The Turks and Caicos Islands
VACATION VILLAS - September/October 2006
The Turks and Caicos Islands are proud to embrace a very rich, colourful and prolific history. It could be construed that the very first ‘visitors’ to these idyllic and pristine shores were the Taino Indians who visited on a seasonal basis beginning in 750 AD from Hispaniola, and later settled here. Fast-forward several hundred years to 1492 when Columbus discovered this pure and unspoiled archipelago of islands and cays. Little did he know then, that this flawless and immaculate island chain would evolve into one of the most popular and internationally acclaimed tourist destinations in the world.
Fast-forward several centuries more and discover for yourself the natural splendour and inimitable beauty of these islands. World famous beaches, internationally renowned cuisine and a plethora of tourist accommodation choices are now yours to explore, all on what is still virtually an untouched paradise. Catering to every taste, need and budget, choose from quiet, cozy inns to large-scale condominiums, five-star world-class condominium resorts, hotels and all-inclusive resorts. But for those who are looking for their own private piece of paradise, an exclusive place of your very own where even though you know it’s the right thing to share, you just don’t want to on your vacation … a private vacation villa or guest house can fulfill almost every whim and desire! A completely unique and incomparable vacation experience, affording peace, quiet, privacy and seclusion while often still providing many of the amenities condominiums, hotels and resorts can provide. Experience a complete and consummate atmosphere of freedom … the carte blanche to do as you please, the flexibility to take each day at your own pace. A rare opportunity to be completely selfish and self indulgent with your treasured time and space … if only for a week, or two!
Get off the ‘beaten track’, grasp the friendly, warm hospitality of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and take advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourself in the island’s culture. With many villas located in residential areas, experience first hand what Caribbean living is all about.
Once you have visited these magnificent and bewitching shores, you will understand why the oft used phrase; location, location, location is so prevalent here. The twelve-mile world famous stretch of Grace Bay Beach will captivate you with its silky smooth turquoise sea of indescribable beauty entwined with a seemingly endless expanse of powder-soft white sand. With most Grace Bay vacation villas boasting beachfront locations, at most you may have a one-minute stroll to utopia, and easy access to Grace Bay’s myriad of dining and shopping choices. Grace Bay is also home to Princess Alexandra National Park, a protected marine area with outstanding snorkelling and water sports available right from the beach.
Moving clockwise from Grace Bay Beach, Leeward is located at the far north-eastern tip of Providenciales and boasts it’s own alluring beaches affording a little more privacy with fascinating limestone rock cliff formations and stone jetties carved and moulded by the power of the sea. For boat enthusiasts, some vacation villas front directly onto Leeward canal. The convenience of a marina, along with close proximity to Grace Bay and its abundance of amenities plus the Provo Golf & Country Club makes this a prime vacation destination.
Located on the southeast shore, Long Bay and its three-mile stretch of isolated beach is a truly magnificent combination of sand dunes and rugged rock formations. With development still in its infancy, Long Bay is natural and unspoiled in its beauty, far from the madding crowd.
Centrally located, Turtle Tail is a narrow peninsula on Provo’s south shore defined by Juba Salina on the north, and the brilliance of the shallow Caicos Banks to the south. Just to the west, discover the pastoral beauty of Flamingo Lake, also host to a prime bone fishing hotspot accessible just steps from your villa.
Chalk Sound, located on a narrow peninsula on the southwest tip of Provo offers a location that imparts a feeling of transcendence on Chalk Sound National Park. Here, the colour of the sea is an iridescent, milky turquoise, almost celestial, dotted with countless cays. Coupled with the tranquil and resplendent beauty of Sapodilla Bay, a favourable mooring location for yachts, and the calm and shallow waters of Taylor Bay, both positioned front row centre to the open sea under the protection of the shallow Caicos Banks, Chalk Sound is simply paradise found.
