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Montpelier Plantation Inn is in the very best tradition of the plantation house hotels that Nevis does so well. Set high on a hillside in spacious grounds, it has just 17 rooms centred on a Great House and a traditional windmill, whose very stones sing of old time West Indian romance. Montpelier is family owned and run and is the most elegant of the small Nevis hotels. With its keynote of casual Caribbean graciousness, it has all the refinement of a country house hotel in the tropics.
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KEY FEATURES
| Famous Nevis hotel, 17 rooms in a hillside garden setting, pool, tennis court, good views, elegant dining, beach house on a nice stretch of Pinney’s beach. |
STYLE
| Understated elegance, historic and romantic, modern plantation style living |
CLIENT PROFILE
| Well heeled and sophisticated travellers looking for complete relaxation |
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There is a wonderful sense of historic romance about Montpelier. From the moment you pass through the hefty metal gates at the entrance to the inn you feel the splendour of plantation life, in the beautiful cut-stone walls and flattened Georgian arches that have the burnt-black authenticity of the eighteenth century, in the cannon at the entrance and in the twelve leisurely acres of gardens that are planted with colourful sprays of tropical bushes set within 30 acres of rolling country side with spacious views of the sea and Mount Nevis. Montpelier is the most refined of Nevis’s plantation house hotels.
As you arrive you draw up beneath a huge ficus tree to the steps of the Great House. This is the heart of the hotel and (although it is a restoration) its stones are redolent with the grace and finery of centuries past, when Nevis needed a fleet of ocean going ships to keep it supplied with luxuries (and the machinery of sugar production). A windmill, originally built to crush cane, stands above the Great House, marooned in bougainvillea now and is an intimate restaurant. In the Great Room itself afternoon tea is served beneath a beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling. The dining room, on the western veranda, leads off the Great Room and has a delightful view, down 750 feet to the sea below and on to the sea horizon. At night it is often utterly dark, interrupted only occasionally by the lights of passing ship, as undeveloped as it was two centuries ago.
Of course the atmosphere of modern-day Montpelier is made of other things besides, though the level of elegance is retained. Actually on arrival you are greeted with a chilled towel and a rum punch or a juice made with fruit from the property. The Hoffmans, the owners of the inn, will also be there to welcome you and will take you to your room. You are simply asked to register some time before you leave. Around the hotel there are moments of modern style and design, hefty sticks of bamboo and the hardware of the old sugar industry, that bring a contemporary touch. The ambience at Montpelier is that of an international house party, quite sedate, but carefully steered and casually elegant.
The seventeen rooms are set in modern buildings scattered around the huge lawned gardens. These don’t have the same traditional appearance of the main house at all, or even the character of the wooden, red wriggly-tin-roofed administration building, but inside they are large and nicely decorated in contemporary style. There are generally two bedrooms to a cottage, but the entrances, fed by their own paths through the greenery, are completely separate and there is no sense of sharing a building. Each room has very private outside space.
If you are feeling active then there is a large swimming pool just above the Great House and a tennis court in the grounds, even a croquet lawn. And if you want to visit the beach, Montpelier also has a beach house, Montpelier by the Sea, which is set at the northern end of Pinney’s Beach, with its own facilities. A daily shuttle takes guests there.
If there is a sense of historic romance about Montpelier, it has also been the site of romantic history. In the 1780s a young Horatio Nelson was stationed in the area, in command of HMS Boreas. He spent a lot of time in a lookout on Saddle Hill. And then in 1787 he was married, in another great house on the Montpelier estate (a few hundred yards up the hill), to a widow living in Nevis, Fanny Nesbit. She was given away by Nelson’s friend and naval colleague, the future King William IV. Their signatures can be seen in the register in the local church, Fig Tree Church. See the story of Montpelier Plantation.
Like many Caribbean hotels, Montpelier specialises in giving the opportunity to do very little, in good comfort and often in good company. You will find yourself sitting on your balcony enjoying the quiet and dreamy tropical afternoon, or on one of the benches placed strategically around the grounds, from where the view carries down to the Caribbean Sea and then to infinity.
Guests tend to scatter by day, to explore the island or simply to enjoy the solitude of their rooms, but then in the early evening they return to the Great House, to gather for drinks before dinner. The Great Room is the heart of the plantation, just as it was two centuries ago, and as you walk through the gardens, which look fantastic at night, you could almost be back in Nevis’s plantation heyday.
