The sad thing about vacation is it is so fleeting. Yet, I remember Grenada like it was yesterday, even though it was ions ago since we stepped foot on this beautiful island. The breathtaking views, the tranquil ocean, the sweeping views from our room built into the hills. It was truly paradise found.
One of the very cool things about Grenada in general is the people, so warm and friendly and truly prideful of their beautiful country and rightfully so! I never have encountered in all my travels to the Caribbean such warm and inviting people. They have a genuine interest in your opinion about their home and want so desperately for you to enjoy the beauty of their island and share in the joy that is Grenada. And let me tell you, I took every single moment in! This by far was one of the best trips my husband and I have ever taken together. It ranks up their with our honeymoon in Cabo and our 3rd year anniversary trip to Hawaii. Grenada is a natural and unspoiled gem of the Caribbean. I didn’t know much about it going into this journey, but it’s an adventure I will remember for a lifetime!
This attitude is largely in part to the wonderful and friendly staff at Mount Cinnamon, where my husband and I spent a week in mid to late April. We arranged for an airport transfer through the hotel. We arrived a little early so were skeptical anyone was coming to get us, but there within 5 minutes was Ryan to greet us, courteous and informative on our short 10 minute trip to the hotel. Upon arrival, the staff was there to welcome us with open arms and get us checked-in. Although never stated, I’m pretty sure we were upgraded to a villa as I booked a run of the mill room on Expedia. The check-in procedure was quick and efficient and we were greeted with the most scrumptious Rum Punch I have ever tasted. Wow, it blew me away! So refreshing and the hint of freshly grated nutmeg is what added that something special. After all, we are in the Spice Island so why not add a little spice to what otherwise would be a very traditional kind of drink. After cooling off with our Rum Punch and going through the check-out procedure, we were driven via golf cart to Villa 10, just almost at the top of the property. What we encountered next, took my breath away!
Entering the villa we happened upon a staircase that took us in 2 directions. Downstairs was a well-appointed bedroom and a beautiful full bathroom with gorgeous and colorful tile. We had a small balcony off our bedroom with a beautiful view. Moving upstairs, we found a full size kitchen, another full bath (again with beautiful tile work) and a full size living room with breathtaking views of the ocean and the property below. I was is awe! It was just spectacular and I felt so lucky to call this villa my home for the next week. The balcony off the living room was gorgeous with built in benches, a small table and the most spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea and Grand Anse Beach anyone can ask for!
Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club is a small, boutique hotel located on Grand Anse Beach comprised of 37 villas and suites situated in the hills that offer gorgeous views of the natural, unspoiled beauty of Grenada. This resort is not for the faint of heart. You will definitely get your exercise trekking up and down the property, but they do offer golf carts to transport you from the lobby to the villas.
To access the beach you’ll need to cross a small street and head down a staircase along a stone path through their lush gardens. Here you will find an inviting beach bar and restaurant with lounge chaises and tables to relax and enjoy your time on the beach. Offering mainly BBQ, sandwiches, and salads, the food is absolutely delicious! I ordered the fresh catch sandwich pretty much everyday and tried barracuda for the first time. It was amazing! Make sure you request a Rum Punch with fresh grated nutmeg to accompany your lunch! My other favorite drink was the Yellow Bird. It packs a powerful punch, so be careful!
Resort Activities
They offer a myriad of activities for your leisurely enjoyment including non-motorized water sports (kayaks, paddle boards, Hobie cats), beach volleyball, tennis, garden chess, shuffleboard, croquet, and horseshoes all located in the gardens by the beach. You can also enjoy sunset yoga classes or relax with a beachside massage.
The nice thing about Mt. Cinnamon is that they are situated at the end of Grand Anse Beach so it’s peaceful. The beach is absolutely beautiful with its soft, white sands and beautiful azure waters, gentle waves, and views of St. George in the background. It’s never crowed and easy to find a quiet, secluded spot to soak in the sun and listen to the waves. If you feel like venturing out, you can stroll down the beach to more crowded parts of the beach and check out some of the other resorts.
Venturing Out
There is plenty to see and do in Grenada, and after relaxing and rejuvenating for a while, I highly recommend getting out and exploring what Grenada has to offer. We decided to hire a private taxi to take us around the island one day. The hotel staff helped recommend a driver and put together an excursion for us. Our driver, Ashton was incredibly nice and very excited to share more about his beautiful island. We quickly got acquainted and by the end of the day it was like we were hanging out with a friend. We made stops to the Spice Market, Grand Etang Lake in Grand Etang National Park, hiking to the Annadale Falls for a quick dip, touring River Antoine Rum Distillery and tasting rum that is so potent, it’s banned from airplanes, and finished off the day stomping on cocoa beans at The Grenada Chocolate Factory. It was a fun filled day exploring the island and learning about the culture.
We also opted to enjoy a day out at sea onboard the Shadow Fax for a catamaran tour around the island. Grenada is home to the world’s first underwater sculpture garden and is a “must do” while here. We spent a couple of hours snorkeling and discovering the beauty of these underwater works of art. Then we headed to a private beach for a lobster and champagne lunch. My kind of excursion!
If you are a partygoer, Grenada isn’t your place although; Ashton did invite us to a nightclub with him. We opted to stay put at our resort so didn’t have the opportunity to check out the local scene.
Grenada seemed more of sleepy island to me where things closed early. We even found it hard to enjoy a nightcap at the resort’s one bar by the pool in the main building. We did happen upon a beach restaurant just down from the resort where we could grab food and drinks, but again, it was closed down by 10 or 11pm the latest. We’re night owls and enjoy being out and about and mingling with the other tourists so this was a little disappointing. No worries, we adjusted our schedule accordingly and realized we were best getting our socializing on during the day!
Dining
I encourage you to get out and sample the local cuisine while in Grenada. One of the best places to go is Patrick’s. It’s a no frills restaurant that offer small plates. You pay a flat fee and they bring you a smattering of dishes to enjoy. It was a great way to try it all for a very reasonable price! We hit up some pretty good eats, with beautiful ambiance, like The Aquarium on Magazine Beach, but I have to say my favorite was the on-site restaurant at Mount Cinnamon, where we enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner at Savvy’s. It’s located on the main area of the resort in a private and intimate setting overlooking the Caribbean waters. Savvy’s, offers farm-to-table cuisine featuring a mix of Indian and Caribbean flavors. They do a fantastic daily breakfast too, included with your stay. Offering a variety of options from fruit, yogurt, and pastries to full plates like French toast, pancakes, and eggs all freshly made. No buffets for this gal! The breakfast burrito is the best I’ve had anywhere!
Overall, our stay in Grenada topped the charts as one of the best destinations we’ve been to and that still holds true today, 7 years later!
Grenada has so much to explore and discover; full of history and beauty. If there is ever an island you should check out, this is it!