La Source Resort & Spa: A Luxurious All-Inclusive Caribbean Bargain

La Source in Grenada, the Caribbean, isn't just an all-inclusive resort and spa - it's where your body reintroduces itself to your mind. La Source is a journey of the senses where touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound are all stimulated gently, bringing each sense to its ultimate peak, then blending them synergistically together to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

When I pulled up in the hotel limo to La Source, I was struck by the lush foliage, the colonial feel to the buildings, and the friendliness of the staff as they greeted me with a tall cool drink. Remember, La Source is all-inclusive, and that includes drinks, superb dining, the spa, and all activities. In this economy, this is a very attractive feature.

Check in at the La Source Resort & Spa was a breeze, and I was shown to my room. The rooms have cool white marble floors, wooden shutters, and ceiling fans, giving the accommodations at La Source a genuine tropical feel. The four poster mahogany carved bed stands high up off the floor and is dreamy to sleep in. A white bedspread carries through the white theme in the rooms. The bathrooms are spacious, which I loved, and have white marble floors.

The gardens in the La Source spa area delight the senses with the colors of the flowers, the lush foliage, and the birdsong. Guests get one spa treatment per day with the La Source all-inclusive package. You can choose which ones you want from an extensive spa menu. I chose a seaweed wrap, a La Source signature massage, and a "silk and smooth body polish" exfoliating massage.

The seaweed wrap must have helped my skin I am sure, but it smelled like, well, seaweed. The massage, on another day, was delicious and thoroughly relaxing. If you prefer a masseur or masseuse, be sure to specify or you will get whoever is on duty.

The exfoliating body polish at the all-inclusive La Source spa was a delightful surprise. It stimulated my skin, invigorating me but at the same time relaxing me because of the massage techniques used to apply the minerals. Afterwards a nice cool shower finished off the spa treatment, and I was ready to take on the day with a smile. Other La Source spa treatments offered are a foot massage (heaven), a Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, head massage, and facial.

Food at La Source is outrageously good and well worthy of an all-inclusive spa destination. For lunch one day I had a dish with chicken cooked in coconut milk, nutmeg (fresh from the island), lime, and ginger. The La Source dish was so delicious that I went home and tried to recreate it, using fresh spices I brought home from "The Spice Island" of Grenada.

Breakfast was no less scrumptious and always accompanied by fresh fruit from the Caribbean. I loved the coffee and breakfasts at La Source; they were always the perfect start to a day. Afternoon or "high tea" at La Source was also a delight. Sitting down in an area where I could watch the ocean and the beach, I could feel the cool breeze and have tea and finger sandwiches that would hold me over until dinner. Most of the common buildings at La Source (except the spa) are open air, just like you might find in Hawaii.

The setting for dinner at the all-inclusive La Source Resort is in the Great House Restaurant with its warm ambience, excellent service, and elegant hardwood décor. The views are to die for and overlooked La Source's private Pink Gin beach while the sun changed the sky colors at sunset.

The dinner menu is à la carte and the food is first class cuisine. One night I had Lobster Thermidor, made with fresh lobster right from the Grenadian waters. The white wine, mushrooms, garlic, and cheese cream sauce was served with a saffron rice pilaf and thoroughly satisfied my desire to taste and enjoy great food. A scrumptious chocolate dessert finished off my dinner.

The all-inclusive La Source Resort has no less than four restaurants - the elegant Great House for dinner, the Garden Restaurant for breakfast and lunch, the Café Deli which serves all day, and Oscar's Beach Bar and Restaurant, which is located right on the beach.

Besides Oscar's, there are two other bars at La Source - the Piano Bar, a cozy upstairs bar with a London feel that is great for quiet conversation, and the Terrace Bar & Lounge, a completely open-air covered terrace with comfortable furniture. Oscar's Beach Bar is down by the pool and beach and is also where one night we listened and danced to a terrific steel drum band.

Activities at La Source are included in the price. Scuba dives or lessons might run you over $100 at another resort. At all-inclusive La Source, one dive a day is free, and I certainly took advantage of that. I also took a fencing lesson, something I have always wanted to try, and loved it.

La Source also offers yoga, meditation, weight training, bike touring, wind surfing, water skiing, kayaking, Hobie Cat and Sunfish sailing as part of the all-inclusive package - and this is just a partial list. My problem wasn't that I had nothing to do - it was figuring out how many things I could do in the days I stayed at La Source. I had to make some hard decisions, needless to say.

Although you needn't ever leave the all-inclusive La Source Resort for fun, one day I took a tour to a beautiful waterfall in Grenada's lush green mountains, and along the way the driver picked some fresh - and I mean fresh - nutmeg for me. Grenada is also known as the "spice island" and spices grow wild on the mountainous hillsides. Grenada is truly an island gem of the southern Caribbean.

As you might imagine, weddings are common at La Source, and the perfect place for a relaxing, pampered honeymoon that also offers all kinds of activities. Guests who stay seven nights receive a complimentary wedding. Couples who come to La Source for their honeymoon receive a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, fresh flowers, and a couple's massage.

Rates are quite reasonable for the all-inclusive La Source Resort and Spa and start at $275 a night. In other Caribbean hotels, you can easily pay that for the room alone. Also, they are currently running a special; book 5 nights and get 2 more free. For more information on La Source, go to the La Source website or contact them at 1-888-527-0044 or by email at lasourcevacations@hotmail.com.

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