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Sandals Grenada Review: Luxury, Scuba Diving, and Exploring Beyond the Resort

Writer: Travel Queen
Travel Queen
Oct 1
7 min read
Sandals Grenada resort

Grenada doesn't shout about itself the way some Caribbean islands do. It's only about 21 miles long and 12 miles wide, with the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other, volcanic hills running down the middle, and waterfalls tucked into the rainforest in between. Unlike other Caribbean escapes, the island still feels wonderfully like itself.


That's exactly what makes it such a brilliant resort destination. You get the all-inclusive vacation you came for, plus an island you'll actually want to explore on your days off!


When it comes to the best five-star resorts in Grenada, it’s hard to beat Sandals. The hotel sits on Pink Gin Beach in Pointe Salines, spread across 17 acres of hillside and shoreline.

This adults-only resort has been named Grenada's Leading Resort for 12 years running, and the brand calls it an ‘if you know, you know’ kind of place.


So, what's it like to actually stay here, and who should book it? I spent my days diving, eating, and touring every room category I could get into. Here’s a recap of my days at Sandals Grenada.


Quick Facts About Sandals Grenada

  • Available to: Adults only, and designed for couples.

  • Rooms: 257 rooms and suites in 22 categories, spread across four villages – Pink Gin, South Seas, Italian, and Lover's Hideaway. Sixty-nine of those come with butler service.

  • Restaurants: Access to 12 restaurants and eateries, as well as six bars.

  • Pools: Three freshwater pools, two whirlpools, and a dedicated scuba pool, plus a dive pool near the gym.

  • Location: The hotel is set on Pink Gin Beach, Pointe Salines – less than a five-minute drive from Maurice Bishop International Airport.

  • When to go: December through April brings the driest weather, though that's also cruise season. Late July and August are quieter if you'd rather have the place to yourself. Grenada is affected by hurricanes less often than its neighbors, but it's still the Caribbean, so get your travel insurance.

  • Who is it best suited for: Couples, honeymooners, and anniversary trips, plus scuba divers and active travelers who want a gorgeous resort and an island to explore!


Atmosphere


There's nothing quite as exciting as hopping on a plane and heading somewhere tropical, far, far away. But there's no denying it's also quite tiring. After a long international flight, spending two hours in a transfer van can feel like an eternity. When vacationing at Sandals Grenada, you avoid all that hassle. The resort is less than a five-minute drive from the airport, which means your vacation starts almost the moment you land!


The atmosphere at the hotel is incredibly romantic. That's no surprise, since the property's philosophy is ‘love is all you need.’ Whether it's enjoying the stunning Caribbean sunsets or joining one of the many activities on offer, you'll find plenty of ways to connect with your significant other.


Sandals Grenada beach

One of the biggest highlights of the hotel is its beach. It's beautiful, and because it's enclosed and protected, the water stays calm and easy to swim in – lovely if you'd rather be in the ocean than beside the pool. 


What I can't speak highly enough about, though, is the staff. They’re attentive, warm, and consistently so in every corner of the resort. Service is often the real difference between two properties at this level, and it's clearly a strength here. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the sun – every single one of your needs will be taken care of by the friendly staff.


Our Tip: If you spot the landscaping team working, ask them about a fresh coconut.


Accommodations


At Sandals Grenada, guests can choose between 257 rooms and suites in 22 categories, spread across the four villages. During my visit, I stayed in a Pink Gin Beachfront Club Level Room and found it to be wonderful! The location of the room was ideal because it’s close to the dive shop, and I was scuba diving every single day.


If you’re looking to make the most of your experience, I suggest to all my clients choosing a room in the Club Level category (I’d book it again for the room service alone). This way, you get 24-hour access to the Club Sandals Lounge, room service from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., a private snorkeling tour, and a weekly calendar of events – martinis on Wednesdays, wine tasting on Fridays, and a Club Sandals cocktail party on Sundays.


Sandals Grenada resort

Want something even more indulgent? The Italian Village is home to the resort's butler accommodations, with swim-out suites on the first floor, tranquility soaking tubs for two on the second floor, and tubs plus infinity edges on the third floor and above. All the penthouses also include a stargazer feature, which is exactly as romantic as it sounds!


I also toured the South Seas One Bedroom Butler Villa with Infinity Edge Pool (there are around 12 of them), the Lover's Lagoon Hideaway Walkout Junior Suite with its soaking tub, and the Rondovals – 11 circular villas with private plunge pools. If you're planning a honeymoon, these are the ones to look at first!


Restaurants and Bars


It’s no secret that food plays an important part in any vacation. Sandals Grenada has 12 excellent restaurants and eateries that are sure to leave your taste buds satisfied. These were my top spots.


