At the beginning of this year, my wife and I returned to Sandals Grenada for the second time.
We love Sandals resorts. We usually visit at least twice a year, and over the years I’ve developed my own ranking of our favorites.
After this trip, Sandals Grenada remains #4 on my Top 10 list. That may sound like faint praise. It isn’t.
Sandals Grenada does almost everything well. It just happens to have three resorts ahead of it for very specific reasons.
Why Listen to Me?
First, a disclaimer.
I’m not a travel agent. I’m not a tour guide. I haven’t visited every Sandals resort, and I certainly haven’t stayed at every all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean.
What I can give you is my own experience.
My wife and I vacation at Sandals regularly; we’re Diamond loyalty members, and this was our second stay at Sandals Grenada.
This isn’t a collection of other people’s opinions from the internet. It’s simply what we’ve experienced.
What Sandals Grenada Does Really Well
The easiest way to describe Sandals Grenada is that it does almost everything well.
Grenada is a beautiful island. The resort itself is beautiful, compact, and easy to navigate. It’s relaxing without feeling isolated.
It’s also incredibly close to the airport, which means you can get off the plane and start your vacation almost immediately.
Then there’s Pink Gin Beach.
It’s one of the resort’s defining strengths. Calm water. Soft sand. Beautiful sunsets.
It’s a great place to slow down, put your toes in the water, and do absolutely nothing for a while.
Which is sometimes exactly what I want from a Caribbean vacation.
Great Food and Even Better Service at Sandals Grenada
Grenada is known as the Spice Island of the Caribbean, and the resort’s food reflects that.
We’ve eaten very well on both of our visits. But the service may be even better.
The staff is incredibly friendly, and the butler service during this trip was superb.
We were also there for New Year’s Eve, and the resort put on quite a party. Then something happened that none of us expected.
When Our Vacation Suddenly Got Longer
Our travel plans became complicated when world events unexpectedly shut down Caribbean airspace.
We couldn’t leave. There are worse places to get stranded.
Our vacation was extended by several days, but what stood out to me was how Sandals handled the situation.
The management team made sure guests were taken care of during a very uncertain situation. The manager at Sandals Grenada handled the emergency with grace and compassion.
You learn something about a company when everything is going well. You sometimes learn more when things aren’t.
The way Sandals responded reinforced our confidence not only in this resort, but in the Sandals brand overall.
So Why Is Sandals Grenada Only #4?
That’s the obvious question.
If Grenada is this good, why isn’t it #1? The answer is pretty simple.
The three resorts ahead of Grenada each have something extra.
Sandals South Coast is where my wife and I spent our honeymoon, including an amazing stay in an over-the-water bungalow.
Sandals Regency La Toc has the advantage of being in St. Lucia, our favorite Caribbean island.
And Sandals Saint Vincent is a spectacular newer resort in an incredible setting.
Grenada doesn’t rank fourth because there’s something wrong with it.
It ranks fourth because those other three have something that gives each of them an edge.
Would We Go Back to Sandals Grenada?
Absolutely.
We’ve now stayed at Sandals Grenada twice, and I expect a third visit eventually.
Beautiful island. Excellent resort. Great food. Outstanding staff. Wonderful beach.
And, as we unexpectedly discovered this time, it’s not a bad place to be stuck for a few extra days.
Sandals Grenada doesn’t have to be #1 to be great.
For us, it’s still #4. And we’re perfectly happy with it staying there.
I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.