Grenada

It's not just modern pirates like Johnny Depp who love the secluded beaches of Grenada, English royals and top international managers are also drawn to the remote spice island in the Lesser Antilles.

The sailing boat chugs quietly out of the marina in Port Louis, past ultra-modern yachts and catamarans ranging in value from detached houses to apartment buildings. Grenada is classified as hurricane-proof. With countless small bays and ten large marinas, the island is therefore also an anchorage for many boats from other Caribbean islands during the hurricane season. The parade view of St. George's from the horseshoe-shaped natural harbor follows. The evening sun bathes the cathedral, the cannon-armed fort and the colorful colonial houses in a warm light. The colorful capital, reminiscent of a French port city, is considered one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Outside the bay, the sails are hoisted and the boat glides effortlessly along the south coast in the balmy evening breeze. The island's volcanic peaks, covered in rainforest, are mystically hidden behind clouds, a rainbow appears over the small metropolis. By contrast, the palm-fringed Grand Anse Beach, the longest beach on the island at three kilometers, is still enjoying the evening sun. Most of Grenada's hotels are lined up behind it, and colorful houses stretch up the green hills.

Nevertheless, the beach is almost deserted, the resorts are no taller than the coconut palms
and blend harmoniously into the landscape. The sunlight switches from yellow to orange to red and makes the sea glow, ice cubes clink in the equally colored cocktails. Life couldn't be more beautiful! So there it is, the Caribbean attitude to life - the ease and light-heartedness of a stress-free, carefree world. Life in Grenada is so carefree, peaceful and safe
on Grenada, and not just on this evening. Compared to its better-known neighboring island of Barbados, the Caribbean island is still an insider tip. In addition to jungle-green volcanic vents and dream beaches, crater lakes, waterfalls, colorful markets, nutmeg and cocoa plantations characterize the dwarf state the size of Bremen, which is also known as the "Spice Island". There are 2,600 hotel beds on 45 white and nine black beaches and around 110,000 inhabitants. The target is 3,000 beds. No more, so that it remains authentic. Mass tourism is undesirable. Nevertheless, luxury is not lacking and can be particularly enjoyed in this seclusion. The current travel trends of privacy, distance and slow travel can be wonderfully implemented here.

Favorite of celebrities and royals
The island in the Lesser Antilles is also popular and well-known among many celebrities. Grenada is the answer to the question: What do Johnny Depp and Prince Charles have in common? Both have "escaped" here to enjoy the peace and seclusion. Johnny Depp played Captain Jack Sparrow on the uninhabited mini-island of Sandy Island - a strip of sand with palm trees and coral reefs off the offshore island of Carriacou. Nothing but nature, accessible only by fishing or sailing boat, is on offer here. If you're not filming movies, you can swim, snorkel and relax here. The royals also appreciate Grenada's originality and solitude. The Spice Island Beach Resort on the western shore of Grand Anse Beach is visited by the British royal family almost every year. Princess Anne, Prince Charles with his wife Camilla and Prince Harry have all stayed in the Cinnamon Royal Suite with its private pool and garden. Watched over by a single Scotland Yard officer, they stroll along the beach, take high tea in the Beach Pavilion and enjoy the live music in the evenings. It is no coincidence that they are staying here. As a former British colony, Grenada is still part of the Commonwealth, and the dignified luxury hotel is one of the best on the island. Long-time owner Royston Hopkin was even made a Sir by the Queen in 2004 for his services to the tourism sector. One of the few islanders to have made it this far. "We have to make sure that the whole of Grenada benefits from tourism," was his credo. Sadly, he passed away in February 2020 at the age of 75. Until then, however, he regularly invited guests to a reception in the garden of his villa. Set on a peninsula in the sea, with cocktails and a flying dinner, it felt like a private Hollywood party. Fortunately, the resort is run by Sir Royston's children, who have also taken over the tradition of receptions.

