Island Hilltop Resort Overlooking Caribbean Sea

The Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago were named after the prevailing trade winds that blow in their direction. The balmy breezes help keep things cool and pleasant on the 36-square-mile island of Nevis, which has an average temperature hovering around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Mount Nevis Hotel and Beach Club commands a sweeping view of the Caribbean Sea from its perch near Nevis Peak, a volcano situated about 3,000 feet above sea level. The 32-room hotel—which earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2012—sits on 17 lush acres once used as a lime plantation.

Inside the resort's two-story pavilions, colorful curtains, cathedral ceilings, and hardwood furniture contribute to a laid-back, tropical vibe in deluxe rooms with balconies and superior rooms with kitchens. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle ride to nearby beaches.

At the onsite Mount Nevis Hotel Restaurant, the kitchen whips up Caribbean-American fusion fare such as blackened Nevis red-snapper fillet and grilled strip-loin steak. The restaurant's patio overlooks the hotel’s 60-foot freshwater pool, with views of neighboring island St. Kitts and the Caribbean Sea in the distance.

Nevis, West Indies: Colonial Heritage and Caribbean Scenery

European ships frequented the West Indies—and Nevis in particular—in the centuries after Christopher Columbus made his overseas voyage. The isle became known as the “Queen of the Caribbees” due to the influx of wealth created from sugar plantations. Though Nevis officially became an independent nation in 1983, remnants of European colonization still dot the area, from the Georgian-style architecture in Charlestown to the sugar-plantation ruins scattered across the island. At the edge of the hotel’s property are the historic remains of the nearly 200-year-old Cottle Church, constructed by former President of Nevis and plantation owner John Cottle in 1824.

At the Botanical Gardens of Nevis, visitors can lose themselves in the 5-acre collection of tropical plants, which range from palms to exotic blooming orchids and water lilies. There's also an enclosed rainforest conservatory, where tropical parrots gossip about who's wearing feather extensions.