For travelers seeking a warm-weather vacation with beachfront views, active excursions and unique landmarks, Grenada is the place to go. Though it may be lesser-known than its Caribbean counterparts like Aruba and Barbados, this island offers as many memorable locations, luxury resorts, high-end restaurants and active excursions as any other.
Whether it’s visiting the bustling town of St. George’s, exploring mountains and waterfalls, or just relaxing on one of Grenada’s many beaches, travelers can find a number of experiences that suit their preferences.
Where to Stay
Spice Island Beach Resort
Travelers looking for a high-end beachfront experience should consider this AAA Five-Diamond resort on Grand Anse Beach. The eight-acre resort, located 10 minutes from the Maurice Bishop International Airport in St. George’s, offers all-inclusive accommodations on property that cover meals and drinks, activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, golfing, and tennis, a fitness center, a children’s activity center, in-room minibar, Wi-Fi, and more. Guests can also check out the newly added open-air Yoga Pavilion overlooking the beach.
Inside Spice Island's 64 suites, guests will find contemporary Caribbean décor, marble bathrooms, Molton Brown amenities, and exclusive luxuries in the premier suites like Nespresso Machines, a Bose Entertainment System, and an Amazon Alexa Voice Remote. Depending on the suite, guests will have access to private swimming pools, personal gardens or outdoor terraces for dining and relaxation.
Janissa’s Spa at the resort offers massage therapies, facial and body treatments using local herbs and lotions, manicures and pedicures, and a menu of herbal teas to enjoy. Spice Island’s signature eatery, Oliver’s Restaurant, is located seaside and serves a menu of Creole and international cuisine. During their meal, guests can enjoy live music from local Caribbean calypso, reggae, and steel bands.
Note: The Spice Island Beach Resort is a non-smoking resort, meaning cigarette and e-cigarette smoking is prohibited in guestrooms and all public areas.
Coyaba Beach Resort
This oceanfront hotel is also placed right on Grand Anse Beach, steps away from its shores. During their stay, guests can enjoy on-site scuba diving and water sports centers, tennis courts with personal instructors available, body treatment cabanas, and full spa treatments. The 80 guestrooms at Coyaba Beach Resort are understated, providing all the basics that you would expect.
Additionally, couples that have recently tied the knot can take advantage of the Honeymoon Local Twist package, available May 1 to December 20. The package includes seven nights in a Superior Collection Ocean View room, a three-course picnic beachfront dinner party with wine, choice of a la carte or buffet breakfast daily, and a bottle of sparkling wine on ice and tropical flower arrangement on arrival.
Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort
The five-star, all-inclusive resort on Pink Gin Beach is complete with boutiques, a full spa, a fitness center, a number of dining options, luxury suites overlooking the water, and active excursions.
Sandals LaSource Grenada is broken up into four “villages”—the Italian Village, South Sea Village, Pink Gin Village, and Pink Gin Beachfront Village. Many different rooms and suites are available, but the resort’s signature accommodations are the Skypool Suites, ideal for couples. These suites, located hillside atop the Italian Village, offer an uninterrupted view of the ocean and include romantic bedrooms with direct access to an infinity pool, a living room complete with a dining table, smart television, butler pantry, and wet bar; a balcony with a Tranquility Soaking Tub for two, and butler service.
Activities at Sandals LaSource include unlimited access to popular scuba diving sites and water sports like windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and beach volleyball. The resort also hosts entertainment events like talent shows, beach parties with live bands, theme nights, and fashion shows. Guests can dine at the resort’s 10 restaurants and six bars, offering international cuisine from France, Italy, England, Asia and the Mediterranean.
Petite Anse Hotel
Want to get away from the popular getaway spot? Petite Anse Hotel, located on the northern tip of the island, takes travelers away from the famous Grand Anse Beach and St. George’s area, providing an even more secluded vacation experience. The hillside hotel offers views of the ocean, secluded cottages with pools and private terraces, farm-to-table cuisine from the hotel’s own garden, and local tours to nearby locations like Leapers Hill, Belmont Estate, Mt. Carmel Waterfall, and Lake Antoine, among others.
