The all-inclusive versus self-catering question is really three questions: how much you eat and drink, how much you want to leave the property, and how many people are sharing. Grenada answers them differently from the big resort islands. It has a handful of all-inclusive resorts on the south-west coast, a large supply of apartments and villas, and a local food scene that rewards people who go out and look for it.
Neither option is automatically cheaper. An all-inclusive can be excellent value for a couple who drink cocktails and want to stay put; a self-catering villa can be far cheaper per head for a family or group who cook breakfast and eat local food out. This guide sets out what each option actually covers, where the hidden costs sit, and a simple way to compare them for your own trip. Prices are indicative and change by season and property, so use them as a framework, not a quote.
What all-inclusive covers in Grenada, and what it does not
An all-inclusive rate bundles your room with meals, snacks and usually drinks, including alcohol, plus some non-motorised water sports and on-site entertainment. In Grenada, these resorts are concentrated around Grand Anse, Morne Rouge and the south-west peninsula, close to the airport. The nightly price per person is high compared with a room-only rate, but it removes most daily spending decisions.
The fine print matters. Premium spirits, wine lists, à la carte restaurants, spa treatments, scuba diving and off-site excursions are often extra. Some packages include tips; others leave staff gratuities to you. Airport transfers may or may not be included. Before comparing, list what you would actually spend money on during a normal day, and check which of those items the package covers. The real value of an all-inclusive is the drinks: if you drink little alcohol, much of what you are paying for goes unused.
What self-catering really costs
Self-catering means an apartment, cottage or villa with a kitchen. Supply is wide, from simple studios in Grand Anse and Morne Rouge to large villas with pools in L'Anse aux Epines, Westerhall and along the south coast, plus guesthouses on Carriacou. Nightly rates vary enormously, but for two people a studio or one-bedroom apartment typically costs far less than an all-inclusive room for two.
Groceries are the line people underestimate. Grenada imports much of its packaged food, dairy, cereal, wine and meat, so a supermarket basket of familiar brands can cost noticeably more than at home. Local produce, fish, bread, rice, eggs and seasonal fruit are better value, and the Market Square in St George's and roadside stalls are good sources. A couple who cook breakfast and some dinners might spend roughly EC$400 to EC$800 a week on groceries, depending on how much is imported. Add a few meals out, some local lunches and drinks, and transport, because self-catering bases are often further from restaurants than resorts.
Drinks: the line that usually decides it
Food costs in Grenada are manageable either way; drinks are where the two options separate. In visitor bars and hotel restaurants, cocktails, imported wine and branded spirits are priced at international resort levels, while a local beer or a rum punch in a village rum shop costs a small fraction of that. A couple who would order four or five cocktails each a day at a resort bar could easily spend more on drinks than on food, and that is precisely the cost an all-inclusive package absorbs.
Self-caterers can close much of that gap by buying from supermarkets and rum shops. Local rum from Grenadian distilleries is inexpensive by the bottle, Carib and Stag beer are widely available, and fresh juices and coconut water are cheap at roadside stalls. Imported wine, on the other hand, is costly in shops as well as restaurants. If wine with dinner is a must, factor that in honestly: it is one of the few items that can make self-catering more expensive than expected. If you rarely drink, the comparison tilts strongly towards self-catering or a room-only hotel.
A side-by-side cost logic
Couple, light drinkers, out exploring most days. Self-catering usually wins. You will miss most of the meals and drinks you would pay for in a package, and you can spend that money on tours and local food.
Couple, heavy cocktail drinkers, staying on site. All-inclusive often wins or comes close. Resort bar prices for spirits and cocktails add up quickly, and a package removes that cost.
Family with young children. Depends on ages and appetite. Children's rates at all-inclusives can be good value, but a two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, a pool and a nearby beach often costs less per head and gives everyone more space.
Group of four to eight adults. A villa nearly always wins on cost per person, especially when shared transport and group cooking are added.
Short stay of three or four nights. Convenience can justify an all-inclusive, because a short trip leaves little time to learn where to shop and eat.
