Dreaming of your next Caribbean getaway already, but the likes of Cancun and Punta Cana have lost the novelty factor?
As great as those may be for some self-pampering, especially after another long, laborious year, when all you want is a whole week of doing nothing by the poolside, they’re not exactly ideal if you’re looking to escape the crowds.
Though these are, without question, the most obvious pick, given the wide availability of all-inclusive hotels and flight routes, it doesn’t mean Mexico or the Dominican Republic are the only viable alternatives:
You can fly nonstop to this lesser-known tropical paradise without crowds from as many as 5 U.S. cities, where unspoiled Caribbean beaches and fascinating culture await:
Saint Kitts And Nevis Is Calling
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a dual-island country comprising two main landmasses: Saint Kitts, the largest of the islands, where the majority of the 46,758-people-strong population resides, and the smaller, more rural Nevis.
As for Saint Kitts itself, it is one of the most beautiful nature preserves in the Caribbean, and a volcanic island dotted with majestic peaks, the most famous of which is Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano offering stunning views of a scenic countryside.
The central province is largely occupied by the verdant Central Forest National Park, a rainforest protecting a variety of wildlife, including rare species of birds, monkeys, and reptiles, and traversed with tourist-friendly footpaths leading to secret waterfalls.
Unspoiled Beaches Galore
It’s not all about volcanic hikes and escapes into nature, though: Saint Kitts has a plethora of beautiful beaches to its name, and as this is an offbeat island hosting only a tiny percentage of Caribbean-wide tourism, they’re largely unspoiled:
Think Cockleshell Bay, a peaceful strip of golden sand hugged by teal waters, and backed by jungle-clad mountains, South Friars Bay, with its windsurfing scene and lively beach bars, or Frigate Bay, famous for the boutique hotels and luxury holiday villas.
On that note, some of the best resorts in the country are in Frigate Bay, such as the beachfront Marriott St. Kitts Beach Club and the locally-managed Timothy Beach Resort, straddling its own private stretch of sand, and with overnight rates starting from only $154.
Amazing Culture All-Around
Saint Kitts is also famous for its numerous historic sites, including the UNESCO-listed Brimstone Hill Fortress, built during the British colonial era, and Wingfield Estate, a ruined plantation farm still housing the oldest intact rum distillery in the Caribbean.
The national capital Basseterre is equally-charming, with its European-inspired architecture, visible around Independence Square, where there’s an Italian-style fountain, and off the Circus roundabout, marked by a Victorian-era clock tower, and excellent portfolio of restaurants.
If it’s seafood you’re craving, El Fredo’s serves Saint Kitts’ signature spicy pork, fried plantain and sweet potatoes in an airy terrace, and for the best fish tacos in town (and delicious drinks), walk to the quieter end of South Friars Bay until you reach Shipwreck Beach Bar.
How About Nevis?
For those keen on exclusivity and utmost relaxation, the neighboring island is where they should be headed: it is smaller, even more sparsely populated, and if you don’t feel Saint Kitts is sufficiently laid-back, maybe a long weekend in Nevis is just what you need to truly unwind.
Picture virgin white-sand beaches unfolding for several long miles along a turquoise, warm ocean, overgrown hiking trails culminating in epic mountaintops, and remarkable biodiversity, from vervet monkeys clinging on to palm trees to sea turtles swimming just offshore.
Staying in a celeb-frequented, more private Nevis as opposed to Saint Kitts won’t exactly break the bank, either, unless you’re staying at the opulent Four Seasons in Charleston: booking The Hermitage Inn will set you back by an acceptable $195-a-night this spring.
Where Can You Fly To Saint Kitts And Nevis From?
Perhaps surprisingly to some, Saint Kitts and Nevis may be considerably more remote than Mexico, at least to the average American, but it’s far from being inaccessible.
You can fly nonstop to this charming Caribbean getaway, or more specifically, the Robert L. Bradshaw Airport near Basseterre (SKB) from 5 different U.S. airports, and with 4 different airlines:
1 flight every Saturday with Delta Air Lines
1 flight every Saturday with American Airlines
2 flights per day with American Airlines
1 flight every Saturday with United Airlines
1 flight every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday with JetBlue
1 flight every Saturday with American Airlines
1 flight every Saturday with Delta Air Lines
The cheapest flights are usually JetBlue’s, with roundtrips averaging $309 leaving from JFK and flights taking 4h09 from takeoff to landing.
From Charlotte, March roundtrips start from $552, and it’s not that different if you’re flying from Miami or Atlanta, with the cheapest options averaging $551.
It’s important to note are just estimates, as airfares depend on season, seat availability and demand: prices at the moment of purchase may, or may not reflect those expressed here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
