St. Kitts

Travel Dates: May 2024

Things to do in St. Kitts:

We visited two beaches in St. Kitts: Cockleshell Bay Beach and Frigate Bay Beach. Of the two, I recommend Cockleshell Bay as the waves are calmer here and the beach is suitable for snorkeling (clear waters that are relatively shallow). Frigate Bay had larger waves and a steep drop off.

Timothy Hill Overlook – A must-see in St. Kitts, especially if you have a car. This overlook offers views of Frigate Bay on one side and the south of the island on the other side. The views to the south are what is highly recommended, and if you drive towards Cockleshell Bay Beach, you’ll be presented with more beautiful views.

Blackrock Volcanic Runoff – Nice coastal view of volcanic rock formations, this is a quick stop if you drive to the north of the island. There are several vendor stalls here if you want to do some souvenir shopping.

Places to eat in St. Kitts:

The View Restaurant at Palms Court Gardens – We came to the restaurant for lunch, but they also have a pool day pass experience starting at $20 per adult, which isn’t too shabby given the nice pool and jacuzzi area. The day pass also provides a lounge chair and umbrella, outdoor shower, and free WiFi.

For lunch, we ordered Mahi Mahi tacos, lobster tail, Pina Colada, Old Road Rum Punch, and Mango Daiquiri. Our meal came with complimentary croquette ball and focaccia bread for starters, and a small mousse cup for dessert. The lobster tail and rum punch were tasty, but it did take more than 30 minutes for our food to come.

The Kitchen at Belle Mont Sanctuary – A good lunch spot with beautiful hilltop views of the island. Getting here was a bit difficult–follow signs for Kittitian Hill and drive through the shaded tree road up the hill. You’ll eventually see a security hut with a sign that says Belle Mont. Tell them you are here for the restaurant, and they will provide you with directions. 

We ordered the catch of the day (blackened Mahi Mahi), West Indian chicken curry, and a Mango Tango drink. The latter two were very delicious.

Reggae Beach Bar – If you visit Cockleshell Bay Beach, this is a great place to spend your day at with access to food, drinks, bathroom, and the beach. They also have beach chairs and umbrellas to rent for $10 per person.

We ordered the catch of the day (red snapper), Mahi Mahi fingers with salad, and mango colada–all of which were good. The drinks are also pretty cheap at $9 each.

Where to stay in St. Kitts

Koi Resort Saint Kitts, Curio Collection by Hilton – We chose this property as we had Hilton credit to use. There is free self-parking on premise, complimentary continental breakfast for Hilton Gold and Diamond members, pool towels, and a free shuttle that takes hotel guests to Frigate Bay departing at 11am and returning at 4pm daily. Even though the hotel is situated on the water, the beach is not accessible and the pool area is relatively small. All in all, I would pick another hotel, especially one with direct beach access.

What you need to know/Other tips for visiting St. Kitts:

• Renting cars: You’ll need to obtain a temporary driving permit to drive in St. Kitts, which you can purchase for ~$25 at the car rental office. Note that rental cars are not permitted to go to Nevis. And also be mindful that they do drive on the left side of the road in St. Kitts.

• Currency: USD is widely accepted, although East Caribbean dollar is their main currency. What’s great about St. Kitts is that credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

• St. Kitts tourist card: At the Koi Resort, they had business cards at the front desk promoting St. Kitts tourism. The card has a QR code linking to https://www.visitstkitts.com/on-island-offers, where it shows certain restaurants and tour companies that provide discounts or free gifts to tourists when presenting the card. Although it did say the promotion ends in September 2024, there may be other promotions in the future so make sure you check with your hotel front desk. Pro tip: take a few extra cards because each merchant takes possession of the card after each use.

• Adapter: Online research said St. Kitts uses Plugs D and G, and Plug A type (what’s used in the United States) may not work. However, at Koi Resort we were able to use our chargers without an adapter. Not sure if it was just our hotel but it may be good to bring an adapter for the other plug types just in case.