starfish1

Hi folks,
I'm looking at organizing a family trip for six of us - three couples -one in their fifties (who think they're still 30!) and two in their mid twenties. We've been to Barbados and St. Lucia but Grenada keeps getting my attention - La Sagesse in particular. If anyone has stayed there I would appreciate info. regarding how remote it is (ie. can you take public transit if you want to explore?),what activities there are on site (snorkelling,sailboats, windsurfing?) and what the food is like in the restaurant (quality and price?). We are all active and love the idea of being in a very natural setting but I'd like to be sure of the other variables mentioned above before I "pitch" my plan to the gang. Thanks for any help - other suggestions also appreciated!

leavingsoon

Hi

We are researching the same place and from what I have learned from my research here and elsewhere and emailing the property it is more low key guest house than watersports-filled resort.

It does seem quiet and natural and there is a nature trail. The food is supposed to be good. It seems too far for repeated excursions.

Hope that helps.

ejcrowe

Hey there--

I've not stayed overnight at La Sagesse, but I've spent several happy days there, have eaten meals there, and have toured two different rooms.

For exploration, a rental car really is necessary. Taxis would be prohibitively expensive, and the bus route coverage is sporadic at best on that part of the island. You're also a hot, dusty walk off the main road, for starters!

I believe they do offer snorkeling equipment to guests, but to be frank, the visibility is too poor there to snorkel. Grenada isn't high on the quality snorkeling as an overall destination, but there are much better spots around the island if you want to snorkel.

The hotel also has boogie boards and kayaks--I believe, but am not certain, that these are complimentary for overnight guests. They definitely rent them out by the hour to day guests.

I loved the food there, but I only ate there for lunch. Very pretty setting that is casual overall but slightly more formal than your typical beach bar. All seafood on offer is freshly caught that day--you might see them bringing in the catch early morning if you stay there. I'd say that the price there is a good value, that it might be slightly higher than other places in Grenada for lunch, but that it will be less expensive than most place on Barbados.

leavingsoon

ej-

Welcome back from your trip- now that you have been to Hawaii, you can help those of us who are Caribbean greenhorns to make comparisons!

So, how will snorkeling the Tobao Cays compare to your time in Kona? Favorably, I hope!

Thanks.

Sorry for the tangent/hijack- but this might help starfish1 plan, too.

leavingsoon

I should have said KVR not "Kona" as those are two very diffreent concepts!

ejcrowe

hi, leavingsoon!

I only snorkeled once in the Tobago Cays, and unlike many folks on this board, my particular experience wasn't especially impressive. The clarity of the water was superb, but it was relatively shallow where we got dropped off to snorkel and other than a few schools of blue tang, there wasn't much to see. I suppose it is our bad luck that was the case. I still loved it--the beauty of the Tobago Cays above and below the waterline was impressive, regardless of the snorkeling. After lunch I snorkeled again, but off the boat (the Friendship Rose) and saw squid & starfish and swam with a sea turtle, so it was a little more interesting there.

At KVR, conditions were good for snorkeling mostly just in the early morning. The fish were colorful and plentiful but the coral was colorless and looked very unhealthy. The main attraction for me was the sea turtles--we were supposed to maintain a distance of 20 feet from them, but that was nearly impossible as they were everywhere. After about 9-10:00am, the water got considerably rougher, which really reduced visibility. Also, the vog became more prevalent, so it reduced the sun's brightness, which made for poorer conditions. You can tell a big difference in the quality of my snorkeling photos in the link to my trip report on the Hawaii forum, even though they were taken within an hour or so of each other.

What trip in particular are you researching?

leavingsoon

So glad you saw the turtles!

I really would love to see squid! How great that would be.

I am still puzzling out the end part of our August trip and only recently decided that seeing the Tobago Cays is my top priority, and am wondering how to divide my time among all the places I want to see/ things I want to do/and also having time on Grenada, which was, of course the whole point of choosing Grenada...

Decisions decisions!

We were on Big Island this spring, so I especially enjoyed reading about your adventures there...and seeing your pictures of the turtles.

starfish1

Thanks for the info both leavingsoon and ejcrowe! I checked with the resort and ejcrowe had it about right with everything mentioned. It sounds like a wonderful getaway so now I have to do some number crunching and decide if we might be better situated closer to Georgetown. Loved reading aobut your other adventures as well. I haven't been to Tobago Cays so can't offer any input there but did the Grenadines a couple of years ago as a day trip from Barbados and it was fantastic. Leavingsoon, the highlight of our last trip to St. Lucia was swimming with the squid - although it makes it a bit hard to eat them now. Ejcrowe, our last trip to Kauai we swam with sea turtles right from shore so I can relate to your enthusiasm. So much fun under the sea! Thanks again for your input.

LvSun

Hey ejcrowe,
As to Grenada:
Where did you stay?
Is there a beach fantastic for snorkeling?
How is the diving?
How is it getting to/from Grenada?

ejcrowe

Hi, LvSun. I'm not sure you'll like my answers, but here they go:

1) I've stayed at Tradewinds Pavilion and Turtleback Pavilion, two villas owned by the same couple. Add to that the Spice Tree suites, owned by the same couple. And then 3 nights at La Luna resort. I recommend them all, but not necessarily for identical wants/needs.

2) There is no beach on the island for fantastic snorkeling, I'm sorry to say. I love snorkeling, but most of my favorite islands to visit offer mediocre snorkeling, and that includes Grenada. I found good enough snorkeling for my own modest standards at Magazine Beach (where the Aquarium restaurant and Rex Grenadian hotel are located) and at the beach by La Luna. I would still not rate these places as good by other island standards, just by Grenada standards.

3) I'm not diving certified, so I can't speak with any authority on the quality of dives. I've seen photos that look really interesting to me, and I know there are a few wrecks around the island to dive, but that's all I can share.

4) Getting to and from Grenada from the northeast US is a pain in the a$$. You can fly American and connect either in Miami or San Juan, but either way you're stuck for a long layover and arriving in Grenada after dark. Leaving is almost worse, at least when flying via San Juan, because it's an early morning departure. I think the Miami departure is more reasonable, around 9:30 am.

You can also fly to other islands such as Barbados, Antigua, St. Lucia, or Trinidad and then take a local carrier such as LIAT to Grenada. LIAT will get you there, but not necessarily on time. At one time Air Jamaica was offering flights from Jamaica to Grenada, but I don't know if they still do. They used to offer a flight out of JFK but I believe that has been discontinued.

Grenada does have daily non stop flights from the UK and Germany, though. I used to jokingly say that it would be easier and more fun to fly to London, spend a few days, and then go to Grenada.

Getting to Grenada takes some doing, that's for sure. only you can say whether what you've read about it inclines you to think it's worth the effort for *you*. It certainly is for me.

mymoosie

Air Jamaica still has flights from JFK to Grenada, though it doesn't seem like it is daily these days. There is a nonstop from JFK.

From Baltimore, it has 2 stops - Mo'Bay, then Kingston, with 30 minutes to connect for the Grenada flight out of Kingston! It's insane, I don't know how they expect anyone to make that connection, let alone the checked bags!

Liat has several flights out of Barbados to Grenada daily - a couple of non-stops, most stopping in St. Vincent.