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Nevis map
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Carnival
The most carnival-like celebration is the Nevis Culturama, which is held in July and culminates over the first weekend in August. Among other activities this involves kaiso or calypso competitions, drama presentations, beauty pageants, street parades and general jump ups (a West Indian party). These events are always fun to attend and Nevis’s has a delightful local quality which makes it very accessible. |
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Casinos
There are no casinos on Nevis and frankly they wouldn’t suit the island’s style anyway |
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Charity Support
The Change Centre on Nevis offers a counselling service to women and children in crisis and general need because they are suffering sexual, emotional or physical abuse – hard to believe that this can be a problem on such a magical island. It is run with the volunteer help of professional counsellors and the charity desperately needs support.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS CHARITY and TO DONATE, please see here. |
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Check in/Check Out
As a general rule check-out is at around 12 noon and check-in is rarely before 2 or 3pm, while the rooms are made ready for new arrivals. This is not usually an issue as most people arriving from both Europe and the States do not get there until the mid to late afternoon anyway. If you will be arriving earlier than that, for instance from another Caribbean island, then let your hotel know in advance they may be able to help out. Some properties may provide day rooms/shower facilities subject to availability, or they may be flexible on check-in or check-out times by prior arrangement.
Getting to Nevis always involves a transfer and connection times may be tight. Be prepared to leave your luggage behind at the point where you entered the Caribbean by taking a change of clothes and a swimming costume in your hand luggage. Don’t worry it usually turns up on the next flight. One of the nice effects of this however, is that you may well arrive at your hotel in the dark, when the place will have a magical air, with trees lit from beneath, the peeping of tree frogs filling the air, and an extraordinary blackness of the backdrop because there is little ambient light to disturb it. |
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Children
On Nevis children will receive a friendly reception from most hotels, but it is worth noting that most of the hotels have quite an adult and sophisticated atmosphere especially in the winter season so you might want to consider villa accommodation.
Most of the private villas will accept children. One of the most suitable is Allamanda with its gated pool area and close proximity to Oualie Beach Resort, which itself has suites with self-catering facilities that will suit families with young children very well. If you are a tennis playing family looking for a private tennis court as well as a swimming pool, then Hill Rise House & Cottage is worth considering.
The only hotel with any significant facilities for children is the Four Seasons Resort. It has a dedicated children’s room and a games room for older children. For more information, see our review of the hotel, Four Seasons Resort Nevis. |
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Complementary Health
On an island as gentle as Nevis it is not surprising that a choice of complementary therapy disciplines and healing activities is available. There are two Reiki practitioners working together in Nevis, practising at the Oualie Beach Resort. One, Clare Yearwood, is a Reiki Master.
At Oualie Beach they also offers facials, aromatherapy massages and reflexology, which can be a powerful stress buster for those needing to heal burnt out minds and bodies, particularly when combined with Reiki. Consider a Reiki, massage and reflexology combo a couple of times a week during your stay, or for serious healing, four hour long Reiki treatments on consecutive days, again in combination with reflexology and massage. You will end up feeling fantastic but be prepared for a physical, even emotional reaction around the third Reiki treatment when the body goes through detox. The fourth session should settle everything down. Remember to drink plenty of water with any of these treatments.
If you are a complementary health practitioner (or anyone else for that matter) wishing to put together a group holiday retreat, Nevis is a lovely place ‘to be’ – some might say that there is magic in the soil. There are some rather special activities, too, such as stargazing on the beach. One or two of the hotels such as The Hermitage and Oualie Beach (although more active) would be provide a good location if you are looking to organise a group for a yoga, pilates or Reiki retreat. Prices outside the winter season would be perfectly affordable, and most hotels would negotiate terms for a group booking.
Clare Yearwood, t 469 8442 – for Reiki bookings
Oualie Beach Resort, t 469 9735 – for facials, massage, reflexology and also you can book here for Reiki with Clare Yearwood.
Jade Spa, Newcastle, t 469 9564
Here they do a 10-step non-surgical facial procedure, reflexology, back shiatsu, Swedish massage, relaxing massage and lymphatic drainage. There is a mini-market which sells herbal products. |
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Conservation
Nevis is lucky in that it has a number of well qualified and positive individuals that have long been committed to conservation and preservation of the island’s heritage and environment. The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society was formed early on, relatively, for the Caribbean. The Fisheries Department is committed to the protection of turtles for instance and sends out patrols for their protection during nesting.
The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, t 469 5786, nhcs@caribsurf.com, www.nevis-nhcs.org.
