Spice Island Beach Resort Grenada
WHAT: Grenada, where nutmeg scents the air and tropical fruits are an arm’s reach away, is one of the Caribbean’s lushest islands, and the Spice Island Beach Resort is one of its gems. The tranquil, luxury boutique hotel, family-run, has 64 beachfront suites on a verdant property where trees even dot the powder-white beach. Its aesthetic is both homey and swank, and amenities include a spa, fitness center and water sports.
WHY: Owner Sir Royston Hopkin has a wellearned reputation for providing friendly, top-notch service that makes one feel at home. That is, if your home is paradise. Getting there is easy thanks to direct flights from New York on airlines including Delta and JetBlue. Bonus: To celebrate JetBlue’s “Mint Experience” — its new premium service, launching next month — the resort is offering 10 percent off Mint flights between New York and Grenada from Jan. 21 to April 29.
THE WELCOME: A backdrop of harmonic waves lapping Grand Anse Beach — one of the nicest on the island — will relax you faster than you ever thought possible. And that’s before you’re handed a refreshing herbal-scented washcloth and classic Spice Island sparkling wine cocktail. They’ll have to scoop you off the floor, and not from the alcohol, but from the puddle you’ll make as your stress goes away.
WORKING WELL: The suites, uniformly spacious and bright, beautifully integrate their indoor and outdoor spaces (you might not want to leave them!). Some even have private pools. Perhaps the most popular category is the Seagrape Beach Suites, which literally empty you out onto the sand. Each has a patio with hammock in case you’re not quite ready to kiss the Caribbean sky good night.
MUST TRY: The Friday dinner buffet at the seaside Oliver’s Restaurant is a lovely Creole feast accompanied by pulsating tunes from a live calypso, reggae or steel band. Try the Oil Down, a delectable island stew, and sorrel cheesecake for dessert. Market Square off-resort is the place to go for incredibly well-priced spices from dark chocolate to curry to nutmeg.
BEAUTY RITUAL: The resort’s Janissa’s Spa uses local herbs and spices to help bring you back to life (think nutmeg, of course, ocean seaweed, aloe vera, coconut and more). We recommend the “Spice Classic Chocolate Body Wrap,” which uses island chocolate. Because, chocolate.
BOTTOM LINE: As many repeat visitors can tell you, this is one place to go when the going gets tough.
DETAILS: From $1,100/night; SpiceIslandBeachResort.com.