Grenada Holidays

If you’re after a couple of weeks of no-strings-attached chill time, the Caribbean island of Grenada’s a top pick. Smaller than the Isle of Wight, this place flaunts a beach-gilded edge and a backbone of jungle-carpeted mountains. Most of the tourist action takes place in the south-west, which is home to the popular resorts of Grand Anse and Port Salines. The latter boasts a string of pretty beaches and some top-end hotels. Saint George’s, the island’s capital, is perfect for a daytrip. Here, colourful houses perch above a deep natural harbour.

Grenada’s beaches are straight out of the top drawer – hidden coves, sandy bays and longer bright-white stretches are strung like beads around the whole island. Grand Anse’s beach is one of the best, coming in at a mile-and-a-half long. It’s also the most popular and is lined with rum bars and beach clubs. For something a little more deserted, try footprint-free Petit Bacolet Bay on the south coast.

Island adventures are easy to come by, thanks to the rainforests and mountains at Grenada’s heart. Grand Etang National Park – a 30-minute drive from Grand Anse – ticks off tumbling waterfalls and thick forests. It’s also home to Grand Etang Lake, a large crater of an extinct volcano that’s filled with water. Keep an eye out for mona monkeys – these fluffy-faced creatures were brought over on slave ships in the 1700s.