Description: I thought the Grand View Inn was a bargain-priced gem. The reality was rather different.
The Grand View Inn does have good points, and out of fairness, I'll list them first.
The Room
I booked a standard room, which was actually a two room apartment. Each of the rooms were huge. The bedroom contained two beds, and a corner was walled off a bathroom, which was small and dark.
The kitchen/living area held a table, couch, and small kitchenette. The living room opened out onto a balcony that had a table and several chairs. Both rooms were high ceilinged and airy. Sadly, both rooms suffered from a serious lack of sufficient light after dark.
The View
The Grand View Inn does live up to its name in this regard. The rooms all have balconies or patios, and overlook either Grand Anse Beach or Morne Rouge Bay. Be aware that rooms on the Morne Rouge side get the full brunt of the afternoon sun. This can make it uncomfortably warm to sit on your balcony with an afternoon cocktail. The views on the Grand Anse side are absolutely stunning.
The Not-So-Good Points
Water
Water is kind of important to me. And I understand that clean, fresh water is at a premium in many Caribbean Islands. At the Grand View Inn, however, there were mornings when I'd turn on the tap and get....nothing. Limited water is one thing. No water, that's a problem.
Location
The beach, the grocery store, and the bus stop were all half a mile to a mile away, straight downhill. Getting down the hill is easy. Getting up the hill is not (especially if you are a middle-aged, American woman wearing flip-flops and carrying half a case of beer.) Since there is no bus service to the Grand View Inn, the only way up the hill is on foot, or by taxi. For those younger, or fleeter of foot, than I, this may not be a big deal.
The Pool
The pool had no water. It was, however, painted a pretty color.
Conversion Games
This one item annoys me more than everything else.
The price for your accommodations is quoted in US dollars, and you are told 18% will be added for tax and service. You are NOT told that the price in US$ will be converted to East Caribbean dollars at a lower exchange rate, effectively adding 5% to the cost of the room.
I hate currency exchange shenanigans. On their website my room is listed at US$75.00 a night. In reality cost me US$92.76.
The Surprise
The Grand View Inn website says if you book online, you'll get a surprise on check-in. Over the course of two weeks, I asked several times about my "surprise", and never got an answer, not even from the owner. I guess the surprise is that there is no surprise. No truth in advertising, either.
In Summary...
I would like to recommend the Grand View Inn, but I can't.
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