Finally, Turtle Cove, an extension of Grace Bay Beach to the west is calm and serene, beyond the borders of the larger scale condominiums and resorts. Exceptional snorkelling is easily accessible at Smith’s Reef, and Turtle Cove is within close distance to some of Provo’s finest restaurants, Turtle Cove Marina and other amenities. ‘Beautiful by Nature’, the Turk & Caicos Islands await your discovery.
If your objective is to simply get away from it all - you’ve come to the right place! You may choose peace and tranquility, wishing to stay within the confines of your villa for the ultimate in relaxation. Many spas offer mobile services, so you can enjoy pampering and relaxation to the ultimate level without ever leaving your villa. It can be done, however, I dare say you would be missing out on the tremendous beauty and engaging culture the islands have to offer.
If your objective is more on the adventurous and energetic side; water sports, diving, fishing, sailing, golf, tennis, horseback riding, eco tours, spa therapy, nightlife, exploring our island and our neighbouring islands and cays that are virtually right next-door, you’ve come to the right place! All of these activities and more are available year-round, and are easily accessible from any island location.
Families, extended families, couples, even those who are looking for complete and absolute solitude can all appreciate the benefits and advantages private villas have to offer. From a modest and intimate cottage to an upscale luxurious tropical villa complete with personal service staff your vacation can be as casual or as opulent as you wish. From brand new construction with the latest design trends, to older Caribbean homes oozing with charm and character, the wide array of villa accommodation choices, coupled with several heavenly and diverse locations each individual unto themselves will make your getaway to the Turks and Caicos Islands a truly memorable, carefree and unforgettable one.
Dining has always been an intrinsic and pleasurable part of the vacation experience and vacation villas provide the flexibility of dining whenever and wherever you wish. Stock your pantry with all of your favourite culinary items from one of our well-stocked supermarkets or specialty stores, and relish in the ability to prepare your own meals at your own pace. Cater to specific dietary needs, or even those small, finicky appetites with ease. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see all that is locally available in foods, baked goods, fresh meat and fish and fine wines. If you’ve come on vacation to ‘get out of the kitchen’ your own private chef can be arranged, or many of our dining establishments offer excellent catering or take-out services. Even if your holiday is one of seclusion, you simply must take advantage of dining out at least once, or ideally several times at many of Providenciales’ spectacular restaurants. The Providnciales Dining Guide lists a multitude of choices from laid back, kid-friendly and completely casual to world-class five star gourmet dining and everything in-between. Provo plays host to some of the most talented and creative chefs in the world, each offering a truly unique and unforgettable dining experience in some of the most romantic and exotic ambiances imaginable.
Each vacation villa is unique unto itself, and offers different amenities and services. Some offer more luxurious high-end accoutrements, or if something more barefoot and casual may be your taste, our villas can accommodate. Many have refreshing freshwater swimming pools, lushly landscaped tropical gardens with abundant private deck space to unwind and relax in seclusion. Gourmet kitchens are available, or perhaps you require just the simple, bare necessities. For those who wish to remain connected to the outside world, many offer Internet access, phone and cable and/or satellite television.
Vacationing with a large group is gaining increasing popularity for families to enjoy their holiday together, yet still have their own private space. There are several guesthouses offering accommodations for large groups, and some are able to accommodate up to 28 guests! Kick off your flip-flops and relax, congregate around the pool or on the beach, then look forward to still having your own personal space to retreat to.
Many of the villas are professionally managed by reliable and well-established property management services, and are able to assist you not only with your accommodation, but also with car rentals, excursions and suggestions for dining and shopping. Alternatively, the owners themselves, who live on island manage the villas and are able to assist you with any and all needs during your stay.
With years of local knowledge, the Elliott Holdings Management Company offers a selection of villas in the residential resort community of Leeward on the northeast side of Provo. Many new beachfront or canalfront villas are becoming available in the area which is convenient to watersports. The $400. million Leeward Marina Resort & Spa project is well underway.
