A Guide To Self Catering On Grenada

Cabier & Two Bays Self Catering & living costs

If you have not self-catered before in the Caribbean it can be a big unknown and a worry about how much it costs to live in the Caribbean.

The following might help you assess how much it might cost. We mix self-catering with eating at The Terrace Restaurant at Cabier Ocean Lodge. There is a good choice of food available throughout the year at the international supermarkets around St George's although local produce will depend on the season.

The currency rates are converted roughly at USD $1.30 = £1 and ECD $3.50 = £1. (The East Caribbean Dollar ECD$ is fixed to the USD$ at ECD$2.67 - USD$1)

Self-Catering Information

Grenville, our biggest local town, is 20 minutes away by road (there is also a regular minibus service from Crochu village) and has several supermarkets (more local) and a vibrant fruit/veg/fish and meat market. If you are not hiring a vehicle then ask Cabier if there is anyone going to give you a lift there or to the coast road. There are plenty of minibuses or collective taxis to both Grenville and St George's. Crochu village corner shop sells a lot of basic products and food stuffs, there is a bakery and egg shop in Crochu village as well.

We self-cater breakfast and often lunch each day preparing a mixture of things from vegetables, bought from Grenville shops and market or roadside stalls, through to tuna salad, bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado salad, chicken and grilled vegetables. There is plenty to buy either frozen (imported) or local chicken / pork / goat / beef from supermarkets or in the market. Chicken is plentiful and is not expensive. Grenville has a fish market on the quay for freshly caught fish.

Local vegetables are whatever is in season and there are usually aubergine / peppers / lettuce / tomatoes / avocado / sweet potato / beetroot / spring onions / onions / herbs / ginger as well as well as breadfruit, plantains etc. - all available from the ladies with market stalls at around ECD $4/$5 (£1.40/USD$1.50) a pound (or a large handful) depending on the season. Fruit is plentiful: Mangoes, oranges, bananas, paw-paw, passion fruit, papaya, pineapples, limes are in season several times a year, often sold from roadside stalls and cost around ECD$5 (£1.40/USD$1.50) for a number of each.

Grenville has a fish market and fishermen from our local village have various fish to sell and buying direct from them is not expensive. Fish will have been caught that morning. Expect to pay ECD $12/$20 (£3.50 - £5.70 / USD$4.50 - $7.50) for a fish that would feed 4 to 6 persons.

Wine works out at around ECD $28 - $34 (£8 -£9.75 / USD$10.50 - $12.75) a bottle for decent Argentinian / Chilean wine depending on variety from the bottle store at Spice Land Mall. It and is the most reliable for the climate. Carib beer is cheap at around ECD $2 (58p / USD$0.75c) a bottle, as are soft drinks if bought in the shops.

Grenada has a significant population who are returnees from UK/USA/Canada and a big student population from USA - so in and around St Georges (45 minutes) there are well stocked shops and supermarkets with international as well as local goods to serve them and the yachting community. There will occasionally be shortages of certain imported items depending on when the last shipment came in (it is an island) but we have not come across anything that we couldn't find an alternative for in one shop or another.

Eating and Drinking at Cabier Ocean Lodge

The restaurant at Cabier can provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and can cater for most dietary requirements.

It is lovely to eat on the terrace at Cabier overlooking the ocean. If you are on a budget and would prefer to spend on other meals, you can breakfast inexpensively sitting enjoying the view from your own veranda. Breakfast is ECD$30 or $38 (£8.50 - £10.85 / USD$11.25 - $14.25) depending on Continental breakfast or eggs / omelette addition.

The Cabier 3 courses set dinner currently costs ECD$75 (£21.50/USD$28) per head including service and tax. There is a 2 courses option at ECD$65 (£18.50 /USD$24). Wine averages ECD $70 (£20/USD$26) a bottle and large cocktails average ECD$15 (£4.25/USD$5.60) each. Soft drinks and Carib beer are ECD$6 (£1.60/USD$2.25). You can get a Roti (filled chapatti with either chicken or fish curry) skewer of fish with salad for lunch at ECD$18 - $30 (£5 - £8.60/USD$6.75 - $11.25).

Eating elsewhere will depend on the style of restaurant you chose and where it is. Restaurants used by the locals (such as Andalls' restaurant above the supermarket in Grenville where you choose from a large selection of fresh cooked local dishes) will be a lot cheaper than those on the waterfront in St George's or in the more expensive hotels. The local food is delicious with all these ingredients available and being the spice island of the Caribbean.

We hope this helps to gauge the costs of Caribbean self-catering and eating out locally for your holiday budgeting. Self-catering is not a problem as buying the ingredients for a good meal is cheaper than a restaurant. If you should have any specific queries about self-catering at Two Bays and eating at Cabier Ocean Lodge then please do email us.