Spring Break Turks and Caicos

Last week we headed south to the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos for spring break. Believe it or not, this was the first Caribbean vacation we have ever been on and I was a little unsure how we would fare. My ideal ocean trip usually entails charming seaside towns, historic and inspiring architecture, quaint restaurants and unique shops. Very different from Turks, where the water and beach are the main focus and sole attraction. Rather than miles of rugged coastline, you have a shore dotted with sprawling resorts and flat beaches with tranquil water and velvety, soft sand. Picture perfect days, full of warmth and sun, that end with blazing sunsets. Beachfront resturants with candle lit tables, tiki torches and steel drum music. Which sounds cliche, yet manages to feel authentic and appropriate. I think it surprised all of us how quickly we fell into the rhythm of Caribbean island living - spending all day in a bikini and pareo, sipping rum cocktails in the afternoon, spending hours on the beach, alternating time between my book and swimming in the water with my guys, and just disconnecting from the outside world in that special way only possible on an island. The spectacular weather, surreal beauty of the turquoise water, the tranquility and calm became intoxicating. There were no crowds, we had stretches of beach all to ourselves, we ate amazing seafood and just let go of all the winter weariness you start to hang onto when you live in a colder climate.

We rented a home with a private pool in Grace Bay, less than a minute from the beach, where we appreciated the space and privacy a home afforded. Here is our rental, ideal for 2-3 people. If Jimmy and I were traveling without kids, we would opt for a resort instead. Of the resorts we saw, Grace Bay Club and Seven Stars looked the nicest. We also rented a car, which is a must, just make sure to book far in advance. I will spare you our story. Thankfully, depite a booking blunder, we did get a car, even if it drove more like a golf cart. We stayed 5 days, which felt like the ideal amount of time for us, I would not have wanted to stay longer. I actually think it would be a great place for a long weekend too. We booked a couple excursions that were a lot of fun - jet skiing one day which took us to a private island and to see a shipwreck. Then a boat trip another day to go snorkeling (a trip highlight for all of us, as this was another first). Our favorite meals were from: Coco Van (an airstream food truck where you eat under a canopy of palm trees, excellent food and cocktails. Don’t forget to order the churros for dessert! We ate here twice as it was a short walk from our home). Coco Bistro is the more upscale restaurant right next door with the same owners if you want something fancier. For lunch we LOVED Just Tacos (a beach shack in front of Grace Bay Club, where we also ate twice. The shrimp tacos were one of the best things I ate all week!). Our best dinner was at Infinity (Reserve a table at sunset and don’t forget to order the key lime pie for dessert. Exceptional service and atmosphere too). One place I would skip is the Bay Bistro (location is amazing, but food and service are not). The Conch Shack is worth a visit just because it’s so iconic and the shells are pretty amazing but the food is so-so and it is out of the way.

This website is a great place to search for excursions and learn all about the islands.

A note about COVID - the travel prep was a bit intense. This was our first time traveling outside the country since COVID and I wasn’t prepared for the new hassles. There was a lot of paperwork, testing requirements, documentation needs, travel insurance, health insurance benefit summaries, proof of vaccination, etc. You needed to secure travel authorization from Turks prior to being able to check in and get your boarding passes. I didn’t get our PCR test results until 3:00PM the day before we left and you could not complete any paperwork until you had tests results to upload. I didn’t get approval until 10:00 PM before leaving early the next morning. I like to have things like this all buttoned up and squared away well in advance so this was not my favorite way to start a trip. Yes, it all worked out fine and maybe I just need to get used to the new procedures, but I want to be honest that it wasn’t a piece of cake and it took some time. Also, masks are required everywhere on the island. They even have people working at the door when you go in the grocery store or a shop that spray your hands with mandatory disinfectant. You are required to be fully vaccinated as well.