Stayed at La Source for two weeks Nov/Dec 2010.Sara and I do the Caribbean every year at this time and have the same holiday spec :- Adults only All inclusive, previous destinations include :Aventura Spa Palace MexicoSecrets Excellence DRSandals Cuba (x2)Sandals St LuciaSandals BahamasCouples NegrilGalley…Read More

Stayed at La Source for two weeks Nov/Dec 2010.
Sara and I do the Caribbean every year at this time and have the same holiday spec :- Adults only All inclusive, previous destinations include :
Aventura Spa Palace Mexico
Secrets Excellence DR
Sandals Cuba (x2)
Sandals St Lucia
Sandals Bahamas
Couples Negril
Galley Bay Antigua

Arrival by BA service from Gatwick North, tedious 2 hour stopover in Barbados, BA cabin crew are some of the most unfriendly in the industry (IMHO).
Pick-up from airport in Limo, 5 mins transfer to resort.
Check-in simple and within 10 mins we were in our room (2202) which was to be our home for the next two weeks... bags arrived within 15 mins.

Room spotless, good clean bathroom with toiletries and loads of towels (including beach towels replaced every day), coffee maker, radio/alarm, NO telly (who needs one?), safe, Iron and board, balcony with sea view – all great!
(most rooms have sea view, but NOT those on the ground and first floors of block 2... 20?? and 21??)
Daily maid service did a first class job.
Turndown service and distribution of newsletter with tomorrow’s activities.
Grounds immaculate, well maintained, on-going work every day whilst we were there...

BARS:
Main lobby bar opens around 6 in the evenings... area where the entertainment plays at night. Some waited-on table service and efficient counter service.
Beach bar opens at 10 in mornings, open all day and closes circa 2100 when Oscars beach restaurant closes... if Oscars isn’t open then the beach bar closes at six.
Piano bar – variable opening times, mostly shut whilst we were there... see later.

RESTAURANTS:

OSCAR’s beach restaurant, open for a la carte lunch every day from 12:30.. usual stuff (burgers, kebabs and grills – they do a great fish and chips!)
Open most nights (weather permitting) has to be reserved at customer relations... I was able to get a table whenever I wanted one, even booking on the day....evening menu to suit all tastes.

GARDEN ROOM, Open daily for buffet breakfast and they have an egg station for your fries and omelettes etc... more than enough to keep you going for the day....
Open for lunch daily from 12:30, buffet lunch, different theme each day (Oriental, Mexican,Barbeque,English roast on Sunday... salads, soups and hot stuff.......) Sweets and puddings to die for!!
Evening opening variable according to occupancy (closed most evenings whilst we were there)

GREAT HOUSE, (the reverse side of the garden room) – open for a la carte evening meals, waited on service and they’ll leave the bottle of wine on your table! Menu to suit all tastes.

DELI BAR, open for breakfast but never tried it... serves lunches (sandwiches, paninis etc) Afternoon teas including sandwiches, cakes and scones/jam and cream! Drinks: teas/coffees/chocolate/smoothies... NO alcoholic drinks.


FOOD:
We found this to be bit "hit and miss" – good salads, great breakfasts, buffet usually well-stocked with some tasty soups and great desserts... We were more disappointed with the a la carte restaurants in the evening... I don’t know what they do to their meat (including the chicken) but by and large it was overcooked and utterly without taste... I had a loin of lamb one evening that I had really been looking forward to, but it certainly didn’t taste like the New Zealand lamb that it was advertised as.

BEACH:
Fairly small, approx 100m from end to end, 20 m from tide to hedges in front of block #1... plenty of loungers, some in a bit of disrepair, limited amount of palapas/tables which get "booked" very early in the morning with towels/books etc.
Not enough lounger cushions to go round.
The hotel has created an artificial "lagoon" from Oscars which goes out about 20m and along the front for about 70 yds to the water sports shack – acts as a good wave break and in this area the sand slopes away gently so safe for swimming/snorkelling... there are loads of fish that will come up to you in the water, they love to be fed bits of bread!
Loads of drink rounds from the beach bar throughout the day and very welcome! "Flag in the sand" service also available.
Non-motorised water sports including Hobiecats (x2) free and we were even told that you can do some waterskiing for free...

