Travel

The Best Hotels in St. Kitts and Nevis

Neighboring St. Kitts and Nevis remain two of the most off-the-radar islands in the Caribbean, and we still can’t figure out why. Their beaches are gorgeous, their mountainous coastlines are perfect for day hikes, and when it comes to local life, this is about as laid-back as it gets this side of the Atlantic. Colonial history here runs strong, and many of the islands’ former sugar plantation homes have been repurposed into stunning properties with charm to spare. Here’s where to check in when you go.

By Lindsey Olander

1. Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbor

From the reflecting lily pools at its entrance to the wall of straw hats in the lobby, you’ll never forget you’re on sandy St. Kitts when you stay at the swish, five-star Park Hyatt fronting Christophe Harbor. We especially love that the 126 taupe-and-blue rooms are an about-face from the stuffy colonial leftovers you’ll find elsewhere on the island, which ensure those volcano and beach views are never upstaged. You’ll also enjoy water views from the Miraval Spa, which uses local ingredients like Kittitian salt and brown sugar in its treatments. When it’s time to get social, take your pick between the adults-only infinity pool or the cabana-lined one for families.

2. Belle Mont Farm

Calling all foodies: gourmet meals are the standard when you stay at Belle Mont Farm, a 400-acre eco-friendly working farm built on the slopes of Mount Liamuiga. Across the property (and even on the golf course), signs indicate when fruit is ripe to pick, while no less than six restaurants and bars showcase the island’s bounty. The one you absolutely have to hit is Kitchen, which specializes in fresh catches of the day and sources nearly every ingredient from St. Kitts or neighboring Nevis. After their fill, guests hide out to digest and kick back in one of 84 West Indies-style villas tricked out with open-air soaking tubs and wraparound decks.

3. Four Seasons Resort Nevis

If it’s seclusion you seek, head over to St. Kitts’s sister island, Nevis, and check into the Four Seasons Resort. Despite its small size, this colonial beauty embodies the kind of over-the-top luxury you’ve always dreamed of: there are three infinity pools, pavilions with wraparound verandas, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course, a lavish spa, and included perks that do their part to justify the hefty price tag, from a sailing school to tennis courts, guided hikes along rainforest trails, and even a beach concierge who roams the sands, handing out books and sunscreen.

4. Montpelier Plantation Inn, Nevis

Montpelier Plantation Inn, in Nevis Peak’s foothills, has lost none of its magic since it welcomed Princess Diana and princes William and Harry back in the day. Modeled after an q8th-century plantation house, Montpelier is secluded, cottage-style living at its most tranquil: there’s a restaurant inside an old mill, antique copper pots filled with floating water lilies, and tropical plants everywhere, including inside guest rooms—studies in texture with their sisal rugs, hemp chairs, bamboo headboards, and sea views. Between time spent by the mosaic pool or private beach, sign up for a cooking class, rum tasting, or spa treatment—whatever suits your preference.

5. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club

The ruins of a former sugar plantation, including the mill and a 1778 Great House, lend Nisbet Plantation Beach Club undeniable history and charm. Scattered across the property’s 30 acres are 36 cottage-style rooms that embrace the plantation theme with their avocado-hued walls, wicker furniture, and screened patios, and are connected by pathways that lead down to a powdery beach. After days spent snorkeling, horseback riding, or watching resident vervet monkeys from your private deck, reserve a table at the restaurant to sample fresh-caught island cuisine.

6. Golden Rock Inn

An 18th-century former sugar estate in the hills of Gingerland is now an art-filled sanctuary—a unique partnership between artists Brice and Helen Marden and landscape architect Raymond Jungles. Keep an eye out for marriages of old and new: there’s an aging cistern turned spring-fed swimming pool, the sugar mill is now a luxurious two-story suite complete with a winding bamboo staircase, and the nearly 100 acres have been re-designed as dreamy gardens that are a delight to walk through. Despite the property’s size, there are just 11 rooms—all individually decorated, featuring Le Labo toiletries, oil lamps, and colorful souvenirs from the Mardens’ travels. It’s not unusual to run into vervet monkeys or donkeys as you make your way to the indoor-outdoor restaurant—the best place to take in the sunset, cocktail in hand.

7. Paradise Beach Nevis

No, you’re not in Bali—though we’d forgive you for thinking so, after stepping inside one of Paradise Beach Nevis’s 12 thatched-roof, open-plan villas complete with hand-carved timber beams, private courtyard gardens, earth-toned pottery, and teak furniture. That said, you’ll still feel worlds away from the rest of the island: the resort is gated, so Paradise Beach and its views of distant St. Kitts remain pristine, and the luxury factor is maxed out thanks to gourmet kitchens in every suite, included butler service, and private chefs available for hire. Psst—splurge on one of their Beach Houses for your own copper plunge pool and direct beach access. Hoping for a more casual night? The small beach bar is a favorite local haunt and their weekly lobster bake and bonfire brings the energy to a head.

8. Koi Resort St. Kitts, Curio Collection by Hilton

Ditch the island kitch for a swanky Asian-inspired stay at the Koi Resort St. Kitts, which brings a bit of Southeast Asia to Half Moon Bay. Interiors are sleek and minimal, with polished wood headboards and floor-to-ceiling windows in the 201 guest rooms that keep the focus on its waterfront address. After clocking in a few hours on the pool deck overlooking the ocean and at Kaya Spa, head to KOI restaurant for Japanese-inspired dishes like crispy rice and miso-bronzed cod; the more casual, poolside Jaya Kitchen & Cocktails for sandwiches and pizza; or Jaya Ultra Lounge for Caribbean rum flights and night vibes.