Spending a week in the sunshine and getting some vitamin D can do wonders for the mind and body. There is so much to find in the Caribbean. Luxury resort Silversands, on the lesser-explored island of Grenada, promises to leave you with more than just a healthy glow.
Where?
Silversands is located in an idyllic secluded spot on Grenada’s Grand Anse beach. The resort’s location on the South Western tip of the island means that it not only benefits from the consistently warm temperatures of the Caribbean Sea (as opposed to the contrasting cold North Atlantic waters on the Eastern side), but also benefits from the best sea conditions. sunset on the island.
As the early evening sky turns amber, the beach is dotted with the silhouettes of newlywed couples and families sipping frozen Daiquiris before slipping in for dinner. A delightful stretch of sugar-white sand, Grand Anse beach is also home to excellent beach bars, including Umbrella’s, Esther’s Bar and Coconut Beach, all a fifteen-minute walk from the hotel. You’ll find a mix of local specialties like salt fish fritters and grenade (an aromatic Grenadian stew made with breadfruit, local spices, and coconut milk is worth a try), as well as elevated beach-style plates, including local spiny lobster or local spiny lobster with garlic butter. Chicken burger with mango sauce. It is worth noting that Coconut Beach organizes an excellent barbecue on Sundays with live music and very good rum cocktails.
Style
Free hotel transfer is always a nice touch. Bonus points if the car has leg room and air conditioning. Silversands welcomes its guests with a Tesla. As the car opens its doors like a bird of prey in front of the hotel’s swanky reception, I can’t help but hear the Bond theme tune humming in the back of my mind. This is travel at its most glorious.
It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the design of Silversands. Every inch is a perfect blend of comfort and style. Blackout curtains, bathroom lights and even the muslin curtains that slide in four-posters around the king-size beds are controlled by stylish switches built into the wall. Wardrobes, drawers and a well-stocked minibar are set behind soothing sanded wood panels that automatically glow with a warm tungsten glow when opened.
The crown jewel of the facility is undoubtedly its magnificent pool. It’s the longest in the Caribbean, stretching an impressive hundred meters from the marble lobby to the ocean (take a few lengths and you’ll approach the strength of an Olympic athlete). Bordered by a palm tree-lined avenue, the view of the endless sparkling turquoise sea is punctuated only by the occasional luxury catamaran or superyacht.
“It’s always like this,” says Marlena (Silversands’ Director of Business Development) as we drift into a hypnotic trance while gazing out at the ocean during our hotel tour. I joke about jet lag and the long flight, but frankly I was stunned. I’ve never seen water like this. Consistently calm and clear, it reminds me of the kind of place I imagined as a child when someone said “think of heaven.” But it’s not in my imagination.
I am astonished. I’ve never seen water like this. Consistently calm and clear, it reminds me of the kind of place I imagined as a child when someone said “think of heaven.” But it’s not in my imagination.
Which room?
Silversands’ rooms exude understated luxury. They all follow the same stylish design, with neutral tones, king-size beds, and marble-tiled bathrooms with rain showers and bathtubs almost big enough to swim in. Ocean view rooms undoubtedly have the best views, but the garden has a certain appeal. Rooms on the same level with private paths leading directly to the beach.
Penthouse suites (all with ocean views) extend to include luxurious living space and elevated spa-style bathrooms. But if you really want to have fun or are traveling as a family or group, Silversands villas are The One. You can choose from nine villas with three or four bedrooms. Although the word bedroom is perhaps too modest. Each bedroom has its own private entrance, en-suite bathroom, outdoor living area, and those without ocean views make up for it with a heated plunge pool. “There really isn’t a bad room,” Marlena confirms.
Naturally, Silversands has thought of everything (and I mean everything) its guests might need. The kitchen is stocked with fresh fruit, indulgent snacks and all the essentials, as well as any special requests guests may have upon arrival. There are board games for the kids and the latest Sonos sound system (conveniently controlled from your mobile phone via the Silversands app). Everything from private chef meals to personalized yoga sessions can be arranged.
Food and drink
There are two main restaurants at Silversands, The Grenadian Grill and Asiatique. Open for lunch and dinner, Grenadian Grill serves a Mexican-inspired, Mediterranean-influenced menu. From the Grenadian Grill burger to the grilled fish of the day, there’s something for everyone here. The lobster tostada is particularly good and should be ordered at least once. Juicy fatty lobster tail laced with chili butter and chipotle mayonnaise arrives atop a corn tostadada with a delightfully gypsy avocado-lime salsa. If your sun lounger looks too delicious to leave, you can order the entire menu directly under the relaxing shade of your beach umbrella.
