LGC Experience

[Richard OShea]

ARRIVAL
We arrived on the 20th of September for 2 weeks. The Virgin flight out was on time and very pleasant because there were 100 empty seats on the flight. This was due to the Grenada leg of the flight being cancelled as Hurricane Ivan had just hit Grenada a week before. The transfer from the airport is by minibus (15minutes) with your luggage following later in a van. The hotel was a very welcome relief after the heat and stress of the airport.

HOTEL
Steve’s review for the hotel is very comprehensive and accurate. While we were there the hotel was full and the clientele ranged in age from 20 to 60. It was 90% couples with a few singles, family groups and groups of friends throw in for good measure. Due to the medium size of the hotel you quickly get on nodding terms with many of your fellow guests and we got to know about 8 other couples very well even attending one couples wedding. I had an advantage in breaking the ice by getting to meet people through the diving with Adventure Eco Divers based at the Hotel (see my report in the Sports forum). My wife thoroughly enjoyed the spa treatments and only missed 1 of her 12. The Spa staff even rescheduled one treatment to the day of our departure to facilitate her.

HOTEL STAFF
The staff were most helpful at all times with my many queries. The only problem I found is they will not issue 2 room keys, which was a bit awkward, as I never knew exactly when I would return from scuba diving. This meant I had to search the hotel to find my wife to get access to my room.
One other point was on checking in they asked what date our wedding anniversary was as we had requested a bottle of champagne. We told them the 22nd but the big night came and went with no champagne. I took this up with one of the manageress a few days later and she was horrified and promised to rectify their mistake. True to her word the next evening a bottle of champagne and basket of fruit arrived to our room at the perfect moment.

FOOD
It was great, especially the seafood night (Saturday) in the Bistro. I had been looking at so many lobsters during my scuba diving that it was great to actually get to eat one. The lamb (New Zealand) and the steaks were also excellent. The wine was fine as well and I even managed to get an after dinner "Hennessy" no problem.
My only moan was that the breakfast became a bit repetitive but only after 2 weeks.

TOURS
We did our own by hiring a jeep at the hotel for 2 days (70$US a day + petrol) with another couple. We really enjoyed getting lost and finding our way around.
DAY 1: We did the argyle waterfall; lunch at Jemma’s in Speyside (Lobsters 200$TT a head not to be missed), Charlottesville and returned down the Caribbean side visiting Englishman’s Bay for a snorkel.
DAY 2: We visited Pigeon point and Scarborough and returned to ArnosVale hotel to snorkel and see the bird feeding at 4pm on the terrace with afternoon tea $60TT. You can buy a bird ID card for 7$TT at the Arnos Vale hotel.

All in all a really great holiday and worth every penny.