Blue Horizons Garden Resort and Saint Lucia Pitons

Close to the beautiful Grand Anse Beach but nestled in mature tropical gardens, Blue Horizons offers peace and tranquility as well as authentic, old school, Caribbean charm and excellent value for money.

A far cry from the large Caribbean resorts, Blue Horizons is a small, simple hotel that's locally owned and run. You won't find a glitzy bar and the latest interior design trends here but you will get highly personal service from local staff, the chance to walk to corner shops and meet the islanders, and a real insight into life in Grenada. The hotel is located a five minute walk from the island's best beach, there's a lovely pool and options to sail, kayak or snorkel in the turquoise seas. The grounds are also good for birdwatching with over 20 species seen here and you can borrow binoculars or take a guided walk. Cook for yourself, eat in the hotel restaurant with its lovely views of the bay or meander up to the busier end of the beach for a choice of bars and restaurants.

The hotel's 32 cottage-style rooms are well spread out across the gardens offering a sense of privacy and seclusion. Although simple in style, they are spacious and comfortable with the added bonus of a kitchenette and balcony.

Blue Horizons Garden Resort is a tranquil retreat set in mature tropical gardens. Family owned and run, you can tell that real care has been put into the hotel and it has an old-school Caribbean feel. The owner, Arnold can often be observed strolling through the grounds, chatting to guests.

With only 32 rooms spread across the gardens, there’s a great feeling of space at the hotel and the white sands of Grand Anse Beach are approximately 300 m (984 ft) away. It may not have the facilities of larger resorts, but there’s a genuine, relaxed Grenadian feel. Each room has self-catering facilities so you can cook, dine in the hotel restaurant or walk to one of the nearby restaurants.

Children are very welcome here, a range of board games and puzzles are available from the Hospitality Desk. Babysitting services are available upon request, at a charge.

Blue Horizons is built into a gently-rising hill on the southwest coast of Grenada, within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Grand Anse. The capital, St George's is only a 15 minute drive away.

The hotel is set approximately 300 m (984 ft) from Grand Anse Beach, arguably one of the best on the island. Despite being popular with both locals and visitors, the beach is large enough that it never feels crowded and the southern end, which Blue Horizons is closest to, is the quietest.

Saint Lucia is an intriguing blend of cultures originating from the island’s first Amerinidian inhabitants as well as French and British colonists who bought African slaves to the island during the slave trade. Although English is the main language, most islanders still speak Kweyol, similar to French.

The southwest coast, characterized by silvery-black volcanic sands and steep hills blanketed in rainforest, is also where you’ll find Saint Lucia’s second city, Soufrière, and the twin Piton mountains, the island’s most iconic natural wonder. The coastline in this part of the island is punctuated by hidden coves and colorful reefs that offer incredible snorkeling and diving, while the wilder Atlantic coast to the east has barely been touched by tourism.

The northwest is home to the charming capital, Castries, along with the majority of the resorts. The beaches in this part of the island tend toward the Caribbean idyll of sweeping golden beaches and swaying palms, and nightlife centers around the characterful restaurants and buzzing bars of Rodney Bay Village.

The mountainous interior is still home to many banana and cocoa plantations, once the mainstay of the island’s economy, and it’s also ideal terrain for hiking, climbing, birdwatching or zip-lining through the jungle canopy. It’s not all about high octane adventure though; Saint Lucia is also one of the most romantic destinations in the Caribbean, equally suited to relaxation and luxurious indulgence.