Leeward Islands : Anguilla, Antigua, St. Barts, St. Kitts & St. Martin

507 Pages·2008·20.854 MB·English

by  K C Nash

H U N T E R
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Island Paradise
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St Kitts will transport you back to British colonial times. Explore the rain-
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forestsonSabaandStatiaordiveinsomeofthedeepestcanyonsoftheCarib- L
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bean. See St Barts, the haven of celebrities and the ultra-rich, a shopper’s
dream come true. Get close to the active volcano on Montserrat, or catch a e SStt KKiittttss,, NNeevviiss
glimpseofthewildmonkeysonNevis. SSaabbaa,,SSttaattiiaa,,MMoonnttsseerrrraatt
Thisguideistheultimateresourceifyou’reheadingforsomefuninthesun.It e
covers all the sites and attractions, the beaches, the watersports, the planta-
tionsandhistoricspots,butitalsoshowshowtoescapethetouristtraps,lead- w
ingyouintotheheartofeachislandtodiscoverhiddenwaterfalls,mountain
streamsandsecrettrails.
Foreachislandthereisextensiveinformationonwheretostayandeat,from a
five-star resorts to family-run B&Bs, from haute cuisine to roadside stands
sellingthebestBBQchickenontheisland.
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The author recommends local tour operators and adventure outfitters, with
contactnamesandnumbers,butalsotellshowtotouronyourown. d
Allthebestshops,boutiquesandgalleriesaredescribed,aswellastherecom-
mendedspas,golfcourses,hikingandbikingoptions,thefestivalsandthecel-
ebrations.
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The only guide with color photos & maps throughout that also
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gives you all the detailed practical information you need.
Life is a journey, an adventure – let Hunter be your guide! l
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Sightseeing Where to Eat Shopping
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HunterPublishing,Inc. ISBN978-1-58843-642-9
80NorthfieldAve
EdisonNJ08837
US$23.99
(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:1) (cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:7)(cid:1)(cid:1) 4th Edition K.C. Nash
www.hunterpublishing.com HHUUNNTTEERR
dventure Guide
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Anguilla, Antigua
St Barts, St Kitts & St Martin
3rd Edition
K.C. Nash
HHUUNNTTEERR
HUNTERPUBLISHING,INC.
80NorthfieldAve,Edison,NJ08837
(cid:1)732-225-1900/800-255-0343/fax[phone]
www.hunterpublishing.com
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INCANADA:
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ISBN978-1-58843-642-9
©2008HunterPublishing,Inc.
Coverphoto:Pinney’sBeach,Nevis(©BillBrooks/Alamy)
Maps©2008HunterPublishing,Inc.
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uals and companies disclaim any responsibility for any injury,
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donotassume,andherebydisclaim,anyliabilityforlossordam-
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4 3 2 1
Contents
Introduction 1
WhatTypeAreYou? 1
PickYourIsland 3
Anguilla 3
Antigua&Barbuda 3
Montserrat 3
St.Kitts 4
Nevis 4
SabaandSt.Eustatius 4
St.Barthelemy 4
St.Martin/SintMaarten 5
Websites 5
FollowingtheSymbols 8
AWordofCaution 9
EssentialPackingList 10
Anguilla 15
