Generic weekly budgets are useful for a rough idea, but most people plan a trip day by day. This breakdown costs a realistic five-day stay for two adults, sharing a room, based near Grand Anse, with one rainforest and north-coast day, one boat day, one town day and two days that are mostly beach. Each day is costed at two levels: a careful budget version and a comfortable mid-range version.
The figures are ranges for planning, not quotes. They exclude international flights and travel insurance, assume travel outside the Christmas and Carnival peaks, and will move with season, fuel and supplier. Prices quoted in US dollars reflect what hotels and tour operators typically use; local spending is in EC dollars at the fixed rate of EC$2.70 to US$1. Confirm everything when you book, and expect peak-season rates to sit at or above the top of each range.
Accommodation: the number that sets the total
Before looking at the days, fix the room cost, because it is usually the largest single line. A clean, simple apartment or guesthouse room a short walk from Grand Anse or Morne Rouge has typically cost in the region of US$70 to US$130 a night outside peak season. A comfortable mid-range hotel or self-catering apartment close to the beach, with a pool and air conditioning, commonly falls between US$160 and US$280 a night.
Add the taxes and charges before comparing. Accommodation is subject to VAT, and many properties add a service charge, so a quoted rate can rise noticeably at checkout if the listing shows it as excluding those items. Over five nights for two people, that puts accommodation at roughly US$400 to US$700 at budget level and US$900 to US$1,500 at mid-range level. Everything that follows sits on top of this figure, and it is the line where a different choice of area or season makes the biggest difference.
Day 1: arrival and Grand Anse
Airport transfer. Maurice Bishop International Airport is close to the south-west coast, and a taxi to the Grand Anse area has typically cost in the range of US$15 to US$25 for the car, more at night or with extra luggage. A pre-arranged hotel transfer may cost more.
Groceries. A first supermarket stop for breakfast supplies, water, fruit and snacks: roughly EC$100 to EC$200 for two, depending on how much is imported.
Dinner. A local dinner of grilled fish or chicken with sides near Grand Anse: around EC$60 to EC$100 for two at budget level. A mid-range restaurant with a drink each: roughly EC$180 to EC$300 including VAT and service.
Day total for two, excluding room. Budget about US$70 to US$110; mid-range about US$110 to US$180.
Day 2: rainforest, waterfalls and the north
Transport. This is the day to pay for wheels. A driver-guided island tour covering Grand Etang, a waterfall, Gouyave, a spice or cocoa estate and the north coast has commonly been priced per vehicle rather than per person, in the region of US$150 to US$250 for a full day. Hiring a small car instead costs roughly US$50 to US$80 a day plus fuel, and requires a temporary local driving permit.
Entrance fees. Grand Etang, Annandale Falls and estate or distillery visits each charge modest fees: allow EC$30 to EC$100 for two across the day, depending on how many stops you pay for.
Lunch and dinner. Lunch at an estate restaurant or a roadside spot, then a simple dinner. On a Friday, finish at Fish Friday in Gouyave, where a full meal for two can come in well under EC$100.
Tips. Drivers who act as guides usually receive a tip for a good day; allow 10 to 15 per cent of the tour price.
Day total for two, excluding room. Budget about US$110 to US$170 with a hired car; mid-range about US$230 to US$350 with a private driver.
Day 3: a day on the water
Snorkel trip. A half-day snorkel trip to the Underwater Sculpture Park at Molinière and nearby reefs has typically cost around US$40 to US$80 per person, including a marine park fee or with it payable separately.
Catamaran alternative. A full-day catamaran sail along the west coast with lunch and drinks generally runs from about US$100 to US$150 per person or more.
Other meals. A packed breakfast, a light lunch if not included, and dinner.
Choosing between them. The snorkel trip covers the sculptures and is usually back by early afternoon, leaving time for the beach. The catamaran is a whole day of sailing, swimming stops and lunch, and suits people who want the boat to be the event. Both depend on sea conditions, and operators may switch sites or reschedule on rough days.
Small extras. Reef-safe sunscreen, a rash vest if you burn easily and a tip for the crew are worth allowing for. Bring your own mask if you have one that fits well.
Day total for two, excluding room. Budget about US$110 to US$190 with the snorkel trip; mid-range about US$280 to US$400 with the catamaran.
