Nisbet Plantation Beach Club
Nevis's only beachside plantation inn offers relaxation
in an historic setting
By Paris Permenter and John Bigley
The bride processed from an historic great house to the beach down an
outdoor aisle known as the Avenue of the Palms, lined by soaring coconut
palm trees. This was a wedding, Nisbet style.
Elegance, history, and outdoor beauty combine not only in weddings but
in all aspects of a stay at Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, located on the
small island of Nevis. Although the resort offers a spectacular strip
of sand, this is far more than just a fun in the sun hideaway; Nisbet
blends an Old World style with modern amenities and plenty of peace and
quiet to pamper the most discerning visitor.
The historic roots of the resort date back to 1778, to its days as a sugar
plantation. This was the home of Fanny Nisbet, the widow who later married
British naval officer Admiral Horatio Nelson in a wedding with a royal
audience held at nearby Montpelier.
Dining at Nisbet
Today, the Great House of Nisbet plantation serves
as a lounge and fine dining restaurant for this elegant resort, the only
plantation inn on the island with a beachfront setting. Two-foot-thick
stone walls provide a cool refuge from the Caribbean sun although diners
can also opt for the restaurant's screened porch. Perched on the second
story, the porch overlooks the lawn all the way to the sea, the perfect
way to dine and recall the day's activities. Guests begin their evening
with a drink at the Great House bar then step out on the verandah for
a memorable five-course meal accompanied by fine wine. Favorite menu options
include pork loin with wild rice pilaf or Tilapia filet with a pumpkin
potato corn ragout.
Casual dining is also available on property. Coconuts restaurant offers
a full breakfast, which might include dishes such as Eggs Benedict Florentine,
Nevisian saltfish with coconut johnny cake, or Caribbean Toast. And for
those honeymooners who can't tear themselves away from the romance of
their little hideaway, continental breakfast can also be served in your
room.
Guest Rooms
Guest rooms are difficult to leave not only for honeymooners
but for just about any traveler: lemon-tinted bungalows scattered throughout
the property give visitors a true home-away-from-home atmosphere. Only
38 guest accommodations spread across 30 acres keep the inn quiet and
private.
Superior rooms include a large bedroom and bath as well as a screened
patio; you'll find just two superior rooms in each bungalow cottage. Deluxe
suites, also two to a bungalow, offer a large bedroom as well as a separate
living room, patio, and a full bath. Premier rooms, each in groups of
four to a bungalow, are junior suites with a living room, full bath, wet
bar and open patio. The white on white rooms with pastel focal points
maintain a cool Caribbean feeling and all are located alongside the quarter-mile,
palm-lined route to the beach. Rooms are cooled by gentle tropical trade
winds.
All guest rooms include telephone, mini-bar, ceiling fan, in-room safe,
hairdryer, and tea and coffee making facilities. For real pampering, feel
free to call ahead of your visit and arrange for your mini bar to be stocked
with all your favorites. Laundry service, afternoon tea, local phone calls,
a weekly manager's rum punch party, and even postage is complimentary.
Activities
Although many guests find that Nisbet is the perfect
place to do nothing, a full menu of activities and facilities awaits.
Vacationers can enjoy swimming in the sea or a pool, or that oh-so British
sport, croquet. A tennis court invites travelers to test their skills;
racquets and balls are provided. Golfers can arrange for a game at Nevis's
own Robert Trent Jones championship course. Less serious players can enjoy
Cat Ghaut, a nine-hole par-3 mini-course just five minutes from the resort.
When it's time to compare scores, the resort includes two bars: one in
The Great House and another right on the beach, known for its tropical
concoctions and its own specialty drinks. Guest favorites include "All
In One," a combination of fresh fruits blended with coconut cream,
pineapple juice and local rum. and the "Avenue of the Palms,"
a tropical concoction of gin, coconut cream, orange juice and St. Kitts
and Nevis's own special liquor: Cane Spirits Rothschild, locally known
as CSR.
Nisbet can also assist with arrangements for plantation tours as well
as guided eco-tours and hikes of the island. The resort will be happy
to pack a lunch for guests to enjoy and, when the day's over, will arrange
for a massage to work out the kinks as well.
For many visitors, though, a perfect day is spent right on the beach,
strolling from their bungalow to the sandy strip through the regal Avenue
of the Palms. Like the many brides who have walked down this island aisle,
guests realize that they've found a marriage made in heaven: one where
historic roots combine with modern conveniences and natural beauty to
create an unforgettable vacation experience.
If You Go
Nisbet Plantation Beach Club
St. James Parish, Nevis
Phone (869) 469-9325; in the US and Canada, (800) 742-6008
www.NisbetPlantation.com
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