Here’s Why Grenada Is The Caribbean As It Should Be
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4 weeks ago
How to experience this island best, according to the experts at Turquoise Holidays
Ask most people to picture the Caribbean and they will describe Grenada without knowing it. White sand meeting warm, turquoise shallows, rum generously poured in the sun-soaked afternoon… What they will not picture is the part that makes Grenada different: a spice trade older than most of its neighbours’ tourism industries, a rainforest interior that swallows you whole, a population that treats hospitality with genuine warmth.
We’ve teamed up with Pure Grenada and Turquoise Holidays, who have built up years of first-hand knowledge here through dedicated trips and specialist training, to sum it up simply: this is the Caribbean as it should be.
Grenada is an island paradise.
Here’s Why Grenada Is The Must-Visit Caribbean Destination
Grenada has plenty of resorts, but it is not a resort island. Sandwiched between St Vincent and the Grenadines to the north and Trinidad and Tobago to the south, it is an island that rewards travellers who want more than a week by the pool, without ever asking them to give up that pool. It is why Turquoise increasingly sends couples, honeymooners and discerning clients here over more familiar Caribbean names: the island delivers the beaches people expect, then keeps going.
Freshly caught fish is the order of the day in Grenada.
The Caribbean As It Should Be
Grenada ticks every box the Caribbean is supposed to tick, without ever feeling staged. Luxury and local life sit side by side, feeding into one another. Spend a morning at St George’s market, where the air is thick with the scent of nutmeg and vendors call out the day’s catch, and the truth is clear: this island still works hard to serve its 117,000 year-round residents.
What the Turquoise team came back talking about wasn’t a hotel or a hike, it was the people. Grenadians are genuinely welcoming and proud of the island they are lucky enough to call home.
Grenada’s hikers are rewarded with spectacular views.
More Than A Beach Holiday
Grand Anse on Grenada’s southwest coast is regularly named among the finest beaches in the Caribbean – and rightly so – but Grenada rewards exploration in every other direction, too. Think rainforest hikes just 20 minutes from the coast, swims beneath waterfalls, afternoons at spice plantations and an hour or two lost ambling around St George’s harbour.
Off Molinere Bay on the west coast, the world’s first underwater sculpture park sits shallow enough to snorkel as well as dive, its figures inspired by real Grenadians and its newest additions nodding to Spicemas carnival. Here art and marine conservation collide, and the same technique has been applied off the coast of Carriacou, the second largest island in Grenada’s archipelago to the north. Visit with a scenic sail aboard a hand-built wooden boat with Savvy Sailing to experience a slower gear entirely. If you are pressed for time, Carriacou can also be reached by plane from Grenada or on a high-speed ferry.
Foodies and culture vultures will enjoy a trip to Westerhall Estate and Clarke’s Court, Grenada’s rum distilleries, and Belmont Estate or Dougaldston Spice Estate to see where all the nutmeg and cocoa actually come from. At Tower Estate, dinner starts in the dirt: guests are invited to pick ingredients straight from the gardens before learning to cook Grenadian dishes with them.
As for hikes, Seven Sisters ends the only sensible way: in the water.
Relax, unwind and enjoy the best of Grenada’s natural beauty at Port Louis.
The Spice Island
Grenada’s nickname isn’t just for show: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and cocoa have shaped the island’s identity for generations. Food is one of the most direct ways to understand the island, from spice estates and small chocolate producers through to beach shacks punching above their station and exceptional restaurants putting Grenada on the map.
There’s a selection of restaurants definitely worth seeking out, all tried by Turquoise‘s team on the ground. Hidden in Chef Dexter Plaza’s converted hillside residence in St George’s, Dexter’s Restaurant is one of Grenada’s standout dining experiences; Plaza previously cooked aboard the QE2 and now serves refined Caribbean dishes built around local ingredients. Across the city, a hilltop table at Bohemian Heights promises elegant fine dining with panoramic views. Longstanding seafront favourite Aquarium Restaurant is the place to be for a leisurely lunch or a sunset dinner by the water. And over in Carriacou, Tim’s on the Beach offers seafood freshly caught on the morning’s boats in a properly unpolished beachfront setting.