Stop press - In October 2007 a new bedroom category became available with the creation of five Plantation Rooms. Formerly Premium Rooms, they have been re-styled with new wooden floors, comfortable lounging chairs, a mini fridge and in-room bar menu and larger chairs on the porch. There is a completely a new bathroom with mahogany vanities, vessel sinks and Elemis amenities. In early 2008 a new Villa Suite in a separate two-bedroom cottage will be available. It will have a plunge pool (9ft x 7ft), living room, two covered porches and a sundeck. In-room facilities will include a wet bar, Nespresso coffee machine and full entertainment centre with TV, DVD, CD, MP3 station and internet access. |
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Beach & Swimming
As a plantation house, Montpelier is not on the beach, but the inn owns a beach house, Montpelier by the Sea, at the northern end of Pinney’s Beach. A shuttle runs down at 10.30am (about fifteen minutes)and returns at the guests’ collective agreement in the afternoon. Reserved for guests of the inn, it is on a very nice stretch of the beach, good for swimming, and there are loungers and sun shades, and a changing room, shower and lavatory.
There is also a pavilion for a picnic lunch, which can be provided by the inn. Snorkelling equipment is provided, but if you would like to take part in more adventurous watersports, it is best to head down to Oualie Beach (ten minutes further on), where you will find windsurfing and kayaks (and mountain-biking) through Windsurfing Nevis and scuba diving through Scuba Safaris.
Montpelier has a large pool in its grounds, just behind the main hotel building, around which is a sunbathing area. The daytime bar is right next door so you can order drinks and light meals. |
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Sports & Recreation
Montpelier has a hard tennis court. Racquets and balls are provided free of charge and lessons are available at extra cost. There is a Games Room with TV and DVD library and individual cassette players are available for those that want to listen to a recorded book from the library.
There is an excellent golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, at the Four Seasons resort on the west coast, about fifteen minutes drive away. There is also a spa at the Four Seasons, though a masseur or masseuse can also come to your room.
For something a little more active, walking tours are another really good part of life in Nevis. A couple of excellent guides take walks up into the rainforest and to look at the plantation ruins that abound in Nevis. Horse riding and mountain biking are also available. |
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Staff
Staff is hardly the word for the Hoffmans, the two generations of an American family that own and run Montpelier In the best traditions of an inn they are very visible, entertaining the guests almost as though the place were a private house. Lincoln and Muffin Hoffman have spent a lifetime travelling the world for work, much of it in the Far East. The next generation, son Timothy (who is the General Manager) and his wife Meredith also live on property. Their daughter Tonya is also a director and consultant. See the story of the how the Hoffmans came to own Montpelier.
The Executive Chef is Janice Barber, who has been at Montpelier since 2002, but has lived in the islands since 1989.
Personalised arrival and departure service
Montpelier have a very clever arrangement with Federal Express to take the hassle out of travelling whereby your luggage is shipped and arrives at the hotel before your arrival. At Montpelier, your suitcase(s) will be unpacked, pressed and ready for your arrival. Upon departure your packed suitcase can be picked up and returned to you at home. No more lost luggage worries!
Please contact Montpelier about this service. |
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The Rooms
There are sixteen large rooms and a suite in cottages scattered around the leisurely gardens. The are stylishly decorated, with an expanse of white wall which is offset by mahogany woodwork and by the striking, colourful splash of a bright tropical flower or leaf. The upholstery is sleek and unfussy.
Each room has two double beds or a king bed (some are four posters with muslin hangings) The suite has a bedroom with a king bed and a separate living room in which there is a sofa bed. Some rooms have been air-conditioned, but at this elevation it is needed only for a few weeks each year. Most of the time the breeze can be coaxed through the glass louvres. There are no televisions in the rooms. (In fact there is only one television on the property, downstairs beneath the dining terrace.) Each room has an iron and ironing board. In the bathroom you will find Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. |
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Dining
Dinner at Montpelier is in keeping with the inn’s house party style. There is a three course prix fixe menu, with three or four choices for each course. Seating is between 7:30 and 8:30 at individual tables. Guests generally gather for cocktails beforehand, which often has the result that during their stay they meet and dine with one another. The main dining room for dinner is off the bar in the Great House, the Western Veranda, which has a fantastic view into the dark, sometimes moonlit night.
The Mill dining room is set in the striking setting of the old windmill shell above the Great House. Here there is a similar prix fixe menu, of four courses with choices and a complimentary glass of champagne. It operates three or four times a week in the season, so you will need to book in advance. There are 70 wines on the wine list.