Based at Hamilton House, also home to the small but excellent Nevis Museum, the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society is involved in the conservation of Nevis’s extensive historical records, buildings and other sites of historical significance, and they are involved in the preservation of its various ecosystems, both above and below the waterline. They hold a number of events during the year in order to publicise their activities and raise funds. These include House and Gardens tours, readings from island authors, even a fashion show. |
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Corporate/Incentives
Nevis is not an obvious choice for a conference. The island is quite difficult to get to and most of the accommodation is quite small and designed for its physical beauty rather than any sort of business functionality. The only hotel with significant conference facilities is the Four Seasons Resort (which does host many conferences). However, the fact that the hotels are small and stylish means that they could make an excellent retreat for companies or groups looking for a small and secluded corporate get-together, or a more intimate style of incentive break.
There is no one company with a complete destination management service. The island is small and the hotels themselves are able to assist with most requests. TDC can assist with travel arrangements.
Venues for conferences
The only hotel on Nevis with facilities to cope with large meetings and conferences is the Four Seasons Resort, which has 8000 sq feet of meeting space, of which 5000 is indoors, looking out to a covered area of 3000 sq feet. Plenty of technology is available, including overhead and video projectors, microphones and amplifiers and stands easels and flipcharts. There are also special spouse and family programmes.
The smaller hotels are happy to have small groups and can provide limited facilities but very personalised service, particularly if you take the whole hotel. This includes Montpelier Plantation Inn and The Hermitage (for groups up to 25) and you will find that they will be very helpful about organising any tours or special requirements. Contact your business travel organiser or the hotels direct for further information. |
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Cruises
Nevis is visited by only smaller cruise liners, including Windstar Cruises, Sea Dream Yacht Club and Seabourn Cruises on some of their winter itineraries. |
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Currency/Credit Cards
The currency of (St Kitts and) Nevis is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is fixed to the US Dollar at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.65.
Practically speaking it is possible to pay in US dollars in any business that has regular dealings with tourists (hotels actually state their rates in US Dollars), though the exchange will probably be made at around EC$2.50 to the US dollar. You may find if you pay in US Dollars that your change sometimes comes back in EC dollars.
Credit Cards
Credit cards will also be accepted by any business that has regular dealings with visitors to the island, including hotels, restaurants and large shops and businesses. Don’t expect small shops to accept them though. |
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Day Sails/Boat Trips
A number of companies offer boat trips out of Nevis, for a day sail or a sunset cruise. Sails often to go across the Narrows to the undeveloped beaches on the southeast peninsular of St Kitts, with snorkelling stops along the way.
Leeward Island Charters, t 465 8494
They offer tours on their catamaran Caona. This tends to be a lively cruise. Drinks and a snack are included. Host Lennox is a musician.
Sea Nevis Charters, t 469 9239
If you would prefer a monohull, Captain Les Windley has 38 years sailing experience and will tell you all you want to know about Nevis. Sailing, boat handling and navigation instruction on offer for anyone interested, otherwise just go and enjoy yourself with snorkelling equipment, lunch and drinks included for the day. Sea Dreamer of Nevis is a 44ft Jeanneau Sun Magic. Best for 4-8 people. Around US$80 for a sunset sail, and from US$95 per person for a half day or US$125 for the day. Overnight or longer charters also available.
Another option is to travel independently with one of the water taxi operators, who will ferry you across to St Kitts and come to fetch you later. They tend to leave from Oualie Beach, but will collect. Try Nevis Watersports, t 469 9060, Scuba Safaris 469 9518 or Tambo, t 469 0920. |
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Departure Tax & Taxes
A departure tax must paid when you leave Nevis.
The departure tax itself is US$17, but there is also a Security charge of US$2 and an environmental levy US$1.50, making a total of US$20.50 or EC$54.
A Government Tax of 9% is added to all hotel and restaurant bills. Please note that most hotel bills are also supplemented by 10% service. The total of 19% can make quite a difference to your eventual bill. In restaurants the tax is included and tipping is left to your discretion but 10% is the norm. |
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Driving & Parking
Driving is on the left hand side of the road on Nevis, generally speaking, with accepted chicanes around any pot-holes in the road. Proceed with caution where the road is not in good condition. That said, the road between the airport and Charlestown (on the island’s west coast) and then beyond up to Gingerland is brand new. It has been widened, re-laid and is in good condition. The development was necessary, but one of the results of the straighter roads is that people drive faster. The coastal ring road is 21 ½ miles long.
If you do drive on Nevis then you must buy a visitor’s licence, which can be obtained through your car rental agency or at a Police Station on presentation of your licence from home. The cost is US$25. |
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Electricity
Electric current is at 220 volts, 60 cycles, but many of the hotels have current at 110 volts |
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Embassies & Consulates
No countries have representation on Nevis. There may be a representative in St Kitts, but most countries handle their business through Antigua and farther afield in Barbados. |
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