Mount Cinnamon

HA2a review.Mount Cinnamon. My wife Susan and I have just recently returned home after 11 wonderful nights at Mount Cinnamon Hotel, Grand Anse Beach, Grenada. We didn’t book a package holiday as we had a lot of Virgin Atlantic air miles to use up and we booked the flights before actually deciding where to stay, we may therefore have been able to find an inclusive package holiday cheaper but we have no real complaints about that aspect of our holiday. Once we had booked our flights we set about finding where to stay by searching through all the reviews on Trip Advisor and various other similar sites, we particularly wanted to be on or near Grand Anse Beach and although not cheap, Mount Cinnamon quickly began to stand head and shoulders above everywhere else especially in terms of customer satisfaction. We then booked our stay direct with the hotel which was quite effortless and at that time we requested that they arrange a taxi to collect us upon arrival at the airport. We arrived in Grenada airport at about 5pm local time and that was when our holiday really started with a bang. We stepped down from the plane and as we walked the few yards towards the airport terminal, we suddenly saw our names on a placard being held out to catch our attention. We were then whisked away and were processed through immigration and customs with absolutely zero fuss and the next thing we knew we were in the hotel’s own taxi along with our suitcases enroute to Mount Cinnamon where we were very warmly greeted by the staff on duty at the time. After a long flight from London Heathrow via Barbados, this really made us feel good. Our rooms, Hacienda Suite 2a, were so spacious and comfortable, the view we woke up to every day was fabulous and the super queen size bed was so, so comfortable. We are not fans of air conditioning but we have to say that the ac in our rooms was probably one of the best set of air conditioning units we have ever encountered and we have been to a massive variety of holiday destinations. The unit in our bedroom actually developed a fault about half way through our stay and we came in one afternoon to find it leaking condensation very badly. We contacted Reception and within just a few minutes, a team of maintenance staff and engineers arrived to sort out the problem. Within less than 45 minutes from the time we reported the problem, it was totally fixed and caused us no more trouble. 5 Big stars for that. I mention the ac particularly, because in a warm climate, air conditioning is very important, ours in HA2a was extremely good, whisper quiet, very easy to fine tune and it helped no doubt for us to sleep well and keep us mossie free, mosquitoes do not like air conditioning - fact! absolutely true and we did not see any in our rooms the whole time we were there!!! Our suite had a full size kitchen and a washing machine and drier, we didn’t make very full use of the kitchen but we did use the washer and drier quite a lot and this was a boon, we were able to travel much lighter than normal and yet stay comfortably fresh all the time. We had two full bathrooms which was also very convenient when getting ready to go out or just to manage our time. We absolutely loved our accommodation! Mount Cinnamon is situated at the quiet end of Grand Anse Beach and it is just a very short walk down to the sand and back. We are not young but the uphill walk back to the hotel with steps was no problem although some of the higher suites and villas would have demanded much more effort. That said, we were constantly being asked if we needed a lift by hotel staff. The beach area was really relaxing and having Savvy’s Cabana on the beach beside us was perfect when we needed a drink or snack. Another big benefit from this was that the toilets behind the Cabana were available and always kept nice and clean. Spending all day on the beach with these facilities at hand was another big plus. We decided well before we travelled that we would want to eat outside of the hotel a fair amount to experience a little more of the real Grenada, we did just that. Although the hotel dinner menu was fine, we did enjoy trying different places and there are plenty to choose from, our favourite, not because it was the cheapest, was ‘Umbrellas Beach Bar and Restaurant’. Umbrellas was always buzzing with atmosphere and was just an easy lovely stroll along the beach kicking our path through the sand and surf and the same in the moonlight on the way back. We read many reports about slow and poor service at Umbrellas before we left home but we always went in with a smile and it was always reciprocated with good service and basic but very good food. We also went to many other restaurants (including 61 West - great and with music, Dexters, Coconut Restaurant, Laluna and Brisa Mar),and were transported by Valan from “Paradise Explorations”, he was introduced to us by the hotel and was always on hand when we needed him. Valan became a good friend and also took us on an interesting day tour of the island visiting many of the stand out places. Thank you Valan. We started every day with a hearty breakfast at Mount Cinnamon and one very pertinent comment is that as it is open, there are always birds flying around looking for what they can steal and eat. I was once extremely ill for 3 months through bird contaminated food in Mauritius so we were very pleased to see that the staff were vigilant in keeping everything safe and covered up, another very big plus. The breakfast menu was good but I have to say that it seemed to be directed more towards the American Tourist. We expected perhaps a little more variety in the way of fresh fruit and fruit juice, we had a glass of fruit juice every day but it always seemed thin and watered down and definitely not ‘freshly squeezed’. In addition to this, we noticed that the processed cheese and cold meat on offer was always pretty much the same and we didn’t use it. We did however, almost always enjoy the fruit, cereals and eggs which were cooked to our preference along with the usual cooked breakfast accompaniments and this did set us up well most mornings. One feature which was the one that caught our attention in the reviews prior to booking was the attitude of the hotel staff, almost without exception, everyone was lovely and always eager to please. This one fact along with everything else we have mentioned, helped to make this a fabulous holiday. Would we come back - Absolutely, in a heartbeat. Michael and Susan Thomas. North Devon, UK. Read less

