True Blue Bay Boutique Resort

True Blue Bay Boutique Resort is a bit larger than its name might suggest, with 48 rooms, suites and villas scattered over a nicely landscaped hillside. This bright and lively spot has a laid-back, casual ambience with lots of activities that make it great for families. The experience at True Blue is infused with quirky fun and local personality. There is a small, open-air lobby area with modern furniture and bright orange hues. The buildings around the property are also painted in vibrant colors, of orange, neon green, and of course – true blue.

A few of the unique, interesting extras the hotel offers include a mini-museum and a microbrewery. This property truly puts the micro into microbrewery – it’s a about the size of two phone booths put together, and makes small batches of fresh beer for the restaurant. The mini-museum features artifacts from the Arawak Indians, who were the original inhabitants of Grenada.

The resort is located on a bay with a marina, useful to those who may be arriving by boat. However guests looking for a long, romantic walk on the beach should probably choose a hotel in the Grand Anse area – the only sand to dip your toes in here is in a small, man-made area. This vibrant, eco-friendly resort provides a decent value for the upper-middle-range category, especially with breakfast included. 

The resort is situated on a hillside that fronts on a small body of water, appropriately called True Blue Bay, popular with boaters and sailors, as it contains a marina and available moorings. It's located on the south coast of the island, close to the airport, so some noise from air traffic may be heard. Despite lots of ocean views, there is no beachfront area at this resort –  there is a small man-made sandy area but no real beach.

It's the closest hotel to Grenada's St. Georges University, which is just about a 10-minute walk down the road, and university buildings are in view from some of the decks. True Blue is a about a 10-minute drive to the island's most popular beach, Grand Anse, and the resort provides a shuttle twice a day. It's about 25 minutes by car to the capital of St. George's, and less than 10 minutes to the airport.

True Blue offers clean and homey rooms that include iPod docks and flat-screen TVs. The decor is contemporary and colorful with modern fabrics and bold patterns. Most rooms have vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, four-poster canopy beds, and natural furnishings like decorative woven baskets. All rooms include kitchenettes with small stovetops, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, toasters, and some dishes and supplies. The bathrooms are nicely updated, with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, and many have jetted tubs.

Room categories include True Blue Standard Rooms, suites, and villas. The Tower Suites feature a spiral staircase that leads up to a perch with great views of the resort. The Honeymoon Suite is fully decked out in cute heart-themed decor, from heart-shaped lamps to heart-adorned towel racks – it’s the little details like this that make True Blue feel personal and special. The True Blue Two-Bedroom Villas, featuring a spacious, nicely decorated living/dining area, and even a sunroom with a small private plunge pool, are perfect for families. All categories have a deck or patio area with views of the bay.

True Blue provides a range of activities and amenities, making it well-suited for families and for those looking to stay active while on vacation. There are two medium-size pools, one with a small waterslide that kids will love. The other is a shallow wading pool located on the bay, surrounded by a small, man-made sandy area that is meant to replicate a beach – however, it’s not quite close to the real thing. The main drawback of this resort is that it’s not located on a natural beach, and despite being situated on a bay, there is no place to go swimming in the ocean. There is a free shuttle that takes guests back and forth to the island’s popular Grand Anse beach twice a day.

Despite the lack of beach, there are plenty of water-based activities to enjoy. A dive shop, water sports equipment such as Hobie Cats and kayaks, and a sailing club are on site. There is a small fitness center and a lovely, open yoga studio is perched above it with views looking out to the water. There are two great outdoor play areas for kids, which help make it one of the best family-friendly resorts around. For a taste of local flavor, try the free cooking classes, dance lessons (for a fee), or local crafts at the gift shop. There is also a small spa for massages or other treatments. The Dodgy Dock is the resort's casual bar, restaurant and lounge area that sits on a dock out over the water. Continental breakfast is included, and room service is available for an extra fee.