Until the early 1980s the Caribbean island of St Kitts & Nevis was a British property until it eventually claimed independence and became a nation comprised of a pair of islands acting as members of the United Nations. Several British customs can still be found throughout, namely the sport of cricket which is still one of the most popular activities in the island. Residents also remain accustomed to driving on the left side of the road.
For several decades St. Kitts was known mostly for the export of sugar cane which contributed significantly to the nation’s economy, it was not considered a popular spot for tourism. Throughout the years however, more and more people began to visit the island to enjoy its natural beauty, the agreeable weather and the unspoiled beaches. Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and pop music star Britney Spears are among the many celebrities that now frequent St. Kitts.
Rum is quite popular throughout the nation and is manufactured by local residents and the Brinley Gold Company which sells the liquor in local markets in several flavors like coffee and mango. The abundance of sugar cane plays a major role in the production of the nationally recognized official beverage called Cane Spirits Rothschild.
St. Kitts leans heavily towards the entertainment and nightlife so those who are seeking a peaceful environment and beaches to lounge on might wish to head over to Nevis next door. However, St. Kitts is equally inhabited by locals so you won’t be missing out on getting a feel for the culture if you choose to stay in the livelier area of St. Kitts.
St. Kitts also participates in Carnival, the annual festival full of ethnic music, food, dancing, elaborate native costumes and events such as beauty pageants. Speaking of music, the nation is a great place to listen to a variety of musical styles, particularly during the annual St. Kitts Music Festival taking place in June. For three consecutive days various bands and musicians perform a select genre of music.
Nevis also features its own festival called Culturama. Like its name implies, the festival encourages Nevis residents to explore, embrace and get back in touch with their unique customs and their cultures through music and dancing or arts and crafts. Culturama also features swimsuit competitions and boat excursions as part of the festivities. The event takes place during the weekend of what’s referred to as Emancipation Day.
Caribbean Island Of St Kitts & Nevis Real Estate
Vacation villas in St. Kitts are all constructed in optimum locations and have lots of square footage. In Frigate Bay, you can find a contemporary Mediterranean inspired estate spanning over 4,000 square feet with views of the oceanfront and the popular attractions like resorts and casinos. For that amount of square footage, owners have six bedrooms and bathrooms available with landscaping by some of the most prominent names in the industry. Extra features include patios with a gazebo and private swimming pools.
If you’d prefer something smaller, there are also four bedroom villas. The bedrooms can be used for other purposes such as a study in order to take care of business affairs. Outside, many of these villas come with expansive yards lined with fruit producing trees or in select properties, swing sets for children. There are no fees required in order to own a home in St. Kitts.
Rentals in St. Kitts range from cottages and condos to traditional houses and villas. Houses are often two stories and come with four bedrooms. These vacation homes include wraparound porches, ocean and mountain views, French doors and separate living and dining areas built to overlook the most scenic areas in St. Kitts.
Next door in Nevis, Newcastle, Nevis Beach and Oualie Bay are well regarded for their beach houses which much like St. Kitts also come in varieties of two to four bedrooms and are literally steps away from the coasts of the beach. As expected these houses and villas come with French doors, large porches and patios, fully equipped kitchens, and a location just far away enough to remain private but still close to all the activities available to enjoy.
St Kitts Hotels & Resorts
Golden Lemon Inn & Villas
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Outdoor pool
- Tennis court
- Catamarans
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
- Horseback riding
- Island tours
- Car rental
- Room service
- Massage
- Laundry
- Rooms for those with limited mobility
Hermitage Beach Club
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Outdoor pool
- Tennis court
- Horseback riding
- Car rental
- Room service
- Laundry service
Montpelier Plantation Inn
Amenities
- Three restaurants
- Two bars
- Outdoor pool
- Tennis court
- Spa
- Snorkeling
- Windsurfing
- Horseback riding
- Library
- Private beach transportation
- Room service
- Babysitting
- Laundry service
Nisbet Plantation Beach Club
Amenities
- Two restaurants
- Two bars
- Outdoor pool
- Fitness center
- Golf at the Four Seasons
- Tennis court
- Snorkeling
- Horseback riding
- Massage
- Spa
- Babysitting
- Laundry service
- Car rental
- Nonsmoking rooms
Ottley’s Plantation Inn
Amenities
- Restaurant
- Two bars
- Outdoor pool
- Tennis court
- Spa
- Jacuzzi
- Bikes
- Croquet
- Beach shuttle service
- Room service
- Massage
- Babysitting
- Laundry service
Restaurants in St Kitts & Nevis
- Ballahoo Restaurant- Caribbean cusine
- Coconut Grove- French cuisine
- Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood- Seafood cuisine
- Four Seasons Dining Room-International
- Hermitage Plantation- International cuisine
- Manhattan Gardens- Caribbean cuisine
- Marshall’s- Caribbean cuisine
- Miss Junes- International cuisine
- Montpelier Plantation Inn- International cuisine
- Stonewalls-Caribbean cuisine
- The Cooperage- International cuisine
- The Gallipot- Caribbean cuisine
- The Golden Lemon- Continental cuisine
- The Royal Palm-Caribbean
- The Waterfalls Restaurant- Caribbean cuisine
- Turtle Beach Bar & Grill
St Kitts & Nevis Travel Guide
Currency:
St. Kitts and Nevis’ primary currency is the East Caribbean dollar (XCD).
Telecommunications:
Calling Code: (869)
Top Level Domain: (.kn)
Cable providers: East Caribbean Fiber Optic cable
Government:
St. Kitts and Nevis is a parliamentary democracy with a constitution and three branches of government (Judicial, Legislative and Executive). The executive branch is headed by the Governor General and the English Monarchy.
Passport requirements:
Passports: Required
Valid Travel Documents: Required for exit and entry
Government Issued Photo ID: Required
Climate:
St. Kitts and Nevis has a tropical temperature with constant sea breezes. There’s little seasonal temperature variation. The rainy season is from May to November.
Language: English
Tips when you get there:
Before or after arriving at St. Kitts and Nevis checking into your lodging area, you should take a tour of the island. There are ferry services from island to island so you can see everything the region has to offer. St. Kitts also has a scenic railway, so you can tour the island easily and quickly to start your vacation.
What to do
The two islands have a variety of venues and activities you can visit. From seasonal parades to year-round warm weather beaches the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis offer history, celebration and tranquility.
St. Kitts has many different sites to visit. If you’re visiting in June the St. Kitts Music Festival is quite a spectacle. Between December and January St. Kitts Carnival celebration occurs with island culture and parades on display.
Nevis is a smaller and less populated island. It has a natural setting with untouched beaches and a variety of exotic wildlife and plants. Many visitors frequent the historical artifacts left on this island from the Hamilton Estate to the Eden Brown Estate that were sugar plantations in the eighteenth century.