POOL:

Lively pool area, again, plenty of loungers with cushions, most with shade, but once again the "prime spots" are claimed early in the morning...
Pool water not refrigerated and at a good temperature.
Again, plenty of drinks given out during the day and there is a "help yourself" facility next to Oscars. (tea/coffee/water/lime squash)

STAFF:
On the whole efficient and polite. Very few, however could be described as happy or friendly... pretty dour in the main with only a few exceptions...
Notably:
Shirley-Ann (nice!, nice!), always a star....
Devon (who made our beach dinner memorable)
Kevin (pronounced KEEvin) – he’s lively!
All members of the activities team (they work to get you going!)

Special word for the general manager Mr Adolf, he’s all over and very happy to listen to guests’ opinions... he’s only there for a few months more before a new GM is appointed.


SPA TREATMENTS:
One included every day... some very pleasurable, some that the guys might not appreciate (facials, hand/foot massage)... you are given your "timetable" on arrival, but you can try and negotiate some alterations if you’re booked on an excursion etc.
Again, by and large I found the staff to be fairly "stand-offish" and attempts to strike up a conversation led to one word answers most of the time...

DRINKS:
As in many other AI deals, the "top shelf" stuff is limited... in particular Baileys, which Sara likes at the end of an evening....all too often it was "unavailable" when we knew that there was a bottle under the bar... NOT acceptable.
Decent house wines available.. no need to pay for the more expensive stuff

ACTIVITIES:
Plenty for everyone, starting with Tai Chi on the beach at 0700, activities every hour for those that need them.
Also a fully equipped gym, a library of books, board games, a TV room and internet access via 3 free PCs.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT:
Nightly, mostly local bands (steel drums, Keyboard, Vocals, horns)... One night a disco (a bit too loud)... all in all it got a bit "samey" and by the end of the first week we often found ourselves crossing to the other side of the pool to sit in Oscars lounge area to have a quiet drink. This was OK, but with the beach bar closed it meant a bit of a trek every time we wanted a fresh drink.

GRIPES:
1) Rationing of premium drinks.... as mentioned above... NOT acceptable
2) Lounge bar only facility open in evenings...they need an option for those who just want a quiet evening
3) Staff should try to be a bit friendlier
4) Lounge bar closes promptly at MN... no chance of a late drink
5) They need some WC facilities down by the beach bar

So, all in all a great holiday and one that we’d be happy to repeat. Probably won’t go back for a few years as there are still some islands that we haven’t been to, but it’s easy to see why they get so many repeat guests (one couple we met were on their FOURTEENTH visit!)

As ever, feel free to PM or email with any questions : merseygull@yahoo.com
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Hiring a car or jeep is a great way to explore the island, but just a few tips to make the experience a little less fraught than when I did it the first few times. Drive on the left hand side - this is fine for…Read More

Hiring a car or jeep is a great way to explore the island, but just a few tips to make the experience a little less fraught than when I did it the first few times.

Drive on the left hand side - this is fine for a Brit like me, but there's an added point of interest in that most of the cars are imported from the US, where there are right hand drive, which makes life a bit trickier.

The roads are in pretty poor shapes in some places, so watch out for pot holes.

Some of the hire cars may have poor suspension, which means you have to be even more careful with those potholes. We hired a couple of supposed 4 whell drive vehicles which were pretty lacking in the suspension and power departments.

Some locations really do need a proper 4WD to get to safely, eg. Levera beach and some places on the east coast. If it's been raining you will have real problems in some places, and with no fences at the side of the road it could be quite dangerous. We had a few lucky escapes.

Driving up across the rainforest is great fun, but the roads are very narrow and winding. The local buses are kings of these paths so expect one at every bend and creeping onto your side of the road. Avoid driving though rainforest roads at night of if it's raining.

I've learnt all this by my own mistakes, so enjoy the island, but be careful!

Many of the interesting places in Grenada are, unfortunately, not on a public bus route. That leaves you with a couple of choices when you want to go exploring: you can rent a car, or you can go on a tour. I don’t recommend renting…Read More

Many of the interesting places in Grenada are, unfortunately, not on a public bus route. That leaves you with a couple of choices when you want to go exploring: you can rent a car, or you can go on a tour.

I don’t recommend renting a car in Grenada unless you are a true glutton for punishment. Roads are narrow, poorly marked, and often on a steep grade. Sidewalks are essentially non-existent, so you are sharing the road with pedestrians - and the occasional herd of cattle. If you do rent a car, make sure your personal relationship can handle it; I saw more than one couple erupt in bitter recriminations over their rental car.

I’ve never been a big fan of group tours. I can’t quite handle the "Everybody on the bus. OK. Everybody off the bus. OK. Here is where to take pictures. OK. Everybody back on the bus." It’s just not my style.

