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Hurricane Cove Bungalows, a small cluster of self-catering units, stands ranged on the hillside above Oualie Beach in the northern part of Nevis, with spectacular views over St Kitts. It offers the best of easy Caribbean living, wooden bungalows with wraparound verandas open to the fresh air. It’s a charming true getaway, this. You can be as quiet as you like, but if you venture out you’ll find that Nevis has immense charm. The beach and sports are available just a stroll away.
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KEY FEATURES
| Twelve 1, 2 and 3-bedroom self catering Nevis villa & bungalows, shared swimming pool, some with private pools, small shop for basics, full kitchens; short stroll to beach for sports, watersports, scuba diving, restaurant and bar. |
STYLE
| Independent living in a spectacular hillside setting with fantastic sea views |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Independent travellers happy with a relaxing getaway on a quiet and charming island |
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Hurricane Cove is a delightful hideout tucked away in the north of Nevis, an already delightful island. It is a small cluster of bungalows on the side of a hill. They are self-catering, but come with some of the services of a hotel (daily maid service and managers on site) . Hurricane Cove is ideal for self-reliant travellers who are happy to hide away in an attractive setting, reading perhaps and enjoying the surroundings, but without the need for that much activity. That said, you are also within a short walk of Oualie Beach, where there are watersports and other sports by day and music a couple of nights a week.
But then you’ll probably want to spend much of your time at Hurricane Cove anyway, to get the best of the setting and particularly the view, which takes in 270 degrees, including the south-eastern peninsular of St Kitts. It changes throughout the day, with the sunlight spangling on the sea at midday and bleaching land around you, and then, with the long low-angled light of evening, enriching the colours until they seem to glow. Finally of course the sun drops below the sea horizon, gilding the clouds or setting them pink ablaze. There is even the chance of seeing the Green Flash from your balcony.
You arrive at Hurricane Cove along a tree-covered, beaten earth track at the northern end of Oualie Bay. A reception building down below (on the main path) has some basic supplies, but the bungalows are built to take advantage of the view, so they are up above, at the top of the rising gardens, lawns sectioned by low hedges of tropical plants. They are linked by steps of cut volcanic stones and wooden balustrades.
The bungalows themselves are in fact the most distinctive thing about Hurricane Cove. They are designed to take advantage of Caribbean weather, to encourage typically Caribbean indoor/outdoor living, but the wood (treated pine inside and out) makes them seem almost more Scandinavian than West Indian. In fact they are similar in style to the house of the owners of Hurricane Cove. Despite being designed in the tropics, they were actually constructed in Finland, shipped to St Maarten and then loaded into a banana boat for transfer to Nevis (which had no deep water port at the time). Hurricane Cove opened in 1987.
[See the full story of Bob Turner’s arrival on Nevis and the start of Hurricane Cove]
There is a central area around the main pool with a barbecue, and of course the other place that people meet is down on the beach. Guests can take their cars right up to their bungalow, but scooters and motorbikes are not allowed. And this is the secret of Hurricane Cove. The guests who come do so because of the peace and quiet, in a superb setting. |
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Beach & Swimming
There is direct access to Oualie Beach beneath Hurricane Cove and there are beach chairs in all the bungalows which you can take to beaches you visit around the island. The sand at Hurricane Cove end of Oualie Beach migrates. Often it is better at the other end of the beach, near the hotel, so you may prefer to make the three minute walk down to that end. You can get drinks and lunch at the hotel restaurant on the beach. There is some snorkelling off the rocks beneath Hurricane Cove and the office will lend you gear. Lovers’ Beach, which is windier and has rougher water, is 10 minutes in the other direction (over the hill). There are no facilities on this beach.
There is a freshwater pool at Hurricane Cove for the use of all the guests. Several of the units have their own pools. |
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Sports & Recreation
Oualie Beach has excellent facilities for watersports including windsurfing, small boat sailing, kayaking (there are kayaks for hire and tours leave from Oualie Beach), deep sea fishing and scuba diving.
Windsurfing Nevis also has mountain bikes for hire and tours and some horse riding. There are also many opportunities for hiking and exploring Nevis’s history.
Golf is available through the Four Seasons Hotel and there is a pitch and putt course in Newcastle. There is also a privately owned golf course, which will allow visitors to join for their stay and there are a number of tennis courts available if that is your game. |
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Staff
There is daily maid service except for Sundays and holidays. |
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Accommodation
The bungalows are made of wood (except for tiled floors), have wooden interior walls and verandas, and they are designed to open out fully, to allow a through-flow of air. In fact they don’t even have conventional windows. Instead there are hefty shutters and louvres that can be raised on pegs (and closed when the wind off the Atlantic whistles too strongly around the hill). The overall concept is of open plan living/dining with plenty of outside space, including balconies and in some cases decks with private pools.
