The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands - quite possibly the last of the “unspoilt Caribbean”. These islands are in a unique and special position, in that they have the opportunity to look at what the rest of the region, and in fact all the islands of the world have done - right and wrong - and do it better. Aim for quality, not necessarily quantity; classy visitors not backpackers; long term investments, not seasonal woes.The stunningly beautiful waters that surround these islands make it a perfect place to invest your fortune, plan for your retirement or spend your annual vacation. You just could never get bored of watching the waves gently lap against these powder, white shores. Among the many amenities offered by most of the hotels and resorts is access to water sports, either directly or via professional charters. So on any given day you could be out sailing, fishing, diving, snorkelling, or just enjoying a glass of wine on a catamaran, watching the Caribbean sun set.
For those of you who may have visited these shores ten years ago, you will notice significant growth and development on the island of Providenciales. “Where to stay?” is now actually a valid question; with lots of options to fit every whim and fancy.
One of the easiest options may be the all inclusive route; these can certainly simplify your vacation: you pay for everything up front, including taxes and tips and all you have to do is turn up, check-in and enjoy. Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa offers the ultimate experience in family all inclusive comfort. They have won the award for World’s Best Family All Inclusive Resort for 8 years in a row, so they must be doing something very right.
Laid out over acres of lush tropical garden landscaping, Beaches has 462 rooms and suites. Every day at Beaches can be totally new and different for you and your entire family: with 10 speciality restaurants (including one just for the kids), 12 bars, 5 pools - four of them with swim-up bars, a variety of nightly entertainment and all the water sports you can find time for; this resort caters to your every need. The award wining French Village features a massive 1000 square foot swimming pool right at the very centre of the village. A real family resort, the kids have their own space on Pirates Island, with XBOX games in the SEGA centre, water slides, basketball court, their own restaurant with their favourite foods. For your young teens, the restaurant turns into a disco at night, while US Certified Nannies are available to take good care of your babies and toddlers. You can find some quiet time at one of the adult bars or just take some time off to get pampered at the Caribbean inspired, European Spa.
www.beaches.com
Want to leave the kids at home and have a vacation that is just about you and your special someone? Well, there are many choices for you too. On the far end of Grace Bay, offering the highest standard of service; consistently voted onto Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List from 1997 to 2006, Grace Bay Club is your exclusive hideaway from the world. This resort has won numerous other awards over the years, including World’s Best Awards in 2004 and 2005 and Best of the Caribbean Award in 2004.
A Spanish-Mediterranean architectural style, this boutique resort has 21 luxury suites all featuring spacious balconies, full sized kitchens and elegant rattan furniture. Grace Bay Club caters fully to an adult clientele (13 years and over); offering such amenities as an intimate spa, The Lounge overlooking the waves splashing onto Grace Bay, the romantic Anacaona restaurant and the Captain’s Bar - a fully stocked bar, with every liquid delight you could ever want for. With this resort firmly established, Grace Bay Club has very recently added the Villas at Grace Bay, which invites all the family to choose from 38 luxury condominiums, a new Anani Spa and an additional beachside pool. Still offering quality standards, but now giving you the option of bringing your family along for your Caribbean vacation. www.gracebayclub.com
When we talk about ultra exclusive, we must mention Le Vele. This resort describes itself as ‘simple luxury’ and believes in small, quiet exclusivity. Just twenty-two, all beachfront, ultra spacious suites surround a large, vanishing edge fresh water pool. Each beautifully furnished unit is fully equipped with state of the art kitchens, en-suite private safes, and flat screen TV’s. The property also offers a fitness centre and easy access to numerous restaurants and other services located nearby. www.levele.tc
Sitting almost perfectly centre on Grace Bay, The Palms Turks and Caicos is reminiscent of period elegance set amidst a 12-acre lushly landscaped ‘estate’. Five individual Caribbean coral stone-clad buildings, offer eight penthouse residences with private elevator access, 72, two and three-bedroom luxurious guest residences, as well as a number of additional deluxe guest rooms. The large serpentine infinity pool lies in the centre of the guest residences, with a hot tub island, Plunge - the swim-up pool bar - and a casual Italian restaurant all within your lazy stroll’s reach.