Divers or keen hikers. Self-catering or room-only usually suits better. Early starts and days away make resort meal plans hard to use.
How to run the numbers for your own trip
A rough calculation takes ten minutes and often settles the question:
- Take the all-inclusive total for your dates, including taxes and service charges, and divide it by the number of nights and people to get a per-person nightly cost.
- Take the self-catering accommodation total for the same dates and divide it the same way.
- Estimate your daily food and drink spend on the self-catering side: breakfast from groceries, lunch at local spots, dinner out on some nights and cooked on others, plus drinks.
- Add transport for the self-catering option if it is further from beaches and restaurants, such as taxis at night or a few days of car hire.
- Subtract from the all-inclusive side the value of meals you would miss on excursion days, and add anything the package excludes that you would use.
- Compare the two totals, then decide whether the difference is worth the freedom or the convenience.
Longer stays and Carriacou change the maths
The longer the trip, the stronger the case for self-catering. Over two weeks or more, the daily premium of an all-inclusive compounds, while a self-catering budget tends to fall as you learn where to shop, which cook shops you like and which bus goes where. Many owners of apartments and guesthouses also offer weekly or monthly rates that are not shown on booking platforms, so a direct enquiry is worth making for any stay longer than ten days.
On Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the choice largely disappears. Accommodation there is mainly small guesthouses, apartments and villas rather than large resorts, so self-catering or room-only is the norm. Groceries on the sister islands can be a little dearer because supplies arrive by boat, and selection is narrower, so some visitors bring staples over from the main island. After Hurricane Beryl in 2024, check the current status of any property and nearby shops before booking.
Pitfalls on both sides
All-inclusive isolation. It is easy to spend a week in Grenada and never eat a roti, visit a market or try Fish Friday in Gouyave. If local food matters to you, plan a few meals off site, even on a package.
Overestimating how much you will eat. Heat reduces appetite. Many visitors find they eat less than they expected, which weakens the value of full-board packages.
Ignoring access. Some villas are up steep roads where walking at night is impractical. Budget for taxis or a car, or choose a location within walking distance of shops.
Kitchen surprises. Check whether the apartment has a proper stove, a fridge with freezer space and basic equipment. A kitchenette with a microwave and kettle is not the same thing.
Water and power. In some areas, water pressure and occasional outages can affect villas. Ask whether the property has a water tank or backup supply, especially after storms.
Frequently asked questions
Are all-inclusive resorts in Grenada worth it?
They can be for couples or groups who drink cocktails, plan to stay on site and value convenience. For travellers who want to explore, eat local food and spend time away from the resort, self-catering or a room-only stay is often better value and more interesting.
How expensive are groceries in Grenada?
Imported items such as cheese, cereal, wine, snacks and many meats can be noticeably dearer than in North America or the UK. Local produce, fish, bread, eggs and staples are more reasonable. Shopping at markets and choosing local brands keeps a self-catering budget under control.
Where are the supermarkets for self-catering visitors?
There are supermarkets around Grand Anse, the Spiceland Mall area and St George's, with smaller grocery shops in towns and villages. Selection is widest near Grand Anse and in town, so stock up there if you are staying somewhere remote or heading to Carriacou.
Is a villa cheaper than a hotel in Grenada?
Per person, usually yes for groups of four or more, because one villa replaces several hotel rooms and a kitchen cuts meal costs. For a couple, a small apartment is often cheaper than a villa. Remember to add transport if the villa is away from beaches and restaurants.
Do all-inclusive packages include tips?
Some do and some do not, so check the package terms. Where tips are not included, small gratuities for bar staff, housekeeping and restaurant service are appreciated. Excursion guides and boat crews outside the resort are tipped separately.
Can we mix all-inclusive and self-catering?
Yes, and it works well. A few nights at an all-inclusive at the start or end of a trip gives a relaxing break, while a self-catering apartment for the rest lets you explore and eat locally at a lower daily cost.
