My boyfriend and I just returned from 7 nights at Paradise Bay. We had a delightful stay during our time on the island. We were leery about many of the bad reviews that had been posted from the wedding, but based on our observations they were grossly over-exaggerated. I think the best way to describe this place would be more like a large bed-and-breakfast, as it has a very personalized, family vibe to it. James Post is a past European business exec with an impressive background who wanted to open a resort in his retirement. He has a background in renewable energy and an interest in sustainability- hence the windmill, organic gardens, etc... The other members of the staff are Christina, the masseuse and Melvin, the College intern from Holland. Some local staff come during the weekdays to garden, etc., but it’s primarily those 3 doing the main hotel duties (cooking, cleaning, serving, etc). I’m breaking down my thoughts into various categories for easy reading. Here goes:

Grenada- The island is absolutely stunning. Lush rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and various topographies throughout the island. It has a little bit of everything, which makes it very appealing. We barely saw any tourists during our stay. It is truly an undiscovered gem that hasn’t been exploited by tourism yet (unlike the rest of the Caribbean). As for the hurricane’s impact, they are about 90% recovered from it, so that should not prevent you from coming. This island has a reputation for being one of the friendliest and safest in the Caribbean. Our experience affirmed that for us. We are already discussing our return.

Property- The property is located about 45 minutes from the airport/Grand Anse Beach (which is the main tourist area). We liked being away from the tourist zone, as it gave us a chance to see the local culture and have a more private experience of the island. The property that James owns is UNBELIEVABLE. Even in the bad reviews on trip advisor they couldn’t deny the beauty of the location. The resort sits nestled high on a cliff with dramatic views over a rugged coastline. We would sit out on our veranda and stare at it for hours. That being said, it’s on the Atlantic side of the ocean, so some of the beaches near the resort were swimmable and some were not. If you’re really a big swimmer, I would go down to Grand Anse for the day. There was also a lot of wind, which was good during the day when it was really hot, but could get cool at night. The villas were charming and quaint. We saw no bugs and felt that it was very clean overall. No complaints. We had our daily massage on the veranda so that we could enjoy the ocean. That was one of the highlights of our stay. I also enjoyed using the Jacuzzi on the veranda as well. We enjoyed champagne in it one evening. I would recommend yoga or pilates on the veranda for anyone who practices (I suggested that James invest in some mats for guests’ use).

All-inclusive- The all-inclusive is a remarkable value. For $150 a person we enjoyed a daily massage, a tour, unlimited alcohol, our room, and 3 home-style meals. All our transportation was provided to and from the tours. I was so thankful that we didn’t have to worry about transportation, as the road infrastructure is really poor. They drive on the left hand side of the road, there are chickens, cows, and stray goats often crossing and there are NO street signs. Do NOT rent a car unless you absolutely have to… here are the things we did during our 7 day stay (all were included in the all-inclusive price):

-Whale watching tour- 4 hour cruise from Grand Anse, we saw over 30 whales, many right next to our boat, absolutely stunning, a must-do (James takes care of transportation to all activities).
-Snorkeling/Sailing catamaran Ride- 4 hour cruise from Grand Anse, loved the sailing part of it, the snorkeling was a little murky due to a recent storm. Tons of fun.
-Horseback ride- We had a privately guided horseback ride through a national park. I loved that we weren’t part of a group of 30 or more! The views were stunning.
-Northern Island Tour- It was fun to see the island, but the day does involve a lot of driving. We stopped in several towns, saw a Cocoa plantation, went to a nutmeg factory, a remote beach, a crater lake and a fish fry in a local village. This day gave me the best look at local life in Grenada.
-Mt. Carmel- WOW! I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in my life, but this one was the most stunning. As I’ve mentioned before, we were once again the ONLY ONES here. It was so enjoyable to have James bring us there so we could relax and enjoy it all by ourselves. Usually when you’re at locations like these you’re surrounded by 100 other tourists snapping pictures, which distracts from the beauty. It was all ours though and I loved every minute of it.
-Marlmont Walk- My boyfriend went off on this walk by himself one morning. I’m not a big hiker, but it was one of his favorite parts of the trip. The beaches you go to are all secluded, so it’s a great get-away. Request the lunch pack from James and you can make a day of it!
The week was very full and we tried to fit in as much as we could while still enjoying a vacation pace.

Food/Drinks- During the week Vicky (a Grenadian) will often cook breakfast and lunch. We indulged in a common Grenadian dish, Roti, for several meals. Try it- you’ll love it! James usually cooked dinner and Melvin served. James has a background in restaurants as well and is a wonderful cook. It was some of the best food I’ve had in a long time. Dinners reminded me of Europe, they’re slow drawn-out affairs where you enjoy each other’s company. There are 4 courses each night and dinner typically takes 2-3 hours. We brought cards each night and played in between courses. The meal option is based on whatever is most fresh that day. We often had lobster and fish caught that morning. The vegetables and fruit from the organic garden were the best I’ve ever tasted. That being said, there aren’t a lot of choices, so if you’re a picky eater, you may not be happy…. In addition because it’s a developing country, some things weren’t easily available at grocery stores or they’d be out of things Americans might consider staples: like lettuce, bacon, orange juice, etc. If you can be flexible though, you’ll be in fine shape. Request a crepe for breakfast- you’ll be glad you did! Budget 1 hour for breakfast, 1-2 for lunch and 2-3 for dinner. It’s a fun part of the experience though and there’s no other real nightlife on that side of the island.

Massages- This was one of the best parts of the trip. Christina is a massage therapist from London. She was as good as anyone I’ve had in the states. I enjoyed a one hour massage for 7 days in a row. My body felt the best it has in years…

Flights- It can be challenging to find an easy way to get here. We had to take 4 connections and our bags didn’t make it until a few days later due to a snowstorm in Chicago. Air Jamaice offers good deals though and James will help you find the easiest route. It's worth the headache, but plan carefully...

Challenges- Grenada is a developing country and nothing happens quickly. Electricity or hot water may go out briefly, but James’ staff will get right on it. That’s just the nature of where you are. Many things on the property are in progress, due to challenges that come up during building. James had such fascinating stories about all the roadblocks he’s run into trying to get the windmill and pavilion built. That being said, it’s still a fabulous experience, despite some of it being in progress. You’re in a remote location- which has some challenges, but amazing rewards if you can be flexible. We never could have afforded all we experienced had we not gotten the all-inclusive package. The massages alone would have been worth $700. We thoroughly enjoyed the activities we did, got great service, ate like kings, and saw a private, intimate side of local culture that most people don’t get. If you can be flexible with small hiccups, then you will reap the rewards of this wonderful place. Feel free to contact me if you want further opinions/feedback. I want more people to have the same great experience we did.