The islands of Saint Kitts & Nevis were settled by the English in 1623, and have since become a popular tourist destination rich in American history. The famous Romney Manor was the home of Thomas Jefferson’s grandparents and Alexander Hamilton (from Hamilton fame), was born on the island of Nevis.
The ports of Saint Kitts are a popular stop for cruise ships. On any given day, six thousand tourists will disembark on the tiny island of Saint Kitts. Once the cruise ships leave Saint Kitts, the island returns to its sleepy and laidback atmosphere.
St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino
We visited the islands in June and stayed for a week. Unlike many island destinations, there are very few all-inclusive resorts on the island of Saint Kitts. Most tourists visit Saint Kitts & Nevis via cruise ship or stay in a timeshare. We opted to stay at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino. The hotel property featured comfortable rooms, three pools, a view of the ocean, and several restaurants. The Marriott property does offer an all-inclusive option. However, it was prohibitive for our stay. We were able to eat at local spots and purchase food at a local grocery store.
I purchased our trip through Apple Vacations, an online travel agent. I normally would take care of all the travel arrangements on my own, but it was significantly cheaper to allow Apple Vacations to make our arrangements. However, when we arrived at the resort there was a slight hiccup with our reservation. We placed a reservation asking for connecting rooms and two queen beds per room. I called the Marriott property twice to confirm the reservation and our request. At check-in, we learned there was an error with our reservation. In the end, the resort accommodated our request to the best of their ability and our rooms were located close together but not connected.
The resort is not within walking distance to the famed Saint Kitts & Nevis Strip, or the Caribbean ocean. In my research of the resort, I was led to believe the hotel location was within walking distance of the Strip. However, it is within walking distance to several reasonably priced restaurants, a grocery store, and one tourist shop. We stopped by the grocery store several times during our stay to pick up items for lunch and snacks.
The resort has a small mall on site that features clothing stores, jewelry stores, and a snack shop. Our first day, these shops were a lifesaver! We purchased a rash guard and sandals on site that we’d forgotten to pack. While the prices were higher, the convenience was worth it!
Have you visited Saint Kitts & Nevis? What’s your favorite island to visit?
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- Amanda is a native of Richmond, VA. She enjoys writing, blogging, traveling, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.
