With all Covid-19 travel restrictions now lifted, the rugged yet romantic, Caribbean island of St. Kitts, rich with history, culture and adventure, is looking ahead to an exciting year of new discoveries.
From new, luxury resorts to the launch of a first-of-its-kind Rummelier programme, visitors returning to the island, or those discovering it for the first time, will find a host of new tropical treasures to enjoy.
New Accommodation
Sunset Reef St. Kitts, once an extensive villa, is now a luxury boutique hotel, which opened in August 2022. Located on Palmetto Point, Sunset Reef St. Kitts welcomes guests to a tropical paradise like no other. Seven luxurious suites range in size from one to four bedrooms, and guests enjoy a gym with Peloton bikes, a yoga deck, a swimming pool and a plunge pool. Dining and bar services are available throughout the property, plus there’s an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven. Sunset Reef St. Kitts is a pioneer of sustainable luxury on the island, with a suite of sustainability initiatives built in from the very concept.
Another new addition to the island is Ramada by Wyndham St. Kitts Resort, which opened its doors in October 2022. This is a spacious resort with 280 rooms, personalised hotel experiences and a range of amenities, including a glamorous pool area, five sophisticated restaurants and bars, and a divine spa. A dedicated Butler Service is also available for guests booking suite accommodation.
Another new resort opened just before the pandemic, but many visitors won’t yet have experienced, is KOI Resort Saint Kitts, Curio Collection by Hilton on Half Moon Bay, close to the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. The chic, 102-room resort has a pool terrace overlooking the ocean, a gym and spa, and a choice of three dining options. The hotel has a colourful yet minimalistic design, with each guestroom boasting floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the incredible setting.
New Culinary Experiences
Coming soon is the launch of St. Kitts’ Rummelier programme. The one-of-a-kind programme will give travellers to St. Kitts the opportunity to become a certified “Rummelier” by joining two classes taught by renowned Kittitian rum producers and owners on the island.
The three-hour Rummelier programme will include two separate classes. The first stop at Wingfield Estate, St. Kitts’ oldest distillery, focuses on the theory and history of rum production methods on the island. The second class takes place at Spice Mill on Cockleshell Bay, with the founder of Hibiscus Spirits showcasing rum-blending methodology, how to create spiced rum and cocktail-making. St. Kitts continues to innovate the rum market with Hibiscus Spirits, made by infusing handpicked and locally grown Roselle Hibiscus calyx, known as sorrel, which flavours and colours the rum.
Visitors must be 18 years or older to participate in the Rummelier programme. Transfers between Wingfield Estate and Spice Mill are provided, and participants are presented with a certificate of completion at the end of the course. Prices start from US$150 per person.
Other new culinary experiences for visitors to savour include the recently opened Four Way Restaurant and Bar, which is open for lunch and dinner and serves a mix of local and international cuisine, and the Indian Summer Restaurant in Frigate Bay, which opened in May 2022.
Inter-Island Connections
St. Kitts’ neighbouring islands of St. Eustatius (Statia), St. Maarten, and Saba became easier to reach thanks to Makana Ferry, adding St. Kitts to its list of affordable ferry destinations in October 2022. The M/V Makana is a fully air-conditioned 72’ Sabre catamaran fast ferry carrying 150 passengers across two decks: a central lower patio, an upper deck with a covered business class area, and an open sun deck area, in addition to a bar service area.
St. Kitts can be easily reached from the UK via twice weekly (Weds & Sat) direct flights from London Gatwick with British Airways.
For more information on St. Kitts, visit www.visitstkitts.com