The ‘great house’ at the heart of the Palms is called The Mansion and it houses: the signature dining room - Parallel23 - a well appointed, 2000 square foot, second floor ballroom with 130 persons seating capacity; and Concierge Services. The entrance to the hotel is an eye catching lobby, with high ceilings and exotic, but classical artwork. A beautiful esplanade takes you from the lobby, skirting the formal gardens and featuring a selection of boutiques. Turn right at the lobby and you will meet the Palms’ 15,000 square foot spa. Spread over a gloriously defined acre site, are the stand alone treatment rooms surrounded by water; tent cabanas for island-inspired herbal therapies; private plunge pools; as well as a yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi studio. The Spa offers a full service salon and a fitness centre for the more dedicated guest. www.ThePalmstc.com
This same indulgent atmosphere, designed especially for the discerning traveller, is echoed in Point Grace. Perched right out on the farthest point of Grace Bay, Point Grace offers some of the most spectacular and unobstructed views on the island. Named after Grace Hutchings, who chose this point of land as the most deliriously beautiful spot along the sweeping graceful bay, at which to spend her honeymoon in 1892, the property was inspired by classic turn of the century British Colonial architecture; keeping its very essence close to the heart, with exotic West Indian flair of days gone by. Two grand ocean front buildings are home to one, two three and four bedroom luxury suites and penthouses. Several beautiful one-bedroom cottage suites are nestled for maximum privacy, around the property's beautifully landscaped grounds. Around the central pool and bar, most guests enjoy relaxing courtyard breakfast or lunch, but for dinner one must try Grace's Cottage. Classic Island flavours with a contemporary flair, set in a romantic garden around a picture perfect, Caribbean gingerbread house.
Point Grace has consistently made the Condé Nast Travellers Guide Gold List since 2003. After being a nominee in the World Travel Awards 2004 for The Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel, it won the award in 2005. It has also won the Blue Ribbon in Caribbean Travel & Life, for Best Small Luxury Hotel. Apart from its superior accommodations, this resort also offers an on-site, full service European style, Thalassotherapy Spa, which cleverly offers breath taking views of the Princes Alexandra Marine Park, even while you are having a treatment done; access to excellent snorkelling and diving, and all the assistance you will need to have the perfect Point Grace vacation. www.pointgrace.com
The Sands at Grace Bay is set in around a lush garden paradise, with a meandering pathway that leads you on to that powder white sand of Grace Bay. The spectacular central pool is cleverly designed with several private sitting areas to always offer some privacy to guests. A six-building property, 116 spacious suites offers a choice from studio, one, two or three bedroom accommodations. The deluxe suite has a private Jacuzzi and a 900 square foot, wrap-around deck. Complimentary services include water sports equipment, mountain bikes, flood-lit tennis courts and a full fitness centre. On site is one of the island’s favourite restaurants - Hemingway’s. www.thesandsresort.com
Away from the central core of Grace Bay, but still sharing in it’s powder, sits Ocean Club and Ocean Club West. Between the two properties there are just over 200 studio, one, two, three and four bedroom suites, all carefully furnished in contemporary Caribbean style. Visitors are encouraged to “Stay at one; be our guest at both” resorts. Each property has beautifully maintained gardens, with freshwater pools offering cosy nooks and crannies for privacy seeking guests. Casual beachside cabana bars are great for midday meals while Ocean Club West’s Seaside Café transforms into a very romantic spot for evening dining. The original property - Ocean Club - has on site shops which include an art gallery and small grocery store. The Gecko Grille is the resort’s main restaurant, with an Italian theme under the twinkling stars and pepper lights in the surrounding shrubs and trees. www.oceanclubresorts.com
The Alexandra Resort residences promote vacation ownership as well as condominium purchases, so you can own your little piece of paradise. All suites feature stunning ocean views, with comfortable balconies from which you can hear the water just calling out to you. When considering The Alexandra, your choices include The Chelsea, the islands only RCI affiliated timeshare property or The Pavilions - a more upscale version, with more spacious rooms. Which ever one you select, your suite comes fully furnished with well equipped kitchens, daily maid service, comfortable bathrooms and friendly staff on hand to assist with making your holiday one you will always treasure. The Orchid Bar and Restaurant offers great casual dining with a clear view of the sea, while sitting alongside Alexandra’s glorious oversized, freeform pool. The swim-up bar is the perfect place to end your evening of sunbathing. www.ownalexandra.com