Picnics are available for when you head down to Montpelier by the Sea.
The hotel is good at coping with special dietary needs, but it is a good idea to discuss your requirements prior to confirming your booking. |
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Weddings
Montpelier is a fantastically romantic backdrop for a wedding. It is like being in your own country house in the Tropics. And you won’t have to lift a finger. The Hoffman family are experienced hands at wedding and event planning. They organise about a wedding a month, catering for any number of guests, and so they know what needs to be done. They are at pains to ensure that each couple feels special, so while you are at Montpelier the staff is devoted to your needs. They will work closely with bride and groom to ensure that all their wishes are incorporated into an individual plan for the important day.
Please see some Wedding Ideas that you might wish to consider when planning for your wedding. |
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Children
Children over the age of eight are welcome at Montpelier. That said the hotel can have quite an adult atmosphere. |
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Useful Hints
Montpelier is not on the beach and you should be comfortable with the sedate and low key atmosphere. It is not intended to be a resort with a never-ending diet of activities. |
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Practical Facts
Annual Closure dates: 12 August to 4 October, 2008.
Dress Code: Smart casual. No shorts or T-shirts in the evenings. A light cardigan or shawl is advisable for winter dining.
Facilities: Concierge, internet access, swimming pool, tennis, private beach club, Games Room with TV, Sugar Shop boutique, restaurant and bar.
Complimentary: Welcome drink and cold towel on arrival, tennis and tennis equipment, snorkeling equipment, DVD/CD library, beach shuttle service, daily cooked breakfast and afternoon tea included in the rates. Live entertainment twice a week.
Other Services: Federal Express luggage service (see under Staff), bookings for deep sea fishing, diving, sailing, golf, spa/massages, hikes, tours, other island trips
Children: Welcomed, 8yrs and over
Weddings/Honeymoons: Wedding plans start from US$825 (see above under Weddings)
Accommodation: 17 rooms - 11 Premier Rooms, 5 Plantation Rooms and 1 Junior Suite
Room Types: All rooms have a view to the sea over the countryside, a private veranda, large tiled bathroom with a shower/tub, direct dial telephone, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, hair dryer, in-room safe, coffee/tea making facilities, iron and ironing board, 110/220v, (mini-bar—OMIT) fridge, Gichrist & Soames goodies in the bathroom. The Plantation Rooms are newly refurbished existing rooms with new wood floors, mini fridge and in room bar menu, larger chairs on the porch, and new bathrooms with mahogany vanities, vessel sinks and Elemis amenities. The Junior Suite has a living room with DVD player and sofa bed, and a private garden area with delightful reading gazebo with large sofa. A new Villa Suite in a separate two-bedroom cottage with plunge pool (9ft x 7ft), living room, two covered porches and a sundeck will be available from early 2008. In-room facilities will include a wet bar, Nespresso coffee machine and full entertainment centre with TV, DVD, CD, MP3 station and internet access.
Credit Cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard |
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Rates
| | 01 Jun- 31 Oct 2007 | 01 Nov- 13 Dec 2007 | 14 Dec- 09 Apr 2007-08 | 10 Apr- 31 May 2008 | 01 Jun- 31 Oct 2008 | 01 Nov- 13 Dec 2008 | | Meal Plan | BP | BP | BP | BP | BP | BP | | Premier Room | 280 | 390 | 490 | 390 | 290 | 390 | | Plantation Room | 325 | 425 | 525 | 425 | 325 | 425 | | Junior Suite | 365 | 465 | 565 | 465 | 365 | 465 | | 2-Bedroom Junior Suite | 481 | 621 | 761 | 621 | 481 | 621 | Rates in US$, per room, per night including full English breakfast (BP = breakfast plan), afternoon tea, use of the Inn’s private beach facility with complimentary transfers, use of tennis court, and library of books/DVDs. Rates are subject to tax and service charge of 20%. A dinner supplement is available at US$57 per person, per day (plus tax and service) when requested at the time of booking for your entire stay. All rates are subject to change without notice. A 50% deposit is taken to secure reservations, which is non-refundable (less 5%) unless cancelled in writing 30 days or more prior to arrival (100% deposit and 60 days cancellation notice applies to Christmas & New Year periods). A minimum stay of 10 nights is required for periods overlapping Christmas and New Year. Guests can check-in after 2pm. Check-out is before 12 noon. Changing facilities are available for early arrivals. Late check-outs accommodated subject to availability. |
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Special Packages
ISLAND HERITAGE – a 7 night package including double accommodation on a BP basis includes afternoon tea, with an upgrade to Canopy or Four Poster Room, subject to availability. Airport transfers reimbursed from Vance Amory international airport to Montpelier. A welcome rum punch. Climb to Nevis Peak OR Eco hike in the rain forest. A beach picnic with a bottle of house wine. A half day Island tour of Nevis. Choice of a half day sailing and snorkeling excursion including snacks and beverages OR a 2 hour horseback ride along the beach and plantation roads. Cost per couple including tax and service charge: US$2,768 from 01 Jun-31 Oct, US$3,692 from 01 Nov-13 Dec 2007, US$4,532 from 14 Dec-10 Apr 2008, US$3,692 from 11 Apr-31 May 2008 and US$2,852 from 01 Jun-31 Oct 2008.
