful island paradise with over 36 square miles of unspoiled land and an intimate population of just 12,000 people, this island has a lot to give.
If you drive around the island, which you can do in less than one hour, you will see that the island has a soul that runs deeper than the ocean it lies on. From the many historical monuments and old sugar mill plantation ruins to the tropical rainforests and volcanic peaks, Nevis is full of folklore, history and hidden gems to discover throughout your stay.
A relatively remote island devoid of traffic lights, fast-food restaurants, and large cruise ship ports makes for a haven of peace and slow living. Here, there’s no rush, just a leisurely pace of life. The roads, often used as pavements by the abundant population of goats and donkeys, are a testament to this unhurried lifestyle. The agricultural harvests are bountiful, the locals are charming, and every luxury hotel has a unique story.
Where to stay
You will truly be spoiled for choice when choosing a place to stay here. I enjoyed slow mornings and solo breakfasts on the luxurious grounds of the Montpelier Plantation and Beach, the hotel once graced by Princess Diana.
The boutique hotel was built on an 18th-century sugar plantation and converted into a luxury hotel in the 1960s. Montpelier is the perfect stay for newcomers, equipped with private rooms with patios overlooking lavish gardens, access to private beaches, and an outdoor spa area with tennis courts.
During my mornings, I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on fellow guests as they chatted casually about holiday homes, private islands, and the latest politics over eggs and espressos. But such is life in Nevis – a magnet for high-net-worth entrepreneurs, retirees, and celebrities. This idyllic island has charmed the likes of Oprah, John Travolta, Kelly Ripa, and even Beyoncé, so you never know who you may spot on your travels.
I would also recommend the lavish Four Seasons Resort, Nevis. This powerhouse of a property sitting on Pinney’s beach is great for families, and offers activities for kids, including camping, cooking classes, and child minding services, so parents can enjoy a child-free evening. For those on a more romantic holiday, the private villa resort of Paradise Beach may suit your needs. This opulent five-star hotel gives you access to your own private villas, which come equipped with a pool and kitchen.
Summer festivities and nightlife
Visiting Nevis in July means you can enjoy their annual Mango Festival, a week-long fun-filled celebration full of activities to enjoy with your friends and family. From a small mango tree in a local garden to vast hectares of wild mango harvests, this fruit can be found here in abundance. This year marked the 10th anniversary and festivities were bigger and better than in previous years.
Visitors from neighbouring Caribbean islands, the US and the UK came together for one week of music concerts, chef competitions, food tasting tours and private dining experiences with celebrity chefs. One of the week’s highlights for me was the Passport Food tour, which consisted of a restaurant hop across ten different locations around the island. I got to try a new mango-based dish at every stop whilst exploring a different part of the island each time. The concept was fun, unique, and a great way to explore Nevis.
By night, you can join the locals for a beach bar crawl, gather on the roadside for impromptu music, sip the island’s famous Killer Bee cocktail, and try authentic Nevisian barbeque.
Where to eat
In Nevis, exceptional cuisine is a certainty. Visiting in July will allow you to indulge in an enticing array of culinary experiences. The island is abundant with fresh harvest, which means dishes are made with local ingredients and fresh produce.
I tried the best seafood at the Four Seasons On the Dune restaurant. With views facing the beachfront, I could see the island of St. Kitts from a distance which turned into sparkling lights by the evening. Here, I ate the best scallops I ever had alongside a tuna carpaccio and octopus salad. They offer fresh fish on the grill, signature cocktails, and an impressive wine list.
During the Mango festival, I had the opportunity to attend a private dining experience at the Four Seasons beachside restaurant, Mango, headed by celebrity chef Shorn Benjamin. The experience included a live band and rock star pianist playing classical renditions of Mozart over a reggae bassline.
Guests dressed in stylish resort wear mingled over bespoke mango cocktails as the sun went down. With the sweet sounds of the live music serenading me through the night, it was hard to believe this was only a glimpse of what summer in Nevis has to offer.
Excursions and sightseeing
The range of activities and excursions here will surely cater to your inner adventurer. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy snorkelling, scuba diving, and sailing across the Caribbean Sea. Explorers can go on a three-hour buggy ride across the island, hike in the rainforest, or climb Nevis Peak. I opted for horseback riding along the beach in the evening. The ride was relaxing and peaceful as we rode along a nearly empty beach and watched the sun go down.
In a nutshell
Nevis has quickly become a haven for high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and retirees, thanks to its enticing citizenship incentives. So, if you’re considering your next summer destination or looking for a new island to call home, I highly recommend looking no further than Nevis.
Factbox
Getting there – A flight from Gatwick Airport with a short stop to Antigua will have you in St. Kitts in less than ten hours. From the airport in St. Kitts, a short ride to a boat taxi at the port will take you to Nevis. I sat in the back, watching nothing but waves of turquoise sea water turn into white foam as we bounced across the Caribbean Sea in less than ten minutes. It was here I met a retiree from Newcastle, John. He arrived on the boat solo, and he sat smiling from ear to ear with his Carib in hand. After one week here, I understood exactly why he was smiling.