Putting a novel twist on the traditional British Colonial design by enhancing it with Central American and Caribbean fixtures and artwork, the Royal West Indies Resort has much to offer. Each and every suite has either a spectacular sea view or looks onto the resort’s breathtaking island foliage landscaping. The elongated freshwater pool, flows like a gentle river though the garden, with bridge crossings leading to the Mango Reef restaurant, a perfect place for a quick breakfast, a casual lunch or a romantic lazy, evening meal. Royal West Indies suites range from classic studio, to one or the overly spacious two-bedroom, with simplicity and style in every room. Suites also feature wrap-around terraces or private balconies. The perfect place for your family vacation, with comfort combined with elegance and Caribbean savvy. www.royalwestindies.com
“Classical French and Italian Grand Villa inspired architecture, elegant and luxuriously appointed suites and friendly yet unobtrusive service”, this is Villa Renaissance. Twenty-eight luxurious one, two and three bedroom beachfront villas and 8 charming, well appointed poolside cottages, Villa Renaissance offers relaxed elegance. From The Pavilion (the reception area), you enter the main courtyard, with a grand mosaic pool that leads you to the main villa building. This is a four storey building, where even the ground floor is elevated so that guest can see over the sand dunes onto the splendour of Grace Bay. Around the pool are the eight cottages, some of which also have wonderful ocean views.
In addition to its elegantly furnished suites with their many amenities, Villa Renaissance offers a lit tennis court, fitness centre and afternoon tea at the Pavilion Bar. www.villarenaissance.com
One of the newest luxury properties on the bay, The Somerset is ready for its soft opening in June, in time to take on the winter season for 2006. A stunning work of architecture, The Somerset on Grace Bay is 54 suites, divided into the Estate Colony, Stirling House and English Cottages all ranging from 1,353 to 5,327 square feet of luxurious spaciousness.
The four Estate Houses are divided into 16 residences, each suite occupying an entire floor. All feature expansive, wrap-around terraces with Jacuzzi, so you can soak while you drink your champagne and absorb the view. The suites are lavishly furnished - from the kitchen with Viking equipment, wine cooler, granite counter tops, built-in wood-panelled refrigerator and freezer, ice maker; to the bathrooms with separate shower and whirlpool tubs, double sinks and Waffle bathrobes for your comfort. Every room has a flat screen, plasma TV! No two suites at Somerset are exactly the same, as the designers met with the owners to capture a bit of their personality into the décor. The colours may be different, but the amenities are all the same quality and the luxury is consistent.
The Stirling House is divided into 24, one, two and three-bedroom suites, while the English Cottages are ten two-story town homes overlooking the island’s only Croquet Lawn. At the centre of the Somerset’s landscape is an inviting cross-current lap pool, which flows into an infinity edge pool which gives the illusion of flowing right into Grace Bay. While you swim over to the bar to refresh yourself, underwater stereo music escorts you along. From the moment you land in Providenciales, the Somerset Jitney will embrace you in comfort, meeting you at the airport with its on-board bar, chilled, lemon infused towels and cool ride to your suite. You will know that you have arrived in paradise. www.thesomerset.com
A bit smaller than many of the other condominium properties on the islands, Turks and Caicos Club highlights its size as an added attraction. Just 21, one and two-bedroom, ocean front and ocean view suites, set slightly apart from the other resorts, Turks and Caicos Club offers you a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the world at large. Each suite has a fully equipped gourmet kitchen with stainless steel Kitchen Aid appliances as well as washer and dryer, central air, direct-dial telephones, internet access and cable television. The suites are all well appointed with all maple cabinetry, custom-made rattan furniture, oversized secluded porches and balconies, spacious bathrooms equipped with bathrobes, hairdryers and magnifying mirrors and all the luxurious bath amenities anyone could ask for on vacation. The resort also has an on-site restaurant - Simba - open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Pool Bar offers light refreshments and dining fare, all through the day. www.turksandcaicosclub.com
Tucked well away from the rest of the island, Northwest Point Resort is your perfect option to really get away from it all. Placed right on picture perfect Northwest Beach, over looking a national marine park, this resort offers beachfront condos that are all well appointed and fully equipped. There is a large pool, a cosy Jacuzzi, a gas barbecue area, 24 hour fitness centre, complimentary kayaks and snorkelling equipment; satellite TV, DVD, wireless internet access and the list just keeps on going. One, two or three-bedroom condos which can either be ocean front, ocean view or garden/pool view, the resort opens onto its own 1700 feet of white sand beach.
