FEATURE GRENADA
The island was formed from volcanic
eruptions and is covered in lush green foliage and flowers – bamboo, palm trees, nutmeg trees, cinnamon trees, bananas, sorrel and bird of paradise flowers. After visiting a working spice plantation, such as Dougaldston Spice Boucan, visitors can quickly learn to spot cocoa beans growing in a pod and tell the difference between a nutmeg and a cinnamon tree. Active types can hike in the rainforest,
visit one of the island’s many waterfalls, river tube, sail or plunge underwater to spot a host of tropical fish. Those interested in history and culture
can visit the two side-by-side historic forts, Matthew and Frederick, built by the French in 1779. At 800 metres above sea level they offer 360-degree views over the island. Clients who just want to spend their
time soaking up the rays can choose one of Grenada’s beautiful beaches or perhaps join a sailing excursion to the tiny island of Carriacou, which is just 90 minutes away by a daily boat ride but feels culturally very different. Grenada claims – with some
justification – to be the year-round dive capital of the Eastern Caribbean; it has over 30 dive sites and 15 wrecks. October 2011 will mark the 50th
anniversary of the sinking of the cruise liner, the Bianca C, the Caribbean’s largest wreck and one of the world’s top 10 wreck dive sites. A series of events will be confirmed in the spring. Late last year 14 sculptures were added to the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park at Molinere. This artificial reef of life-sized sculptures of Grenadian people and their history is the work of Jason Taylor, a UK-based artist. Grenada is an island to recommend to
those looking for some memorable Caribbean food. Visitors can enjoy fresh fish, local foods such as calabash (which is very similar to spinach) or a rum punch at a choice of restaurants ranging from five-star hotels – Gary Rhodes has his only restaurant outside the UK at The Calabash Hotel – to Coconut Beach Restaurant, an antique house set right on Grand Anse Beach.
NICHE MAR KET: WEDDINGS Couples looking to get married in Grenada have a choice of locations that include the historic monument of Fort George, on-board a restored Swedish
Main picture: Grenada has some of the best snorkelling in the Caribbean; True Blue Bay Resort
light ship – Vasta Banken at Le Phare Bleu (10 villas around a marina) – or at two of the island's waterfalls, Annandale Falls and Concord Falls. At True Blue Bay Resort and Villas couples can get hitched on a yacht and stay in a new honeymoon suite with its own private entrance, reached through a bridge in-between the trees. Maca Bana recently opened a VIP wedding pagoda at its The Aquarium Restaurant. Overlooking Magazine Beach it has views of the ocean, St. George's and the mountains. The Flamboyant conducts weddings in a choice of venues that include their gardens and pool area, with views of Grande Anse Bay or the beach itself. There’s a choice of three packages, named after Grenada’s iconic spices: cinnamon, saffron and nutmeg. The Saffron Wedding package
comes free if a party books four rooms for a minimum 14 nights, or eight rooms for a minimum of seven nights, and includes a variety of things such as wine, hors d’oeuvres and cake. Blue Horizons Garden Resort is
offering a new Tropical Garden wedding package. Seven nights' accommodation in a deluxe one-bedroom suite, a half- day Adventure Romance Tour and
complimentary dinner for two at La Belle Creole, is from £1,628pp, based on two sharing.
WHAT’S NEW Grenada is set to benefit from an additional Virgin Atlantic (
www.virgin-
atlantic.com) flight from October 31. The five-star Spice Island Beach Resort has been awarded a Gold Award for ‘Best Caribbean Hotelier 2010’ by Virgin Holidays. Petit Anse Hotel and Restaurant is
set on the north of the island, which is off the beaten track and relatively undiscovered. This beachfront development has 11 rooms, each with views over the beach and across to Carriacou. For those on an island tour, its newly-opened restaurant is a great place to stop for lunch. The room with the greatest view at La
Source is 2301, a junior suite ocean view with a 360-degree view over Pink Gin Beach and the tropical gardens. Maca Bana, a boutique hotel with
seven individual hilltop villas was the first hotel in the Caribbean to be totally solar powered. The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association is asking visitors to make an optional contribution of $1.00 per
TOP SELLING TIPS...
• Soak up the rays on over 40 picturesque white-sand beaches including the island’s longest beach – Grand Anse Beach – with two miles of white sand
• Grenada is only 120 square miles in size so it’s easy to take a tour around the whole island
• 'Lime' (hang out) with the locals at Gouyave Fish Friday, or at the Dodgy Dock at True Blue Bay Resort and Villas
• Chocoholics take home some of the world’s best chocolate, made with quality cocoa by the Grenada Chocolate Factory
• Sample 86% proof rum at the River Antoine Rum Distillery, the only one in the Caribbean still powered by a water mill. But you won't be able to bring the high-proof rum home – it's too combustible to take on the plane!
Most of the hotels are less than 10 minutes from the
airport – so the holiday begins immediately
www.sellinglonghaul.com • February 2011 23
Up close and personal with Sally Parker
“We headed up to the Grand Etang National Park, where visitors can feed bananas to Mona Monkeys, on roads carved 1910ft above sea level. We were armed with sticks to help us balance along the steep muddy paths. After stopping to view St Catherine, Grenada’s highest mountain, our guide Telfour Bedeau, a hiking guide and mountain climbing specialist, pointed out native plants. At 71, he’s a walking advert for the benefits of enjoying the Grenadian outdoors!
Grenada has many trails including tough mountain climbs and gentler walks through plantations where along the way you can stop to sample mango, papaya and bananas. We visited two of seven waterfalls in the St Margaret Plantation. 'Super-butterfly' Cliffon dives off the falls for tourists and we follow by having a refreshing dip in the cool clear waters."
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