Grenada: 30th Anniversary Time - Let the Celebrations Begin

Grenada is known as the Spice Island of the Caribbean and I love it there and every day that I am there is a celebration in itself however 2017 is a big celebration for some of the local resorts.  Grenada is a small island only 21 miles long and lies 12 degrees north of the equator with a rich history, cooling off-shore winds and a plethora of spices - once exotic but now used every day!

This year, 2017 is the 30th Anniversary for Spice Island Resort; Coyaba Beach; Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel and 30 years of British Airways flying to Grenada.  Join me in wishing them a very Happy Anniversary and hopefully many more.

Spice Island Beach Resort, a tranquil 5 star resort sits comfortably on Grand Anse Beach, a two mile stretch of glistening white sands, warm water and gentle waves.  They are also the only resort in the Caribbean which has been awarded AAA Five Diamonds as well.  You will be welcomed and looked after by Sir Royston Hopkin and his family to enable you to enjoy the splendor and spice of the island.

Spice Island Resort will think of everything you need before you even think of it yourself! If you want unrivaled, all-inclusive luxury you will certainly get it here.

As you walk into the open entrance there are always flowers to take your breath away!

The view from the main bar and restaurant is breath taking looking straight onto Grand Anse Beach, the tranquil, blue of the Caribbean Sea and the gentle off-shore breeze put you in an island vibe  immediately,

just sit back and enjoy superb food and drink!

Further along Grand Anse Beach is Coyaba Beach Resort.  We stayed there for two nights this year and I was really impressed.

Our room was in one of a series of small blocks only two stories high and sitting on our patio we could see Grand Anse Beach while we relaxed and planned our day.  The plans usually included spending time at the beach and floating in the warm, tranquil and clear Caribbean sea.

Rum Punch is available at every bar and hotel and I must say is rather addictive.  The grated nutmeg over the top intensifies the awareness that you are in the Spice Island. Coyaba Beach Resort make a really lovely version, maybe too lovely as they are quite addictive!!

I asked Coyaba Beach Resort what they were proud of and they sent this quote:-

"There are two significant memories.  Firstly, the ground breaking and start of our project in October 1986, and the subsequent opening of the hotel in August 1987.

Secondly, the re-building , upgrading and re-opening of the hotel in February 2006 after the catastrophic hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

Overall, our strong family commitment and unity ensured the growth, success and sustainability of the hotel over the past thirty years.” Andre Cherman, Owner & Managing Director."

I would certainly love to stay here again next year.

The Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel is a 5* resort also celebrating 30 great years and with two amazing restaurants. I have not stayed there however have eaten there twice and both occasions were an experience.  The Calabash is owned and managed by the Garbutt family who bought the property in 1987 and has become a world class luxury resort.  It is family run and treat its guests as friends many of whom return year after year.

You are made to feel right at home the moment you enter the resort - we were both the occasion we dined in the main restaurant and on a subsequent visit when we enjoyed lunch at the Beach club. We had such an amazing lunch at the Beach Club - the sort of meal you don't want to finish because then it will be finished!

The views are spectacular whether you are looking at the keenly manicured lawns, the sparkling swimming pool or the lapping waves of Prickly Bay.

And of course the three properties above have benefited from the 30 years of British Airways flying a regular service to the island.

In 1987 British Airways initially flew to Grenada via Barbados and Saint Lucia however now the twice weekly flight goes directly to Saint Lucia where most of the passengers disembark, quick crew change and after around an hour on the ground takes off for Grenada.

Most of the Caribbean flights leave during the morning from London Gatwick Airport.

British Airways celebrated this monumental anniversary with Grenada at a reception held earlier this year at Maurice Bishop International Airport where they presented a stunning gift to all three of the resorts mentioned above.

The island makes wonderful rum so I will fill my glass with some Grenadian rum we brought home and toast to the future of Spice Island Resort, Calabash Luxury Boutique Hotel, Coyaba Beach Resort and British Airways!  Cheers all!!

I was not required to write a positive review of any of the properties above.  As usual all opinions and photographs are my own.  No photographs may be reproduce in any form without my written permission.

Grenada: Making Pizza at Vendome RC School

Last year I visited Vendome RC School in Grenada for the second time bringing them second hand books for their library which had  been donated by my local friends.  As I have already told you about the school (click here for the post) some of the children will not eat from school lunch one day until school lunch the following day!

I had asked the Head Teacher if I could cook something with the older children when I returned the following year.  She was all for it and asked if I could make pizza as even though there is a Pizza Hut in the capital St Georges most of these children would never have the chance to sample this.  Sure I said, pizza it will be!!

So fast forward to our visit this year to Grenada for the 4th Annual Grenada Chocolate Festival.  We (Mr R and myself) were staying after the festival finished and to coincide with the arrival of a barrel of books and other school supplied that we had sent from the UK we arrived at the school with plans to empty the barrel and then to make some pizza.

The pupils from the 6th Grade/Year 6 were really excited to help open the barrel - you would have thought it was Christmas!

Mr R had all he could do to empty the barrel in an orderly manner!

Whilst still at home I tried to think of all the equipment we could possibly need such as bowls, pizza pans, mini muffin pans, rolling pins etc. Not being sure where I could get these things I brought them with me. I got the first group of children mixing the dough and kneading it.

There was cheese to grate,

dough to kneed,

ham to chop

We made flat pizzas

and mini pizzas - the kids loved filling the little holes with the pizza dough

then filling them in.

The children had such a good time, there were smiles and laughter all around.

