Romancing the soul in Grenada

It's a balmy 27 degrees and I'm walking to the restaurant, the rhythmic sound of my footsteps accompanied by the evening's undulating chorus of the whistling frogs. With an audaciously casual gait, an iguana crosses my path just a few feet away, pauses to eyeball me, and then scurries into the bushes.

- BY DEAN MELLOR

This is 'the Spice Island' of Grenada in the Caribbean, some 4,300 miles away from my home city and, in many ways, a million miles away from my lifestyle in the UK. But such was the warm welcome afforded by the islanders, this beautiful destination was like home from home.

Smiles, laughs, friendly chat and politeness appeared to be hard-wired into every single Grenadian I met. You are just so comfortable in their company. And believe me, that was EVERY person I encountered. No exceptions.

We were hosted by the Grenada Tourism Authority and the all-inclusive Sandals Grenada Resort & Spa on a trip billed as 'Romancing The Soul in Grenada' which would prove to be a week of pure unadulterated luxury, wondrous sightseeing and relaxation.

The Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow went surprisingly quickly (it's amazing how time flies when watching the latest blockbuster films with a few G&Ts) and suddenly we were here, being greeted with a robust rendition of the Sandals welcome song from some of the staff as we alighted from our taxi.

So with a packed itinerary ahead, we were very happy to have our first couple of days simply relaxing at Sandals - and what a place to chill. Everything as you might guess is spectacular, with amazing vistas and landscaping, perfectly manicured lawns, and white, crystalline sand oozing through your toes on the hotel's Pink Gin beach - yes, it's just as pretty as it sounds. And of course, not forgetting the beautiful rooms, elegantly-decorated bars and restaurants, first-rate facilities and the ever-present staff eager to make your holiday the best experience possible.