We were greeted by the friendly resident dog "Harry" the beagle when we arrived. When we got to our room, we weren't too sure how we felt about it originally. There is no air conditioning, but the breeze is so beautiful, you quickly realized you don't need it. The view from our veranda was so breathtaking. The room is decorated in a colonial setting, along with a roll top desk and four poster bed complete with mosquito net. The Hermitage is set right in a mountain. You see the mist on the peak of Mt. Nevis all the time and it is so close you feel like you can touch it. There are mango trees everywhere and whenever we felt the urge, we would pick one up and eat it. It was amazing! There are beautiful flowers and natural trees growing all around. They are not something that was landscaped in. The landscape is all natural. The owner Rich Lupinacci, is an American originally from Philly, PA. He could not have been any nicer to us. He asked us twice if we would like to go the beach, and set up a time to take us. We got into his Land Rover and took a bumpy ride to the beaches he reccomended for us. We enjoyed them to much. My husband and I chose not to take our children on this trip, (boy 15, girl 12) thinking they would be bored, and I think it was the right decision. It is a very relaxing vacation, more suited for couples. The Hermitage is more like a Bed and Breakfast, than a hotel. After spending 5 days there, we went over to the Marriott on St. Kitts, which is a ferry ride away. We were not prepared for how much we would miss staying at the Hermitage. We had to re-adjust ourselves to the big-business aspect of the Marriott. More hussle, bustle. Although it was a beautiful hotel, it lacked the small intimate qualities that only the Heritage could give you. Let me also mention the delicious coconut french toast. My husband is missing it so much now that we are home! The food at the Hermitage,and all through Nevis is all so fresh. You don't have to worry about the water or getting sick on anything. Everything is locally grown and it taste like it. Just delicious!! If you stay at the Hermitage, you can enjoy the clatter of the Green Vervet Monkey which you see in the morning and around dusk. They swing through the trees and they are fun to watch! They like to eat the mangoes as well, so bring your camera! They have a small pool and it was so peaceful there. I would highly recommend The Hermitage. If you want a quiet ,intimate, relaxing vacation, then this is the place for you. If you want a big fancy hotel with lots of guests and people waiting on you and crummy food, stay at the Marriiott.

Being a very well traveler throughout the Carribean, I booked a trip to Nevis (an island that I had not been to before). This vacation was to celebrate my 1st wedding anniversary. After looking at the website for The Hermitage Plantation Inn, I booked our stay based on the attractive photos. After we arrived, we were shocked to see the accommodations. They were cabin like rooms in very mediocre condition. Sleeping was virtually impossible. The beds had nets to keep out the bugs but they didn't work. Each night my husband would be on mosquito patrol. He would lay in bed with a flash light in hand trying to catch the nagging insects that left welts all over his legs and feet. To make matters worse, there was no airconditioning in the rooms. There was a ceiling fan however, there was absolutely no breeze since you were sleeping under a net. The temperature in the cabin was approximately 85 degrees at night. These bad sleeping conditions took away any chance of romance when back in the room at night. I almost forgot to mention the rooster who would start his cock-a-doodle-doing at about 3 AM each day.

The food was passable but not memorable. The Inn is quite a distance from any beach so you need to rely on the owners family to shuttle you to and from the beach. They were actually very nice about that.

All in all, the island of Nevis does not have that much to offer. The beaches are just ok and the backdrop is not special. It's an island that takes 2 planes to get to. My feelings are if you are traveling all day to arrive at your final destination, it should be pretty terrific once you are there. Unfortunately, this was not !!!!

I've been meaning to write a review for a while. My fiancé and I spent a week at the Hermitage in in the Treetops Up cottage. The greeting we received was warm, friendly and personal-- the owner, Richie, is around to mix you a delicous (and heady) punch or to tell you about the history of the place.

The great house of the Hermitage is worth the trip alone-- it is one of the oldest wooden structures in the Caribbean and is charmingly decorated --- it's featured in several coffee table books about the region.

The food we had there, particularly the weekly pig roast, was delicious and authentic. It's priced in the range of all the restaurants on Nevis (it's a tiny island, so yes it's a bit expensive! Relax, you're on vacation...)

So, the rooms: we were delighted by the huge four-poster bed, the privacy of a stand-alone cottage and the veranda equipped with a hammock for lounging. It is worth noting that for those of you who are a bit fussier, the bathrooms haven't been updated for a few years and the location of the Hermitage right on the edge of the (very beautiful) rainforest is conducive to insects of various kinds making their way in and out of our cottage (there is a mosquito net around the four poster bed, we slept safe and sound) .

Hands down, I would stay at the Hermitage over the Four Seasons or other island properties--- this place has personality. We'll be back!

Arriving at Hermitage Plantation Inn on a Wednesday for dinner is akin to surprising Grandma on Thanksgiving; as long as Grandma was a great cook. Wednesday is indeed Pig Roast night at Hermitage and the spread is the Islands best meal. Served in the great house, the oldest in the Caribbean, a giant home grown suckling pig has been slowly roasting all day awaiting your arrival. The table has several mysterious and local grains as well as pasta and beet & feta salad and fried thingies- Johnny Cakes, Rabbit stew everything!. How did we get here?