What to Do
Grenada National Museum
If you’re going to spend time in an exotic new destination, why not get to know it? Travelers can enrich their Grenada experience as they gain a deeper knowledge of the island and its history at the Grenada National museum in St. George’s.
Attendees can see exhibits and historical artifacts that relate to the island’s history with slavery, whaling and fishing, its first inhabitants, early technology, and more. Weekly activities at the museum include live cultural performances like dancing, singing, and poetry.
Spend a Day in St. George's
If you’re in St. George’s, don’t just stop at the Grenada National Museum. The colorful town is full of shops, restaurants, markets, tropical gardens, and landmarks. Guests can get another taste of history at both Fort George and Fort Frederick, two old military sites with old barracks, cannons, and fortifications still intact; or they can head to St. George’s Market Square and explore dozens of shops and kiosks selling fresh food, spices, handcrafted clothes, jewelry, and souvenirs.
Travelers with a sweet tooth should check out the House of Chocolate, a mini-museum that celebrate the history of chocolate and the process of making it. Guests can enjoy chocolates, brownies cakes, and drinks made onsite; plus, they can take part in the chocolate-making process by grinding their own cocoa.
Underwater Sculpture Park
This snorkeling excursion is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Travelers can witness the underwater gallery of more than 60 sculptures situated on the bottom of Molinere Bay, created by British sculptor, photographer, and environmentalist, Jason deCaires Taylor, with other artists contributing along the way. The environmentally friendly sculptures have actually attracted sea life, providing a stable substrate for microorganisms to grow on.
The sculptures depict scenes such as a group of local children holding hands, a lone man working at his desk and typewriter; a woman skin diving, a figure from local legend; and other pieces inspired by Caribbean culture. The Underwater Sculpture Park is now among the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic.
Grand Etang National Park & Forest Reserve
Travelers can take in the natural sights and sounds of Grenada as they hike through this national park in the center of the island. Hikers will get to see that Grenada has more diverse terrain than just white sand beaches: it's also home to forests, lakes, waterfalls and mountains.
During their hikes, which vary in duration and difficulty depending on the trail, guests will discover exotic wildlife and scenic areas like Grand Etang Lake, Mount Qua Qua, and Concord Falls. Perhaps the most notable attraction is the Seven Sisters Falls, which is about 40 minutes away from St. George’s. Once they get to the waterfalls, guests can jump into their clear waters.
Where to Eat
Rhodes Restaurant
It is not hard to find quality food in Grenada, especially seafood, but eating at a high-end beachside spot run by a world-renowned chef and television star is harder to come by. The open-air Rhodes Restaurant, found in the Calabash Hotel & Villas, a Relais & Châteaux hotel—named after British chef Gary Rhodes—surrounds guests with palm trees, plants and warm lights as they dine.
This “elegantly casual” hotel, as the Calabash calls it, serves gourmet items like baked lobster soufflé, slow roasted lamb shoulder, and shrimp ravioli. Desserts include toasted banana bread, passion fruit panna cotta, and a nutmeg custard tart with banana and lime ice cream.
The restaurant’s dress code is not too strict, but sleeveless shirts for men, sports clothing, slippers, flip flops, sneakers and beachwear are not acceptable.
The Aquarium Restaurant
This fusion restaurant overlooking Magazine Beach offers a mix of international and Indian cuisine. By night, the spot turns into an ideal setting for a romantic evening with its soft lighting and elegant table settings. Every week, the Aquarium Restaurant hosts a “Sunday BBQ,” offering a special menu of grilled steak, ribs, shrimp, fresh fish, lamb, and more. Before they eat, guests can relax on the beach with a glass of wine or signature cocktail.
Umbrella’s Beach Bar
Looking for a change of pace from an upscale or romantic culinary experience? Umbrella’s Beach Bar on Grand Anse Beach is the answer. The casual atmosphere and familiar menu of American and Caribbean apps, sandwiches, and burgers is a nice way to change it up. Plus, travelers can lounge at the beach bar and enjoy live music, happy hours with drink specials, and and a comprehensive drink menu of beer, specialty cocktails, wines, and spirits.
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