“Get us out of here!”
I am just back from just the spot to answer that burning “where can we go, is it a hassle” conundrum we are suffering
The Turks & Caicos!
I have just returned from a trip with a few of my Brownell co-workers. My first trip to the island and not my last — in fact I have already booked another trip in May when we will travel as a family to celebrate my son’s college graduation. Hubby says, “get us out of here.”
A sentiment that seems to be popular these days.
And, the Turks & Caicos are on a short list of reasonable options (getting shorter by the day) of places that have had consistent Covid messaging and restrictions. Why is consistent important? Tourism dollars have a huge impact on all of the Caribbean Islands so open, close, open, close takes a toll on staff, culinary programs and overall vitality of the property. Not so on Turks where the island has been open for months, the landscaping is gorgeous, the menu assortment is rich, the dining options on island are plentiful and the staff is seasoned. And, T&C resorts are actively vaccinating their employees with staff vaccine complete numbers as high as 75%, as of 3/20.
To go to Turks and Caicos, you must provide a PCR negative test taken within 5 days. Yet another reason I am going back. Testing a family of 4 can be stressful and many islands require it to be within 48 hours of arrival. Having the extra days also allows for a retest if results are inconclusive. And, to enter Turks and Caicos, you must have proof of insurance and fill out an online questionnaire (see here for T&C application process). The insurance policy is easy to procure (couple hundred bucks) and I will encourage you to insure for the off chance a false positive forces you to stay longer (however, General Managers at resorts I visited agreed that this is very rare “one out of 800.”) The island currently has lenient restrictions with businesses open until 10p and overall curfew of 11p (due to be reassessed on 4/2).
Lastly, the water on the islands is incomparable. It is truly the most gorgeous color of turquoise with white, white sand. I was a self diagnosed Anguilla “snob” in my pre-covid life - but - the Turks might have an edge with their water. With 230 miles of beach and nearly perfect water temps, T&C are protected by several coral reefs which offer the clearest, bluest water coupled with a wading wonderland of long stretches of shallow surf. You will read time and again that photos don’t do the Turks’ water justice — because it’s so very true!
I was able to visit 4 of the 5 star properties on the island (there are 2 more - one a private island and another on the remote side of the island). And there are several lovely 4 star properties mingled between these gems too. Cabs are plentiful; but, if you are traveling in groups over 4 or more - you may enjoy a car. All of the properties I visited offered free antigen testing to return home to the USA. And, all of the hotels used very honed and consistent c19 protocols.
Here are my takes on the Turks and Caicos properties that I was lucky to visit focusing first on my hosts: The Palms & The Shore Club
Even from the air, the water on Turks and Caicos is unbelievably blue
The Palms
The Palms hotel is beautiful all suites property with spacious condo style rooms located on Grace Bay Beach. The 5 buildings center on a large infinity pool on the ocean side and to lush gardens circling the square on the other. British in it’s feel, the rooms are all decorated the same. Washers and dryers, Viking appliances, gorgeous bathrooms (loved my bathtub), marble floors and beautiful floor to ceiling drapery. It feels 5 star.
This is a property that can attach suites to other suites with numerous options to accommodate families or groups traveling together. The Palms has a lovely restaurant on property, Parallel 23 where my delicious lobster tail was the size of my hand and we were delighted to have a live performance by a Lionel Ritchie sound-alike (it was so sweet to see couples dancing beside their tables - a sight sorely missed since 2020). There is a more casual ocean/poolside restaurant with a swim up service and breakfast is served in a flower laden courtyard with silver servers full of fruit, pastry, assorted hot items and even an omelette station. But if they have an edge over other properties on the island, it would have to be the Spa. Loungers set amidst water fountains, flowers dripping from the trellis’s overhead and sweet private treatment ‘huts’ that are clustered around a center pool. Ask for the treatment called “Zareeba” that begins with a foot ritual of hand crushed conch shells and oils as you are presented with a steaming clay pot of freshly brewed therapeutic herbs. There’s a cool down moment and then a one hour massage with organic coconut oil. Calgon … take me away!
