VACATIONS FROM HOME: SANDALS GRENADA

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

SANDALS GRENADA

BIG LOVE ON A SMALL RESORT
Readers of the blog may have noticed a little gap between entries. (Or at least we hope you noticed.) The last time we posted at Vacations From Home we had announced that we were off to the island nation of Grenada, but then radio silence for nearly two weeks now!

Sandals Grenada dive map

We thought the better of trying to keep a daily accounting of our trip to the Spice Isle because the indulgent nature of our travels and were afraid we would not give a proper posting of our time there.

WHAT’S RUM GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Traveling to a Sandals is not cheap, but this Jamaican-based, all-inclusive, couples-only chain of resorts, where needs are anticipated and whims granted, is worth the money. I am guilty of the latent tendency while at a Sandals to want to just relax, eat to excess and drink rum and not have to write about it at the time. Besides it’s too difficult to type with one hand, I’m liable to spill my drink(s). Now that we’re home again at our middle-class garret in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and sufficiently detoxed, it’s time to describe (some of) our experiences.

beach

DIVE, BARS

All kidding aside, a huge bonus to traveling to a Sandals is the free scuba diving that is a part of their package and offered to everyone. It is the only resort in the Caribbean that offers free diving (and rum), and it’s a great way to see all the beautiful fish, and coral, and manta rays and reef sharks and lobsters and eels, etc. You can go on a two tank dive every day, except the day before your departure. That way you can safely fly home. Going to a Sandals is like booking passage on a liveaboard diving trip, but you get to eat in gourmet restaurants (and drink rum) and sleep in a comfortable bed.

quiet pool at the beach

All gear is provided, like fins, masks, vest and air. The only charge is if you rent a wetsuit from Sandals, but we just wear UV shirts on our dives.

Each dive has a divemaster and we keep him nearby and follow his instructions, and he points out critters we might have missed. Overall, the dives are relaxing and yes, the fish are very beautiful, even the reef sharks, and believe me, diving, once you’ve mastered it, is a beautiful sport and it’s a lot easier than snorkeling.

They take very good care of their divers at Sandals and that’s why we keep traveling to this resort chain.

We average 6-8 dives each visit, but far more experienced divers who come to Sandals dive much more. They even push the 24-hour window of safely flying after the last dive, calculating the risks with their dive computers.

We are certified “Open Water” with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), which means we can descend to 70 feet, but compared to these “professional” divers, we are relative amateurs. It can be intimidating with all their equipment and easy natures, but we have never felt humiliated in their presence. They are very helpful with answering questions, offering advice and lending a hand when needed. I often say I rely on the kindness of divers.

more beach

Surf ‘n Turf

We love to dive and Grenada has some of the most beautiful diving, but it does take a large chuck of the out of the day. We head out at 8:30 and we’re back by nearly 1 pm, just in time to get back to shore for lunch (rum) time. (I never eat before diving so I’m famished when we return.)

After lunch then the next important decision to make is where we’re going to relax for the afternoon. This is part of the joy of visiting a Sandals, because there’s so many places to swim and relax. Ocean front chaises or “party pools” with swim-up bars, or quiet pools tucked into corners of the resort are common at every Sandals we've visited.

"party pool" & swim-up bar

Sandals Grenada, a tiny resort compared to others, has just one swim-up bar, but there’s a quieter pool that is right on the beach, and then there’s the beach itself, with staff readily willing to fetch you another rum drink There’s also several smaller pools tucked away. Grenada is a very lush resort and despite its smaller size we never felt crammed at all.

So, you see, with diving and lunch and preparing for dinner, there was not a lot of time for writing. I don’t have a drinking problem, just too little time.