Where should you stay for a luxury experience in the Turks & Caicos Islands? MIT member Heather Riley of Life:Styled Travel shares her recommendations.
Photo by Romello Williams on Unsplash
The Turks & Caicos Islands are home to beautiful beaches and world-class diving and snorkeling, and have great weather year-round. The islands are English-speaking, with the U.S. Dollar serving as the official currency. There are easy, direct flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York City, and Philadelphia.
The Turks & Caicos government has done a phenomenal job of managing the COVID-19 situation, with over 51% of their population vaccinated and a low number of cases. To enter TCI, you must be vaccinated and have a negative COVID test, as well as trip insurance to cover any costs (including medical, quarantine hotel expenses, etc.). You must also complete an online application for approval to enter. The process is fairly straightforward, and while I felt anxious while waiting for my approval, it did come in time for my departure flight.
Upon arrival, you must go through a checkpoint to confirm your documentation is complete before proceeding to customs and immigration. The airport is small, but the line moved quickly. Do be aware that if multiple planes arrive at the same time, you may get stuck waiting on the tarmac or in a long line. If time is an issue, travel service Island Arrangements offers fast track arrival and departure services for a fee.
Where to Stay in the Turks and Caicos
On my recent visit to Turks & Caicos, I learned that many of the territory’s resorts are “residence-owned,” which means each unit is privately owned by an individual, rather than the resort. One benefit to this is that the resorts will have multiple room configuration options, including 1, 2, or 3-bedroom suites, which can be hard to find in other island destinations. The rooms are also larger, and come with more at-home luxuries, like a washer and dryer, full kitchen and dining area. The islands are expensive—goods must be shipped in via ferry or plane, thus incurring a tax or duty and driving prices up—but these units make it easier to dine in your room, if desired, and save money. If you’re interested in staying in a specific room, it is best to work with a travel advisor, as availability can be tricky.
Here are four luxury resorts in Providenceles that I’ve visited and like to recommend to my clients:
Courtesy of The Palms Turks and Caicos
The Palms, owned by The Hartling Group, is a beautiful colonial-style Caribbean resort set among lush gardens and beautiful tropical plants, on a gorgeous stretch of Grace Bay Beach. With 168 "keys," or units, this property is 14 years old and has the largest infinity pool on the island and a 25,000 sq. ft. spa. The resort features 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, and large ocean view patios. The pool has private cabanas and an adult-only jacuzzi, and tons of chairs (with beach service!) line the white sandy beach. At night, live music is played in the stunning courtyard of Parallel23, a Caribbean fusion fine dining restaurant. Make sure to try the Queen of Hearts cocktail!
Nearby is The Sands at Grace Bay, a four-star sister hotel with shuttle access to The Palms. While not all of the rooms have ocean views, this hotel was recently renovated and is a great value! Plus, the popular beachfront restaurant, Hemingway’s, is located right on site.
Courtesy of Grace Bay Resorts
Grace Bay Club is one of the oldest resorts in the area. There are multiple room types—suites, villas, and estates—and the furnishings boast a Caribbean flare. They have the largest beach area and protect it by only allowing one row of beach chairs, so as not to spoil any guest’s view. The real highlight of this resort is the live music and beachfront dining at the Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar, which comes complete with fire pits and a lounge area.
Courtesy of Wymara Resorts and Villas
Grace Bay’s Wymara Resort and Villas manages to feel like an exclusive club. With private poolside cabanas and modern, luxury furnishings, this boutique-like resort is perfect for couples and honeymooners.
For more privacy, you can rent one of the stunning villas on the lower side of the bay. The villas each have two pools, 4-5 bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen and full dining area, a sunken fire pit and lounge area, sun decks, and access to grocery services, a private chef, and dining. A club house with a full lap pool, game room, and fitness center are also exclusively available to villa guests. Do note that the villas have direct access via stairs to the ocean, but there is no beach. To visit a sandy beach, you can get a shuttle over to Wymara Resort, a short five minute ride away.
Courtesy of The Shore Club
The Shore Club the new, shining star of the Turks & Caicos! They call themselves as “the most Instagrammable resort in the world” and I can see why! (Just look at those swinging pool chairs!) With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom suites and private villas on property, this resort feels like a private oasis. It’s located on the other side of Grace Bay, but with shallow waters and four stunning pools, I found myself enjoying the peace and calm. At night, the resort lights up at their gorgeous restaurants; try SUI-REN for sushi and Almond Tree for comfort food. The Rope Bar is also stunning and not to be missed!
The rooms are decorated in a beachy, casual look that I instantly fell in love with. There is a small boutique spa on site, with plans to open a much larger one soon. A fitness center and kid’s club are also available. On windy days, kite boarders sail across the ocean, making this destination a paradise for ocean sport lovers. As part of The Hartling Group, you can also take a shuttle to The Palms or The Sands and enjoy their spa and restaurants.