Ziggy's Beach Club

Liz Pereira

"Just Back St. Kitts:

Serene, slow-paced St. Kitts is poised for big changes as the island shifts its economic focus. After the last government-subsidized sugar harvest in 2005, international real estate developers swiftly moved in, claiming pristine beachfront and lush hillsides for sprawling, luxurious and, they say, sustainable resort and residential developments. As this largely undiscovered gem glows brighter on the Caribbean radar, those who wish to see the island in its traditional mode should plan on visiting St. Kitts sooner rather than later. With increased air connections from the US and new year-round cruise ship calls, the crowds won't be far behind.

For house hunters looking to get in on the ground floor, St. Kitts is ripe with resort real estate opportunities made all the more attractive by a government-backed econimic citizenship program. It exempts owners of property worth more than $350,000 in specified developments from income, estate and capital-gains taxes.

Nestled in the northwestern foothills of Mt. Liamuiga, Kittitian Hill is a 380 acre planned community centered around a village square and creative-arts collective. Plans for this "holistic developemnt" include a boutique hotel and spa, ocean-view condos, cottages and penthouses, and a championship golf course. www.kittitianhill.com

In Frigate Bay, at the entrance to the pristine peninsula facing St. Kitts' sister island, Nevis, construction is about to begin at Ocean's Edge Resort, a 40 acre village of one and two bedroom beachside and hillside homes where amenities will include tennis courts, a fitness centre and a beachfront restaurant and club. The first units should be ready by June. www.newfoundproperty.com

A privileged few will take up residence at the Estates on Sundance Ridge, a gated community 10 minutes from the capital of Basseterre, where 15 palatial homes starting at $2.3 million offer expansive Atlantic and Caribbean views and infinity pools. www.sundanceridgestkitts.com

More than $17 million is being pumped into Beaumont Park Race Track, which will offer professional horse and greyhound racing at a new, world-class venue. Residential plots are for sale at nearby Beaumont Heights, where owners will enjoy a new golf course and several restaurants as well as access to the track.

The island's iconic 17th century plantations turned guesthouses offer uniquely historic lodgings. At Rawlins Plantation Inn, the newest accommodations are charming two bedroom, two bath gingerbread cottages nestled in a garden of tropical fruit trees and flowers. Also new at Rawlins; a plantation garden tour that includes a visit with a local artist followed by afternoon tea, Thursday-night jazz by the pool and a daily West Indian lunch buffet. www.rawlinsplantation.com

Watch for the new all inclusive Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino Resort (formerly Jack Tar) to open this month. The family-owned hotel will offer a host of amenities, including a casino, two pools, a fitness centre, four tennis courts, a pair of restaurants and five bars. www.royalstkittshotel.com

Dine inside or beneath the palms at Frigate Bay's Rock Lobster, which opened last year and serves a diverse assortment of tapas plus a host of seafood, pasta and steak entrees. 869-466-1092

It's easier than ever to get here: American Eagle's daily connections from San Juan have been supplemented by American Airlines' new non-stop flights from Miami to St. Kitts five times a week, their twice weekly service from JFK and Delta's Saturday flights form Atlanta and St. Kitts, which begin in February.

Sea arrivals are expected to increase by as much as 70% in 2008 when the Port Zante cruise terminal welcomes the 2,124 passenger Carnival Destiny and the 2,758 passenger Carnival Victory for weekly calls, and the mammoth Queen Mary II once again pulls into port. In preparation for the onslought, duty-free shops, restaurants and bars have recently been added as well as a visitors' welcome centre and craft. market.

St. Kitts' rainforest is a cloud-cloaked jungle where huge banyans thrive and exotic bromeliads cling to ancient mahoganies.

Greg's Safaris, headed by Greg Pereira, has been taking people into this protected, pristine environment for 20 years, leading hikers on short trails through the undergrowth and on challenging day treks. You can hike almost 3,000 feet above sea level to the summit of Mt. Liamuiga for a picnic lunch on the edge of dormant volcano's crater, or if you aren't up for the exertion, you can join a jeep tour through fields of sugar cane, picturesque villages and abondoned plantations. www.gregsafaris.com"