trip savvy

Grand Anse, a
two-mile stretch
of sand south of
the capital city
of St. Georges, is
Grenadas most
popular beach.

G
renada isn t nicknamed
the Spice Isle for nothing its
breezes are generously scented
with the cloves, allspice, cinnamon and
nutmeg that flourish on its hillsides.
This lovely island, perched on the
southeastern corner of the Caribbean,
still has a slightly bantam, frontier feel,
an authenticity that makes it a great
pick for travelers who dont want a
beachy vacation trimmed with duty-free
purchases and casino forays. A Reagan-
led military incursion 27 years ago now
seems ancient history, and the island
offers Americans a warm reception; but
then, it always has.
Grenada possesses a surfeit of
modestly priced accommodations, many
located on or near Grand Anse, the
islands main beach. Most restaurants
and water sports are found in the south
too, which helps minimize transporta-
tion costs. You can explore much of
the rest of the island via minibus the
farthest distance costs under $3, making
this a cheap scenic tour. Even getting
there becomes more affordable this June
with Deltas launch of weekly nonstop
service from New York-JFK.
Be sure to allow at least a day to
explore the islands northern reaches
there are small hidden coves tucked
around the scalloped coastline, while
the ruffled interior beckons with
hiking opportunities. A stroll through
St. Georges, Grenadas supremely
picturesque red-roofed capital, reveals
macduff everton

a spectacular harbor ringing the steep

inner slopes of an extinct, submerged
volcanic crater. Grand Anse, the islands
two-mile-long sweep of white sand, is affordable: grenada

Its a Family Affair

Intimate local inns make a Grenada stay a steal.

