Classic Grenada

Jan 192016

By Denise Mattia

Few would pass up an invitation to attend the inaugural direct flight on JetBlue Airways from New York to Grenada in the Caribbean. Coffee, tea, an island of cupcakes topped with USA and Grenada flags and a spread of fresh fruit and pastries greeted arriving dignitaries, guests and press. After songs, dances and commendations, guests boarded flight 950 and embarked at 7:25 a.m. through customary celebratory water jets. In slightly more than four hours, the 150-seat Airbus 320 landed at Maurice Bishop International Airport, making JetBlue its 32nd destination in the Caribbean and Latin America and its 90th destination worldwide.

I disembarked the plane and within five minutes was happily ensconced at the luxurious Sandals, La Source. The all-inclusive resort has 225 rooms and sufficient beach, pool and lounge space so that visitors never feel crowded. Ten restaurants and bars serve excellent cuisine and snacks.

For four days I enjoyed the resort, which included a snorkeling trip to see the 65 statues in the Underwater Sculpture Park off the west coast of the island. The tour was followed by a neck and back massage at the full-service Janissa’s Spa. Other excursions included a fun-filled river tubing adventure at Grand Etang Lake, a tour of Fort Frederick, a lunch at Bean to Bar restaurant and a tour of the Belmont chocolate factory in addition to the rum factory at the River Antoine Estate. I ended my stay with an afternoon on the beach and a haute cuisine dinner with owner, Sir Royston Hopkins and guests at Oliver’s beachside restaurant at the deluxe Spice Island Beach Resort.

This was just the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the Sandals resorts, as I’d visit Sandals MoBay in Jamaica in August for JAPEX and to join the announcement of the “No Worry Movement” in January 2016.

About Denise Mattia

A writer and photographer, Denise Mattia’s works are published nationally and internationally and include all aspects of leisure travel: art , culture, resorts, spas, food and wine and sports’ activities. She's the founder of the soon to be launched Yum-Yum-Traveler, a site devoted to reviewing restaurants in addition to her travel articles from around the world. She lives and works in Manhattan, where she was born.