Enter Winfield Gabriel, better known as Pirate. Pirate was recommended to me by his wife, a sweet woman who worked at the hotel where I stayed. Pirate is a taxi driver who also runs Pirate Tours.

I am particularly interested in military history, and when I made my arrangements with Pirate, I told him I wanted to visit the forts on the island, and maybe see some waterfalls and a nutmeg processing plant.

He picked me up the next morning, as arranged. Once I was safely seatbelted into the front seat, I asked him how old he was. Pirate gave me an odd look, and I hastened to explain. "I am interested in the US invasion of Grenada in 1983," I explained. "I just wanted to know if you are old enough to remember it."

Pirate looked at me and said simply, "I was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army."

Pirate took me to three different forts on the island. He showed me where Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and some of his supporters were lined up against a wall and shot in 1983, and gave me a first hand perspective on the US invasion, which was supposed to be about protecting US medical students at St. George’s University.

"You know," he said, "the US students could have left at any time. They weren’t in any danger." Talk about living history!

Pirate also took me to some lovely gardens, a fantastic waterfall, and several spice farms. He is polite, conscientious, and seems to know everyone on the island. And, unlike some, he is a fairly conservative driver. You can either design your own tour, or have Pirate design one for you.

You can contact Pirate by e-mail at wgabriel@caribsurf.com. Once in Grenada, you can call him on his cell phone at 444-4984.

The carribean in the summer, what? Why? Well, I just returned from the best time of my life, this is not an easy remark to make considering the ample fun I've been privy too. The irony of the experience was that I was expecting "the…Read More

The carribean in the summer, what? Why? Well, I just returned from the best time of my life, this is not an easy remark to make considering the ample fun I've been privy too. The irony of the experience was that I was expecting "the world", I was shocked to find that people actually can attain this. La Source provided absolutely every demand I could muster.

I have had several all inclusive holidays that promise way more then they actually offer, and you usually find this out with your first trip to the restaurant. For me buffets are the equillvalent of shopping , you pick through the stuff you don't really want and then settle for something that comes close, which I generally dislike, not so at La Source. First off, the al la carte restaurants are never over booked, and the menu changes daily. The staff are sincerly authentic, you don't have to tip them to get their attention, they genuienely want to be of service. (this holds true for all the ammenties and spa treatments) The bar is stocked with above average wines, premium liquor and beer. The food ranges from lighter fare (always fresh local fish) to fine modern cusine. My favourite spot was Oscar's, it's a chilled, beautifully appointed beach bar and restaurant, bisecting the pool and beach. Trust me you will not be complaining about the food, service or drinks.

The best thing about having everything included was the level of sophistication of all the ammenities. The dive master Ricardo was warm and knowledgeble, if you are a diver, this is a hidden gem, 3 dives a day, the boat is awesome, the dives accomodate every level of diver, and the staff take care of your every wish at no extra charge .The yoga instuctor, Andrea, is the real deal, her attention to detail was amazing, eveyone I talked to said it was the best class they had ever been to. The tennis pro is there to provide a private lesson (free of charge), or hit around with you every morning. The par 3 golf course, a stones throw from the beach, was maintanied daily, with challenging holes with beautiful vistas. All equipment was top level and provided without hassel. I know it sounds too good to be true, it's not a cheap place to stay, but when you consider the effort and time it would take to have everything at your disposal, it's well worth it.

The rooms are luxurious, I would compare them to the Sofitel in New York, and the bathrooms are out of a magazine, no expenses spared. I believe the towels are made in heaven, if they are not I sure would like to find out where they make them on earth. The maids always seemed to appear while you were out, like little cleaning fairy's making everything shiny and new. Every room has a safe but to be honest I often left my valauables out without a care, the place just doesn't make you feel threatened in anyway.

I should really talk about the why the island is paradise, it's the people, the untouched beaches, the lack of development, and the truly genuine experience. I came home with a fresh outlook on life, I feel totally relaxed and inspired. If you need a jolt of love and beauty, this is the place. Please visit the island and let me know if I was dreaming. I apologise if I sound to bias but it was something I will cherish and boast about for as long as I live.

