Radisson Grenada Beach Resort

Formerly known as the Grenada Grand Beach Resort, this large, upscale property rebranded as a Radisson and reopened in December of 2013, in hopes that a major brand name would bring a boost of business to the resort. The result is a very nice, clean, contemporary chain hotel on the beach – but you could be almost anywhere. There is nothing particularly Grenadian, or even Caribbean, about this property. Though the hotel itself is a bit generic, when you walk out onto the beach, the scene is distinctly Grenada. The resort sits in the middle of the island’s most popular attraction, Grand Anse beach, a long stretch of golden sand featuring calm blue waters and clear views up the coast to St. George’s.

The Radisson delivers what you would expect from a well-regarded hotel brand: clean, modern rooms, efficient service, high-tech amenities, and updated everything. Along with the Radisson name came all new furniture and furnishings, with dark woods and a sleek, modern look. The lobby is bright and airy, with soaring ceilings and modern furniture in white and a signature blue accent color that is seen across the resort. There are bright green lawns, lily ponds, many exotic trees and flowering bushes throughout the meticulously maintained grounds. Many a hammock or lounge chair can be found in the shade.

Overall, on this vibrant, colorful island known as the Spice Isle of the Caribbean for the many flavorful spices it produces, this canned corporate property feels a bit bland. For those who can look past the lack of personality, the Radisson offers a great value compared to the other beachfront hotels in this category.

The Radisson is one of the largest properties in the Grand Anse area, the lively and tourist-friendly hub of the island, with dozens of hotels, restaurants and stores close by. The resort occupies a quarter-mile of beachfront on the beautiful, two-mile long Grand Anse beach. It's next to a public park and parking area, as well as a local craft market where vendors sell spices and other souvenirs. There are also a small shopping mall and supermarket, about a five-minute walk away. The resort is located on the southwest corner of the island, about a 10-minute drive from the airport, and just 15 minutes up the coast to the pastel-colored buildings of the capital, St. George's.

With 229 rooms, the property is expansive but doesn’t feel overwhelming. The rooms are bright, airy and spacious, with dark-wood furniture and contemporary decor in whites and navy blues. The rooms underwent a facelift when the property rebranded as a Radisson, and received all new bedding and furnishings. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, coffee and tea facilities, and free Wi-Fi.  Bathrooms are updated with new tile and showers, but are on the small side. Most have walk-in showers only, no bathtubs.

Beachfront rooms have excellent views of the sea, and some have patios that look right out onto the beach, while Garden View rooms are the same size and offer the same amenities, but face onto the interior gardens. Regardless of the type, each rooms includes a comfortable chaise lounge and a private deck or patio with outdoor basic seating.

The star feature of this property is the excellent lagoon-style oasis pool, which wraps like a river all the way around a giant banyan tree, bookended by waterfalls on both ends. There are several lovely foot bridges crossing the 300-foot pool, and on one end two jacuzzi pools sit atop the waterfall feature. This generous layout provides plenty of room for lounging, with dozens of padded lounge chairs and ample shade, and a lovely tree swing.

There is a swim-up bar and the Oasis Grill, a barbecue restaurant, located in the middle of the pool, open seasonally. The second pool is a standard, rectangular-shaped pool, well-suited for those who wish to do laps. It overlooks the beach and along with the poolside bar has great views for sunset. The Tradewinds Restaurant is open for breakfast, buffet-style, including an omelette bar, bacon, sausage, and other standard fare. The Bamboo Restaurant serves lunch and dinner a la carte, offering an international menu with a mix of Italian, Asian and local dishes. There is a pool table and stylish lounge at the Bamboo bar, with entertainment a few nights a week.

Activities include tennis, water sports like windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, and a dive shop that works with the resort. There is a small, modern fitness center with new equipment. Nine meeting rooms of different sizes are available at the large, on-site convention center, providing lots of options for meetings and a ballroom for events.

The resort has 1200-feet of beachfront on the famed Grand Anse, and for better or worse, it’s in the most popular section of the most popular (and largest) beach in Grenada. There is a gate separating the property and gardens from the beach. There is a lot of foot traffic on the sand here – it is not a quiet, secluded getaway. Vendors stroll up and down the beach at all hours, trying to tout their wares and chatting up the tourists. Cruise ships that dock in the nearby harbor at St. Georges will bring big groups of passengers to this area of beach for the day.  A five-minute walk down the beach is an arts and crafts market, with local goods and souvenirs, as well as eateries.  While this long, golden-sand beach is stunning and the water is clear and lovely, it is bustling at all times of day. Guests looking for a quiet, tranquil setting will probably find themselves by the wonderful oasis pool.