TheAllureoftheIsland 15
ABriefHistory 18
TheFacts 20
TravelInformation 23
Exploring 32
OnFoot 32
OnHorseback 33
OnWheels 33
OnWater 33
Eco-Travel 39
Playing&WatchingSports 40
FamilyFun 41
SeeingtheSights 42
WheretoStay 44
LuxeResorts 44
WheretoEat 61
Shopping 68
FineArt 69
Gifts,Clothing&More 70
Nighlife 71
TheBeachesofAnguilla 72
Saint Martin/Sint Maarten 75
TheAllureoftheIsland 75
ABriefHistory 78
TheFacts 82
TravelInformation 86
Exploring 101
OnFoot 101
OnWheels 101
Scenic&HistoricTours 102
OnWater 102
OnHorseback 112
iv (cid:1) Contents
Eco-Travel 112
Playing&WatchingSports 113
FamilyFun 114
SeeingtheSights 118
WheretoStay 122
WheretoEat 154
Shopping 165
Nighlife 169
TheBeachesofSt.Martin/SintMaarten 174
OntheFrenchSide 175
OntheDutchSide 178
OntheOffshoreIslands 181
St. Barthelemy 183
TheAllureoftheIsland 183
ABriefHistory 185
TheFacts 186
TravelInformation 187
Exploring 198
OnFoot 198
OnWheels 199
OnWater 200
OnHorseback 206
Playing&WatchingSports 206
Tennis 207
SeeingtheSights 207
WheretoStay 209
WheretoEat 227
Shopping 235
Nighlife 236
TheBeachesofSt.Barts 237
Saba 243
TheAllureoftheIsland 243
ABriefHistory 245
TheFacts 246
TravelInformation 249
Exploring 255
OnFoot 255
OnWater 256
Playing&WatchingSports 259
SamplingtheCulture 260
RelivingHistory 260
WheretoStay 261
WheretoEat 267
Shopping 270
Nighlife 271
St. Eustatius 273
TheAllureoftheIsland 273
ABriefHistory 275
TheFacts 277
TravelInformation 280
Exploring 285
Contents (cid:1) v
OnFoot 285
OnWater 286
Playing&WatchingSports 288
SeeingtheSights 288
WheretoStay 290
WheretoEat 293
Shopping 294
Nighlife 294
TheBeachesofStatia 295
St. Kitts & Nevis 297
TheAllureoftheIslands 297
ABriefHistory 300
TheFacts 303
St.Kitts 306
TravelInformation 306
Exploring 314
Playing&WatchingSports 320
SeeingtheSights 321
WheretoStay 324
DiningAroundSt.Kitts 332
Shopping 337
Nighlife 338
TheBeachesofSt.Kitts 339
Nevis 342
TravelInformation 342
Exploring 347
Playing&WatchingSports 352
SeeingtheSights 353
WheretoStay 357
EatingOut 365
Shopping 370
Nighlife 371
TheBeachesofNevis 371
Antigua & Barbuda 375
TheAllureoftheIslands 375
ABriefHistory 378
TheFacts 380
TravelInformation 384
Exploring 394
OnFoot 394
Zip-Lining 394
OnWheels 395
OnWater 397
OnHorseback 403
ByAir 403
Playing&WatchingSports 403
SeeingtheSights 404
WheretoStay 407
EatingOut 432
Shopping 442
Nighlife 445
Barbuda 447
vi (cid:1) Contents
History 447
TravelInformation 449
Exploring 450
WheretoStay 452
DiningOut 454
TheBeachesofAntigua&Barbuda 455
OnAntigua 455
OnBarbuda 458
Montserrat 461
TheAllureoftheIsland 461
ABriefHistory 463
TheFacts 465
Population 465
Language 466
MainCity 466
Government&Economy 466
People&Culture 466
Geography 467
Climate 468
Flora&Fauna 468
TravelInformation 469
Exploring 477
OnFoot 477
Eco-Adventures 478
OnWheels 480
OnWater 480
SeeingtheSights 482
WheretoStay 484
WheretoEat 489
Shopping 490
Nighlife 490
Index 491
Maps
Caribbean facingpage1
LesserAntilles 13
Anguilla 14
AnguillaDiveSites 34
AnguillaBeaches 72
St.Martin 80
Philipsburg 117
Marigot 119
St.Barts 182
Saba 242
Statia 272
St.Kitts&Nevis 296
Antigua 374
Barbuda 382
Montserrat 460
About the Author
K.C.Nashisaprofessionaltravelwriterwithyearsofexperienceinwrit-
ingfeaturestoriesformagazinesandnewspapers. ShelivesinAntigua,
one of the Leewards, and frequently travels throughout the region to
explorenewdevelopmentsandsharethemwithherreaders.
