Providenciales, TURKS & CAICOS – praise Southwest for their new(ish) route into the Caribbean! We visited 12 years ago before Grace Bay Beach was on the map . Just this year it was voted #1 beach in the world by Tripadvisor, so many more are flocking to it’s crystal clear waters. Back then, our method of transportation were bikes as it was just starting to be developed for tourism. Returning one decade later, honestly, it is still pretty bare and rugged, but certainly worth a visit!
First things first – the beach is BEAUTIFUL but it will come at a price. August is shoulder season and one of the cheapest months to visit. November – March is high season and outside of hurricane season. Essentially nothing is grown or produced on the island, so everything has to be imported = making it one of the Caribbean’s most expensive island. To give you a sense, a dozen (normal) eggs are $7 and liter bottles of still water are $10. Note there is no Uber or Lyft available on the island. A shared taxi with 8 people from the airport will run you $16.50 per person to get to Seven Stars Resort — cash only. If you are staying for more than 3 days, I would recommend renting a car to explore more of Turks & Caicos apart from Grace Bay. Driving will be a bit of an experience as they drive on the left side of the road and there are no stop lights, only roundabouts.
STAY
Seven Stars Resort & Spa – one of the top rated hotels situated on Grace Bay Beach and it’s walking distance to restaurants and the grocery store. Beach chairs are by far the best compared to others we saw during our walk down the beach. Rooms will start around $450/$500 per night in the low season. It’s family friendly with activities for the kids like a huge floating platform in the middle of the ocean, paddle boards, kayaks, and Hobie sailboats (my favorite!). Not to mention they gift you a yeti-like water canister to refill water on the beach. This gem doubled as my wine bottle. I’m not afraid to admit, I was tired of paying $15 for a glass of subpar wine so I headed to the grocery store and bought a few bottles to fill up my bottle for the beach.
DO
Provo Ponies – horseback riding on the beach! Recommended to book 2-3 weeks in advance. It’s one of the main attractions on the island so it sells out fast.
Half Day Sail & Snorkel – a 4 hour day trip that departs from Grace Bay and visits Iguana Island.
Rent a Car – head to Taylor Bay Beach on the south part of the island or Smith’s Reef for snorkeling.
EAT
Turks Kebab – the best lunch near our hotel. It’s a local spot with fresh ingredients and reasonable prices. The doner kebab on pita and the hummus were my favs.
Coco Bistro – one of the best spots on the island. We missed out because reservations are required and sold out for the week we were visiting. If you can’t get in, Cocovan next door is an airstream/food truck with a fresh menu. The mahi mahi tacos were a hit.
Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar – oceanfront restaurant, known as the go to spot to watch the sunset
Grace’s Cottage – the best dinner of our entire stay! More on the expensive side, but quality plates and the cutest ambiance.
Yoshi’s Sushi – this restaurant is definitely on island time, but the sushi is good if you are patient enough to wait for it to be prepared. The outside seating turns into a mini club vibe once night falls. Easy option near the hotel.
Bistro Bay – open air dining under a covered deck roof with views of Grace Bay. The closest restaurant you can get to the beach.
Coffee Spots – Beans and Leaves & Lemon 2 Go (I recommend the iced cortado!)
And don’t forget the sunscreen!
Tarmacs And Tequila 