Grenada
 

Hi! Just want to say that i returned recently from the Caribbean cricket world cup holiday.

Grenada was amazing. True Caribbean hospitality and amazing people. Thanks to all those who gave me suggestions as to things to do while in Grenada.....this board is very informative, indeed!!!

Stayed along with friends at Villa Caribella which is located close to Wester Hall point. The villa belongs to Michael and Anne Mcintyre....ofcourse, the famous Mcintyre bros ford dealership near the airport is very very famous all over the island.

Loved my treks at Grand Etang park......went with our guide Mac to Mount Qua Qua. Stunning vistas. Did all the other usual stuff......the Aquarium restaurant and beach, Tamarind and the Nutmeg restaurants for local flavour.......flamingo bay snorkelling. World cup parties at Bananas and fantasia. Grand anse beach area was nice too...

Driving around the island was very easy.....can't get lost.

Nice hills all over the place that makes for good running routes and scenic vistas.....

The national stadium in Grenada was spectacular......awesome facilites and great people. I loved my Grenada experience and recommend it to anyone wanting to go there.

Jamaica in comparison was more commercial. Stayed in Ocho Rios and although a great experience, wasn't my cup of tea.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Cheers,
Hari

I could sing Grenada's praises all day long and I love reading other folks' impressions of it, too.

I'm heading back there in just over a week and I'm curious about two of the places you mentioned. Where is Flamingo Bay for the snorkeling? West or East coast?

Also, I've already dined at the Nutmeg, but where is the Tamarind?

I look forward to seeing the stadium in its completion, as they were still building it when I visited last year.

Thanks in advance!

Hi EjCrowe,

You are one of the people i would like to thank for all recommendations prior to my trip.

Flamingo Bay....i believe is an hour's boat trip on a catamaran from Grand Anse beach area where the dive shop is located.

Tamarind.....not sure of the exact address, but, not too far from the national stadium. I highly recommend their tamarind juice which although is available in many places, is best at this particular restaurant.

We made reservations at Boots, but, couldnt get there as we deceided to chill out at the villa. Our housekeeper Denise was an excellent cook and hostess......the views from the villa were spectacular too with views of both sides the caribbean side and the atlantic side. Next week or so, i will try and post some pictures.

Rgds,
Hari

Thanks for the response and your kind words, Hari.

What company did you go with on the catamaran to Flamingo Bay? Was it an all day event? How much snorkel time did you get compared to the sailing time? Would you mind sharing how much it cost? My husband and I are traveling with two friends next month who have never been to the Caribbean. We think a daysail like that might be a lot of fun for the four of us, but since our villa is a little more expensive than we expected (oops--I thought I was booking their low season rates in May, but their rates don't change to low season until June!), we'd like to keep major spending down.

Many thanks,
emily

Hi Emily,

The entire snorkel trip was $50US per person. It wasnt an all day thing....i think the entire trip took the entire afternoon from 2PM to 6 Pm or so. I think, we booked it the day prior thru Horizons which is co-owned by McIntyre bros people. You can also book at the dive shop that is on the beach, i think.....can't remember the name of the company that runs the snorkelling trip, though....

The Villa Caribella was truly fantastic!!! A drive to get anywhere from Wester Hall, i suppose.....but, the views are phenomenal. Also, glad that the whole island is coming together after all the devastation from the hurricane a couple years ago...you can still see flattened trees in a lot of areas, particularly from higher view points during the treks in the hill country.

Didn't menion earlier, but, L'ance aux epaines is a nice area too....

It was nice and sunny the entire time in Grenada, but, the rains and stormy weather were upon us the last few days in Jamaica......infact, no water activities during the last three days of our stay there....

Hari

Nice report. We too are headed to Grenada near the end of May. Can't wait!!

Yes, ejcrowe, your reports are tucked away for our trip, as well!

Peace

Hari, thanks for the additional information. Westerhall looks like a lovely area and definitely worth the drive to get anywhere. we're staying in the LAE neighborhood again, renting a larger villa from the same owners we rented our studio from last year. Can't wait!

Did the $50 include snacks, drinks, or anything else? Do you know what their minimum group would be to go out? For that matter, what would be the maximum size for that boat?

greenie, I'm sorry that our time there won't overlap, as I would love to swap stories over a Carib or rum punch. Have a great trip! Where are you staying? I can't remember if I've read about it here or not...

The Catamaran is always booked with other snorkellers, so no worries....

Includes beers and rum punches and water and sodas, some sandwitches and snacks but none of us ate them......

Hari

ej, we are leaving on the 18th, will you still be around? We are at Coyaba.

Haven't really asked too many q's. Just soaking it all in and reading, reading, reading. I enjoyed your trip report and other posts on grenadatravelforum.com and have a long list of must dos/sees.

We are renting a car from Archie and look forward to getting lost in Grenada!!

Peace

greenie, everything I've read about Coyaba sounds really great, so I hope you'll enjoy your stay there. We don't leave Grenada until early on the morning of May 22, so perhaps there would be time for us to connect for a drink.

We'll have a phone in our villa but I don't know what the number is right now. Perhaps we could leave a message for you at the hotel?

Oops, posted too soon. Hari, thanks for the extra info, as I think the 1/2 day sail might be good for our group.

greenie, are you aware of the trip report contest over on the GrenadaTravelForum? For the best trip report written this year, with cut off date in September, I think, the prize is 5 nights in the Turtleback Pavilion villa. I'm going to put a *lot* of extra effort into my next report! :D


Hari, for that matter you might want to post over on that forum, too. You have to post an original one over there (that is, it can't be the same one you post here or on Trip Advisor), so good luck and hop to it!

Emily,

Just checked...Tamarind is on Lagoon road in St.Georges......go there for atleast the tamarind juice.

Hari

ej, Coyaba does sound good. We are very excited. Please do leave a message for the Smiths.

I read about the trip report contest and will def. post something!!

See you there!

Peace