Grenadian by Rex Resorts
Irvin Bay Review
Location
This is the only hotel bordering the attractive golden sands of Magazine Beach, which lies in the far south west corner of the island. Transfers to the airport take just a few minutes (USD$10 [£9]) and the capital, St George’s, lies six miles north. The resort occupies a 30-acre site, almost half of which is occupied by green spaces and three lagoons that attract egrets and herons.

Style and Character
The hotel has an institutional style – this is one of eight Rex Resorts spread across five Caribbean islands. Guests on the all-inclusive rate are required to wear a wristband and meal times can feel a bit like a busy school canteen. The property is 25 years old and looks it in places, but the gardens are cheerful with flowering trees and abundant allamanda and bougainvillea flowers.
The hotel is often used by groups visiting for sports and cultural events, as well as international visitors seeking an affordable sunshine holiday. Guests arrive at a main building that includes reception, two restaurants and the large Tamarind Lounge where evening entertainment including good live music is offered. From here covered walkways lead to the accommodation blocks while a separate building by the beach has a rooftop pool, bar and restaurant.

Service and Facilities
Service is friendly and some staff have been with the resort many years. There is a gym, two tennis courts and a mile-long jogging track, plus changing daily activities such as beach volleyball, cricket and a nature walk. The pool is quite small given the number of guests but there is plenty of beach to enjoy along with watersports. Other facilities include an air-conditioned television lounge, a coin-operated laundry, and a small vendors’ market by the beach.
• Parking
• Restaurant
• Bar
• Laundry
• Wi-Fi
• Room service
• Pool
• Kids’ club
• Tennis court
• Fitness centre
• Golf course
• Beach

Rooms
Rooms come in five categories spread around three-storey blocks painted primrose yellow. All have a balcony or patio. The most affordable are described as Hillside, where beds have floral covers and a cane headboard and bathrooms only have a shower. The more attractive Seaview and Beachfront rooms have white tile floors and beds with a blue throw, and bathrooms have a combined tub and shower. Suites with a separate lounge area are also available.

Food and Drink
Apart from walking along Magazine Beach to the enjoyable Aquarium restaurant, if you want to dine further afield you’ll need transport. Many guests opt for the all-inclusive rate, which promises three meals a day plus afternoon tea, but the fare is mediocre and the house wines and spirits basic. A buffet breakfast is offered in the featureless Cinnamon Restaurant, including fresh fruit, papaya jam and cinnamon tea – expect to queue when the resort is full. Lunch and dinner are also served here.
For a change of scene, the air-conditioned, dinner-only east Asian restaurant has lobster-red walls and an à la carte menu offering vegetarian and noodle dishes. While my Thai green curry had a rich sauce the quality of the chicken was not the best. Lunch and dinner are also available at the poolside Spicer’s Bistro on some days.

Value for Money
Double rooms from USD$124 (£92) in low season; and from USD$185 (£140) in high. Breakfast USD$21 (£16). Double rooms on an all-inclusive basis from USD$239 (£187) in low season; and from USD$263 (£206) in high. Free Wi-Fi. This is a standard-issue fly-and-flop resort with a low price tag.

Access for guests with disabilities?
There are two Beachfront rooms with accessible facilities and the main building is suitable for wheelchairs. However, the management view is that the resort is “not ideally suited to those with restricted physical abilities”.

Family-Friendly?
Yes – all rooms can accommodate two adults and two children with interconnecting ones available. There is a children’s playground, a good beach and lots of space to run around in, plus the Rexplorers kids’ club for ages four to 14 is free if you are on the all-inclusive deal.