We've just returned from a week at the Coyaba. First impressions were good. The porters were very friendly, the hotel is immaculately clean, well presented and the gardens lovely. Our room was excellent also.

The pool is well kept and clean and the beach was beautiful, however you would get constantly approached by people trying to sell you things.

However, the hotel is let down by 90% of the staff, who are miserable, surly and unhelpful. The waiting staff/chefs are particularly bad. Most cannot muster a smile or "good morning" and would actually blank you if you passed them in the gardens/walkways and said hello.

There was a limited choice of food on the menus. The poolside restaurant lunch menu never changes and serice was ridiculously slow. We waited 55 minutes for an under-cooked bowl of chips.
The buffet lunch menu only had 4 choices, always chicken/fish/pork and rice and veg. One day then ran out of the main dish at 1245 (lunch starts at 1230 and finishes at 3pm!!!) and when we asked if there was anymore, we were told we'd have to wait 20 minutes!
The evening meals were nice, however there was a very limited choice and there would always be supplements on the best dish.

The Coyaba could be a brilliant hotel but towards the end of the week, our holiday was being ruined by the miserable staff and we were looking forward to leaving.
It is such a shame as 10% of the staff (the gardeners, cleaners and porters that we would encounter) were polite and friendly.

We went onto Barbados and found all of the staff to be absolutely lovely, as I have often found people to be in the Caribbean. Grenada seems to be an exception to the rule...

Fantastic setting- safe feel to Island - pretensions to a 4 star hotel but max 3.5 - small pool - awful lunchtime pool restaurant service - evenings in main restaurant inconsistent food and service with sometimes tiny portions (pretentious cheffy meals) - the usual Caribbean staff mix of either fantastic or surly, no in-betweens -

We spent 8 days at the Coyaba after being in St.Lucia for the previous 8 days and to be honest after our experiences in St.Lucia we were dreading it. St.Lucia was not good, mainly rude unhelpful locals and a couldn't care less, take it or leave it attitude throughout the hotel.
From stepping off the plane in Grenada it was a completely different vibe. Incredibly pleasant staff at the airport and when we reached the Coyaba the welcome we received was amazing, nothing was too much trouble ( we had 6 in our party including a 5 month old baby and a 7 year old ).
We were on an all inclusive package and no matter what we asked for at the bar there was no extra charge and that included branded drinks and all cocktails. Occasionally, on the food menu, there was a very small extra charge for certain items, but it was a ridiculously low extra charge and def not worth complaining about and anyway there was plenty more to choose from if you didn't want to pay a bit extra for a T bone or whatever.
On 2 occasions restaurant staff forgot to bring the soup we'd ordered but once again it wasn't worth getting upset about it, staff were fabulous and always ready to help keep the baby entertained, if necessary, while we we eating and constantly topping up our wine glasses without any requests to do so.
Not surprisingly, when most people were asking for cocktails, service at the poolside bar could be slow sometimes and with customers on all 4 sides it was easy for the 2 bar staff to lose track of who was next in the queue but you're on holiday, does it really matter that you'll spend a couple of minutes longer at the bar if you missed your turn? One Brit thought so, agressively shouting out " am I invisible?" when somebody got served infront of him. Pathetic and completely uncalled for.
Room service was excellent with a constant supply of clean towels and bedding ( I'm sure it was clean bedding every day ) and of course the turn down service with flowers and chocolates.
If you do visit this hotel go and see Sandra on guest services to book your excursions, she's very knowledgeable and helpful. She recommended Ronnie at Zeyah's Tours when we asked about exploring the island and once again it was perfect. It should have been a 4 hour tour but Ronnie was having none of it " it'll take as long as it takes, there's no rush and no extra to pay. " We were gone for 6 hours and what a great time we had and all at a very reasonable price. Thanks Ronnie!
Everyone from reception through to the gardeners and sun lounger attendants were an absolute joy and we won't hesitate returning. Special thanks must go to Roderick who seemed to spend his days making sure everyone was happy, constantly walking around the hotel chatting to guests and making sure all was as it should be. When we were leaving he came and stood by the coach to shake hands and thank all the departing guests for coming to visit Grenada and the Coyaba and that was on his day off! I noticed some of the staff were even giving guests presents, and lots of hugs, when it was time to leave.
We'll certainly be returning either later this year or early next year.

I can't believe I have just returned from my 6th holiday in Grenada. It really is that beautiful. No matter where else in the world we venture, something always tugs at the emotions and requires a return to this Caribbean gem every couple of years.

Most people won't have heard about Grenada - or at least they will think it is somewhere in Spain. In fact it is in the southern Caribbean and those with long memories might remember that the USA invaded Grenada in 1983. But that little episode is long past. Now the island is surrounded by warm turquoise sea, white (and black) sandy beaches, mountainous rainforests, and possesses a friendliness almost unsurpast. It is known as the Spice Island as a result of all the nutmeg and mace that they produce. The rum is pretty good and strong as well.

We stayed at the Coyaba Beach Resort on the superb two mile long Grand Anse beach. Now Coyaba is not the most luxurious hotel I have ever stayed in. In fact the last time I was in Grenada we stayed a couple of doors down at the Spice Island Beach Resort with its Egyptian cotton sheets, multi-cushioned beds, Molton Brown products and ambitions to become to Grenada what Sandy Lane is to Barbados. As a result it lacks personality and the staff lack warmth. It's luxurious but it has no soul.

Coyaba has soul, passion, warmth and an irresistable charm. From the staff who seem to be on a mission to get to know you personally, to the extensive, lovingly maintained gardens with colourful plants and trees, to the walk up pool bar, to the bar manager who has been mixing cocktails there for 22 years, to the restaurant supervisor who will go out of her way to buy you a hand made Kite - the place is very special. The rooms are not huge but they are well designed and decorated in a minimalist Arawak style and are spotlessly clean.

In fact the gardens themselves outway the artifical luxury of places that cost three times as much. Coyaba promise a bed turn down service every night. This is something I have always thought to be an over indulgence - but I also believe that if a hotel offers such a service then it should make good on its promise. Coyaba is the only hotel in the world that I have stayed in that offers this service that has fulfilled its promise every night, and that includes chains like Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott. Small things like this make a real difference.

There are plenty of good restaurants nearby or in St Georges, but the food at Coyaba is also of very high quality. I particularly like their gourmet interpretation of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings.

Staff of note include: Stanley the barman and cocktail supremo. He has the most infectious laugh and he also runs the weekly Crab Racing competition. His apprentice Lesley Anne also mixes an awesome Vodka Martini and is very cheerful and friendly. Josephine and Elvira make the restaurant experience memorable. I don't know the names of the gardeners but they do an amazing job keeping the resort in impeccable condition.

Grand Anse beach is very clean and the waters although a little choppy are great for swimming and snorkelling. Don't ignore the beach traders. They will not pester if you don't want to talk to them but it's worth watching for the ones who have genunine talent at carving up a piece of black coral into a lovely keepsake.

Take a day trip to Carriacou - Grenada's sister island - and even more deserted paradise.

Coyaba means "heaven" in Arawak. Heaven it certainly is.