When you think of the Caribbean, islands like Barbados, Jamaica and St. Lucia generally come to mind. But there is another island in the Caribbean that is perhaps one of the most beautiful and unique in the region, and it’s one of the lesser known in terms of tourist destinations. That island is Grenada. And on the island of Grenada is a magical place known as Spice Island Beach Resort.

Grenada is known as the Spice Island because of the lushness of its spice crops, which include everything from cinnamon to cloves to nutmeg to mace. As a tourist destination, Grenada has been seeing a recent upsurge in popularity. The country had a tumultuous period during the early 1980s when it underwent something of a revolution that resulted in Ronald Reagan sending in American troops to intervene. But those days are firmly in the past and the country has returned to a stability and calmness that make it a new and unique vacation destination just waiting to be discovered.

The days are warm but not hot, as the island is situated in a perfect location to absorb the benefits of the gentle, cooling trade winds, which also makes it a perfect location for the tranquility and peace of Spice Island Beach Resort. This is a family-run hotel, and apart from adding a personal touch to almost every aspect of the resort, Sir Royston Hopkins and his family have also gone out of their way to provide things that either aren’t commonly available at other hotels or are very hard to find – things like non-chlorinated swimming pools, a homegrown herb-garden, solar heating, and other such environmentally-conscious features. There is a great quote associated with the hotel and its protection of the environment: “Everywhere you look, the resort is a proud testament to the coexistence of man and nature.”

What is impressive about the way Sir Royston runs his hotel (which was recently voted Most Outstanding Resort – Caribbean/North America by Conde Naste/Johansens) is that his business life and his leisure time are pretty much spent the same way. “I spend my leisure time serving as well. The hotel business is a business I have grown up in and it is a business and a life that I love. So while I work very hard, it doesn’t feel like work at all.” As clear evidence of this, Sir Royston began his life in the hotel business literally at the bottom. “I worked in the kitchen, drove guests’ children to the beach, learned how to set a table and how to make up a room, all of which has served me well in my subsequent time as the overseer of all those elements.”

Spice Island Beach Resort was developed from the hotel owned by Sir Royston’s father called Blue Horizon. In 2000, the hotel underwent its major renovation and expansion that brought it up to its current award-winning status. Spice Island Beach Resort also benefits greatly from its ideal location on the island itself, as it’s located on the pristine crescent of white sand known as Grand Anse Beach. The resort itself sits on a 1,600-foot beachfront that allows guests a wonderful beach environment that is perfectly balanced by the lush gardens and the privacy they allow.

If something a bit livelier than peace and tranquility are what you are yearning for then Spice Island Beach Resort is still a perfect destination. Whether it be snorkeling and kayaking, or tennis, golf and bicycle trips, you need not spend a single idle moment, unless, of course, you choose to. If you go the vigorous activity route then you can always relax at the end of the day with a spa treatment at the elegant Janissas Spa. Also available to guests are organized daytrips to explore the island’s lush rainforests or to spend the day in the town’s markets to soak up local culture and colour.

One of the many unforgettable aspects of Spice Island Beach Resort is the suites themselves. All 66 luxury suites are spacious and comfortable and offer the most sense-soothing views imaginable. Take the Luxury Almond Pool Suites: these are six stand-alone suites that are 1,500 square feet each and come with their own individual residential-sized swimming pool. The Saffron Beach Suites are almost the same size but offer a beachfront setting with your own individual patio for relaxing in a hammock on a lazy afternoon. The Oleander Gardens Suites are smaller in size but offer a stunning view of the gardens.

I have to say that my favourites are the Cinnamon Beach Suites. These extraordinary suites are about 1,440 square feet each and come with a wet bar and elegant dining table that seats six. The en suite bathroom is a glass and marble affair that affords a stunning view of the sea. Like all the suites in the resort, the decor is done with vivid colours, and sumptuous Italian linens drape the huge canopy beds. The thing that is unique and very impressive about the suites here is the feeling that each suite is perfectly suited for either a romantic getaway or a family vacation without having to change or alter a thing. And if you feel like treating yourself like visiting royalty, then naturally the Royal Collection Pool Suites is where you want to be. These standalone suites are literally mini-villas that come complete with sauna and whirlpool facilities, spice-scented gardens, and your own 16 x 20-foot swimming pool. These suites have been described as the quintessential honeymoon suites. Other wonderful suites are the Anthurium Pool Suites and the Seagrape Beach Suite.

A fine resort wouldn’t really be a fine resort without an outstanding restaurant, and Oliver’s is an outstanding restaurant. Located in an area of the resort that affords guests a lush and beautiful view of the sea, this restaurant features excellent Creole and International cuisine. Like everything at Spice Island Beach Resort, the restaurant is designed to meet the needs of every individual guest: if it’s vegetarian cuisine you prefer, it will be arranged. And the atmosphere is pure Caribbean. The sounds of calypso, reggae and steel bands can be heard throughout the evening at Oliver’s.

So if you’re looking for a time away that includes luxurious accommodations, friendly attentive staff, great food, scenery that includes being surrounded by crystal blue water, palm, lemon, almond, and sea grape trees, and near-perfect weather, then Spice Island Beach Resort on the island of Grenada is the place you need to be. And don’t fear the trip itself – Grenada is easily accessible from Canada, the United States and Europe with all the convenience of every other Caribbean island nation. There is one problem about spending time at Spice Island Beach Resort though: once you’re there, you may never want to leave.