1: Volcano-capped, beach-lined St. Kitts and Nevis is as beautiful as any country in the Caribbean, but itu2019s never been a big tourist attraction. The dual-island nationu2019s primary industry was sugar until the government shut down the plantations in 2005 and refocused on attracting visitors. The opening last November of the Caribbeanu2019s first Park Hyatt, a 78-room, 48-suite property thatu2019s part of Christophe Harbouru2014a development featuring a host of new bars, restaurants, beach clubs, and a superyacht marina at St. Kittsu2019s southern tipu2014is surely going to rocket that goal forward.
2: Looking for peace, quiet, and fantastic views? The resort offers clear looks across the narrows, where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, to the 4,413-foot cloud-shrouded Mount Nevis. If taking in that vista from your suiteu2019s private plunge pool isnu2019t relaxing enough, pop into the 37,752-square-foot Miraval Life in Balance Spa, the renowned Arizona resortu2019s first Caribbean outpost. Aside from the nine treatment rooms, indoor/outdoor showers, and myriad options for healing and pampering, the replica sugar mill next to the spa makes for a great yoga or meditation space.
3: Thereu2019s no shortage of on-site options if you want to go for a dip. The beach-style Lagoon Pool is family-friendly, while the adults-only, infinity-style Rampart Pool is adorned with arches that mimic the islandu2019s Brimstone Hill, a 17th-century British fortress. (Reserve a private cabana to spice things up; a 20-minute couples massage is included.) Or, if youu2019re looking to be a bit more active, grab a paddleboard or kayak at the beach club and head for Alexander Hamiltonu2019s birthplace, across the narrows. (Note: Rhapsody does not actually recommend trying to paddle to Nevis.)
4: Letu2019s just say youu2019re not going to go hungry here. Seafood lovers will gravitate toward Fishermanu2019s Village, a thatched-roof, open-air space with an ocean-to-table menu. (Watch the chef pluck your lobster right off the end of the pier.) The plantation-style Great House features a prodigious breakfast buffet and u00e0 la carte menus with Caribbean-inspired offerings ranging from saltfish fritters to conch chowder to coconut-tempered shrimp curry. The flagship restaurant next door, The Stone Barn, has an excellent wine list and high-end shared plates like seafood paella and crustacean bouillabaisse. And for a nightcap (or a happy hour cocktail-mixing class), stop at Totu2019s Rum Bar, which is stocked with more than 70 kinds of the Caribbeanu2019s favorite spirit.
5: If you want to get off-resort for a little Kittitian culture, the concierge will happily arrange a tour. Canu2019t-miss sites include Brimstone Hill, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site; Black Rocks, a collection of jagged volcanic rock formations extending into the Atlantic; and the Caribelle Batik, a lovely shop where artisans have been making colorful textiles since 1976.