The island’s best hotel restaurants would hold their own even without their beautiful bedrooms attached. The Mount Cinnamon Beach BBQ – a weekly barbecue dishing up freshly grilled seafood and s’mores soundtracked by live music – serves a good measure of the island’s laid-back register, open to residents and non-residents alike. Elsewhere, Spice Island, Calabash and the shiny new Six Senses have all been recognised with a Michelin Key.
Grenada’s Hotels With Personality
When you book with Turquoise‘s specialists, you can rest assured you will be matched with the perfect hotel and experiences that meet your unique needs. Below, we’ve handpicked Grenada’s very best places to stay – but, while they showcase every side of this unique Caribbean island, the very best way to find your perfect match is to enquire with Turquoise directly today.
For Families: Spice Island Beach Resort
Set directly on the powdery white sands of Grand Anse beach, Spice Island Beach Resort is an all inclusive Grenada institution boasting a Michelin Key and some of Grenada’s very best views. Just 64 villa-style suites are scattered across the eight-acre property, which is distinguished for its family-owned feel and highly personalised, warm hospitality. The tranquil Janessa Spa utilises local island aromas and native herbs, and guests are invited to join morning stretching and yoga sessions. Kayaking, snorkelling, tennis and cycling are all on offer, while children aged 3 to 12 will love the games, crafts and play at the Nutmeg Pod Kids’ Club (and receiving their Spice Kids gift bag upon arrival). Fancy a romantic dinner at Creole-fusion restaurant Oliver’s just for the adults, or perhaps a couples’ massage? Babysitting can also be arranged on request.
Book With Turquoise Holidays:Â Save ÂŁ1,600 per couple with up to 25 percent off, with an exclusive US$100 resort credit when you book with Turquoise Holidays and travel in 2026. That’s 7 nights all inclusive from ÂŁ3,295 pp, including British Airways flights and private transfers.
Boutique: Calabash Hotel
Built around lush tropical gardens, this Relais & Chateaux property is tucked away on the tranquil, yacht-speckled shores of Prickly Bay on the southern tip of Grenada. Though children over the age of 12 are welcome, Calabash is the place to be for a polished, intimate, romantic escape. Owned and meticulously run by the Garbutt family since 1987 and now carrying two Michelin Keys, just 30 rooms arranged in a horseshoe around the gardens and four luxury villas are scattered across the property’s eight acres, which opens right onto the soft white sands of Lance aux Épines beach. There are tennis courts, lawn games, beach boules and a PADI Dive Centre all on site, while the sea here is virtually wave-free, making it perfect for peaceful paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkelling. Guided by Executive Chef Dominic Wolfart, dining is hyper-local from the Ă la carte breakfast right the way to the open-air Rhodes Restaurant, widely considered one of the finest dining destinations in the Caribbean.
Book With Turquoise Holidays:Â Save ÂŁ1,800 per couple plus receive a complimentary All Inclusive upgrade, with an exclusive US$100 spa credit when you book with Turquoise Holidays between 7 September and 15 October 2026. That’s 7 nights from ÂŁ3,995 pp, including British Airways flights and private transfers.
Wellness: Six Senses La Sagesse
One of Six Senses’ latest properties sprawls across 38 acres on a secluded headland along Grenada’s rugged southeastern coast. Built for slowing down properly, the resort’s 56 pool suites and 15 villas are built for indoor-outdoor living, each featuring a private plunge or lap pool and arranged like a traditional low-rise Caribbean village complete with garden walkways crafted from crushed nutmeg shells and cocoa skins. This is a brand known worldwide for its wellness programmes, and its first foray into the Caribbean is no different. Think bespoke-mixed skin scrubs, cutting-edge biohacking tools, destination-specific treatments and a sauna with panoramic views. Four restaurants and a cafe nourish guests with fresh-caught fish and farm-to-table dishes. Opening in 2024, Six Senses La Sagesse earned one Michelin Key in the guide’s inaugural hotel selection just one year later.