There are eight one-bedroom, three two-bedroom and one three-bedroom bungalows. Five of them (including a couple of one-bedroom units) have private pools. The overall concept is of open plan living/dining with fully equipped kitchens and plenty of outside space, including balconies and in some cases decks with private pools. All bedrooms have en suite shower rooms. Each bungalow has a security box for valuables.
Air-conditioning is rarely needed due to the cooling trade winds but for the occasions when the day is still there are ceiling fans. All linen and towels, for bathroom and beach, are provided. |
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Dining
Hurricane Cove is self-catering accommodation. There is a full kitchen in each bungalow including a microwave and coffee maker.
The best supermarkets on Nevis are Superfoods on the Main Street in Charlestown, Rams in Stoney Grove, but Best Buy on Main St in Charlestown is open on Sundays and carries some different lines. In Newcastle you will also find Sunshine Shoppers, which is open 6 ½ days a week.
For suggestions for eating out, see Location below. |
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Useful Hints
Hurricane Hill is quite steep and is probably not be suitable for the physically challenged or elderly infirm although it is possible to get a car close to some of the villas. Young children will need to be well supervised in this hilly cliffside location and around the pool, which is not enclosed.
There are no laundry facilities for guests, but maids are happy to take laundry home with them to wash.
The management will lay in grocery supplies of a non perishable nature for your arrival on request. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure dates: Month of September
Dress Code: Very casual
Facilities: Reception, small shop, central swimming pool
Complimentary: Snorkel equipment and beach chairs
Other Services: Maid service
Children: Welcome, but caution required due to hilly terrain, cliffside location and unguarded edges
Accommodation: 12 bungalows
Accommodation Types: 6 x 1-bedroom without pool - Dove, Baobab, Banana, Coconut, Mango, Soursop – all have queen size beds and sea views to either Oualie Bay or the Caribbean Sea. 2 x 1-bedroom bungalows with private pool - Sea Biscuit, which overlooks the Narrows to St Kitts and a great place from which to watch pelicans diving into the sea below. King size bed, hammock, radio/cassette/CD player. Great sunsets. Williwah, which offers good privacy and bedroom that opens up to private pool deck otherwise identical to the bungalows without pools. 1 x 2-bedroom bungalow without pool - Monkey, which is the highest up Hurricane Hill and closest to the shared pool. 2 x 2-bedroom bungalows with private pool - Pelican, aptly named because the bungalow virtually hangs over the water and you can enjoy the dramatic sight of pelicans diving from great heights into the sea. Good living space. Papaya, which is the closest bungalow to Oualie Beach. 1 x 3-bedroom villa with private pool – Seastone, This is a wonderful property and comprises three buildings, each with its own bedroom suite with sitting area and full bathroom and one housing the main living/dining room and kitchen as well, set around a swimming pool with views to die for across the Narrows to St. Kitts. Lots of outdoor and indoor living space. Radio, stereo (CD & cassette) and a VCR, plus a selection of music and movies. Private line telephone. Washer and dryer.
Credit Cards: Visa & MasterCard |
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Locality
Hurricane Cove Bungalows is located above Oualie Bay in the north of the island, 1.5 miles from the airport at Newcastle and five from Charlestown. Oualie Beach is the main watersports beach on Nevis. As you head south there are other beaches and bars an easy drive or ride away, including Tequila Sheila’s, the Gallipot and of course Pinney’s Beach itself, where you will find Sunshine’s. There are some fun places to eat in Charlestown, but for atmospheric evening dining consider Miss June’s and Bananas at Cliffdwellers (both nearby) and the plantation house hotels. |
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Airport Meet & Greet
If you book directly Hurricane Cove will arrange for a dedicated taxi driver ‘Biddy’ to meet you on your arrival at the airport (you pay for this directly). He is familiar with the property and will ‘introduce’ you to your accommodation if it is late and reception is closed. The trip to the Bungalows takes less than five minutes. The management will also arrange for collection from St Kitts, but please discuss this at the time of booking.
If you are booking through a tour operator or travel organiser, the company should have its own representative meeting you and all transport arrangements to Hurricane Cove are likely to have been included in the cost of your holiday. |
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Getting Around
Although plenty is available relatively easily from Hurricane Cove, you may want to consider hiring a car for at least a couple of days. It will be useful when you stock up with food, but it will also enable you to explore the island at your own pace, visiting beaches by day and restaurants in the evenings. If you are not travelling in peak season and you don't think you will want a car for more than a day or two, hotel reception will be able to assist you. Otherwise, we recommend you book in advance via HCB management, your travel organiser or direct with our recommended car hire company on Nevis, TDC Car Rentals, who will deliver to the property and issue your Nevisian driving licence, price US$25. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day.
Be aware that in the winter season and around carnival and culturama, there is often a shortage of cars on the island, so you are advised to book well in advance. Also book early if you want one for a week or more because the pre-booked rates can be better.
Taxis are available through the reception and a spasmodic bus service runs along the road at the bottom of Hurricane Cove’s drive. Buses reach the airport (and beyond) in one direction and Charlestown onwards in the other. |
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