Go and see it for yourself!
Damon

ps. I should mention that you will often find the owner, Leon, enjoying a glass of wine at Oscar's, he is the eptiome of cool, a charming gentlemen, who represents his resort and country with relaxed regality. If you do bump into him, make sure you thank him for me.   Close

I call this little blurb "The Spice Isle" because few people realize that this small island (12 by 21 miles) is the world's second leading producer of nutmeg (behind Indonesia). Although they produce other spices and crops (and RUM!) as well, it is the nutmeg…Read More

I call this little blurb "The Spice Isle" because few people realize that this small island (12 by 21 miles) is the world's second leading producer of nutmeg (behind Indonesia). Although they produce other spices and crops (and RUM!) as well, it is the nutmeg production that is most well-known. But there is so much more to the island!

Of all the Caribbean islands, Grenada is one of the most underrated (and therefore, less touristed). You can drive around the island in a day, but you'll barely scratch the surface of this diverse little chunk of volcanic rock! Locals are, indeed, quite friendly, and everyone speaks English. The people are open-minded and kind-hearted. In fact, apart from driving on the left-hand side of the not-too-wide roads, there is little or no stress on the island, so you too must relax once you're here. It is nice to think that if "something doesn't get done today...it will get done tomorrow...or the day after...or the day after that..." Quite a far cry from the more "modern" world. As someone once said, "if something isn't to your liking, then change your liking!" Be patient if something doesn't happen right away when you are here--that's how life is in Grenada. And it's FUN!

On a typical day, you can have a calm breakfast at your hotel, as you overlook the ocean and listen to the waves lap up on the shore. Afterwards, you can spend the morning at the market, browsing and shopping, enjoying the local culture and all that it has to offer. By mid-morning you're ready for a little excitement, so you head into the rainforest for a hike to the "Seven Sisters" (a beautiful set of waterfalls) and to "climb" Mt. Qua-Qua for a view of nearly the entire island. While meandering through the rainforest, you see Mona monkeys in the trees--swinging--and geckos skittering along the large, tropical leaves. A mongoose darts across the damp trail as you listen to the bamboo trees creaking in the cool breeze. As you look around, realizing that the soft "cooing" you hear is the Grenada dove--not the wind in the "whispering" pines--you notice the spider orchids (and the "orchid spider" next to them!) growing out of the side of the mahogany trees. And then, as you near the top of Mt. Qua-Qua, you see the rainbow, arching its way across the Grenadian sky, from nearly one side of the island to the other! You ask your partner to pinch you, making sure this is real.

As you take your leisurely walk back down through the rainforest, you stop for lunch at the "lodge" just outside the rainforest, where Patrick has your cold drink and ham and cheese sandwich waiting. You drive slowly back to your hotel, stopping at Annandale Falls along the way for a quick nature tour and swim. As the sun starts to hang lower in the sky, you sit back in your beach chair and sip on a cocktail, reflecting on your adventures of the day, as you watch the golden sun reflect an amber-esque hue on the pink and purple coulds. As the sun sinks lower into the ocean, you spot the elusive "Green Flash" and realize that you have just ate a small piece of near-perfect pie...

It was Christmas Day, and I had no money Well, I had money, just not in any usable form. I had failed to change a traveler’s cheque the day before. I figured that I would change a few US dollars in to East Carribbean dollars with…Read More

It was Christmas Day, and I had no money

Well, I had money, just not in any usable form. I had failed to change a traveler’s cheque the day before. I figured that I would change a few US dollars in to East Carribbean dollars with the proprietor of the hotel, but he had not put in an appearance by the time I left for the beach. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do for lunch - maybe a miracle would happen and I wouldn’t get hungry. At any rate, there was sunshine waiting, and I’d figure something out later.

Christmas Day on Grand Anse beach was quite pleasant. Mali, the Rasta beach chair guy, gave me a speech about the spiritual meaning of Christmas and a good deal on a lounge chair. The sun was hot, the sky was blue, and all was right with the world.

Predictably, around noon I began to feel a bit peckish. All I had in my beach bag was a bottle of water and EC$4 and change. It was a long, uphill, walk back to my apartment.

At one end of Grand Anse beach is a vendors’ market, included in which are a couple of food stalls. I wandered in that direction, not expecting much. It was Christmas, after all, and I only had about EC$4.50, about US$1.75.

There was only one food stall open, and it was here that I made the acquaintance of Janice, proprietor of Janice Shady Heaven Bar. You can’t actually enter Janice’s, it’s much too small. Her place is about 5 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, and it’s crammed with all manner of stuff, from beer to soap to cookies to cigarettes to crisps to toilet paper. She also fries chicken here, and serves hot lunches.

I did what any normal hungry person would do, I threw myself on her mercy. "I have EC$4," I said. "What will that get me?"

