Stay up north to experience old-time St. Kitts; the beach is at least a 25-minute drive, but Mount Liamuiga is a magnificent backdrop. For a more contemporary feel, stay in Frigate Bay, close to town, dining and night life.
Part of St. Kitts’ allure is its understated aura, but the annual St. Kitts Music Festival (see “Homegrown Heroes,” December 2009) is a three-night extravaganza; it will be held June 24-26, 2010 – acts TBA.
2010 Caribbean Music Festival Calendar...
WHERE TO STAY
Ottley’s Plantation Inn
Style: Elegant and historic
Location: On the foothills of Mount Liamuiga, with views of the Atlantic
Accommodations: 24 rooms, some in the great house, others in villas
Rates: From $208 in low season ($314 high)
Amenities: Restaurant, pool, croquet, tennis, forest trail, spa, shuttle to beaches and Basseterre
Contact: 800-772-3039; ottleys.com
Rawlins Plantation Inn
Style: Bygone charm on an 18th-century sugar plantation
Location: On the north coast near Dieppe Bay Town
Accommodations: 12 guest cottages
Rates: From $219 in low season ($330 high)
Amenities: Restaurant, pool, tropical gardens
Contact: 869-465-6221; rawlinsplantation.com
St. Kitts Marriott Resort
Style: Modern, gleaming and vast
Location: On the beach in Frigate Bay
Accommodations: 375 rooms and 78 suites in a high-rise building and two-story garden houses
Rates: From $100 in low season ($255 high)
Amenities: Five restaurants, two bars, three pools, four tennis courts, kids club, fitness center and spa, 18-hole golf course, casino, water sports
Contact: 800-228-9290; marriott.com
WHERE TO EAT
Marshall’s
Setting: Poolside and oceanfront, where the local upper crust wines and dines
Cuisine: Pan-Caribbean with Jamaican specialties
Recommendations: Conch chowder, grilled rack of lamb, fresh lobster, banana flambé
Prices: Appetizers from $8; entrées from $27
Contact: 869-466-8245; marshalls-stkitts.com
Beach House
Setting: Oceanfront elegance amid white draperies and mahogany accents
Cuisine: Haute Caribbean-Asian fusion
Recommendations: Fish soup, Kobe burger, citrus lobster salad
Prices: Sandwiches and salads from $12; dinner entrées from $16
Contact: 869-469-5299; stkittsbeachhouse.com
Royal Palm
Setting: In the remains of an 18th-century sugar mill at Ottley’s Plantation Inn
Cuisine: Creative Caribbean dinner menu, which changes nightly
Recommendations: Vegetable torte, lobster quesadillas, pumpkin ravioli, pepper-pot soup
Prices: Lunch from $12; dinner from $36; prix fixe Sunday brunch $36
Contact: 869-465-7234; ottleys.com
Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack
Setting: Beachside on the Frigate Bay “strip”
Cuisine: Caribbean
Recommendations: Fresh spiny lobster, mahimahi
Prices: Entrées from $15
Contact: 869-762-3983; mrxshiggidyshack.com
Reggae Beach Bar
Setting: On the beach along Cockleshell Bay, with a reggae soundtrack
Cuisine: Caribbean
Recommendations: Conch fritters, grilled snapper, banana pudding
Prices: Salads and sandwiches from $10; entrées from $15
Contact: 869-762-5050; reggaebeachbar.com
WHAT TO DO
History comes alive at St. Kitts’ several plantations and historic houses. Recommended for a tour or a meal are Ottley’s, Rawlins, Clay Villa (869-465-2353; clayvilla.com) and the Golden Lemon (869-465-7260; goldenlemon.com).
At Romney Manor (869-465-6253; caribellebatikstkitts.com), ogle the Kalinago petroglyphs, explore the grounds and great house, and watch artisans make colorful batik clothing.
To see more of the island, ride the St. Kitts Scenic Railway (869-465-7263; stkittsscenicrailway.com) along the remaining tracks of the “sugar train” that once transported cane.
Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park (869-465-2609; brimstonehillfortress.org) boasts 40 acres of rich military history and stunning island views. Poke around busy Basseterre on your own or take a walking tour with Annie Fontaine (869-465-5425).
Venture into the island’s rugged interior on a hike with Greg Pereira, of Greg’s Safaris (869-465-4121; gregsafaris.com), or soar above it on a zip-line tour with Sky Safaris (869-466-4259; skysafaristkitts.com).
Beach-hopping is a must, and southern strands such as Frigate Bay, South Friar’s Bay and Cockleshell Bay are good picks; the black-sand beauty at northern Dieppe Bay is worth the 40-minute drive. Rent snorkel gear and Hobie Cats at Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack on Frigate Bay; Blue Water Safaris (869-466-4933; bluewatersafaris.com) offers catamaran cruises with stops for snorkeling.
WHAT TO KNOW
Tourist Information: 800-582-6208; stkittstourism.kn
Documents: U.S. citizens need a passport. Canadian citizens must present either a passport or a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID. Departure tax of 60 East Caribbean dollars (approximately $22) is payable at the airport.
Getting There: Two miles outside the island’s historic capital city of Basseterre, Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport welcomes nonstop service from Miami and New York (JFK) on American, from Atlanta on Delta, and from Charlotte, North Carolina, on USAirways.
Dialing In: 1 + 869 + seven-digit number
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (US$1 = 2.70 XCD); most restaurants, shops and hotels accept U.S. dollars.
Getting Around: Taxis are widely available, and minibuses ply the main roads. Renting a car requires a temporary license ($25); drive on the left.
Related Content
A must-do list on Tobago for avid Caribbean travelers
Our editors love Pigeon Point, but that's just the beginning on Tobago
