Laluna Hotel

As you wander around the lush, tropical grounds of Laluna Grenada, little pairs of dark eyes peer at you from all directions -- hiding in trees, poking out of bushes, by the pool, at the bar. Don’t fear, however -- the eyes belong to harmless wooden Tiki statues that are placed throughout the resort. The hand-carved Tiki gods stand guard over all corners of the property, in the gardens, by the beach and even in front of cottages, a symbol of the quirky, bohemian-chic vibe of the hotel.

The romantic Laluna resort is set in a leafy natural forest, full of trees with hanging vines and flowering bushes. With just 16 rooms for a maximum of 32 guests, the resort is a tranquil and intimate, and set on a beautiful secluded beach. A mix of local Caribbean, Balinese, and Italian influences blend to create this eclectic, laid-back, upscale paradise. With the bushes and greenery on the property slightly overgrown, it feels like a secret, deserted-island getaway.

Hidden at the end of a short bumpy road leading from the Mourne Rouge beach area in the Southwest corner of the lively island of Grenada, the location of Laluna is blissfully isolated -- there are no other hotels or properties in sight. The secluded feel of this property is distinctive for Grenada, where most of the hotels are packed into one small corner of the island. There is one pleasant fine-dining restaurant located about a five-minute walk down the shore, but for the most part, Laluna guests have this small beach to themselves. It’s about a 20-minute drive to reach the airport, and roughly 25 minutes to reach St. George’s the capital.

The rooms are rustic, cozy cottages with vaulted wood ceilings and doors that open to a private deck featuring a daybed and a small plunge pool. Cottage interiors and exteriors are painted in bold colors -- green, blue, purple or yellow -- with a mottled faux-finish that feels a little cliched. The rest of the decor is minimalist and modern, with big canopied, four-poster beds and a few Asian-inspired accessories. The rooms are quaint, but lack luxury touches of other hotels in this category.

The cottages have no windows on the sides and are rather dark during the day. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, coffee and tea facilities, and minibars stocked with snacks and drinks. Cute moon-shaped pillows echo the hotel’s romantic name. The open-air bathrooms have a unique design, with shower stalls that are half-open to the outdoors. The cottages are arranged along a steep hillside, and some require guests to climb several sets of stairs to reach the top.

Keeping fit won’t be too hard at Laluna -- there are daily yoga and Pilates classes hosted in a beautiful open-air wooden pavilion on the beach, and a nice, modern fitness center with boxing gear. Behind the yoga pavilion, a path leads up to the beautiful Balinese-style spa, which offers a variety of treatment options, such as tatumi massage and stone therapy.

The influence of the resort’s Italian owners is most evident in the menu’s restaurant, which features Italian specialties, such as antipasto, Nicoise salad, and lobster ravioli, as well as local dishes and fresh seafood. There’s a small gift shop with local crafts and an organic garden growing herbs and vegetables.

The small but picturesque pool is flanked by the restaurant and a thatched-roof tiki bar, where there is entertainment a few nights a week. The pool slopes gently up towards the beach, and the ocean is steps away. A chic, open-air poolside lounge features Indonesian carved-wood daybeds.

A highlight of Laluna is the lovely, secluded cove it is set on, with rock cliffs on either end. This serene, isolated beach is a tranquil paradise -- especially compared to the big beaches like Grand Anse, which gets a lot of foot traffic and vendors selling souvenirs. The gentle sea features the bright turquoise hues that the Caribbean is known for. There are many daybeds and padded lounge chairs tucked in different corners of the property, and plenty of shade to be found. Water sports like kayaking, snorkeling and sailing are included. The only other structure on this stretch of peaceful beach is a fine-dining restaurant at the other end of the cove.