Other special packages include a 4 night PLANTATION GETAWAY with three candlelight dinners for two on the terrace overlooking the lights of St Kitts, a welcome rum punch, a Champagne picnic at our private beach, a half day Island tour of Nevis and reimbursed transfers from Vance Amory international airport. Cost from US$2,037 per couple in summer or alternatively a 7 night EXTENDED PLANTATION GETAWAY also includes an extra night’s candlelight dinner for two, a complimentary bottle of house wine with dinner on your last night and two one-hour massages in your room or on the beach. Cost from US$3,406 per couple. The ISLAND ROMANCE package offers 4 nights accommodation with an upgrade to Canopy or Four Poster Room, subject to availability, three candlelight dinners for two, a beach picnic with a bottle of house wine or Champagne and two one-hour massages in your room or on our beach. Cost from US$2,080 per couple. The NELSON GETAWAY for 7 nights includes accommodation with an upgrade to Canopy or Four Poster Room, subject to availability, airport transfers reimbursed from Vance Amory International airport to Montpelier, a welcome rum punch, a beach Picnic with a bottle of house wine, seven candlelight dinners for two with a bottle of house wine, daily lunch by the pool, and all house brand beverages and wine offered by the glass (excludes blender drinks). Please contact the hotel directly for prices noting that there is an Early Bird Discount for Nelson Package: 90 days pre booking 4% off, 120 days pre booking 8% off, 180 days pre booking 12% off. The 6 night NEVIS ESCAPE includes accommodation with an upgrade to Four Poster Room, subject to availability, three candlelight dinners for two on the terrace overlooking the lights of St Kitts and a welcome rum punch. Cost from US$2,498 per couple.
All package prices are per couple based on double occupancy, include service charge and tax, daily full English breakfast and afternoon tea, and are subject to change without notice. Packages are available for direct bookings only. Packages and special offers cannot be combined. |
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Montpelier Plantation Inn Nevis, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number. |
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UK Tour Operators
If you wish to book through a tour operator or travel organiser, please follow the link below.
See List of UK Tour Operators
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Locality
Montpelier is set in St John’s Parish, a five minute drive up the hill out of Charlestown, and then down quite a long and rickety drive. Close by are the Nevis Botanical Gardens, which are well worth a visit. In the area of Bath, just before Charlestown, you will also find the Nelson Museum.
Charlestown has a number of cafes and bars, but most of the restaurants are located either in the town or north of it around Pinney’s Beach. Close by is the Hermitage (another plantation house hotel). |
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Meet & Greet
The norm on Nevis is to find a taxi on arrival at the airport. There are plenty of drivers and they provide a good service. If you are travelling with a tour operator or travel organiser, your transfer should be included as part of the arrangement. |
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Getting Around
You should definitely explore Nevis while you are there. This can be arranged through an island tour, but you may want to consider hiring a car for at least a couple of days. It means that you can travel 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, the hotel reception will be able to assist you. Otherwise, we recommend you book in advance via your travel organiser or direct with TDC Car Rentals, who will deliver to the property and issue your Nevisian driving licence, price US$20. 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 over Christmas, in February and even in August there can be a shortage of cars in Nevis, 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 readily available through the reception at the hotel, through drivers that the inn knows well. |
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All the information on this page comes to you free of charge. Please remember to mention DefinitiveCaribbean when you contact Montpelier for your Nevis hotel accommodation and TDC Thrifty for your Nevis car rental requirements.
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