Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis
The trip included hotel site visits to gain first hand knowledge of the hotels, meet the owners and managers plus experience some of the excursions, beaches and towns.
We were lucky enough to receive flight upgrades to Business Class, which is definitely the way to travel. It didn’t even feel like you were on a plane, the comfortable lay down beds make all the difference as you arrive feeling refreshed and ready to go.
Antigua is very unspoilt, it is what you would class as a typical Caribbean island. There is hardly any traffic on the roads and dotted around are very colourful houses for the locals and it is not over developed with hotels. The English Harbour area is extremely pretty and with hotels within walking distance, this would make an ideal base if you wanted somewhere to wander to for an evening meal and to soak up the atmosphere.
St Kitts is slightly smaller than Antigua and is steeped in history. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus, originally called St Christopher and shortened in recent years. There were battles with the French to own the island and Brimstone Hill is a great place to visit to see the fortress and the army base. The views are simply stunning up high and you can learn so much about how the Island was invaded and fought for. St Kitts is a 15 min flight from Antigua so makes for a quick transition when flying from London.
There is a train that takes you around the whole island which will pass through all the sights which takes approx 2 hours.
The Island of Nevis is smaller again but the scenery doesn’t disappoint, classed as the more expensive and exclusive of the three islands, the beaches and the seclusion will have you feeling relaxed the moment you arrive. You can reach Nevis by speedboat from St Kitts, which only takes about 5 mins or the ferry which is 45 mins. Nevis is home to the Hot Springs where you can relax and enjoy its therapeutic benefits in peaceful surroundings.
I have to say the food is outstanding, good old fashioned home cooked meals with plenty of flavour. Lobsters are in abundance and all the fish dishes were superb. Caribbean food has become my favourite food! Meal costs vary depending on if you are eating in hotels or around the local towns, from being very cheap to around an average of £20-£30 each for an evening meal, you can drink the local beer for just a few pounds. Branded drinks can cost a little more and cocktails are around £6 each.
As for excursions, there are lots of things to see and do. You can take catamaran trips, enjoy some scuba diving, horse-back riding and plenty of tennis in the hotels. One of the excursions I did in Antigua was to go to the Stingray Centre, you take a short 5 min boat ride out into the Ocean where you can feed and interact with the Stingrays. Of course, you are wary of their sting but even though they are strong and powerful, they are harmless and gentle creatures.
With only a 7 hour flight to Antigua from the UK, this is a great alternative to the Canaries and Egypt for some winter sun. It shouldn’t be dismissed during July and August either, despite the islands being written off as the supposed hurricane season they haven’t had a hurricane since 2001 and there is barely any rain during those summer months. With some hotel prices decreasing by 50% it should definitely be considered.
On all the islands there are two distinct sides, the Atlantic Ocean where the seas are a little rougher and brings in seaweed in November and the Caribbean side which is calmer, great for kids and no current bringing the seaweed in. The seaweed is not a problem in other months but definitely something to think about if holidaying in November.
I would definitely recommend Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis to anyone looking for a relaxing break in peaceful surroundings. Of all the hotels we visited - and most of them were 95% full - you didn't see lots of people everywhere, you would think the hotels were empty as people are out exploring or just relaxing in their accommodation, no one area was ever crowded so it had a very spacious feel.
The people are friendly, warm and hospitable, nothing is too much trouble and they know how to provide top customer service. The one thing that really came across is that they know the beauty of their islands and they are in awe of the scenery that surrounds them on a daily basis. It’s quite amazing to witness and their pride about their islands is definitely felt.