Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Four Seasons Resort Nevis’ lobby terrace.

 

Since it first opened in February 1991, Four Seasons Resort Nevis has attracted jet-setters. When it reopened a year ago after a two-year repair due to damages caused by Hurricane Omar, it was fresher than ever and is now truly hitting its stride once again.

Luxury travelers have plenty of choices here; of the 196 rooms, 17 are suites and there are an additional 40 private residential units.

The resort has two one-bedroom Luxury Suites, both bookable via GDS, which can hold three adults or two adults and two children. Each measures 1,761 square feet; has a living area, a dining area and a king bedroom with 1½ baths; and can be configured as a two- or three-bedroom suite with the addition of connecting rooms.

Consider Deluxe Ocean-View Rooms for those who don’t want a suite; at 560 square feet there is plenty of space for the pull-out sofa and it also includes a 156-square-foot balcony or patio, which is standard for all rooms.

We suggest securing a cabana-style Beach House (there are four) for a half or full day on Pinney’s Beach. They come with a beach butler and at 200 square feet, can hold a family of up to five. Layouts include a living room with couch, a dining nook and an open-air sun deck with chaise lounges. Technology Perks: The Beach Houses have iHome stations, flat-screen TVs, DVDs upon request, and a mini library with board games, books, magazines and toys. Adult Perks: There’s a complimentary minibar.

Note: Consider renting a cabana for evening as well, where private dining can be arranged on the open-air deck.

For special arrangements at the resort, contact Guest Services Manager Fabian Lim ([email protected]; 869-469-6327) directly. Those who want to reserve the private residential rentals can call the resort’s New York sales office at 212-935-4955 or all resort reservations directly at 869-469-6238.

Mango Restaurant
Mango Restaurant lets you soak up the perfect sunset.

The resort’s spa has 12 treatment rooms; six of those are outdoors, one of which can be set up for couples. Reserve ahead to get premium time appointments via [email protected], but do check in directly with the spa director, Nancy Mitchell ([email protected]; 869-469-1111). She can advise on the merits of the Nevisian Massage, which combines Swedish massage with a skin treatment using local volcanic sand and aromatherapy oils to get rid of dry skin. Consider as well an anti-aging manicure, which uses a glycolic hand treatment peel to refreshen skin. Just added was an enzyme peel for the décolleté.

For those who want to make a true wellness vacation of it, the spa provides a menu with healthy alternatives upon check-in.

Note: Children aged 12 and up can have a massage, with parental consent. Those 16 and up can book facials. Kids can also partake in the “Tiny Fingers and Toes” program or get their hair braided. Youngsters can enjoy a golf-cart-guided Monkey “Sighting” Tour on the golf course. There is also a Kids Center (complimentary Kids For All Seasons program and Sea Turtle Conservancy camp weekly, both for kids aged 3 to 9).

Want a truly unique dining experience? The Four Seasons has a dive and dine program, which allows guests to catch their own Caribbean spiny lobster that they can help to prepare alongside the resort’s executive chef. Prices start at $1,950 per couple and $500 for each additional person up to six. Dinner is held at a posh beach barbecue with culinary demonstrations and wine pairings. Note: Request this at least one or two months in advance. To dine at the resort’s West Indian restaurant on the waterfront, reserve two to four weeks ahead, as it’s popular with locals.

Want to dine off the property? Options include Montpelier Plantation & Beach (www.montpeliernevis.com; 869-469-3462) or the Golden Rock Inn (869-469-3346), owned by contemporary N.Y. artist Brice Madsen, for lunch.

Coconut Grove (869-469-1020) is a great option for lunch or dinner and provides great wine pairings for the oenophiles on your client roster.

Bananas is ideal for dinner; it’s owned by an art gallery owner who has provided a whimsical touch to the artwork in the restaurant.

A Plantation Suite
A Plantation Suite living room looks out to the ocean.

The Four Seasons’ concierge manager, Vanessa Paris ([email protected]; 869-469-6243) can make reservations at any of the above; she can also arrange a day trip to St. Barths via helicopter for a day of shopping. Because of its siblings in various parts of the world, Four Seasons has access to many additional services. One guest recently forgot his digital camera and Paris arranged for the concierge at the Four Seasons, Chicago to FEDEX the same model to Nevis.

The resort is run by General Manager Andrew Humphries ([email protected] or at 869-469-6217), who is also the regional vice president of the area. Contact him directly for super-VIP requests.

Note: If you’re traveling with pets, it’s tough to get them onto St. Kitts or Nevis. The local government has very strong policies about animals coming on and off the islands.

While the resort is mum on the celebrities who have stayed there, it’s public record that Debra Messing, Mary-Louise Parker, Eric Stonestreet, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have visited.

Note: Reserve accommodations at the resort at least 90 days ahead of time for the big holiday travel weeks, for festive season, presidents week, and winter and spring breaks.

Clients here tend to skew from the Northeast Corridor of the U.S. and from the UK and Italy. The resort also reports a growing Russian market, as well as an emerging guest list from France and Spain.

Getting There: The resort is 10 minutes from the Nevis airport or roughly 30 minutes by boat from the St. Kitts airport. Once the resort has the guests’ flight details, the reservations team reaches out to the guests to confirm their flight arrival and departure details and arranges transfers either via a private 35-minute Four Seasons yacht ride (think rum punch atop a luxury vessel) from St. Kitts or government-regulated taxi service from Nevis airport. They can also book a spot on the public ferry from St. Kitts for $10. The price of the Four Seasons boat launch is $130 roundtrip for adults and children 12 and older, $65 for five- to 11-year-olds, and free for kids under five years.

Vance Armory Airport on Nevis (15 minutes away) has a 4,000-foot runway able to receive small private jets. Helicopters from St. Kitts can land on the second hole of the resort’s golf course (but make arrangements first!).