On Saturday, August 10, we left our apartment at 4am to catch a flight to Grenada. We got married in December, but decided to delay our honeymoon for a few reasons. It was close to the holidays, and our budget was looking pretty desolate after the wedding. We went back and forth on location and timing, and researched resort after resort. Finally, we decided on mid-August, and booked a full seven days at Sandals on the island of Grenada! I’m excited to share our experience with you, fun things we learned about the island, and what we would do differently next time. Here is a recap of our honeymoon at Sandals Grenada.
Arrival
As soon as we arrived in Grenada, we walked down the stairs directly onto the tarmac. We quickly learned that many of the passengers on our flight were returning to St. George’s medical school for the fall semester. We experienced “island time” while slowly making our way through customs. 😉 We were just so excited to just get to the beach! After about two hours, we made our way through customs and were greeted by the music of Carnival. There was a Sandals shuttle waiting to take us and a few other couples to the resort. To our pleasant surprise, we were only a short 3-minute drive away.
We arrived at the front desk which was outside under a large shelter. They asked us to point out our bags, which they took to our room right away. We were welcomed individually, ushered to sit down in the lounge area, and received champagne within a few seconds. We felt like royalty from the start, and we were eager to experience everything the resort had to offer! They asked a few questions about our stay, and handed us a folder with an itinerary for the week. As they were preparing our room, we decided to meet with the concierge, who was located in the “living room” right down the walkway.
Accommodation
Pink Gin
After visiting the concierge, we were escorted to our room by a gentleman at the front desk. Our room was called the “Pink Gin Hideaway Room with Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub”. The Pink Gin buildings are located right on the beach, and is the original La Source Resort that existed before Sandals purchased it. We were incredibly impressed with our experience in this room, and it is probably the one we would choose if we get the chance to go back. Ours was the second building back from the beach, so it truly did feel like a hideaway. We could see the ocean over the trees from our back terrace, and although there was a building in front of ours, it didn’t impede with the views.
The back terrace was incredibly peaceful, and we spent time there at the end of each day before getting ready for dinner. There were two lounge chairs and a soak tub, which gave it a very glamorous feel. The rooms in Pink Gin are a little darker than the other buildings, as they have dark furniture and shutters that can be closed. When the shutters are open, they completely expose the shutters and offer plenty of natural light. After sneaking a peak at some of the other buildings on our last day, we loved the style of our room the best!
Extras
Room service came in twice each day, with the second being a turndown service. Someone would stop by daily to ask if anything was needed, for example, refills for the mini-fridge. Each fridge is stocked with juices, soda, and water. The first evening, we were given a sheet to check off the bottles of wine we wanted, which were brought to our room while we were at dinner.
Restaurants
There are ten restaurants and bars to choose from. It was recommended that we immediately book our reservations, as they fill up very quickly. We didn’t find this to be a problem, and we were actually able to reserve two nights at the infamous steakhouse called Butch’s. August is Grenada’s lowest tourism month, which played in our favor all week. However, any other time, I would recommend doing this first.
- Soy– Japanese influenced cuisine where we had amazing sushi and dessert. We came here for dinner on our first night because it was very close to our room and did not require reservations.
- Spices– Here you can find the cuisine of Grenada, infused with European food as well. Spices is a buffet, and we ate here the most. This is where we had breakfast every morning, and lunch a couple of days too. We loved the buffet style, and it was easy to throw on a cover up and eat here before/after the beach.
- The Tipsy Turtle– The food here has an English influence (similar to Grenada), so if you love fish and chips, this is your place! It has more of a pub feel. It is very dark inside with TV’s, English bar food, and later hours. We came here after dinner on our first night, and really enjoyed it. It is open the latest of all restaurants, until 2am. This restaurant does not require reservations.
- Kimonos– We enjoyed our absolute favorite dinner of the week here. It is a hibachi grill, and we were seated at a table with 3 other couples. Hibachi is always good, and this was no different, but it wasn’t the food that made it so great. Our server, cook, and the couples at our table were a blast. They go above and beyond to entertain, and everyone participated. We laughed non-stop for two hours! This restaurant requires reservations.
- Neptunes– Located right on the beach. This is where cocktails are made and delivered to you if hanging out on the beach. The food here was a mix of American and seafood, and perfect for when we wanted to grab a quick lunch and then head back to our beach chairs. It is open and airy, with some of the best views of Grenada.
- Cucina Romana– An Italian restaurant where we came for dinner in the middle of the week. We actually weren’t planning to go to this one, since Italian isn’t our first choice. I’m glad we did. It was delicious and felt very elegant. This one does not require reservations.
- Cafe de Paris– A dessert and ice cream shop that is out of this world. If you lack self control, do not enter! With rotating desserts each day, gelato, milkshakes, and waffles, it is tempting to order everything. It is open all day until 10pm, so whenever we were feeling a sweet treat, we hopped in here to indulge and cool off.
- Dino’s Pizzeria– An outdoor order-to-go pizza restaurant located next to the back pool. We ate here once, during our day at the “party pool”, and was very convenient as we didn’t want to sit inside anywhere. We each got a personal pizza to eat in our cabana while it was raining.
- Butch’s– The steakhouse that requires reservations and fills up quickly. It was definitely worth the hype all around, food and service. We almost ordered the whole menu and had the privilege of coming here twice. It’s beautiful inside, and a chance to get snazzy and go on a date night.
- Le Jardiner– I’m saving the best for last, because this French inspired cuisine was our absolute favorite. This restaurant does not require reservations, but does have a dress code (no flip flops, long pants for men, basically wedding guest attire). The service was incredible and we would go back to this resort just for the escargot. We also came here twice for brunch, and it did not disappoint. Sadly we only made it here once for dinner!
