Grenada Holidays

The Spice Island of the Caribbean. Lush green and mountainous, Grenada is a huge producer of spices such as nutmeg, mace and cloves. Perfect for those looking for a quiet tropical holiday retreat, the island is ringed by entrancing sugar white and dark volcanic beaches and has a wonderful laid back charm. St George’s is arguably the prettiest harbour capital in the Caribbean and Grand Anse one of the finest beaches anywhere. Georgian public buildings and nineteenth century French-style houses are just some of the relics of a turbulent past when France and Britain vied for control of the island.


The locals are very polite, if somewhat reserved, and this is not a party island with tourism low-key and laid back. Red telephone boxes, driving on the left and colonial style police uniforms will remind British visitors of home. Sparkling waters, swaying palms and the rhythmic beat of calypso and reggae remind you that this is definitely the Caribbean.

St. George's University, a large American medical and veterinary school with about 3,700 graduate and undergraduate students, is in full operation on the island.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly from Gatwick to Grenada. The Point Salines International Airport was renamed in June 2009 and is now the Maurice Bishop International Airport, renamed in honour of the country's slain, revolutionary leader. The airport now has a new departure lounge.

There are also a mid week charter flight. Many flights are direct but have a touchdown on another island. The airport at Point Salines is about 15 mins from the capital, St. George's and located on the southern tip of the island.

On arrival make sure you fill out the Customs form correctly as the Customs officials are very thorough. Onward connections to most Caribbean islands are possible with Liat although some services stop at other islands on route.

When you leave the island there is a mandatory airport departure tax to pay in local currency. Children under 5 years are exempt and up to 12 years of age pay a reduced amount.



Mingle with the locals and take a bus trip. Or how about the short flight to tiny sister island Carriacou. Taxis are easily available and, for something different, take the water taxi which operates between Grand Anse Beach and the Carenage at St Georges. Cars can be hired easily and if you get lost (there are few signposts) locals are more than happy to point you in the right direction. Motorists drive on the left and you need to be aware of a more relaxed attitude to the rules of the road!

Tear yourself away from the beach and explore the colourful spice market in St George’s but try to avoid cruise ship days when it gets very crowded. Look for the policeman in a raised pulpit directing traffic in town! Visit a spice plantation or the River Antoine rum distillery, go whale and dolphin watching or explore and have a swim at Concord Falls in the rainforest.



How about a sailing trip to neighbouring Carriacou with lunch at a waterside restaurant overlooking the schooners. Hire a car and drive around the island and don’t worry about getting lost because the locals will soon point you on your way.

Choose from 45 beaches around the island, although the most popular are in the south-western corner. Grand Anse is the pick of the bunch with 2 miles of fine white sand and shimmering waters. Water-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing and most other watersports can be enjoyed here. There's also a beach-vendors market and a washroom. The underwater world is just as impressive and the SCUBA options include drift dives, reef dives and wreck dives. If diving or snorkelling are not your thing, take a glass-bottom boat tour of the reefs.

Sailing is very popular and several bays on the Leeward coast offering safe anchorage. Beach Fest held in November combines a regatta with beach parties and watersports.



There is only one golf course on the island of Grenada, but golf enthusiasts shouldn't be disappointed however, as the Grenada Golf Course and Country Club offers nine challenging holes and superb views of the Caribbean Sea as well as the Atlantic. Besides cricket (the national sport) and tennis courts at most hotels, facilities are limited. If you’re the outdoor type, get muddy by walking in Grand Etang National Park. For a fun and noisy day out visit the National Stadium when the Red Stripe cricket competition comes to town.

Take your camera as the Saturday spice market is montage of colour and aroma's. Although not a shoppers paradise, tourists can get handy gift size spice packets and various rums which both make ideal holiday gifts. The airport has duty free items and the alcohol is normally well priced. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and shops. Most shops are closed on Sundays.

There's something for everybody, with a wider range of hotel choices found on some bigger islands. Local regulations mean buildings are never higher than a palm tree. Grand Anse is the main tourist area with several hotels either directly on the beach or set back slightly. A well stocked supermarket, chemist and a couple of shops are close by. Tucked away close to the airport are two all-inclusive hotels and the Prickley Bay area has a few luxury hotels, marinas and a few restaurants.

Eating and drinking

Lambi, conch, callaloo, pepper pot and pumpkin pie are all local dishes. Round off with soursop ice cream and then hit the rum punches. Nutmeg goes into almost everything (this is the Spice Island after all!) With 3 types of rum on island make up your own mind which is the best. The Calabash Hotel has the only Gary Rhodes Restaurant outside the UK. Outside the hotels, there are several good restaurants that present international and local dishes using the freshest local produce. Locals like a cold Guinness (brewed locally) and Carib is served everywhere.

Grenada weather is fairly constant, fluctuating only slightly between seasons and visitors can expect temperatures to hover in the high 70s from April to December and in the high 80s from January to March. Unlike many Caribbean destinations, however, Grenada weather rarely includes the high humidity that makes the heat uncomfortable. Though sunny and hot, Grenada weather is tempered by trade winds that blow nearly year-round. Finding a shady spot on the beach is usually enough to combat the heat of the midday sun. Many visitors find that heading inland, where higher altitudes equal lower temperatures, is another easy way to beat the heat. The rainy portion of Grenada weather usually consists of short showers that come and go before they even have time to disturb activities.

Grenada's southerly location means it lies on the edge of the main hurricane belt. Hurricane season is from June to November and affects Florida, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Although the odds are pretty small that a hurricane will hit a particular Caribbean island while you're on holiday, they are higher in hurricane season.

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