Amazing Grace

In Depth

It took one short stay at the Montpelier Plantation Inn in the mid 80s for the owners of Amazing Grace to be seduced into building a retirement home on Nevis, just a short walk from the very same hotel. Back then the choice of land available was immense, and so they picked a beautiful plot with views to all four quarters of the compass. With the help of local architect Jo Lancaster, renowned builder Analdo Chiverton and their own imagination and artistic flair, they succeeded in creating a truly romantic yet innovative holiday home. Its location, gardens, views and design make it the perfect retreat for a honeymooning couple or a small family.

Amazing Grace sits in an acre of very well kept gardens on Montpelier Estate and has superb views of Mount Nevis, the Caribbean Sea and sunset, with St Kitts in the distance. The open gardens are dotted with palms, eucalyptus, ginger lily, a traveller’s palm and a petria with purple blooms. It is also close to Nevis’ Botanical Garden.

The villa consists of two buildings in classic West Indian style, separated by an unusual 60 ft lap pool but accessed at the shallow end by a Japanese-style bridge that gives onto a large veranda (part of which is screened for late outdoor dining), and at the other by a extensive sun-deck with a heated Jacuzzi. The Villa has been newly decorated with rattan furniture, scattered oriental antiques and many original works of art, most of which are by the owner, who is a professional artist. It has a large open-plan kitchen/living area with wide French doors making it airy, fresh and sunny.

The rooms, which can accommodate a maximum of five people, include a double room with four poster queen bed, and a small interconnecting cottage. The floors are laid with cool Mexican tiles throughout, and there are ceiling fans in all the rooms. There is also a garden gazebo.

The entrance hall leads down to a large high ceilinged living/dining room, very well furnished and open plan kitchen. Laurel, the housekeeper since 1987, comes three mornings per week. The full kitchen has a gas oven, cooker, fridge-freezer, coffeemaker, blender, toaster, microwave, processor, dishwasher, and barbecue. Other amenities include a laundry with a washing machine and a dryer. (Hollywood, the gardener, comes when his other career permits him. He is a talented calypsonian, having released his own CD.)

There is an open plan bedroom to the rear of the sitting area, with a queen-sized iron four poster. Off it leads a studio bedsit and adjacent TV room, where there is a queen size day bed. Across the hall is the shower room with a very unusual feature. You can jump straight into the swimming pool.

The deck outside the sitting room leads you across to the other accommodation, a separate, intimate and private cottage with a small breakfast kitchen, which is ideal for grandparents or teenagers. The bedroom in the cottage has a wrought iron queen size double bed rescued from a mill sale. There is a shower room en suite with hanging rail and shelf space, vanity unit and a tiled walk-in shower. Views from the bedroom give straight out to sea and across to St Kitts.

The patio has solar lights like hanging lanterns and when dusk comes these give out a gentle glow with no electricity used. The view from the terrace is gorgeous and carries over to St Kitts on one side and to the other to Mt Nevis.

Beach & Swimming

Set high above Charlestown on the Montpelier Estate, Amazing Grace is not on the beach. The best beach from the villa is probably Pinneys Beach, though Windward Beach is probably closer. The area around Sunshines on Pinneys Beach is quite lively. It has beach facilities, some sports and of course the bar itself. If you want somewhere quieter then you can just walk slightly farther along the beach.

Amazing Grace has a good sized lap pool, and the swimming pool itself is one of the most striking features about the property.

Sports & Recreation

Sports in the area include horse riding (both in the hills and down on the beach) and tennis. Farther afield, mountain bike hire and scuba diving are available on Oualie Beach, along with deep sea fishing and kayaking. Hiking is one of the pleasures of Nevis and there are a number of excellent guides.

Golf is available at the Four Seasons Resort (20 minutes' drive), as is a spa.

A short walk up the road brings you to the Botanical gardens, famous for its landscapes and plant houses, and also its breakfasts.

Locality

Amazing Grace is set high on the hill in St John's Parish to the east of Charlestown, a very 'local' part of the island. It is close to a couple of the island's plantation inns, which make for an excellent dinner in romantic surroundings. Montpelier Plantation Inn is a short stroll from Amazing Grace and The Hermitage is about 5 minutes by car. Mem's Pizza for a cheap and cheerful alternative is about 7 minutes' drive away. Most of the restaurants and bars, however, are in Charlestown (15 minutes' drive) and beyond. Look out for Eddy's and the Café des Arts in Charlestown, and Bananas and Miss June's beyond.

The airport is about 30 minutes away by car.

Useful Hints

This fine Nevis villa is probably best suited to adult occupation due to its design, contents and pool location.

The local villa agent would be happy to do first night's grocery shopping with adequate warning. Rental rates for villas in Nevis do not include 'tips' about which you will find advice in the guest information book at the villa.

Airport Meet & Greet

The managing agent will arrange for a taxi to meet you at your arrival point and the agent will meet you personally at the house. We advise that rental cars be left at the house for your arrival, and not at the airport. This should be arranged at the time of booking your vehicle.

Getting Around

You can ask the rental agent to arrange a car for you. He will have it delivered to the property and issue your Nevisian driving licence, price US$25 or book direct with TDC Rentals. For a small fee 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, February and even in August there can be a shortage of cars on Nevis, so you are advised to book well in advance