Finding Paradise in Turks & Caicos…Or the Beach at Least…

We got to Turks & Caicos and we were welcomed by a band at the airport playing local music. It was like island magic. After getting our bags (the airport is tiny only one baggage claim), we were so excited to start our adventures and ready to hit the beach…

We rented a car because well, if you plan to explore the island it is totally worth it. Taxis run $40-$50 for a one-way trip and a rental car is around $35-$50. We rented a car and drove to our hotel, a local boutique we found on Kayak called Grace Bay Suites. This hotel was way cheaper than any of the surrounding resorts and the management and resort was super welcoming. The hotel was walking distance from the beach, restaurants, and shopping centers.

After we got to the hotel, we were ready to explore the local beach. We were told by the hotel manager that it was across the street. We went across the street and kept on running into big resorts with no beach access. We ran back and forth the main street about 10 times, when finally we gave up (keep in mind it was about 90+ degrees out). We called the hotel manager who picked us up in his car and dropped us off right in front of the beach access (it was right in front of us). The access is a little hidden on the side of a big resort, but the beach is nice and calm (and our hotel even had reserved beach chairs).

When we visited Turks & Caicos in early September it was off-season, therefore the beaches were empty and a lot of the restaurants were closed. The local islanders mentioned that their peak season was closer to winter (who would’ve thought, right?). There’s ups and downs to visiting in off-season, like places are less crowded and car rentals and hotels are way cheaper. The downside is that many places (and restaurants) are closed and the place looks a little deserted. If you’re looking to just chill at the beach and eat at your hotel (& your budget allows) then staying at a big resort might be the best option. If you’re young, want to adventure and explore the island, staying at a boutique hotel is probably the way to go!

All in all — it’s never a bad time to visit the island (unless it’s hurricane season of course).

Best,

Alexia & Jeremy

DISCLAIMER: We left the island a couple of days before hurricane Irma hit. Very scary. Stay tuned for our full itinerary…