The gorgeous grounds at The Palms
My one bedroom suite
My 1500 sq foot One Bedroom Oceanfront Suite had a full kitchen, a huge patio, comfortable living room with a sleeper sofa and dining table for 6. Washer & dryer, powder bath and blazing hot wifi rounded out the “it’s quite lovely here” suite.
View from the Ocean View Suite (more like a pool in front of a Oceanfront room)
The Spa at the Palms was truly breathtaking
Sunset at The Palms on Grace Bay Beach
The Shore Club
The newcomer to T&C on Long Bay Beach, The Shore Club sits on a beautiful stretch of sand on the Caribbean side of the island with gentle laps of turquoise waves. The property is stunningly beautiful with lush landscaping and chic decor. And, it is an all suite property with most offerings being oceanfront. The aesthetic is fresh, luxe with a slight nod to hip. Four swimming pools: oceanfront, adults-only oceanfront, a lap pool and a gorgeous Colonnade pool with chic private cabanas, pool swings, in-water loungers and a very cool rope bar.
My room was a One Bedroom Oceanfront Suite with a large patio that was accessible from both my king bedroom and the living area. The living area had a sleeper sofa, there was a dining table for 8 and kitchen was fully loaded with the Sub Zero frig and a stackable washer and dryer. My room has a lovely soaking tub, separate shower, separate loo (with bidet) and closets that light up when you open them (how I love this so). The suite also had a “den” which had another sleeper sofa and full bathroom attached (perfect spot for one big kid and maybe 2 little kids). All it decorated beautifully with inlaid tile, marble and chic accessories. As with The Palm, the suites can be combined in numerous ways to accommodate families or groups.
I especially liked the sprawl of the property. With the two towers as the anchors, the pools, spa and restaurants are joined by beautifully landscaped paths. For dining there are lots of options on property: Sui-Ren (Peruvian meets Japanese), the more casual Almond Tree, the Colonnade for lite bites and private dining. Complimentary breakfast is served in the Courtyard (made to order options and standard fare served more buffet style) and there is an oceanside restaurant, Sea Grapes, and a swim up bar. By the Colonnade Pool (the large pool on the garden side of the towers), you can be served in your private cabana or enjoy a cocktail at the Rope Bar. What surprised me the most - how different everything looked in day versus night. The designers did amazing job with lighting to transform the public spaces into magical spots.
There is a fitness center, tennis courts, a kids club, spa and even a yacht you can charter. The beach at Shore Club on Long Bay is very shallow and nearly wave-less as there is a reef just adjacent. The area is also home to some of the most amazing kite surfing on Turks & Caicos (I thoroughly loved my time watching the kite riders circling the sky with a Beyonce worthy breeze in my hair). And the property will supply guests with complimentary use of all non-motorized equipment to enjoy: snorkels, sea kayaks, paddle boards and Hobie cats. Next door to the property, there is a kite-surfing outfitter who offers lessons - despite riders making it look easy, it does require some practice and know how. My favorite of the properties amenities: the spa. Like The Palm, the treatment rooms are stand alone cabanas; however, the Shore Club’s have French doors that open to a view of the ocean (and the Beyonce Breeze). My massage, a modified Dune / Shiatsu Massage that the therapist combo’d just for me ;) HEAVEN!
The arrival pavilion is gorgeous - and landscaping is beautifully lush.
The One Bedroom Deluxe Master - access to a wrap around porch off to the right of this photo
A Junior Suite with Partial Ocean Views
The Rope Bar at the Colonnade
The Almond Tree Bar
The Colonnade Pool
The porch on my one bedroom suite
My personal spa “shack” - with the doors open to that breeze … it was heaven!
