My Journey: Nevis
Andrew Hillier of the Nevis Tourism Authority enjoys a trip back to his ‘spiritual island home’ with a group of UK agents
There’s a tap on my shoulder and a whisper in my ear, “Is this your island?” With a big smile on my face and a rum punch in my hand, I announce, “Yes, indeed it is!”
I feel like a proud father showing off his birthplace to his five daughters. In this case, its five travel agents and my spiritual birthplace is the Caribbean gem, Nevis.
We’re crossing “The Narrows” the twomile stretch of water that separates Nevis from its sister island, St. Kitts.
The water taxi crossing takes only six minutes, which is just about enough time to sip a cold drink and enjoy the aweinspiring views of Nevis Peak.
I picture myself, as Christopher Columbus would have done hundreds of years ago, viewing the island for the first time with wisps of cloud surrounding the peak. That’s why he named the island ‘Nieves’, which is
Spanish for ‘snow’.
Small with big adventures
Waking on the first morning from a restful night in one of the island’s Plantation-style properties, I can’t wait to hear what the group’s first impressions are. For me, I love the fact that Nevis feels so exclusive; there are only 420 hotel rooms on the whole island, there is not a single traffic light nor one fast food restaurant chain.
Over breakfast, I enjoy listening to the ladies chat about their morning walk with the green vervet monkeys and taking a refreshing swim. One agent is already posting her pictures on social media to entice friends, family and future customers to this captivating place.
Each day that follows offers a snapshot of what this little island offers holidaymakers: we explore trails and roads which are not even listed on an island map and bump into wild donkeys and sheep
(or are they goats?!) We snorkel in the
Caribbean Sea, stroll through gorgeous botanical gardens, saunter along deserted beaches and shriek like children whilst riding on bicycles through the tiny capital, Charlestown. And we don’t go hungry! We enjoy many of the island’s authentic dishes and sample the famous ‘Killer Bee’ cocktail at Sunshine’s beach bar.
As we leave Nevis the same way we arrived, there’s a tap on my shoulder and a chorus of whispers in my ear. “It’s now our island too – and we can’t wait to tell everyone about it,” my agents tell me. * Nevis Tourism Authority is represented in the UK by Clear Marketing. For more information, email clearmarketing@nevisisland.com.
Where to book
CARIBTOURS – 020 3553 7543
Seven nights at Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, Nevis, start from £1,349pp, including breakfast, for stays from April 16 to October 31 2019. Book by March 31 2019.
caribtours.co.uk