Sun, sea and sand. A place where your only commute is from bed to beach, your only concern avoiding tan lines.
13 December, 2017
This is a promotional feature.
You're sitting in the office, yet again having your lunch al desko. Rain splatters against the windows and you wistfully scroll through Instagram, hating your colleague for posting yet another smug holiday snap but simultaneously wishing it was you. Sun, sea and sand. A place where your only commute is from bed to beach, your only concern avoiding tan lines.
But you don't just want a beach. You're a traveller, not a tourist. You like adventure, not the mundane. You need to relax, but you'd also like the option to explore. Step forward, Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour, which has just opened its doors in secluded Banana Bay on the southern tip of the Caribbean island. The group's debut property in the region, this isn't just any tropical escape; the hotel is committed to combining tourism with local culture, offering guests thoughtful luxury and an authentic West Indies experience.
With sustainability at its core, 126 beach-chic rooms and suites are given characterful flair with traditional Kittitian touches sourced from local suppliers. Crisp white textiles and creamy wooden furnishings meet gold and red accents, with azure-tiled bathrooms bringing the hues of the surrounding water inside. Drink in striking views of the hotel's palm-tree lined waterfront and the Narrows, a majestic strait separating St Kitts from its volcanic sister island of Nevis, from the moment the sun hits your floor-to-ceiling windows in the morning to when it drops into the ocean at night.
But you'll want to tear yourself away from four-walled luxury and step outside. With direct beach access and two swimming pools, this is a sun-worshipper's paradise, while the hotel's location in the most untouched part of St Kitts makes you feel like you've found your very own island sanctuary.
Fill your days with watersports, go on a walk with a local historian, meet wildlife on a rainforest excursion, or simply sunbathe. It's worth a trip into the colourful capital of Basseterre too, where colonial architecture is brought to life by pulsating soca beats and laid-back locals.
Back at Park Hyatt St Kitts, it's time to relax. The sprawling Miraval Life in Balance Spa has nine treatment rooms and an array of wellness activities to choose from, including Vasudhara therapy, yoga and meditation - this is all about nourishing your body and mind.
The hotel is also where you'll experience some of the island's well-known hospitality. Let local staff introduce you to Caribbean living at one of the hotel's three restaurants, where you can sample regional specialties including goat water stew, saltfish and johnny cakes, or make yourself at home with familiar dishes. No matter what you pick, with ingredients sourced from local suppliers and ocean-to-plate dining, it doesn't get much fresher than this.
It's as much about luxury as it is about Kittitian culture at Park Hyatt. Wander through the open-plan, light-filled communal areas reflective of grand governors' houses, read a book in the herb garden or lounge in a hammock. It's your holiday, after all. But whatever you choose, you'll probably want to end your day with sundowners in the rum bar - because this is the Caribbean, after all.
