As the GayTravel.com Luxury Guru, my ongoing mission is to explore fabulous destinations, to seek out inclusive luxurious hotels and resorts, and to boldly report back to those who may not have gone before...
My most recent mission was to experience a hidden gem located on an island appropriately known as
"The Queen of Carribees."
I am talking about the island of Nevis. This little-known island along with its larger sister island, St Kitts is a dual-island nation situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These lush, emerald gems sparkle in the brilliant, aquamarine glow of the shallow, surrounding waters. From most points on Nevis one can see St. Kitts just a few miles off-shore.
Nevis is also the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of our nation's Founding Fathers, and the namesake of the most popular Broadway show in years...Hamilton. In 2016, Hamilton received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning 11 including Best Musical; and was also the recipient of the 2016 Gay Travel AwardsSMfor Theater/Show of the Year.
On this island gem lives one of the few 5-star resorts in the Caribbean and a Gay Travel Approved® Luxury property, the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. This resort property is the quintessential tropical vacation spot in terms of its physical beauty endowed with sun, sea, swaying palms, and a prominent mountain peak that looks as if it were drawn as the perfect backdrop to the resort.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis offers spacious rooms and luxury suites just steps from the Nevis shore. For those preferring more privacy, there are a number of gorgeous villas replete with an assortment of amazing amenities that are perfect for when you want to get away from it all and yet close enough to the resort that you can still mingle with the outside world.
Upon my arrival to the resort, I was escorted to my private villa where a handwritten note and bountiful fruit basket awaited. One of the things I noticed right away (aside from the stunning views, which by the way, are spectacular not only during the day but also at night) was the high quality of service provided to me. For example, each Four Seasons Resort Nevis guest is assigned an “angel” to assist with whatever is needed during your stay.
After settling in, I wanted to stretch my legs so I strolled down to the beach before quenching my thirst with my “go-to” classic Dirty Martini at the well-appointed
Library Bar.
The martini soon had me feeling relaxed and a bit tired, so off to bed I went. While enveloped in the plush embrace of my incredibly comfortable bed, high thread-count linens, and perfect pillows...I soon drifted off into a deep sleep.
The morning light brought with it much anticipation about the day, and as I flung open the plantation shutters and felt the ocean breeze on my face, my spirits soared…the hustle and bustle of New York became a distant memory. Good morning, Nevis!
With a spring in my step, I was off to locate Neve restaurant where breakfast is served. I found the open-air dining area which is situated overlooking the grounds of the property to be a great vantage point. From Neve’s veranda, I could see the water, Pinney’s Beach, lush gardens around a free-form infinity pool, gift shops, and more. It gave me a glimpse of what was in store for me later when I would be taking a tour of the resort. While at breakfast, I learned that a local fruit concierge offers fresh juices each day. Today’s concoction had plenty of vitamin C…perfect for someone like me who travels extensively and whose immune system could use the boost. The casual atmosphere at Neve was ideal because, while I am the Gay Travel Luxury Guru, I like to dictate my own pace in the morning and the buffet option afforded me lots of delectable local flavors. The friendly Four Seasons staff quickly learned my name and preferences – by day 2 they anticipated my penchant for almond milk – and brought it to me without prompting and with a knowing smile.
After breakfast, Scott Trent, Director of Residences whisked me off for a resort tour which included everything from a Robert Trent Jones golf course, to Peter Burwash tennis, to an exotic spa.
Scott also showed me around the private villa residences. Each of the 50 villas are unique, range from one to seven bedrooms and have their own distinguishing features. Scott informed me that when guests request a villa, special care is taken to ensure that the right villa is matched to the right guest. I can attest they are remarkably adept at these pairings, because even after touring several of the villas – one more exquisite than the next – I realized the one selected for me was quite perfect.
After my tour, I was ready to dive in - literally! While there are numerous areas to swim and relax including three infinity edge pools, I was treated to an afternoon at a
Luxury Beach Cabana on Pinney’s Beach. What is already a very private island felt even more exclusive from inside the cabana. I refreshed with cool water and fruit and was now ready to take things up a notch.
There are a plethora of water activities to try. One that swept me off my feet is called
Fly Boarding. With a little practice, I was soon moving through the water like a dolphin – diving head first and then shooting back up out of the water. If you’ve seen the movie Iron Man and recall the scene when Tony Stark tries on his iron man suit for the first time – you’ll quickly get the picture of what it’s like to figure out how to use the jet propulsion.
Time flies when you’re flying, and before I knew it the sun was setting. I watched the sun set and headed back to my villa to get showered and dressed for dinner at Coral Grill where classic steakhouse meets Caribbean flavor.
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