Maybe because it was Christmas, maybe I just looked pitiful. I expected to get a small package of cookies, maybe some crisps. Instead, I was offered two big, meaty chicken wings, and a fresh roll. I was in heaven.

Most of the food vendors on Grand Anse beach provide the same meals and snacks, but nobody does it with the joy and enthusiasm of Janice and her daughter. If you stop by, try the muffins. They’re excellent!

Footnote: US$1.00 = EC$2.67

One of the most significant highlights of my trip to Grenada was spending time roaming around the open market - a place where hundreds of vendors sell just about everything - water coconuts, bananas, avocados, mangoes, exotic fruits such as mamey, jagua, guanabana, plantain, breadfruit,…Read More

One of the most significant highlights of my trip to Grenada was spending time roaming around the open market - a place where hundreds of vendors sell just about everything - water coconuts, bananas, avocados, mangoes, exotic fruits such as mamey, jagua, guanabana, plantain, breadfruit, and of course, so many varieties of nuts and spices. The aroma is all pervasive as you walk around this market. Vendors also sell clothing, knicknacks, baskets, and countless other items.

Cooked food is also served cheaply. It's a great place to have a delicious meal. One day I had a jummy sopa de pescado(fish soup), and a asopao de lambi, which is a soupy rice with conch meat. See the photo of the women preparing my meal.

The above is what you can purchase. The best meal, the one that really satisfies, that goes to your heart and soul, is being nourished by just being there, interacting with these wonderful, happy Grenadians. To witness a culture, a way of creating and maintaining community, of friendships, can leave us feeling somewhat poorer, regardless of our American wealth.

Check out thse photos to further appreciate this experience.   Close

Landing in Grenada was a hair raising experience. We landed in the dark and we were unable to see lights on the ground until we touched down on the runway. You could hear whispers all through the plane as people wondered if we…Read More

Landing in Grenada was a hair raising experience. We landed in the dark and we were unable to see lights on the ground until we touched down on the runway. You could hear whispers all through the plane as people wondered if we were really over the island. Fortunately, we landed with no problems and quickly (relatively speaking, this is island time you know) cleared immigration and customs. We took a taxi to St. Georges Harbour. What a sight it was when we saw the Mandalay and the Yankee Clipper at anchor together in the harbor. The ships are so beautiful, old and quaint.



After registering with the pursor and the activities director (and enjoying our first rum swizzle) we were served a buffet dinner: cornish hen, crab salad (spicy & good), shrimp, turkey, vegetables, rice & beans. Yum! A reggae band got us in the island frame of mind.



A disappointing thing of this port was that we didn't get to see anything of this beautiful island. We arrived in the dark Sunday night with hopes of sightseeing Monday morning. Unfortunately that was not to be. It was Grenada's Independence Day so everything was closed. The Captain decided that the ship would sail at 10:00 rather than 12:00. Oh, well. Guess that means we will have to return someday so we can see the sights.   Close

This is a good harbor. Lots of sailboats and working boats including tugs. People are friendly and no sense of crime. Some signs near fort mention the "American Invasion" of Grenada but I didn't sense any…Read More

This is a good harbor. Lots of sailboats and working boats including tugs. People are friendly and no sense of crime. Some signs near fort mention the "American Invasion" of Grenada but I didn't sense any hostility. When I arrived the Grenada flag was at half mast. I found out from the customs officer that a cab driver had recently shot a policeman in a domestic dispute. That was a BIG DEAL here. All government employees were wearing black armbands. The whole island was truly shocked that crime even comes to Grenada. The streets in town are narrow but traffic drives at a reasonably speed. Food prices seemed reasonable also considering a lot of food must be shipped in. I had a difficult time using my telephone calling card so I bought the local brand at each port of call during my cruise. This area is mostly covered by Cable & Wireless subsidiaries. The fort is a good tourist site and is complete with cannons.   Close

In a small inlet close to the entrance to the harbor I found a 9' nurse shark sleeping in a crevice. The Aussie and 1 Brit couple who came on the dive were newbies to scuba but were excited to see so much…Read More

In a small inlet close to the entrance to the harbor I found a 9' nurse shark sleeping in a crevice. The Aussie and 1 Brit couple who came on the dive were newbies to scuba but were excited to see so much stuff. The dive operations was called Silver Diving run by Germans. As are most dive operations on these islands they were small, had small (<20 foot boats) but were big on customer satisfaction.   Close