Booking a Grenada Hotel With a Baby: Cots, Fridges and Quiet Rooms

Travelling to Grenada with a baby is very manageable, and hotels on the island are generally welcoming to small children. What makes the difference is booking the right room and asking for the right things before you arrive. A cot that never materialises, a room above the bar, or no fridge for milk can turn the first nights into hard work after a long flight.

This guide focuses on the hotel side of a trip with a baby or young toddler: what to request when booking, how to choose a room that lets everyone sleep, and which details parents commonly overlook. It assumes you are staying in a resort, hotel or inn; many of the points apply equally to apartments and villas, where you will usually need to arrange more yourself.

Choosing a property with a baby in mind

Start with layout and location rather than facilities. A short, flat walk from the room to the restaurant and beach matters far more with a buggy than an infinity pool does. Some of Grenada's most attractive small hotels sit on steep hillsides above Grand Anse, Morne Rouge or the southern bays, with long flights of steps and paths that are awkward with a pushchair. Larger beach hotels on Grand Anse and resorts near Point Salines tend to have flatter grounds, lifts or ramps in places, and restaurants close to the rooms.

Think too about the journey. Maurice Bishop International Airport is at Point Salines, and most of the main hotel areas in the south-west are a short drive away, which is kind to a baby after a long flight. Staying in the north or east of the island means a longer, winding road trip on arrival. Finally, check whether the hotel has a doctor on call or knows a local paediatrician, and note that the main General Hospital is in St George's; for emergencies the number is 911.

What to request when you book

Most hotels can provide basic baby equipment, but stocks are limited and allocated first come, first served. Request these items in writing when you book and ask the hotel to confirm:

• A cot or crib, with clean bedding. Ask whether it is a full-size wooden cot or a travel cot, and whether there is a charge.
• A fridge in the room for milk, formula and baby food. Not every room has one; some hotels have only a minibar with little usable space.
• A kettle or access to boiling water for sterilising and making up formula.
• A high chair in the restaurant, and whether the kitchen can make simple plain food on request.
• A baby bath or a room with a bathtub, since many Caribbean rooms have showers only.
• Babysitting, if you want a quiet dinner: ask how far in advance to book and how sitters are chosen.
• Laundry service or a guest washing machine, which saves packing for every spill.

Picking a room that lets everyone sleep

Away from noise. Ask for a room away from the bar, the stage for evening entertainment and the main road. Weekend live music at beachfront hotels can continue later than a baby's bedtime.

Space to sit after bedtime. A balcony or terrace, or a suite with a separate living room, means parents are not sitting in the dark from 7pm. This is one of the best uses of a family budget.

Air conditioning and darkness. Check the air conditioning works on the first evening and adjust it before bedtime. Blackout curtains are not universal; some parents bring a portable blind or clips for curtains.

Ground floor or lift. Hauling a buggy, a car seat and luggage up three flights of steps is draining. Ask for the ground floor or a room near a lift.

Mosquito protection. Rooms with screened windows or nets help, especially in the rainy months from June to November. Use a repellent suitable for your baby's age after checking with your doctor, and cover arms and legs at dusk.

Infant policies and costs

Most hotels allow infants under two to stay free in the parents' room, with a cot provided, though some charge a small nightly fee for the cot or for the infant at all-inclusive resorts, where meals and drinks are part of the package. Occupancy rules still apply: a room with a maximum of three guests may or may not count the baby. Read the terms or ask, particularly if you are travelling with two children plus the baby.

Airlines treat infants differently too, and a child who turns two during the holiday may need a seat on the return flight. For the hotel, check the age at which the property starts charging a child rate; at some, a two-year-old pays as a child, which can change the price of a long stay noticeably. Rates and policies vary and change, so confirm on the property's own terms rather than relying on a booking site summary.

Food, nappies and supplies on the island

Supermarkets in the south of the island, around Grand Anse and the main shopping areas, stock nappies, wipes, baby food and common formula brands, but specific brands may not always be available and imported goods cost more than at home. Parents whose baby needs a particular formula should bring enough for the whole stay plus a few days' spare, in case of flight delays. Bottled water is widely sold; many visitors use it for formula as a precaution.

Resort kitchens are usually happy to prepare plain rice, mashed potato or steamed vegetables, and local fruit such as banana, papaya and mango is ideal for weaning babies. Fresh fish and chicken are easy to find plainly grilled. If your baby has allergies, explain them clearly to the restaurant team each time, as menus and staff change. A small bag of familiar snacks from home helps on the first days, while everyone adjusts to the heat and the time difference.

Getting from the airport to the room

Car seats. Taxi drivers and hotel transfer services do not always carry infant seats. If you want one, ask the hotel or transfer company in advance whether a suitable seat can be supplied, or bring your own; many airlines carry car seats free or at low cost.

Early check-in. Many flights from Europe arrive in the afternoon, but some from North America land earlier in the day. If your room will not be ready, ask whether the hotel can hold a room for an early arrival, which may carry a charge, or provide somewhere to change and rest.

The first evening. Ask the hotel whether the restaurant can serve an early supper on arrival night, and whether a cot will already be set up when you reach the room. Arriving to a ready cot and a cold fridge saves a lot of stress.

Buggy or carrier. Most airlines let you check a pushchair at the aircraft door. In hotel grounds with steps and sand, a carrier is often easier, so many parents bring both.

What parents often overlook

The first is the heat. Babies overheat more quickly than adults, and the Caribbean sun is strong all year. Choose rooms and pool areas with shade, keep babies out of direct sun in the middle of the day, and offer plenty of fluids. The second is a buggy with a sunshade that handles rough paths; lightweight umbrella strollers struggle on sand and broken pavements, and in some hotel grounds a baby carrier is more practical.

Parents also forget that hotel staff change shift. A cot requested by email may not reach housekeeping on the day you arrive, so confirm requests again a few days before travel and when you check in. Finally, keep expectations realistic for the first two nights: with jet lag, warmth and new surroundings, many babies take a little time to settle. Planning quiet days on the beach close to the hotel for the start of the trip gives everyone the best chance of a good week.

Frequently asked questions