Days 4 and 5: St George's, beach time and departure
Day four works well as a town day. A route bus from Grand Anse into St George's costs a few EC dollars each way. Walking the Carenage, the Sendall Tunnel, Fort George and the Market Square costs nothing; the Grenada National Museum, if open, has a small entrance fee. Lunch at a cook shop near the market and an afternoon back on the beach keep the budget version to roughly US$50 to US$80 for two. A mid-range version with taxis, lunch at a harbour restaurant and a sunset drink lands around US$120 to US$200.
Day five depends on flight times. With an afternoon flight you have the morning for a final swim and lunch, plus the airport taxi. Allow roughly US$40 to US$70 for two at budget level and US$80 to US$140 at mid-range level. Leave a little EC cash for snacks, but there is no need to hold on to much: departure taxes are generally included in airline tickets, and leftover EC dollars are hard to exchange outside the Eastern Caribbean.
Adding it up, and where the totals move
Putting the days together with the accommodation range gives a rough total for two people over five nights. The budget version, with a simple apartment, mostly local food, buses, one hired car day and a shared snorkel trip, comes to approximately US$800 to US$1,300 for the couple. The mid-range version, with a comfortable hotel, restaurant dinners, a private driver tour and a catamaran day, comes to roughly US$1,700 to US$2,700.
Three choices swing the total most. The first is the room: moving from beachfront to a short walk inland, or from peak to shoulder season, can shift the total by several hundred US dollars. The second is the boat: a catamaran day costs two or three times a snorkel trip. The third is evening dining: two mid-range dinners a day for five days add more than any single tour. Diving, a Carriacou side trip or a private sunset charter would each need their own line. Card fees, tips and the odd taxi tend to add another five to ten per cent that rarely appears in anyone's plan, so build in that cushion from the start.
Trimming the mid-range version without losing much
If the mid-range total looks high, a few swaps lower it while keeping the character of the trip:
- Replace one restaurant dinner a day with a local meal. A good roti or a grilled fish plate costs a fraction of a three-course dinner, and two or three swaps over five days save more than any other change.
- Book the island tour with a driver directly rather than through a hotel desk, and ask whether the price is for the vehicle. Sharing the car with another couple halves the cost per person.
- Choose the snorkel trip over the catamaran unless the sailing itself matters to you; the sculptures are the same either way.
- Use the route bus for the town day and keep taxis for evenings, when buses thin out.
- Cook breakfast every day. A loaf of local bread, eggs, fruit and coffee from the supermarket costs very little compared with hotel breakfasts.
- Travel in late April to June rather than February. The same room can cost considerably less, and the rest of the plan stays identical.
- Pay in EC dollars from an ATM withdrawal rather than in US cash, so change comes back at the full rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much spending money do two people need for five days in Grenada?
Excluding accommodation and flights, a couple can manage on roughly US$350 to US$600 at budget level, or US$800 to US$1,300 at mid-range level, depending on tours and dining. Peak season, diving or a Carriacou trip push this higher. These are planning ranges only.
Is five days enough for Grenada?
Five days covers the essentials of the main island: Grand Anse, St George's, a rainforest and north-coast day and a boat trip, with some beach time. It does not leave room for Carriacou and Petite Martinique, which deserve at least two extra nights if you want to include them.
Are tours priced per person or per car in Grenada?
Private island tours by taxi or tour driver are usually priced per vehicle, which makes them good value for two to four people. Boat trips, snorkel excursions and group tours are usually priced per person. Always confirm which applies and whether entrance fees and lunch are included.
Is it cheaper to hire a car or take a tour for one day?
For two people, a hire car is often cheaper on paper, but add fuel, the temporary driving permit and the time spent navigating steep roads. A driver-guide costs more but brings commentary and local knowledge. Many couples find the tour worth it for the interior day.
Do hotel prices in Grenada include tax?
Not always. Some listings show rates before VAT and service charge, which can add a meaningful amount at checkout. Check whether the quoted price is inclusive, and compare final totals between properties rather than headline nightly rates.
Should we budget for tipping?
Yes. Restaurants that add a service charge do not usually expect much more, but tour drivers, guides and boat crews are commonly tipped for good service. Setting aside about 10 per cent of tour and boat costs covers most situations comfortably.
