Feb

2020

STAY, EAT, DO: SANDALS GRENADA

Whether we want to admit it or not, we all wish for a bout of indulgence and pampering on Valentine’s Day. To curb the overwhelming commercial pressure attached to it, I always refer to the 14th February as Love Day and extend my appreciation to family and friends. But if you’re a self-confessed hopeless romantic who likes to turn up the heat on V-Day, this blog review, made possible by Sandals Grenada is definitely for you!

STAY

Sandals Grenada, located on the southern tip of the island, is spread across 17 acres and offers all-inclusive romantic luxury. When it officially opened in 2014, the rooms featuring large soaking tubs, sky pools and cascading waterfalls were the talk of the town! Boasting 257 rooms nestled within three villages (Pink Gin, South Seas and Italian Village) along with the addition of Lagoon Nature Reserve Suites, the resort always feels like you’re entering a different world on our stunning island.

We stayed in South Seas Village and loved the ability to roll out of the king-sized bed and take on step into the private plunge pool with an infinity edge. Not to mention the neat mini hot tub which got our affection at sunset. Here’s a list of my favourite things about our villa category:

If I had a nautical themed apartment – It would look exactly like our room in South Seas Village. I loved the calming blue palette and nautical fixtures, but most of all, although immensely romantic, the large separate living room, bathroom and patio gave us plenty of breathing space.

Double-vanity bathroom – Sharing is caring. But let’s face it, a gal needs room for make-up and hair stuff. With the bomb back-lit mirrors in the bathroom, sharing wasn’t on the cards!

More than one way to wash – We were spoilt for choice when it came to getting clean. It was a throw up between the sizeable stone-carved soaking tub, a sleek frosted-glass rain shower and cute outdoor shower. The rain shower always won!

Stocked bar and smart TV – It was inevitable that the luxury bathroom was going to extend my getting ready time. The smart TV with plenty of sports channels and a fully-stock mini-bar complete with (deep breath) spirits, beers, wine, mixers, tea and coffee kept him occupied.

Cost: A South Seas One Bedroom Butler Villa with Infinity Edge Pool is approximately US$550.00 per night for Caricom residents. Stay rates are seasonal so be sure to check for current rates at 1800SANDALS or sandals.com/grenada

EAT

Eating is my favourite sport, even though I’d lose in the foodie Olympics (my eyes are bigger than my belly) it doesn’t stop me from yearning for options! The 5-Star Global Gourmet Dine Around at Sandals Grenada allowed us to experience Japanese, French, Italian, Mediterranean, American, British and Caribbean cuisine without leaving the resort… or Grenada. Here’s a list of the restaurants our bellies managed to conquer:

Breakfast at Le Jardiniere – Aside from falling in love with the art deco fittings and burlesque themed decor, my lobster omelette with all the breakfast trimmings was the best way to start the day. Think fine breakfast dining where you lift your pinkie when raising your cup and saucer of Lady Grey tea!

Lunch at Neptunes – We opted for Mediterranian seafood by the sea, and it was undoubtedly a treat to enjoy a barefoot lunch overlooking Pink Gin Beach. My Greek salad and grilled shrimp left me the right amount of space for a sweet treat.

Dessert at Café de Paris – Café de Paris brought me back to Parisian patisserie’s I miss in London. From crepes to cream puffs, cakes and cheesecake this quaint cafe was a taste of a romantic french setting on the shores of the Caribbean. While I pretended to be Audrey Hepburn in a Paris based movie, he was at the New York Hot Dog stand ordering extra fried onions. The point I’m making is, there’s something for everyone.

Dinner at Kimonos – This was the highlight of our night! Our skilful and hilarious chef full of wit and antics prepared the tastiest oriental cuisine right before our eyes. Apart from the theatrics and constant flow of delicious meat, veggie and seafood dishes, it was a great opportunity to mingle with other couples staying at the resort while making new friends. I wasn’t surprised that the topic of conversation revolved around how much they loved Grenada compared to other islands.

We didn’t have room for the rest, but Cucina Romana gives you a generation-old taste of authentic Italian cuisine, while Butch’s Chophouse is a top-notch steakhouse named after Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart. The British style Tipsy Turtle pub reminded me of Sunday’s in London where I’d pop down to my local and enjoy a traditional cod, chips and mushy green peas.

Additional Cost: If dining with others is not your thing, you can reserve a Private Candlelight Dinner under the stars for an additional US$199.

DO

For most, the thought of a full day at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean conjures up images of searing in the sun overcome by excessive greed. Quite the contrary. In fact, with all the exciting activities on offer, we had to carve out time to chill. There was an interactive mixology session with rum connoisseur Lisette Davis from Rumboat Retreat, Dune Buggy tours with Sunhunters and lots of land and sea tours available with in-house tour guide Island Routes. Here’s what we did to keep occupied:

Absolutely nothing! – The fantastic therapists at Red Lane Spa sent us to dreamland during our 60-minute Scents of Love Couples Massage; we just lay on our backs enjoying the most adorable romance ritual I’ve experienced. It’s perfect if you and your partner need to release mind and muscle tension. At the beginning of the treatment, we selected the Wild Sugar scented massage oil candle. We were instructed to light it together and make a wish. When our therapists returned they poured the warm melted soy wax on our backs and massaged it into our skin, releasing essence oils of sweet guava, green tea and mango. Yes! He snored down the place.

Cost: The Scents of Love massage costs US$270 for 60mins and, Grenadian residents can receive 50% off with a valid national I.D.

Sweet Sunset Photoshoot – You know I love a photoshoot (him, not so much). Why fight up with phone pics and selfies when you can pop into the in-house photoshop and request a complimentary beach, garden or sunset photo shoot. I managed to merge the garden and sunset and got carried away with my own private shoot. It’s a cute addition to the day if you want to capture those precious moments. Print/format packages are available for purchase and make sure they get the best light and side as editing isn’t a part of the package.