Frozen fruit that they passed at the pool
Villas at Shore Club
The Shore Club is home to some beautiful villas. Private gates, subtly sprinkled along the pathway to the Main Building mark the entrance to each villa’s rear courtyard. A key selling feature: wonderful villa privacy with great resort access. Each of the 5 villas (there are really 6 but one is private) have their own pools, hot tubs, adjacent guest houses and landscaped porches and lawns. Guests can customize from 4 to 6 rooms in each villa, will be greeted at the airport with a private transfer, driven to their private underground parking, escorted up a private elevator to their gorgeous villa. Circular staircase, marble, iron fretwork, floor to ceiling windows, elegant decor and lush landscaping combine to an overall “divine.”
The Villa Entrance - to the left is a door to the media room & to the right a king suite. Above are 3 bedroom suites. To the right of the palm trees is the door to the main Villa.
One of the many gorgeous private outdoor spaces of each of the 5 Villas.
The Villa’s living room … each of the 5 Villas are decorated the same.
The Master Bedroom in the Villa (huge patio, huge bathroom) - hugely fabulous!
The 5 Villas each have private beach access with lounge chairs on both platforms and at the beach
Grace Bay Club
Grace Bay Club sits on 11 acres of arguably the “best” section of sand on the Turks And Caicos. Composed of the Hotel, Villas and Estate, Grace Bay has assorted levels of accommodations. There is a family section, adults only section and an area of larger condo style units = but all are ocean front. Tennis courts, a small spa and workout facility dot the property — and seemed to lean most heavily on families while I was there. There are numerous restaurants options on property and several accessible by beach walks or bike rides. Grace Bay Kids Club is very popular (and well oiled). Junior suites (500 sq feet) can be combined to one bedroom suites, breakfast is included, a grocery amenity list is available to stock your fridge beforehand and each unit has a washer / dryer. The Hotel section is popular (and it shows slightly); but, the estate villa we toured was 5000 square feet of beautiful. There are adult only pools, family pools, casual dining options and chic beachside bars. Sunsets here are stunning.
Wymara
Once the Gansevoort, Wymara owns the market on ‘sexy.’ And, it hits you the minute you step into the main lobby. The pool area is flanked by pod like lounge platforms that appear to be floating. The music is thumpin’ and the crowd is definitely less family and more 30-something. The rooms are large, white, stark and chic. We had a glorious lunch by the beach at Zest where they brought one plate of nibbles better than the last (and lots of Rose). The beach, close to Grace Bay and the Palm, was beautiful.
We also toured one of the Wymara Villas (a 10 min drive away). Oooh, la, la was it sexy and uber-chic with a clean, minimal aesthetic. A courtyard waterfall pool and an oceanfront infinity edge pool, a fire pit, an overwater swim platform and even a water slide - all overlooking some mighty pretty blue water. The villa itself was “cool” with lots of white and an assortment of bedrooms that would make friend groups just as happy as those who use it for family gatherings. It’s a sure bet that most of the group - however its composed - will have lots of insta-worthy backdrops here.
In these days of “where can I go” coupled with “but do I want the hassle” - I can wholeheartedly say the Turks and Caicos is an easy direct flight from Charlotte, safe and just plain gorgeous destination that you can go for a lovely few days of Caribbean wonderful. It’s worthy of any hassle (I cannot think of one other than pre-arrival testing)- and then some (and I will help you avoid it all). My Anguilla snobbery was easily put to shame with amazing food, fine white sand and lovely, HUGE accommodations. I thoroughly enjoyed the condo-style approach that both The Palms and The Shore Club have going on … and cannot wait to go back. For those that might have visited years ago, think it’s time you get back too!
I’d be honored to help and share some bonus intel, what to avoid and exactly which VIP extras I can score for you! xoxo
** My Africa Part 2 Packing List and Tanzanian Safari Highlights posts are suffering from photo drama (and posting without photos of those beautiful camps and animals is criminal!)
But, it’s high on the list of things I cannot wait to write about and show you!