Overall we were blown away by the quality of the food and drinks. We felt very spoiled by the “all-inclusive” aspect. It was very freeing to come and go whenever we wanted, and to order multiple appetizers and sides. Every restaurant has its own feel and experience, but the food and service was exceptional everywhere. They know how to make it feel like you’re at a 5-star restaurant, every time. There are so many choices, and no way that you could get bored with the food. This made it very difficult for us, because there just wasn’t enough time to return to our favorites!
Activities
The Aqua Center
There were many free activities included with our stay, including snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and scuba diving. Snorkeling, scuba, and the boat rides required us to sign up for the times offered. The other activities were available at our convenience all day. We decided to stick with snorkeling and the boat ride since the water was a little too choppy for the other activities. They took us to different locations each time we snorkeled. The locations were close to our resort, but we were still able to see some beautiful fish, starfish, sea urchins, etc.
Beach
If you prefer to lounge like we did, the resort has a nice beach where we spent most of our time. There are two sections for swimming on each side of the pier, with yellow rafts to sit or lay on. Servers walk around and take drink orders, which we were not expecting! The water can get very rough, so the swimming area is barricaded by rocks, which made it relaxing to hang out in the water. We purchased snorkeling gear for the swimming area, and I’m so glad we did. There were beautiful fish around the rocks, and we both agreed that it was better than the two free snorkeling trips we took.
Pools
There are two pools for public use. An infinity pool that looks over the beach, and a larger pool located near the back of the resort. The pool near the ocean had absolutely beautiful views, and was closest to our room and living room. It was never busy, and we spent a few hours here after the beach one day. The pool near the back is what we called the “party pool”. It had a swim up bar, volleyball net, connect four, and music. If you want to make friends and have a little fun, this is the pool to be at. We spent a day here playing volleyball, trivia, and requesting plenty of Drake songs from the DJ. This pool is closest to the South Seas rooms and buildings.
Daily Events
There was an itinerary filled with events going on at the gym, the pool, the beach, and the living room. We spent our evenings after dinner at the living room listening to live entertainment and playing pool. There was a beach party one night, and karaoke as well. On August 15th, which was our 8 month anniversary, we made reservations for a private dinner on the beach. It did cost extra, but was worth it. Behind the living room, there is an enclosed room called “The Library”, which has large leather couches, a TV, books, and tables with games. We only spent about 10 minutes here, but it was a great relief from the heat. There are endless things to do!
Carnival
As soon as we made it through customs, it didn’t take long to realize that Grenada’s Carnival was going on. We found out that the main events were taking place on Monday and Tuesday. At 6:15am on Monday morning, we took a shuttle into town to participate in J’ouvert. Everyone parades through the parishes, following trucks strapped with huge speakers, dancers, and DJ’s. We left covered in chocolate and paint, while others used the traditional motor oil. We avoided the oil, but wanted to take part in the rest!
Outside of Sandals
Grenada is home to some of the top resorts in the Caribbean, and we found out that the royal family visits often, and stays at a hotel just down the beach. We also passed Oprah Winfrey and Morgan Freeman’s home. The island is very safe, and straying from the resort was encouraged. There are so many amazing places to see outside of Sandals.
Other attractions to check out: Grand Anse beach, the underwater sculpture park, Concord Waterfall, Grand Etang lake, Grenada Chocolate Company, and the many local restaurants that line the beaches.
Summary
What we would do differently next time:
- Take advantage of the free activities on site– We were so overwhelmed with information the first few days, as well as just taking in all there is to enjoy. We didn’t realize until halfway through the trip that we didn’t have to pay to snorkel! After signing up for a $270 trip on our first day at the excursion center, we quickly canceled after learning about the Aqua Center. Although the water was rough, I do wish we would have been adventurous and learned how to sail.
- Pack extra sunscreen and BUGSPRAY– Rookie mistake, I know. We completely underestimated how much sunscreen we would need for the week. With re-applying at least 3 times a day, it went fast. We also got eaten up by mosquitoes at J’ouvert and on the beach at night. These items are available to purchase in the gift shop, for a pretty penny of $25.
- Decline photo offers– This is my only complaint about the resort. There is a large team dedicated to going around and taking photos of guests. Not just one photo, but a whole photo shoot on the spot, whether you are at the beach, pool, dinner, or just walking down the sidewalk. It is free to get your photos taken, but $18 if you want to purchase one. It is a nuisance to continually be asked all week, especially in the middle of dinner. There is a lot of pressure to schedule your “free” photo session as well as impromptu sessions throughout the week. Next time, we know not to bother with wasting our time or theirs!
- Pay attention to the itinerary– I didn’t even realize there was an itinerary until the trip was almost over. When we first arrived, I threw the folder to the side and explored. Next time, I will definitely look ahead at the week to better plan our reservations and excursions.
- Budget for a paid excursion– Although there are free activities on site, we would love to see other parts of the island. We didn’t plan to spend much once we arrived, but next time, we’ll budget for an adventure + tips.
Conclusion:
We absolutely loved Sandals Grenada, and will plan to return. It is truly all-inclusive with NO tips allowed. Everything about the culture, the employees, the restaurants, the service, and the activities exceeded our expectations. It is such a romantic place, with lush gardens, flowers, and scenery on every path. We would specifically recommend visiting during the week of Carnival, as there is a lot of hype around the events. Since the resort isn’t full in August, we had no problem getting reservations, seats by the beach and pool, or spots for water activities. We would love to experience having a butler next time, but it honestly wouldn’t have been worth it being the off-season. If you are considering Sandals Grenada, you won’t be disappointed!
Thanks for reading about our honeymoon at Sandals Grenada! You can read about our wedding here. Have you been to any other Sandals resorts? Share which one in the comments!