“Total Tranquillity” best describes Northwest Point Resort. Walk for miles along white sandy and virtually private beach feeling the ocean breeze off clear turquoise waters. Dine on local specialties at the Sunset Grille and have the confidence that one of the resident managers will always be on hand for that personal touch. www.northwestpoint.com
Nestled in 2.6 acres of hillside beauty, overlooking the Turtle Cove Marina, The Queen Angel Luxury Condominium and Resort is a brand new resort offering a luxurious option away from Grace Bay. Just a hop and skip from gorgeous white sand beaches and a protected Marine Park with the world famous Smith’s Reef, Queen Angel Resort has lots of amenities close at hand. Apart from its on-site restaurant, you have numerous restaurants and bars you can walk to from your comfortable condominium suite.
Queen Angel has 56 condo suites for you to choose from, ranging from studios, to one and two-bedroom units. You may still have the opportunity to purchase your very own unit in this resort, but hurry, with its two-level, waterfall connected swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, underground parking and breath taking views, they are going fast. Suites are all spacious and furnished with all the comforts of fine Caribbean living. www.queenangelresort.com
I promised you that Providenciales has something for everyone, so I will not forget to tell you about the smaller hotels on the island. These tend to be less expensive, very intimate options, with warm friendly staff, who remember your name and your drink. Sibonné Beach Hotel is one of the original hotels on the Grace Bay strip, so it was able to pick a great location. Surrounding by a cosy garden of tropical plants, Sibonné’s plunge pool sits almost right on Grace Bay itself. On site is Bay Bistro, a restaurant with fabulous views of the ocean and great food to keep you riveted to your seats. This hotel has 26 spacious rooms, as well as an oceanfront apartment specially designed with family in mind. All rooms are air conditioned and comfortably furnished for island living. Room packages all include breakfast. www.sibonne.com
Caribbean Paradise Inn is another small property offering excellent value for money. Set just off Grace Bay, with only 16 rooms, this hotel is simple Caribbean comfort. A favourite with divers, all the rooms are either sea view or pool view, with private balconies or patios. All rooms are air conditioned and your room rate always includes a delicious island breakfast. www.paradise.tc
Turtle Cove Inn, right in the heart of Turtle Cove Marina, this little hotel offers the convenience of having everything you could want just within walking distance - bars, restaurants, nightlife, sailing, snorkelling, diving facilities, car and scooter rentals; and if you happen to arrive to these islands on our own boat, you have somewhere to dock it right under your balcony. All the rooms are air conditioned, with cable TV and they open onto a delightful poolside with lots of shaded areas for your reading and relaxing comfort. Very good value for money, this Inn is just what the budget conscious traveller is looking for, without having to sacrifice any comfort or convenience. www.turtlecoveinn.com
Much more detailed information for all of these hotels and resorts can be found on their websites, as well the opportunity to make reservations, take a virtual tour and have a good look at paradise before you get here. But rest assured you WILL want to get here; here is where it’s at.
There are many more beautiful and luxurious properties currently under construction in Providenciales: Seven Stars, The Tuscany, The Veranda, The Regent Grand, Leeward Marina Resort and Spa, Pelican Point, West Bay Club and The Estates at Grace Bay Club. Over in North Caicos, we must not forget St. Charles and Royal Reef Resort. The Ritz Carlton Molasses Reef on West Caicos and The Turks & Caicos Sporting Club on Ambergris Cay. And even more resorts on the drawing board or about to break ground, including several on Grand Turk. Visitors to these shores will soon be able to island hop in comfort and luxury, sampling all that these islands have to offer while staying at internationally renowned, five-star, eco-friendly, full service resorts.
The Turks and Caicos Islands have now firmly put themselves on the map; with the name of these islands becoming synonymous with elegance and luxury. A part of the Caribbean, set apart from the rest of the pack.
Story by Karyn Williams-Sykes
Note: The resorts mentioned within this article are advertisers within “Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands”.
Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © July/August 2006
Our 2005 Cover story can be found in our archives here.
