Relaxing in the pool at La Source.

n the southwest tip of Grenada, 15 minutes from the capital city, St. George's, there are two all-inclusive resorts. La Source and the Rex Grenadian both offer beautiful beaches, good food and fun activities, yet each has unique attributes.

La Source for body treats
We fell in love with the four-star-plus La Source at first sight. Its red tile roofed buildings surround a two-level freeform pool and whirlpool. The sapphire Caribbean gently laps Pink Gin Beach, a long stretch of golden sand that fringes the 100-room resort. At night, the sound of surf lulled us to sleep in our four-poster king-size bed.

The Oasis Body Care Centre pampers guests with body treats. Aromatherapy massages. Salt loofah rubs. Seaweed wraps. Foot massages and facials. Softly lit rooms and soothing background music enhance their sybaritic effects.

An activity board lists Tai Chi, yoga and guided relaxation classes, as well as tennis, golf, water-skiing, aerobics, wind surfing and beach volleyball. What really caught our attention were the unique activities like weight training, fencing and archery. Fun-loving 'bodyguards' conduct introductory level classes, so neophytes can participate.

With all the exercise, we had no qualms about indulging in the resort’s exquisite cuisine. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style. Except for a Barbecue Night and a Caribbean Buffet, all dinners are à la carte and served in the Great House.

Massage at the Oasis Body Care Centre, La Source.

You can choose a table inside the plantation-style house, or outside on the verandah. Inside, ceiling fans turn slowly under the high wooden roof, while a combo entertains with music and songs. Outside, leafy palms stir in the balmy tropical breezes, under the stars. Waiters offer a selection of wines and multi-course menus that change nightly.

A typical dinner might begin with a seafood cocktail, followed by five-spice roasted duck with caramelized pineapple and stir-fried vegetables. There are always at least four desserts, ranging from peaches flambéed in Amaretto on vanilla ice-cream to blueberry cheesecake with Grand Marnier sauce.

Grenadian charm and style
The four-star Rex Grenadian, a 212-room resort, excels in its beverage services. Neil Felix’s award-winning drink, Brown Skin Girl, is a concoction of Amaretto, Kahlua, vodka and coconut cream, flavoured with cinnamon. We became addicted to his Bananaquits (named after local birds)–a delicious combination of ripe bananas, cream, Bailey’s Irish Cream and coconut cream.

Our favourite place to enjoy them was at Spicers, beside the pool. The casual restaurant overlooks Tamarind Bay and a lovely long beach lined with tamarind trees.

Staff gather the long brown fruit to make delicious sweet and sour tamarind balls which they serve on Caribbean Night, along with a cornucopia of local food: spinach-like callaloo soup, curried lambi (conch), rice and peas cooked with coconut milk, wonderful soursop juice, and Creole bananas.

Spicers Restaurant, bar and pool overlook Tamarind Bay.

Each night offers a different theme, with entertainment to match: barbecue, seafood, British, Indian, Mexican and other international evenings. Our favourite was the poolside buffet, served on candlelit tables, between the pink bougainvillea and the pool. As we dined, a steel band performed Broadway tunes and romantic melodies.

Guests enjoy afternoon tea in the breezy Courtyard Café. We helped ourselves to crustless, cheese-ham-and-cucumber sandwiches, and freshly baked scones, served with whipped cream and strawberry, guava and nutmeg jams.

Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia. The Rex Grenadian also serves nutmeg ice-cream at Spicers and nutmeg-scented banana bread for breakfast.

With so much food and drink, the resort offers many ways to burn calories. A separate sports pavilion contains a gym full of equipment. Wind surfing, sunfish sailing, volleyball, tennis courts, aerobics classes and an introductory scuba lesson in the pool supplement swimming and strolls along the beach.

We were surprised to see prices on menus and activities. That’s because the Rex Grenadian also offers a non-all-inclusive package. When we tallied up the prices that we were not paying, we quickly realized the true value of all-inclusive packages.

Signature Vacations is the only company to offer tour packages to Grenada from Canada. For further information on the island of Grenada, call (416) 485-8724 or (800) 267-7600.

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