Asiatique’s dishes, as the name suggests, are inspired by Southeast Asian flavors. A twist on Thai classics using local ingredients. Think crispy fish with local callaloo leaves and kaffir lime, and Thai green curry with chicken, sweet potato and breadfruit. For the second year in a row, Asiatique is also home to fourth-generation sushi master Yukio Kimijima.
My husband and I were lucky enough to get a seat to experience the fourteen-course Omakase menu (there are only four at a time). Each plate seems to outshine the last, our cries of ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ culminating in a plate of toro (luxurious fatty tuna belly) with salmon roe. True, decibels may have something to do with the third round of Mai Tais (whoever makes the cocktail deserves a reward). But much more than fine dining, this is a feast for all the senses and a rare opportunity to experience and savor such skill.
You can also enjoy breakfast at Asiatique, which has the best seats on the large veranda overlooking the gardens and pool. Aside from the obvious temptations (freshly buttered croissants, pain raisins, and banana bread still warm from the oven), Silversands manages to make even the ‘sensible options’ seem inviting. After two days, I developed a healthy addiction to Cocoa Bali Jars. It was said to be made from the perfect combination of oats, bananas and almond butter. To me it tastes like banoffee pie. Even the spinach I dutifully add to my omelette every morning seems to be more morale-boosting than at home.
Spa
You can happily spend all day and night (open 24 hours) at Silversands spa. This is where the real magic happens, blending ancient healing traditions with modern science. There is a sauna, Turkish bath, ice cave and a shower with an ice bucket for those looking for excitement. For those who prefer a lighter cut, there is ample room for the flop. Beneath a rather striking hanging light installation is a warm relaxation pool surrounded by potted palms and plush daybeds.
Silversands’ treatment menu is extensive, and the spa has partnered with cult beauty brand 111SKIN, a skincare regimen originally designed for astronauts in an attempt to stop the accelerated aging process that occurs in space. I have a mental black book of glowing celebs who swear by the Celestial Black Diamond facial and book it immediately. Even though I only managed to hit the gym twice during my stay, my face has cheekbones I definitely didn’t have before and a glow that reminds me of the time I accidentally ordered four kilos of salmon at home and ate it every day. one week.
Hungry for more, I book the spa again, this time for a special Silversands massage. The 360-degree approach at Silversands means every inch of the body is taken into account. After the salty foot peeling, I step onto the silky cotton draped massage bed. I learned that the bed was made of rose quartz sand. Quartz is said to align the spine and can help manage everything from back pain to insomnia. It’s warming and feels so nice, and I go into a deep state of relaxation while my therapist does wonders on my shoulders.
After about an hour, I notice a dripping sensation on my forehead. It’s not unpleasant and I stay somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, enjoying the light herbal aroma of cinnamon and clove. The oil flow is intensified and completed with a deep head massage. I just experienced my first Shirodhara, an Ayurvedic healing treatment designed to detox the body and calm the central nervous system. I feel amazing as I slide onto my daybed, still giddy with zen, and enjoy my post-treatment cinnamon-ginger tea and chocolate chip cookies (raw and refined sugar-free, mind).
extracurricular
Known as the ‘spice island’ due to its rich cultivation of spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, Grenada is a honeypot for those who enjoy culinary adventure. As well as spice markets (you’ll find one just down the road from Grande Anse Beach and a larger one in St George Market Square), the island is home to four rum distilleries and even has its own chocolate factory. Tours can easily be arranged by the Silversands team, but having spent most of the last three days horizontally I ask the front desk ‘if it’s a good walk’. Twenty minutes later I receive a WhatsApp informing me of our pick-up time.
We reach the summit on time (thanks to the extra plate of fried bananas and crispy bacon for breakfast) and reach the highest peak around Grand Etang lake in less than forty minutes. The view from the top is magnificent. The lake is located in the crater of a now extinct volcano and is of otherworldly splendor. We pass many flora and fauna along the way. I see clove, cocoa and cinnamon trees for the first time. The photos don’t do it justice, but I definitely feel a sense of happiness that only comes with climbing a mountain (or at least a very steep hill).
Best for
High luxury with a side of adventure.
Double rooms are available from £710 on a B&B basis. silversandscollection.com