The choice of where to go on Nevis is pretty easy if you want the feeling of owning your own house while being able to troupe down the hill to the pool or to the dining area. It's the best of both worlds at Hermitage. The White House (our unit) was removed and above the rest just the way we like it. We had own own porch as most units do and sitting chairs and kitchen area begging to be used with slide open doors... were one to want to cook on vacation this is an amazing unit. Of course we like to eat out every night. Choosing a laid back hotel that has the food side down pat is a big part of the choosing process for us. A hotel that uses their own gardens and raises their own pigs and is decidedly children friendly.... well good luck finding that in the unspoiled Caribbean! We have at Hermitage!

Seven Things No one Will tell You About Nevis.

1- The Island is hurting. 4 Seasons was closed for two years after being flooded by a minor hurricane way out at sea. They were told by the Gov not to build where they did (7 feet under the sea table) but they went ahead anyway. The closure has hurt the beach bars and the rest of the tourist trade. Things are slowly grinding back up on Nevis but questions remain.
2- During this lull in economic activity now would be a good time to buy property on Nevis, the hot rumor on island is that the Giant luxury chain Aman Resorts has been in discussions and indeed agreed in principle to develop Race Track Beach, alas, my favorite. This beach also called Windward has some nice waves!!! But the hotel will damn them up out to sea... 200 palm trees have been ordered-- so it's happening. Mixed feelings here as the thrill of driving down the long road to racetrack past the old churches and into the real world of Nevis past the stables and thrust out onto a perfect beach, where if you're so inclined you just keep driving your vehicle right on it... (I chicken out.) Here at Race Track the water is so pure, kicked up by the Atlantic- that no garbage litters the shore despite the fact that the beach is not looked after in any way... this is truly insiders Nevis. However a powerful Resort with a history of being Eco friendly is just what Nevis needs to balance the 4 seasons and employ more islanders. It must be done.
3-All beaches are free on Nevis but the 4 seasons won't let you use their chairs. Fair enough I guess, it's a lot more fun at Sunshines just down the beach where the drinks are all reasonable and in EC and Smokie will take care of you real nice as you lay about in your own chair and umbrella.
4- You'll notice a lot of palm trees sadly lopped off at the top in a clean cut. They'll spin you a tail of Hugo or something but the truth is the 4 seasons imported some palms with a disease. It's unfortunate, these are such important trees, especially at the great new Restaurant Coconut Palm! Ah, here the Rum punch is oh so strong. Strongest for sure on the island if the owner makes it. The food is strong too, kicked into high culinary gear by a great chef from some cooking school.. the setting is sublime right on the water. The wine list intense and the best on the island.
5- The best food on the beach is at LYMES. Tucked in behind Chevy's and near Sunshines. Here you get a cool peppermint towel to start and some salted chips to replenish and some really good grub. Skip the burger and go Lobster wrap or Ribbs which are Great! The owner is the long time head seater at Nisbet and a gracious host.
6- Oualie beach is the great kids beach on Nevis, it's shallows stretch out for ages but you burn there bad, it's the hottest beach as the wind never reaches around the corner to hit you... Down on Pinney's the breeze is always great... but you still burn.
6- April on Nevis oddly enough is hotter than mid summer! The directness of the sun's overhead placement as it marches North will really fry you even on a cloudy day.
7- Coca Cola on Nevis is bottled in St Kits I assume with rain water and is sweetened with blessed sugar... I'll never understand why Coke insists on Corn Syrup for us Americans it tastes sooooo much better this way and of course nothing beats a cold Coke down in The Caribbean.

- Make sure you hit Golden Rock for dinner! That's a trip. Great food.
- It is not unusual to drink 2 or three rum punches in a day on Nevis. The one's at Hermitage are filthy good; With local spice thrown in, they have an intoxicating richness. Gallipot for lunch puts a nice red juice fruit twist to the whole Rum Punch affair. Gallipot is located near Oualie and has the islands freshest fish. A must go.

Now having completed my third trip to Nevis, two much earlier in life, I'm glad to be able to say NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON NEVIS... it's still a postcard paradise of olden times and every time for me the feeling on island is of wanting to stay there more, of wanting to actually somehow live there...With a kid just starting the school system in NY I know that won't happen and it pains the soul... life is very sweet and slow on Nevis.

The wild monkeys of Nevis descend the hills of Mt Nevis and into Hermitage Estate in the late afternoon. First the scout scampers along and rears up on his hind legs. Then the all clear is given and the big male lopes across the lawn, to return shortly with something he's stolen from the food area. Looks like a mango. Sitting on the deck of our little house in Nevis, plopped up on the hill watching all of this unfold well onto our second fabulous rum punch, it was hard to believe we also have a life staring at buildings in new York City.

The direct flight into St Kitts from JFK has most likely made Nevis my go to Island from here on out. - B.A. Hinds.