Recommend April 2011 - (Page 56)

Authentic CARIBBEAN Poolside at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla. St. Kitts & Nevis St. Kitts and Nevis, twin islands separated by a narrow strait, are so closely related that their names are intertwined. St. Kitts is what British sailors tagged “San Cristobal,” the name given to it by Columbus. Nevis suffered the same fate. Its original name was “Nuestra Señora de las Nieves,” or “Our Lady of the Snows,” because Spaniards thought the blinding white clouds that perennially hover over it looked like snow. The islands would be synonymous with paradise, if paradise was scented by wild ﬂowers and swayed to the rhythm of steel drum bands. + The towns in these sister islands have streets devoid of foreigners and are lined with remarkable restaurants serving delights like parrotﬁsh, soursop, spiny lobster and breadfruit. + St. Kitts is a playland of palm-lined beaches and dotted with small villages smack in the middle of sugar cane plantations. It’s so peaceful that stamp collecting is the national pastime. Stamp collectors from all over ﬂock to PHILATELIC BUREAU on Bay Road in BASSETERRE to buy current postal varieties as well as ﬁrst-day covers of the island’s stamps. + The dominant landmark is MT. MISERY, an extinct volcano that’s something of a national symbol. It is seen from practically every spot on the island. + Because of its location where trade winds meet, Nevis’ OUALIE BEACH is the undisputed Caribbean windsurﬁng capital. This is a place to test your mettle against the best that wind currents have to offer. + The BOTANICAL GARDENS are a must. It is full of cascading pools and the samples of tropical plants astounds even the most jaded horticulturalist. + Nevis is also an excellent hiking spot. Trails cutting through tropical rainforests inevitably end on deserted black, golden and white beaches, ideal for picnics and relaxation. HOTEL HIGHS: Nevis’ FOUR SEASONS on the west coast. Farther inland, the MONTPELIER PLANTATION. St. Kitts’ most popular and trendy place to stay is OTTLEY’S PLANTATION INN on Dieppe Bay, only about ﬁve miles north of the airport. Also on Dieppe, the GOLDEN LEMON INN & VILLAS is considered one of the most romantic hideaways in the Lesser Antilles. FAST FACTS: GETTING THERE: From the U.S., seasonal air service. AMERICAN EAGLE has service from San Juan, Puerto Rico. LIAT and WINAIR have service from St. Maarten—all to SKB ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport; valid six months from time of entry BEST TIME TO GO: October to June ● C30 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Hurtigruten's Trollfjord
Savoring Adventure on Small Ship Cruises
Turkey Beyond Istanbul
Stepping Out in Eastern Europe: Go Escorted
2011 Guide to The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda
Heading Down Under
India's New Gems
Show-Stoppers on Stage—and on the Plate
Two Sides of a Hawaiian Vacation
Little Palm Island & Ocean Key Resort, Florida
Key West Fun Pass
RIU Panama
Tea Time for Swingers

Recommend April 2011