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trip savvy
home to the 37-room, family-managed
Siesta Hotel . Resting about 300 yards
from the beach, this well-run bargain
offers simply furnished but attractive
and clean air-conditioned rooms,
ranging from standard hotel-style units
to studios and apartments. All have
a phone, minifridge, safe and small
balcony. A pool and informal restaurant
and bar round out the facilities. Check
directly with owner Nima Anvar for
discounts on extended stays.
A sprawling view of Grand Anse is the
key attraction of the 68-room Flamboyant
Hotel & Villas, named after the famed flow-
ering tree and set at the southwestern
end of the beach. Choose from standard
hotel rooms or suites with kitchenettes
decor is straightforward tropical, and
each room has a coffee maker, a minibar
grenadas a great pick for travelers who dont want a beachy vacation
trimmed with duty-free purchases and casino forays.
2 6 c a r i b b e a n t r av e l+l i f e 
and a balcony facing the sea. Amenities
include a restaurant, a pool, and free use
of snorkel equipment and kayaks; Grand
Anse is a two-minute stroll downhill
(another fine beach, Morne Rouge, is
five minutes away). The Flamboyant has
good discounts for singles and special
offers on stays of four nights or longer.
A couple of miles east of Grand Anse
is Lance aux Epines, a quiet residential
area punctuated with foreign embassies
and a few upscale inns. Coral Cove is a
low-key 11-unit complex with friendly,
long-standing management. Least
expensive are five cottages situated on
a grassy, breezy hillside overlooking a
calm Atlantic bay; each has a full kitchen
and living-dining room, though no air
conditioning. For those who want to
spread out, there are both one- and
two-bedroom Spanish-style apartments
in a two-story building, all with air con-
ditioning. Youll find a tennis court and
swimming pool, and the beach is fair for
sunning; a jetty leads to swimming and
snorkeling. Send a shopping list ahead
of your arrival, and your fridge will be
stocked at check-in.
Tucked into an Atlantic cove,
sheltering a quiet beach trimmed with
sea-grape trees, Lance aux Epines Cottages
is another well-established family-run
inn. The 11 accommodations are found
within a two-story building set back
from the beach or in lawn-wrapped
one-story cottages; all of the one- and
two-bedroom units are spacious (the
smallest is 900 square feet) and have
full kitchens. There are few on-site
facilities beyond the front desk, but six
The city of St. Georges shimmers a few miles from the 60-room Flamboyant Hotel & Villas.
Opposite, from left: Colorful watercraft bob in St. Georges harbor; expressions of national
pride in Grenada in the green, red and yellow of its flag are never in short supply.
restaurants and a dive shop are within
walking distance. The rates include light
laundry service on request, and a cook
can be arranged to prepare inexpensive
meals in your room.
WORTH A SPLURGE Just off from Grand
Anse, 32-room Blue Horizons Garden
opposite, Left: Donald Nausbaum/Getty images; right: cory silken
Resort is infused with gentle West
Indian ambience that fosters a sub-
dued setting for couples and young
families. Sprinkled around six acres
of well-tended lawns and gardens, the
cottage-style rooms include generously
sized studios and suites with balconies,
all with full kitchens (supermarkets are
nearby). Free Wi-Fi is available in some
rooms, and some verandas boast a sea
view, making them great spots for relax-
ing with coffee or a book. Theres an
open-air restaurant, with less expensive
dining options not far away. By day,
lounge at the attractive swimming pool
c a r i b b e a n t r av e l m a g . c o m m ay 2 0 1 0 
O N $ 1 5 9 A DA Y *
Drive on the left; a local drivers license
zons Garden Resort, Grand Anse; from
or stroll the 300 yards to Grand Anse,
where the hotel maintains a collection
of chaise lounges on the beach.
OUT + ABOUT Laid-back to the nth degree,
Carriacou (pronounced CARE-ee-uh-
coo) is the largest of the Grenadines, the
string of idyllic outposts lolling between
St. Vincent and Grenada. Carriacou is
worth a visit for anyone who breaks out
in a cold sweat at the sight of personal
watercrafts or theme parties; instead,
snorkeling and hiking to deserted
beaches lead the list of activities for
day-trippers. Get around using the local
bus $1 to the farthest spot on the
island or rent a 4x4 for the day (about
$50) from Ades Dream Guesthouse,
next to the ferry dock, allowing you
to explore castaway coves and sleepy
beach bars. Get there on the twice-daily
ferry from St. Georges; the trip is 90
minutes each way. DAVID SWANSON
Grenada
HOTEL Average $112 in low season
($148 high)
BREAKFAST // La Bou-
langerie, Grand Anse; $10 for eggs, toast,
bacon and hash browns; 473-444-1131
LUNCH // La Sagesse Nature Centre,
St. David; $14 for fish or chicken sandwich
and fries; 473-444-6458; lasagesse.com
DINNER // De Big Fish, True Blue; $19
for grilled fish with sides; 473-439-4401
ACTIVITY // Day trip to Carriacou:
$60 for the round-trip ferry transfer
GETTING THERE // American flies
from Miami and San Juan; Delta flies
from New York-JFK. TAXI // From
airport to Grand Anse or Lance aux
Epines, $20 RENTAL CAR // Indigo
Car Rentals from $63 per day (including
tax), with discounts for multiday rentals;
473-439-3300; indigocarsgrenada.com
is $12. TAXES // Hotels add a 10
percent service charge and 11 percent
tax; car rental tax is 5 percent; departure
tax is $20. INFO // 473-440-2279;
grenadagrenadines.com
*per person in low season ($177 high),
based on double occupancy and
excluding airfare, car rental, airport
transfers, tax and service charges
(US$1 = 2.70 XCD)
GRENADA HOTELS // Blue Hori-
$155 ($210 high season); 473-444-4316;
grenadabluehorizons.com // Coral
Cove, Lance aux Epines; from $110
($145 high season); 473-444-4422
coralcovecottages.com // Flamboyant
Hotel, Grand Anse; from $147 ($197 high
season); 866-978-8013, flamboyant
.com // Lance aux Epines Cottages,
Lance aux Epines; from $110 ($155 high
season); 877-444-4565, laecottages
.com // Siesta Hotel, Grand Anse; from
$80 ($95 high season); 473-444-4646,
siestahotel.com
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