  • Le Jardinier: My favorite restaurant on the property, and the only one I went back to for both breakfast and dinner! Order the salmon Benedict in the morning. At dinner, start with the French onion soup, the scallops, or the escargot, then go for the salmon or the cordon bleu. Make sure to save room for the chocolate lava cake. It’s spectacular!

  • Butch's Chophouse: Craving some steak? Butch’s Chophouse is the resort’s fine-dining steakhouse. Order oysters and the crab cake to start, then go for the dry-aged ribeye with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The chocolate mousse cake and the crème brûlée are both excellent. Reservations are required, and so is evening attire.

  • Spices: This is where you'll find Caribbean cooking rather than resort-standard cuisine, and the oxtail is a 10/10!

  • Cucina Romana: Buffet at breakfast, à la carte Italian at dinner. Don't miss the meatballs, the penne Alfredo, or the rigatoni carbonara.

  • Dino's Pizzeria: Come here for Neapolitan wood-fired pizza. The Alfredo Chicken Pizza was my personal favorite, though the Meat Lovers is also delicious.

  • Soy: If you’re craving something fresh and light, Soy – Sandals’ Japanese restaurant – will be the perfect pick. The sushi here was amazing!

  • The Tipsy Turtle: The hotel’s English pub – make sure to try their fish and chips. They were fantastic!


Bars

There's nothing better than a fresh cocktail after a long day of exploring. Sandals Grenada has six bars, including the Living Room Bar (open until 1 a.m.), the South Seas Pool Bar, Neptune's, the wine and coffee bar at Cucina Romana, and The Tipsy Turtle, which keeps going until 2 a.m.


Our Tip: There's no tipping anywhere at the resort, except for butlers and spa therapists.


Amenities and Experiences


You might think lying on the beach (or by the pool) is pretty much the only thing to do on a tropical island. But you couldn't be more wrong. Sandals Grenada takes entertainment seriously, and I genuinely had a blast!


The Fire and Water Show takes place around the pool and combines aerobatics with singing – it's surprisingly fun to watch. There's also live music every night, a drumming show, and a silent DJ party where you can show off your best dance moves.


If you’ve decided to book a stay at Sandals, don’t miss the beach party. Buffet, live band, dancers, aerobatics – it feels like a mini carnival, and it's a wonderful example of Sandals building entertainment that's genuinely connected to the Caribbean rather than a generic resort show.



Are you a scuba diver? Daily diving is included for certified guests, and there's a dedicated scuba pool for instruction and practice. After several days of diving, I can say that Grenada is one of the best dive destinations I've been to. Prefer to stay active above water? The fitness center runs classes throughout the week – yoga on Tuesdays, stretching at the gazebo on Thursdays, plus Absolute Abs, Power Walk, Tabata, and Aquacise. You'll also find tennis and pickleball courts, and tennis instruction at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.


After all that fun, you’ll probably want some quiet time. The resort has a beautiful Red Lane Spa that includes a sauna and a steam room, and you're welcome to use both before your treatment (which makes the whole thing feel far more special than a quick massage and out the door).


That’s what’s so great about the resort – you can choose what kind of vacation you want. Lounge by the pool and do absolutely nothing or fill your days with amazing activities.


Weddings and Events

Sandals Grenada is a lovely choice for a smaller destination wedding. You have four spaces to choose from – the beach, the gazebo, the ocean gazebo, and the conference room – and the resort handles groups of up to around 70 guests beautifully. For an intimate ceremony rather than an enormous celebration, it's exactly the right size!


Beyond the Resort


Grenada rewards anyone willing to leave the property for a day. Pair the Seven Sisters Falls hike with Annandale Falls and Grand Etang National Park and Lake, and add Concord Waterfalls if you have the time. There’s so much more to Grenada than the beach, and getting out to explore the waterfalls and rainforest is well worth making time for.


Food is the other reason to head out, so try oil down, Grenada's national dish, at least once. The island grows around 75 varieties of mango (summer is the season, tapering off in October) and nine types of bananas, while the lobster season starts in September.

For dinner off-property, I recommend the Aquarium for sunset, or head to Prickly Bay Marina, where the pizza is excellent and Wednesday is bingo night!


Final Thoughts

Grenada travel

Plenty of Caribbean resorts will happily give you a beach, a buffet, and a good cocktail. What's much harder to find is one where the food is this consistently good, the staff this warm, and the airport this close.


That's what Sandals Grenada is offering. Whether you're honeymooning, celebrating an anniversary, scuba diving every morning, or simply after a beautiful beach with a wonderful island behind it, this is a resort that makes it easy to have all of it. I'd go back for Le Jardinier alone!



Ready to see Grenada for yourself? Get in touch with our expert planners at Travel Queen LLC, and we'll handle every detail – the room category, the dive package, the dinner reservations, and the excursions. All you have to do is pack!

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