A very successful pizza making party if ever there was one and with plenty to go around!

I am planning to return to the school next year with more supplies for the library and a cooking class.  I haven't decided what I will make but I am sure the children will have fun.

True Blue Bay Resort have written an interview with me about my trips to Grenada and my work with the Vendome RC School. Click here if you want to read it.

This was not a sponsored post in any way. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.  Photographs are either my own or Arthur Daniel Photography - no photos may be reproduced in any manner without my written permission.

Please leave a comment below, I love reading them.

Grenada: True Blue Bay Boutique Resort

As I previously mentioned the first three nights of my trip to Grenada was spent at the Blue Horizons Resort. On our fourth day we moved to stay at True Blue Bay Boutique Resort.  Here we would remain for the rest of our visit to Grenada.

We had gotten a glimpse of the resort the day we went snorkeling as the Dive Centre is located on the True Blue Bay Resort premises however we were not envisaging such a warm welcome upon our arrival.  The owners Russ and Magdalena Fielden were there to greet us and make the check-in procedure go as smoothly as possible.  We were taken to our rooms and jaws dropped.  We were staying in one of their Villas at the back and quieter end of the resort.

We entered on the ground floor to a lovely bedroom and stylish bathroom. We were then shown upstairs.  I just wanted to move in there forever, it was the perfect place to spend the next week and a half and I never wanted to leave. 

As we had entered the villa there was a small infinity pool and beach mainly for the villas but of course open to all guests.  There was another large pool on the premises that we never got around to using it being so content to step out of our door across the sand and into the pool!

The view from our private balcony. I could sit there all day and really all night with a cold glass of rum punch and gaze out across the bay!

The resort has a bar which serves great food all day and is called the Doggy Dock! Sitting in the comfortable seating area and around the bar and this would be your average view, it didn't really change much!

Walking around True Blue Bay Resort we were always coming upon cute little vistas including these cheeky fellows! If one little pig went to market and one little pig stayed home these three little pigs went to Grenada and stayed there!!

True Blue Bay is child friendly with a fun play spot in a shady part which encourages the little ones to get out of the direct sunshine for a while.

It seems that every where you turn there are endless blue skies!

Each time we passed this tree on the boardwalk to the restaurant I just wanted to stop, take a deep breath and stand for one quiet moment!

Step around another corner, at the back of the well stocked little boutique and you will see these cute guys, I named them the True Blue Band!

There is a little micro brewery on the premises who made a special chocolate beer for the Grenada Chocolate Festival.

Didn't see this guy for several days even though we walked past him several times!

Everywhere you look at True Blue Bay is another surprise piece of art!

In 2004 Hurricane Ivan swept through the Caribbean and left devastation in it's wake.  A lasting reminder is a piece of wood that 'Ivan' lodged into the side of a building on the site and stays there as a reminder.

All this plus a great restaurant with Head Chef Gary at the controls churns out superb food, The Doggy

Dock bar and pizza restaurant, Esther and Omega - a great character duo make you a fresh personalised omelet for breakfast each morning and have a little cooking lesson once a week, a well stocked boutique with a range of clothes perfect for the sunshine and warm weather, friendly and welcoming staff and still there is time for Magdalena to run the Grenada Chocolate Festival!

The Grenada Chocolate Festival was the main reason for our visit to Grenada.  I will be telling you all about it in a post coming soon!  Keep looking out for it.

I was a guest of the True Blue Bay Resort as part of a Grenada Tourist Authority trip.  All opinions and photos are my own.  

Grenada: Blue Horizons Garden Resort

Our first three nights in Grenada we stayed as guests of Blue Horizons Garden Resort - a lovely resort about a 5 minute walk to the famous Grand Anse Beach (Two miles of beautiful white sandy beach).

Blue Horizons is owned and run by Mr Arnold D Hopkin who has grown up in the hotel and leisure industry and who adds a touch of luxury with a home from home resort assuring the visitor to the island a warm welcome and enjoyable stay.

Upon our arrival at our semi-detached cottage we were greeted in true Grenada style - a big smile and a local rum punch! What a fantastic way to greet your guests.

The self catering cottages are slightly spread out saving you from being on top of someone else's accommodation and although slightly steep (not great for me with my asthma in the heat) the view you are rewarded with is worth the incline!

If you do have mobility issues ask for one of the lower down accommodations. 

The rooms were furnished with a touch of island design and very very comfortable.  Although we were out all day and out for meals it was still nice to make a coffee and have a fridge to keep our water and chocolate stash cool.

The Blue Horizons has an established restaurant and pool-side bar both serving local cuisine. 

On one evening we joined Mr Arnold Hopkin for a meal and he kept us intrigued all evening with his stories and knowledge of the island and its history, past and present.

The resort was lush and green and very warm with a nice breeze blowing once you walked up to your cabin.

I try to eat a healthy breakfast and the fresh fruit platter became my morning addiction, off setting all the lush, luxury food and chocolate we would be consuming on our daily adventures.

Of course some days I gave in and had the pancakes and nutmeg syrup, equally as addictive!

I thought it was lovely to see the day's fruit arriving and being sold from the back of someone's car! You know it is fresh.

Even though we were on the go there was always time to sit awhile and have a chat and listen to Kendra Hopkin, Arnold's daughter telling us all about the resort with her passion and love for her resort and beautiful island home.

Thank you Blue Horizons Garden Resort for you hospitality on our recent trip to Grenada courtesy of Grenada Tourist Authority.  All opinions and photo are my own.