This is our second trip to Mt Cinammon. In simple terms, we love it. The resort isn’t too big, but the gardens and grounds are generous and perfect for the children to explore and enjoy. We choose here because it isn’t pretentious in any way yet staff are friendly and tentative. Facilities include a spa with fabulous massage by Faith. There is a tennis court, shuffleboard, table tennis, croquet, volleyball… Whilst some things need updating (I know there are plans to do so), it’s a lovely place for families to enjoy. Its location is great to explore Grenada too plus some great bars/restaurants plus supermarket within walking distance. The bonfire night now at the Cabana is a particular favourite. A big mention is Krishna’s cocktails. He listened to likes and dislikes and tweaked the recipes with great success. Now to convince the husband to return once more… Read less

Repeaters! When I read reviews to choose my vacation spot - I pay particular attention to those who return to a spot and look at what it is about a place that keeps them coming back. It’s the repeaters who have found the essence of a place that calls to them to figure out how to get back. We have been to Mt Cinnamon at least 8 times and stayed in both the villas and the Cinnamon Suites. Here is what “calls” us back. We LOVE the staff - the Grenadians are warm, kind, and gentle. There seems to be a quiet yet warm spirit residing in them. It is not a place of “pretentious” care, but a genuine pride of their island, and a concern for our enjoyment of there beautiful piece of paradise. MC sits on a beautiful long white sand beach which makes for not only great long walks, but also a perfect place to swim and play in the sea. There is also an artificial reef right in front of MC that is a great place to watch the beginnings of coral growth and fish life. The dive shop (we are divers) is right next door - read more about Dive Grenada on Trip Advisor if you dive - as you will be hard pressed to find a friendlier or safer dive shop with most dive sites within a 10 min boat ride. The beach cabana serves lunch, and drinks, and several beach side dinners a week - some with beach bonfires - a night we never miss. Suites are beautiful - bright, clean, fantastic views and just the right size - all w balconies. Villas have a full size kitchen - and yes, once we did make pumpkin pie when we were there over Thanksgiving! Savvy’s restaurant is above the beach, also with a beautiful view of the gardens leading to the sea and serves very nice Grenadian food utilizing the spices the island is known for. Guides are easily arranged to sightseeing and there is a LOT of places to visit. But for us, even if we do a tour, we can not wait to get back to the quiet and beauty of MC itself. We always arrive back with a feeling of aaaaahhhhhhhhh. Currently planning our next trip…. Read less

Very friendly hotel, with a relaxed feel. Our room, one of the Hacienda Suites, was fantastically large, clean and fresh - with whitewashed walls and a four poster bed in the separate bedroom. There was a sofa-bed in the living-room, separated from the fully-equipped kitchen area by a breakfast bar. There was also a washing machine (very handy), two shower rooms (also handy!) and patio doors to a balcony - all spacious. Breakfast was very nice and relaxed, birds even came to join in and views over the trees and down to the sea were superb, we had half-board and the dinners were exceptional too. At the weekends they have dinner served down at the hotel beach cabana - which is a great atmosphere (music and a fire on the beach). There was a limited menu at the cabana, especially for my wife (who is vegetarian), but my son (age 9) liked the chicken and chips (which was fortunate as there wasn't much other choice for children at the cabana), whilst there is plenty of fish (catch of the day). Back up at the main hotel, there is a larger menu during the week, although still only one vegetarian main course option. Kids options include pizza and pasta, to go with the chicken/chips, meat options were good too. The hotel bar was quiet most nights, and once the relaxed dinners are over the hotel goes very quite - there is not much else to do, especially as the hotel is in a quiet area, so was good to have a nice room to return too. The hotel is slightly up the hill, but the walk down is lovely, past the lizards on rocks, and the beach is great, quiet and we never experienced any issues getting sunbeds with an uninterrupted view to the sea. You can walk to a local supermarket (handy for additional basic provisions), and the hotel were able to assist with getting money (there was a big queue at the nearest ATM). The hotel pool was fairly quite most days, so sometimes we were the only ones in there (which was nice), but with the fantastic beach nearby it was understandable as the sea was great. The hotel is not in a modern style, with lots of marble, etc., but that is also part of its charm - in keeping with the island style. We had a great, relaxing beach holiday and would recommend this hotel for that. If you want night-clubs, busy bars, bustling promenades, then you probably wouldn't be in Grenada anyway... Read less