With over 20 years of combined experience in the industry, their impressive list of villa accommodations and their professional service, Island Villa Management ‘guarantees your dream vacation will become a reality’. “With the Turks & Caicos Islands fast becoming one of the most talked about destinations in the Caribbean, we have found that the clients renting our villas now have higher expectations and demands. It is not unusual for people to want to have a chef at their disposal for the week, together with babysitters to keep the children occupied and a pre-stocked refrigerator and pantry. In order to succeed in this competitive market we have learned to tailor our services to meet the ever changing needs of our clients.”
Prestigious Properties, an already well-established and respected real estate company offers villa property management services from beachfront cottages to the ultimate in luxurious villas for short or long-term stays. Be spoilt by their virtual multitude of accommodation choices, whose portfolio brandishes an extensive selection of condominiums, luxury villas and single-family residences, with most located directly on the beach, or within very close proximity.
‘All the comforts of home … all the beauty, luxury and sophistication of the Caribbean’ await you with Sea Feathers Villas. “Sea Feathers are an established villa rental and property management company, based here on Providenciales and in operation for 10 years. We provide airport greeting, island orientation, and an excellent personal service to all our guests staying in our beautiful 1 - 6 bedroom ocean front and beach front villas. We can offer help with car rental, golf, dive packages, boat trips and fishing or pamper you with our Villa Spa Service and children are very welcome in all our villas.”
TC Safari, dedicated to finding your perfect Caribbean villa boasts 19 years in the business, and offers exclusive oceanfront and beachfront rentals from cozy, two bedroom cottages to large upscale seven bedroom villas. For their many North American and European clients, a booking agent with 14 years of experience spent living on Provo doing vacation villa management on the island and located in the U.S. translates into extensive knowledge and experience with the villas themselves, and convenience for you. With many satisfied, repeat guests, the testimonials speak for themselves.
From luxurious villas, beach houses or condos, Vacations in Paradise can accommodate virtually any preference from an intimate cottage or suite for two to beachfront villas for twelve. You’ve come for rest and relaxation, so Vacations in Paradise is happy to take care of your ‘on-island needs’ so you don’t have to. Take advantage of their convenient Pre-Arrival Grocery service, let them take care of car rental, spa services, boat and fishing charters, diving even horseback riding, and if this visit is a special celebration, they have many creative and imaginative ideas to surprise that special someone in your life.
Henry Moog and his family operate their own exclusive self-proclaimed ‘Mom and Pop’ business and feature some of the most luxurious villas on Provo in two diverse, yet equally stunning locations. In the Chalk Sound area is the rugged and magnificent rock outcropping of Ocean Point, home to Ocean Point Villas, all located in quiet, residential settings overlooking exquisite Taylor Bay, whose beach is delightfully shallow for a long distance. His Northshore Villas, centre stage on Grace Bay Beach, create the perfect ambiance and afford endless recreational opportunities. Snorkelling is literally at your doorstep, and you are within walking distance to many restaurants and some shopping. Having visited these shores for the past 35 years, Moog and his family pride themselves on the fact that a large percent of their guests are repeats and/or referrals. You will experience no surprises other than the breathtaking locations, as each villa is accurately presented, expertly managed, and in most cases, designed and developed by Moog himself to impeccably high standards.
Aside from all the obvious factors to acknowledge when choosing a vacation villa, consider the fact that private vacation villas are exempt from the 10% service charge that is attributed to all other types of tourist accommodation. Therefore, the only additional charge is the 10% government tax, which can translate into significant savings, perhaps even an extra evening or two out.
The beauty of finding just the right vacation villa simply lies at your fingertips. Relax in the comfort and privacy of your own home and take full advantage of the wealth of information on the Internet, providing links to many villa websites, many offering virtual tours, so up close and personal you can almost feel the sand between your toes!
Winter is compulsory, imminent and rapidly approaching, but wouldn’t you rather spend it basking under the warmth of the Caribbean sun in your own private vacation villa?
Infinite peace, absolute abandon, the latitude to do whatever you wish whenever you desire, the privilege of pampering yourself and your loved ones … if only for a week, or two!
STORY BY MANDY ROSTANCE-WOLF
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. © September/October 2006
Our 2005 Cover story can be found in our archives here.
