The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
ESSENTIALS
Getting there British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) flies from London Gatwick to Grenada twice a week, from £522 return in June.
Garden tour packages Motmot Travel (01327 359622; motmottravel. com) arranges tailormade holidays to Grenada featuring garden visits. Individual Holidays (01753 892111; gardentours.co.uk) has a seven-night group tour of Grenada’s gardens, led by RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner Suzanne Gaywood MBE, that departs November 17, from £1,979 per person including flights. Kudu Travel (01225 436115; kudutravel.com) has a 14-day island-hopping tour to Grenada and the Grenadines departing January 5 next year that includes a garden visit, from £4,990 per person with flights.
Getting around Caribbean Horizons (001 473 444 1555; caribbeanhorizons. com) offers car hire from $75 (£52) a day. A half-day tour by taxi costs $100 (£69) for up to four passengers.
Where to stay
Calabash Hotel & Spa (001 473 444 4334; calabashhotel.com). A secluded five-star beach resort set in eight acres of tropical gardens with 30 suites, from $475 (£330) a night, with breakfast.
Mount Cinnamon Resort & Beach Club (001 473 439 4400; mountcinnamon grenadahotel.com). A four-star hillside resort bordering the island’s best beach with 22 suites, from $415 (£288) a night, with breakfast. Gardens to visit Gardens are generally closed at weekends unless there is a cruise ship in. While they look their best from October-April there is plenty to admire throughout the year. All these below are by appointment only, admission is $10 (£7) unless stated otherwise. Caribbean Horizons (see above) offers a guided halfday tour of three gardens for $65 (£45) per person.
Balthazar Estate, St Andrew (001 473 442 7514). A commercial nursery with plantation ruins and a jungle feel.
Hyde Park Tropical Garden, St George’s (001 473 440 8395; hydeparkgrenada. com). 1.5 acres of well-structured enchantment, visits before sunset with wine and sandwiches are available, $25 (£17.30).
Sunnyside Garden, St Paul’s (001 473 406 1381). A labour of love covering five acres with a helpful map for guidance.
Smithy’s Garden, Morne Jaloux, St George’s (book through Caribbean Horizons, see above). A two-acre garden set at 800ft with magnificent orchids.
St Rose Nursery, St George’s (001 473 440 5870). 16 acres of riotous colour set at the end of a rough track.
The Tower, St Paul’s (001 473 405 7548). Open Friday only, $15 (£10.40). Tours of the house will be available from November.
Information
Grenada Tourism Authority (020 8328 0640; puregrenada. com). Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines (Footprint; £7.95) covers the island.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show (0844 338 7502; rhs.org.uk) runs May 24-28. Grenada’s stand is in the Great Pavilion.