BeforemovingtoAntiguain2005,K.C.livedintheEastBayareaofSan
Francisco, and served as a special sections editor and feature writer for
theContraCostaTimesnewspaperchain.Shealsocontributedarticlesto
Diablo Magazine, an award-winning regional publication based in the
EastBay.
Mostrecently,shehasbeenacontributortotheCaribbeanEdgewebsite,
and now hosts her own site, www.leewardislands.net, where she will be
updatingtheinformationcontainedinthisbookonacontinuousbasis.
Acknowledgments
IwouldliketothankmyhusbandWillieNash,Jr.forhispatientsupport
overthelastyearasIresearchedeachisland.Itrulyenjoyedhiscompany
aswevisitedhotels,restaurantsandvariousattractionsoneachisland.
He always had insightful questions and cogent observations to
add—especially when I completely missed the obvious or got too cranky
andoutofsortstothinkofgoodquestions.
I would also like to thank the professional staff members of the tourism
boards and authorities on each island who were so helpful in arranging
tours and visits, and generally supporting the publication of this book.
TheyincludeDirectorAmeliaVanterpool-KubischandMerlynRogersof
theAnguillaTouristBoard;DirectorGeneralLorraineHeadleyandU.S.
DirectorofTourismDeredeSamuel-WhitlockoftheAntiguaandBarbuda
Ministry of Tourism; Director Ernestine Cassell, Ishwar Persad and
JadineGlitzenhirnoftheMontserratTouristBoard;DirectorGlennHolm
of the Saba Tourism Office; Director Christine Walwyn and her capable
staffmembersDiannilleTaylorandWendellPembertonofSt.Kitts;Chief
ExecutiveOfficerHelenKiddandAngeliqueFranceoftheNevisTourism
Authority; and Director of Tourism Elise Magras of St. Barths for their
kindassistance.
Iappreciatethetimeeachofthehotelandrestaurantmanagersandstaff
tooktotellmeabouttheirpropertiesandtakemeontours.Withouttheir
patientguidance,thisbookwouldbealotshorterandhalfasvaluable.
viii (cid:1)
Introduction
What Type Are You?
B
eforeyoudecidewheretogo
In This Chapter
intheLeewardIslands,you
should examine your needs and desires (cid:1) AboutBarbados 4
– and especially your traveling style. (cid:1) GettingThere 10
Take a look at the suggested styles (cid:1) People&Culture 11
below,andseewhichdescriptionfitsyou (cid:1) Accommodations 14
best. (cid:1) Eating&Drinking 14
The Perfect Cruise (cid:1) TravelInformation 17
(cid:1) LandofAdventure 29
Passenger (cid:1) TravelingwithChildren 53
(cid:1) Culture,Art&Music 65
Your idea of the perfect vacation is set-
tlingintooneplaceandhavingtheworldcometoyou.Yourideaofheaven
includesmultiplerestaurantstochoosefrom,loadsofentertainment,fun
activitiesandshopping…allwithinashortdistancefromyourroom.And
youstillwanttoexploredifferentcultures,albeitinquickglimpsesthat
can be had on an organized tour, so that you can return to your little
havenonorbythesea.
The Boots-On Adventurer
To you, the world is one big hiking trail supplemented by huge pools for
yourkayaking,sailing,parasailingordivingactivities.Themoreexplora-
tionsyoucancramintoadaythebetter–andthenattheendoftheday
youwanttoseewhatthelocalculturehastoexploreinthewayofcuisines
andentertainment.Beach-sitting,lazyswimminginawarmpool,orsit-
tingonabalconyreadingagoodbookarenotamongyourpreferredactivi-
ties.
The Cultural Explorer
Theworldisafascinatingplace,andyouwanttoknowasmuchaboutit
asyoucan.Youlovetalkingtohotelowners,restaurateurs,touroperators
andjustordinarypeopletohearwhattheylikebestabouttheircountry.
Youaregametotrynativecuisines(althoughmonkeybrainsmaynotbe
toyourliking),dances,gamesandanythingdifferentfromyourowncul-
ture.You’dprefertostayinplacesthatdon’tremindyouofhome,butgive
youanewviewoftheworldatlarge.