Nevis



The Experience

Besides the Bahamas, tiny Nevis is the only Caribbean outlet where this luxury chain has ventured, which speaks to the magic it found here. Taking over 350 acres at the foot of soaring Mount Nevis, with 800 feet of silky beach spotted with umbrellas and palm trees, the resort offers a wide range of outdoor options for couples and families alike. A tough 18-hole golf course and 10 tennis courts are part of the sprawl, but many people end up in the cozy Library Bar in the Great House. A coffee-colored wooden building with eggshell gingerbread trim, dark woods, crystal chandeliers and masses of fresh flowers, it’s the epitome of understated good taste -- which is what the Four Seasons Nevis is all about.

The Rooms

In typical Four Seasons fashion, rooms are huge, with standards starting at almost 500 square feet, plus a 156-square-feet balcony. The decor is subtle Caribbean: cream spreads with golden-glow borders; subtle beige carpeting overlaid with bold Aztec-influenced rugs; and gentle botanical prints from British-born artist Rosie Cameron, who paints on the neighboring island of St. Kitts. Suites ramp up the space and add antiques and period decor. Still, in all of them, it’s a shame you have to choose between a view of lush Mount Nevis and the sea -- both are spectacular.

The Service

The Nevisian staff is warm, friendly and comprehensively multilingual. Even gardeners may take you on a private tour of the property’s botanical gardens.

The Highlights

“Yo!” remains the best way to stop a passing golf cart and hitchhike around this sprawling property. Drive over to the Robert Trent Jones II–designed 6,766-yard course, surrounded by botanical gardens with several holes on the hills that begin at the foot of Mount Nevis. Sit down to a Caribbean meal with Asian and French touches (like seared diver scallops and udon noodles in a soy-ginger broth) in the formal Dining Room, or dine among abstract art at the surprisingly contemporary Neve. Then really wind down with a Nevisian massage in the shadow of Mount Nevis, or out on the sand, where the gentle lapping of the surf is all you’ll hear.

--Sandra Hart

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