Book With Turquoise Holidays: 7 nights in a Garden Pool Suite from ÂŁ2,950 per person, including daily breakfast, international flights and private transfers.
Contemporary Luxury: Silversands Grand Anse
Silversands Grand Anse brings a completely new aesthetic to the island, abandoning rustic colonial Caribbean charm at the door in favour of sleek, minimalist Nordic-meets-Asian design masterminded by Paris-based architects AW². Positioned on a tranquil stretch at the northern end of Grand Anse Beach, though you are just a stone’s throw from the island’s bustle, the focus here is really on tranquility. With just 43 rooms and nine pool residences, the hotel’s 100m swimming pool cuts a dramatic line directly from the open-air atrium lobby straight down to the white sand beach, lined by daybeds and towering palm trees. Two restaurants – Asiatique and Grenadian Grill – offer global dining fused with locally-grown spices, while Silversands’ intimate bar, Puro, is home to one of the largest and rarest collections of small-batch Caribbean rums and premium cigars on the island.
Book With Turquoise Holidays: 7 nights in a Cinnamon Suite from ÂŁ2,150 per person, including daily breakfast, international flights and private transfers.
Best Value: Mount Cinnamon
With 37 colourful suites and villas, guests check in at Mount Cinnamon for its sweeping views and ideal location at the southern end of Grand Anse – but they go home treasuring the warmth and authenticity exuded by its local staff the most. The farm-to-table dining, sprawling outdoor verandas and plethora of on-site activities are an added bonus. Flying Fish is the place to be for hearty breakfasts and Creole-spiced dinners, while Mount Cinnamon’s vibrant weekly beach barbecue draws visitors from across the island and should be on your hit list whether you check in to the hotel or not. At the beach club, enjoy kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, snorkeling and paddleboarding, while the Grand Lawn is packed with giant chess, ping pong, shuffleboard, cornhole and beach volleyball if you fancy a day on dry land. Meanwhile the Montessori Kids Club keeps little ones occupied when parents indulge in a local botanicals-infused massage at Cinnamon Spa; opt for a beach massage cabana to unwind to the sound of the waves. Best of all, Mount Cinnamon’s rates make staying longer an easy ‘yes’.
Book With Turquoise Holidays: 7 nights in an Island View Room from ÂŁ2,780 per person, including daily breakfast, international flights and private transfers.
C&TH Key Notes
–The Flight: Grenada is reached from the UK via a one-stop British Airways service from Gatwick. Until October 2026, the route runs via Saint Lucia: a brief, unhurried stop that avoids the busyness of bigger Caribbean hubs, with passengers able to stay on the same aircraft for the onward leg. From October 2026, the stop moves to Barbados, which opens up an easy option to add a few days there too. The total journey time either way is around 10 to 11 hours.
–When To Go: Grenada is warm year-round, but December to May brings the driest, coolest conditions, and the busiest season. Summer is hotter with the occasional short tropical downpour, but this is when room rates drop and the crowds thin – worth knowing if value matters more than guaranteed dry skies.
–Time Difference: Grenada is four hours behind the UK during winter (GMT-4, no daylight saving observed), widening to five hours while the UK is on British Summer Time.
–Top Tip: Make time for a proper trip to Carriacou – the experts at Turquoise always recommend this. It is a 20-minute domestic flight or a scenic 90-minute ferry away, and the shift is real. Think even quieter beaches and a traditional island charm.
BOOK IT
Inspired to visit Grenada? Find out more at puregrenada.com, or speak to Turquoise’s Caribbean specialists and start planning your escape at turquoiseholidays.co.uk