Sailing trip with dive
A sailing trip is a good way to get an initial overview of Grenada's land-based attractions - and to head for the hotspots of the underwater world. Apart from the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean, the Bianca C, the island's best snorkeling and diving spots are located in Flamingo Bay. Hair-thin feather stars sway to the rhythm of the waves, purple sea fans, elkhorn coral and yellow sponge pinnacles rise up, with bright blue damselfish, surgeonfish, trumpetfish and wrasse darting back and forth between them. Moray eels peer out of their caves. To the north of this, the English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor created the world's first underwater sculpture garden. It is a veritable course with 26 life-size figures - from the reclining mermaid and the cyclist to the nutmeg princess on a large nut or the children holding hands in a circle. A few meters further on, the "Christ of the Deep" stretches his arms towards the sky, which in turn is sending a few rays of sunshine into the depths. It looks as if he is blessing all the works of art that are gradually being transformed into new reefs by algae and coral.

An above-ground attraction opened at the eastern end of Grand Anse Beach in December 2018. The "Silversands" is a sleek, ultra-modern hotel jewel with a spectacular infinity pool. At 100 meters long, it is considered the longest in the Caribbean. Manager Narelle McDougall is Australian and has been to many places in the luxury hotel industry, from Australia and the Maldives to Bali and Dubai. Her guests come for the architecture and usually know little about the destination. Yet there is plenty to see and do outside the two exquisite restaurants, the wonderfully relaxed beach lounge, the innovative
spa with a sky of white balloons and the suites and beach villas equipped with intelligent technology.

Island tour with rum and chocolate
On an island tour, for example, you can visit the smallest chocolate factory in the world, the Grenada Chocolate Company, and then take a detour to various nutmeg plantations and factories.
Grenada is the second largest producer of nutmeg in the world. The delicate spice nut is not only a popular ingredient in savory dishes, but also in drinks, ice cream and desserts. You can also visit the River Antoine rum distillery. It has existed since 1785 and is still operated as it was more than 200 years ago. The oldest working waterwheel in the Caribbean generates energy, which is used to press out sugar cane using museum-quality machines. The high-proof rum is then distilled from the juice of the plants. An industrial monument from the 18th century that is still in operation! Rum is served in cocktails and as rum punch in all the bars on the island. Even in the beach bar of the "LaLuna Hotel". A welcome drink accompanied by lounge music sets the mood for the romantic atmosphere of the design hotel. It was designed by architect Gabriella Giuntoli, who has also designed vacation homes for Giorgio Armani and Sting. 16 individual villas in warm colors are hidden in a tropical flower garden populated by birds and butterflies. All with terrace, pool and magnificent views of the
the almost private Portici Bay, framed by high cliffs. The Italian builder and owner Bernardo Bertucci lived in Bali for a few years and brought four-poster beds and sculptures back from there. "There was no such relaxed luxury as in Bali, with good food, yoga and massages, in Grenada when I came here 20 years ago!" says Bertucci, who was a consultant for Prada and Armani in a former life. He offers yoga on the beach in the morning and breakfast all day long. In the open restaurant, he serves upscale Italian cuisine with a Caribbean twist. The octopus salad melts in the mouth, the seared tuna with pineapple relish and the barracuda stuffed with grilled vegetables are delicious. Turtles and pelicans accompany the short kayak tour from LaLuna to the beautiful Magazine Beach. The extremely decorative
rock piles in the bay are a popular photo motif. Frigate birds dart into the sea, the spray foams onto the beach and tingles like champagne on the skin as you swim. The crowning glory is a dinner of grilled fish and crab wrapped in coconut. It is served in the restaurant
Aquarium, directly above the dream beach.

It could hardly be safer
You can be confident and carefree here, because it could hardly be safer.
Grenada's crime rate is one of the lowest in the Caribbean. The stories
stories told by the locals. When the 2004 hurricane - the first in the last 50 years to reach this far south - covered the prison, all prisoners had to be sent home to their families. Three months later, the prison with its view of the capital and the sloops bobbing in the harbor was habitable again. The police called for everyone to return - and all the criminals came voluntarily! Friday evening at Grand Anse Bay: in the west
the glow of the sunset is reflected in the blue clouds, in the east the moon is already shining over the slender coconut palms. A handful of guests lie on beach loungers or let themselves be rocked by the soft waves of the turquoise Caribbean Sea in the bathtub-warm water. Next door, cheerful people dance to reggae rhythms. At the weekend, the islanders also come to the beach to party. As on all the former British Isles, it is for everyone. Children do somersaults and romp in the soft sand, Rastafarians with long braids carry their babies in their arms, families picnic. A young man pines over his beloved: "I wanna love you, every day and every night ..." Who wouldn't want to stay here?