A Short, But Sweet Visit to Turks and Caicos

Have you ever experienced love at first sight? I certainly fell in love the moment I landed in Turks & Caicos. The water is the kind of blue that looks like it belongs in a painting.

In May, I had the opportunity to join one of my favorite travel partners, Island Destinations on an educational experience in Turks & Caicos! Grace Bay Resorts hosted us in one of their incredible 5-bedroom villas at Grace Bay Club. We had the opportunity to check out some of the best restaurants and activities the island has to offer.

Grace Bay Resorts has a number of properties on island and accommodations, including Grace Bay Club, West Bay Club, Point Grace and opening soon is Rock House. Suites range from one to five-bedrooms and almost all have lovely ocean views. The larger villas have fully equipped kitchens, living spaces and multiple terraces. Grace Bay Resorts also has a stunning private villa collection that sleeps anywhere from 10 and 25 people! These villas actually come with a private chef for lunch and dinner, a starter bar, breakfast supplies, and many additional resort like services. The Private Villa collection is absolutely next level.

To answer your question, YES this part of my job is incredibly fun - I won’t deny it! It’s also an incredibly important part of ensuring client satisfaction. Being able to see resorts + villas in person means I can easily suggest the perfect location for you and your family. Websites and reviews can be misleading and often don’t tell the whole story. Having strong connections on the ground means Skinny Dip clients get the BEST room locations, special welcome amenities and sometimes even upgrades! I share your personal preferences with the team and they do their best to make your vacay dreams come true.

A little bit about my experience in Turks & Caicos….

The food

All I have to say is “wow”. Every meal I had over my 4 day visit was SO good. Now, keep in mind - we had fabulous guides who took us to the best spots, so they knew we would have a great experience dining out! Don’t worry - I’ll share the hot spots with you, too! Everything we had was fresh and full of flavor. One of my favorite meals was at Da Conch Shack, where we feasted on conch fritters, fresh fish and my favorite dish - french fries with black bean sauce. The fry/bean sauce combo might sound strange, but trust me on this one.

Da Conch Shack has live music + DJ’s many nights, making it the perfect spot for a night out.

I’d also highly recommend Infiniti Bar at Grace Bay Club for sunset, happy hour and live music!

You can expect fresh seafood like conch, grouper, snapper and lobster (when in season) at most restaurants on the island.

The setting

Grace Bay Beach is one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever experienced. The sand is sugary soft and you can walk for miles and miles. The water is crystal clear and looks….. well, fake to be honest! The blues are unbeatable, especially when you’re out on a boat. I made a point to get up early each morning for a walk on the beach and a swim in the ocean. Simply put, it won’t be an easy task finding more beautiful beaches than what you’ll get in Turks.

Getting there + around

While you may have a layover, like I did, the journey there is super simple. Most resorts + villas are a quick 15-minute drive or less from the airport. After my recent visits to Jamaica + Mexico with 45-minute airport commutes, this was a very welcome surprise! Getting around the island is incredibly easy - taxis are plentiful and reasonable. Many resorts have free bikes for guests to rent and depending on your hotel’s location, you may be able to walk to shops and restaurants! The island is small, so nothing is out of reach.

Experiences

If there’s one thing you MUST do while in Turks & Caicos, it’s getting out on a boat. It doesn’t matter if you join a fishing, snorkel, or sunset cruise, but this is an absolute must. The views are even more unreal from the water - you do not want to miss the experience. We were lucky enough with our hotel location to get picked up right on the beach! It’s so wonderful not having to transfer to a marina.

While cruising around, we got to see the famous Grace Bay dolphin, “Jo Jo.” who hangs out in the bay, we visited a shipwrecked boat from hurricane Frances and made a stop at Iguana Island! Our crew was amazing - ensuring we always had champagne in hand and music to dance to. They practically had to kick me off the boat ;).

Potcake Place

I learned about this late in my trip, but I will absolutely be visiting on my next trip to the island! Potcake Place is a dog rescue located near the shopping in Saltmills Plaza. If you’re a dog lover and want to give back on your vacay (and hang out with adorable pups) - this is perfect for you! They allow volunteers to take the puppies for walks. Potcake Place sends volunteers with beach bags with all the essentials for a beach walk.

You can also bring supplies to donate in your suitcase - this just means extra space for cute island souvenirs! Learn more about Potcake Place and how to make a difference on your next getaway.

The people

Everyone I met from resort staff to taxi divers, chefs and shop owners was really lovely. You could tell everyone on island was happy to be thriving after months of being shut down. Turks and Caicos are English speaking islands, so you’ll never run into issues communicating.

Where to stay

There are many factors to consider while choosing a property in Turks. Do you want to be able to walk to restaurants? Are you looking for seclusion or do you want to be in the action? Do you want a standalone villa or are resort services a must?

Even within the Grace Bay Resorts collection, there are multiple accommodation options - truly something for everyone. Connect with me, and I’ll ensure you’re perfectly paired! I even have intel on a hot new resort opening later this year that has the Saint Tropez meets the Caribbean vibe. One-bedroom villas here will have private pools and unbelievable views. There will be a beach club, only accessible by boat + a water taxi that will take you to the restaurants along Grace Bay. It looked perfect, even on the hard hat tour.

Who is Turks for?

Because of the wide range of accommodations and activities in Turks, it truly is a destination for all types of travelers. Turks is a honeymooners dream - with upscale hotels with lovely views. You can be in the center of it all or escape to one of the more secluded resorts on island. Families + groups of friends will also have a great time here, especially when opting for one of the many villa options on island. While this is definitely not a budget destination, it’s well worth the money spent.

If you’re planning the perfect escape, don’t hesitate to reach out, to see how I can help! Working with Skinny Dip Travel, means VIP status wherever you go. I plan each trip as if it were my own, and I want to make it perfect for you.

To get the convo started, just shoot me a note! Contact Skinny Dip Travel

Travel is picking up big time, so make sure you plan your 2021 / 2022 vacations early! Have questions? Fill out my contact form or email me at skinnydiptravel@gmail.com