The next stop on our hotel-hopping tour is Spice Island Beach Resort, or as I affectionately call it, SIBR. This was our chill and relax place for Oct. 11 – 15, 2011.
This was my third stay at Spice Island and the reception we received at check-in was top notch, as always. From the warm “Welcome Back!” greeting from the ever-friendly Wendy at the front desk… to the cold towels to cool ourselves with… to their signature drink of Spice Island Classic, a fabulous cocktail made with sorrel and sparkling wine. Aaaaah. C’est magnifique!
This is the life!
Our room was not quite ready since we arrived fairly early in the afternoon, but it was only a short wait of about 20 minutes before we were whisked away to Seagrape Suite #41, our to-die-for pad for the next four days.
Waiting in our room was a welcome packet, along with a plate of tropical fruits. I suspect this was the reason why our room wasn’t quite ready… they had to prepare and deliver the fruit plate, as well as turn on the a/c in the room to get it cooled before we arrived. It is these little touches that set SIBR above the rest.
Tropical fruits welcome
As I sat on the bed while unpacking, my eyes started to get misty and a lump formed in my throat. I wanted to cry. No, not because I was missing our cats back home…
I turned to Hook and commented, “I am going to cry as I think about having to leave this place in 4 days!”
To which he replied, “Are you nuts? You just got here and you’re already thinking four days from now?!” LOL.
Alas, we were already booked for another hotel which we have been wanting to check out for a long time, so extending our stay was not an option.
Our Seagrape Suite was located beachside, just a few steps to the sands of Grand Anse beach. Perfect location in our book! The less steps to the sand, the better…
Seagrape Suite 41 Views
The suite is spacious, has all the modern amenities one could ask for, and an understated yet elegant decor.
Seagrape Suite sitting area
Seagrape Suite
I was glad to see that the room now had its own wireless router, so wifi connectivity was strong inside as well as in the patio area. Of course being the geek that I am, I travel with my own Apple airport express and ethernet cable and created my own secure wifi network for our multitude of gadgets. 😉
The bathroom is breathtaking, with double sinks, a separate shower, and a whirlpool tub with a skylight above it to admire the stars at night, or the blue skies during the day. The hotel provides lovely Molton Brown bath products.
Can it possibly get any better? YES it can!
The bed… ohhhhh the bed… How I LOVE the bed at SIBR. It is, by far, the MOST COMFORTABLE BED EVER!! …with a plush pillowtop mattress that immediately lulls me to sleep. That’s no small feat, considering I often toss and turn all night as I have a hard time sleeping in unfamiliar places. Nope, not here. As soon as my head hits the pillows, I am zonked out! And I feel fully rested and refreshed the next day.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the bed!!
When we are at SIBR, “beach lounger gravity” tends to hit us and we spend most of our days enjoying the sun, the sand, and being mesmerized by the fantastic views of the ocean while sipping cocktails. Most days we ordered room service for breakfast which we enjoyed from our patio. A perfect way to start the day.
Enjoying breakfast - no need to get all dressed up
Hard to beat this view for breakfast!
On our previous stays at Spice Island, we were impressed at how pro-actively friendly the staff were, with everyone greeting us by name when we saw them. On this trip, there was something a bit off and not quite up to par as our previous experiences. Not to say the service was bad, as certainly the service was still the high standard that it should be. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just felt “off”… like there was too much of an air of formality to be kept up…
That in no way detracted from us thoroughly enjoying our stay at SIBR. And I would be remiss if I did not name a handful of staff members who were exceptional and whose friendliness made us feel like special guests.
Exceptional staff like Fabian, the Food & Bev Manager, who has the sunniest disposition and is always “Most excellent!” when we ask how he is doing.
Cristell, the young lady at the restaurant and bar, who is genuinely warm and friendly. I first met her when I traveled by myself a few years ago and she made me feel at ease when I dined by myself.
Wendy and Cheramie, who always had a warm greeting when we passed by the front desk.
Would we stay at Spice Island again? You bet! We love the luxe amenities that the resort offers, and the staff who make it special. Oh, and the super-heavenly bed, but of course!
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Misc. photos
Grand Anse Beach
Elegant lobby at night
Casual dining area & bar at night
Elegant entrance at night
Stay tuned for Hotels Part 3 … another well-regarded hotel on the island
Island Moosie ... Snorkeling, Eating, and Drinking her way through the islands 