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| Grenada |
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| With its sweet scent of
cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, Grenada inspired its nickname,
"Isle of Spice." Naturally beautiful, Grenada's
landscape is made up of tropical rainforests, cascading
rivers, bubbling waterfalls and black and sugar-white
beaches. |
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 Grenada Hotels
10 Ways to Enjoy the Grenada
- Visit one of their 45 unspoiled beaches. 9 are black sand. 3 military
forts each offer a panoramic view of the harbor.
- St. Georges saturday market is an event not to be missed for
Local crafts.
- Take the 60 minute ferry over to Carriacou, its sister island.
3 islands actually make up Grenada. The 3rd is Petite Martinique.
There are numerous smaller islands surrounding them.
- Enjoy the mix of french and english colonial architecture in
the crystal city of St. George.
- Take a tour of one of the nutmeg processing plants. See why Grenada
is called the "Spice Island".
- River Sallee Boiling Springs are located on the east side of
the island voted for their unique geology and spiritual importance.
Throw coins into the fountain and make a wish.
- There are 7 waterfalls that you can visit. Concord falls are
ideally suited to swim in or dine at Rosemount Plantation and view
this one.
- The shine and our lady of Fatima are at Battle Hill.
- At least 9 pilgrimages are made each year from the old church
where 1000's go to pray.
- Take time to fill your senses with the wonderful scents of the
island spices. Nutmeg-Cinnamon-Cloves of Ginger-Mace-and Cocoa lay
heavy in the air.
Documents Needed for Travel
United States passport holders must have a valid passport,
or other proof of citizenship, such as an original birth certificate
and official photo ID (driver's license is acceptable), plus marriage
certificate if your name has changed. A visa is not required for stays
of up to 180 days, if holding a Tourist Card/FMT form issued free of
charge by airlines.
Language
Spanish. English is spoken by key hotel staff. Outside
the resort, English is not readily understood so we suggest brushing
up on your basic Spanish. Traffic signs and most menus are in Spanish,
although menus in tourist regions tend to be multilingual.
Time Zone
From late October to early April, Puerto Plata is one
hour ahead of EST. From early April to late October, Puerto Plata is
the same as EST.
Beaches
Grand Anse Beach
Grand Anse Beach is 2 miles of white sand in a sheltered bay, and is
a favourite of many visitors. It is heavily featured in advertisements
about the island, and several major hotels are located next to it. It
is considered to be one of the loveliest beaches in the Caribbean. As
the beach is on the western (leeward) side of the island, it is usually
well sheltered and calm, and is a favourite with both locals and visitors
alike. Grand Anse beach has a lot to offer, from water sports and scuba
diving shops, to the vendors market and several good restaurants. So,
if you are looking for a beach with attractions, then this is the one
for you.
Available at the beach:
Many Restaurants & Hotels, Small Bars, Watersport & Scuba dive
centers, Beach Chair Rentals, Vendors market, easily accessable by bus
& water taxis.
Of course, it is not the only beach on the west coast of Grenada. In
fact, between Grand Anse and Point Salines, there are a total of 6 white
sand beaches (not including one or two small stretches of sand), all
of which are easily accessible and usually a little more private than
Grand Anse.
Morne Rouge Beach
Morne Rouge Bay, which is located just south of the Grand Anse beach,
is smaller, calmer and more secluded. There are no water sports shops
located there, and only one hotel directly on the beach (Gem Beach Resort),
so it is an ideal place to just sit back, relax and soak up the sunshine.
The water is fairly shallow, and consequently it is always a little
warmer here than on other beaches.
This is the ideal beach if you happen to be vacationing with children,
as it is usually very calm.
Lots of trees which will provide shade - Beach Chair Rentals are available
- Restaurant & Hotel on the beach.
Best Snorkelling Beaches
If you are looking for good snorkelling sites close to the shore, then
the best place to visit would be the beach by the Aquarium Restaurant
or by the Rex Grenadian Hotel.
To get there, you will need to take the main road past the airport terminal
until you see the sign for the restaurant on your right.
This beach offers sheltered areas, gorgeous white sand and snorkelling
along its southern end.
The Aquarium Restaurant & Beach Club is a good place to make the
day more enjoyable, and makes a comfortable snorkeling base for the
afternoon. Refreshments are available on the beach. Beach Chairs Rental,
Hotel & Restaurant, shade, small coral reefs for good snorkeling!
Secluded Beaches
There are also other nice, more secluded beaches around Lance Aux Epines
and St. David's. Most of them are a little way off the beaten path and
are only accessible with a four wheel drive vehicle. Also If you take
a drive up the east coast, in just about every bay, you will find several
more isolated secluded beaches you can visit, even a few black sand
beaches. The only difference between this type of beach and the normal
white sand variety is the colour. White sand usually consists of broken
and pulverised coral, while black sand primarily consists of ground
up rock. The texture is almost the same, with the black sand beaches
being found usually at the outflow of rivers.
La Sagesse Beach
Ideal for a family outing, La Sagesse beach is in a sheltered bay and
has a large expanse of silver sands. Quite shallow along the shore,
it is nearly always very calm and is a favorite for families on the
weekend. Also the home of the Restaurant and Resort 'La Sagesse Nature
Resort'
Bathway Beach
The next most popular beach, especially on weekends, is located at Bathway
in the north-eastern part of the island. Bathway Beach is mainly frequented
by people who live in this part of the island, and is particularly popular
because of a sheltered area where non-swimmers can bathe in relative
safety. Taking the western main road will also enable you to visit the
many beaches along that coast, and those tend to be a lot more accessible.
This beach is on the Atlantic coastline, and therefore for some months
of the year, the water is fairly choppy.
Levera Beach
This beach is located slightly further north than Bathway beach, but
is accessible via the same road. With a great view of Sugarloaf island,
situated a couple of hundred yards offshore, this beach is usually deserted
as the road to it is very rough. If you are considering visiting it,
a four wheel drive vehicle would be advisable.
Sauteurs Beach
This is a nice white sand beach, located on the northern coast of Grenada,
just to the west of the town of Sauteurs. Usually deserted, this beach
is easily accessible by road and is a nice destination for anyone planning
an island tour. While it is not as popular as the Bathway and Levera
Beaches, it is still a beautiful beach to relax on and boasts wonderful
views of the islands to the north.
Climate
The best time to travel is from November to March when
the daytime temperatures are in the 80s and the nighttime temperatures
are in the 60s. The constant breezes keep the temperature and humidity
at bay.
What to Wear
Light, casual resort wear for day and night. Sports jackets
and long pants for men, cocktail attire for women (smart casual) are
recommended for elegant evenings out and at some of the bigger resorts.
Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not permitted in landmark churches,
casinos and some restaurants.
Currency and Credit Cards
Currency in Grenada: East Caribbean dollar (XCD).
Electricity
Same as United States, however an adapter is required
due to prong size and shape.
Marriage Requirements
1. Valid Passports
2. Birth Certificates
3. If one of the parties is divorced, proof of a Decree Absolute
4. Proof of Single Status: an affadavit, or a letter from a clergyman,
lawyer, or Registry on official letterhead attesting to the fact that
the parties involved have not been married previously.
5. If a name has been changed by Deed Poll proof is necessary
6. If either party has been widowed, a Death Certificate is needed
7. If either party is under 21 evidence of parental consent is required
in the form of an affadavit
8. All papers must be in English. If the original papers are in another
language, they should be translated into English and certified
9. No blood tests are required
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