November/December 2023
Recommend Standard Image Template
Turks & Caicos—Barefoot Luxury
By Regina Baraban
I’m swimming in the crystal-clearwaters of Gibbs Cay, a small uninhabited island about a mile off the east coast of Grand Turk with a pristine white-sand beach. Watching graceful stingrays glide below me, I’m thinking that life doesn’t get much better than this. It’s one of many memorable moments during a
trip to Turks & Caicos in October to
attend the
Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO)
State of the Tourism Conference (SOTIC)
.
Turks & Caicos is made up of 40 islands and cays, nine of which are inhabited. Advisors are familiar with the upscale resorts in Providenciales (Provo), the most developed of the islands. Meeting and staying at
The Shore Club
there, I thoroughly enjoyed the bespoke luxury for which Provo is known.
PRO TIP:
I stayed with other media in one of The Shore Club’s gorgeous 8,800-sq.-ft. villas. With six bedrooms that can accommodate up to 14 guests, the villas are perfect, private homes for celebratory family groups.
Provo’s tourism infrastructure is spot-on for seamless luxury experiences and delicious dining. SOTIC’s opening reception on the beach at
Grace Bay Club
was a fun gathering with yummy bites from a wide selection of local restaurants. On another evening, we had an amazing chef’s dinner featuring local lobster and Brazilian grilled steak at
Kokomo Botanical Resort & Spa
.
PRO TIP:
Nestled in botanical gardens, Kokomo’s 38 two-bedroom luxury cottages, with free shuttles to nearby Grace Bay Beach, are about half of the price of beachfront resorts. And, for foodie clients,
Ital Life
is a hidden gem. Seating only around 14 people on a casual outdoor terrace at her home, Chef Lorraine cooks a different dinner each night, depending on what’s fresh that day.
Recommend Standard Image Template-1698773494
Leaving Provo for off-the-beaten-path tours of other islands, we discovered laid-back lifestyles and local culture, from the weather-beaten landscape and resident donkeys of Salt Cay to the spectacular beaches of Middle Caicos to Isaac Farms on North Caicos, where we sampled cane juice and homemade jams. Our tours were a snapshot of what clients can explore and what the new tourism organization
Experience Turks and Caicos
is promoting. Speaking at SOTIC, the Hon. Josephine O. Connolly, minister of tourism, remarked that the new strategy is to build awareness about all the islands—the people, the history, and each island’s singular natural assets.
What’s New
New luxe resorts in Provo include the 46-room beachfront
Rock House
, part of the Grace Bay Resorts family.
The Strand
resort community is set to open by the end of this year;
Andaz Turks & Caicos
At Grace Bay
, a luxury residential and resort community, is anticipated to open in late 2025 and
The Loren at Turtle Cove
is scheduled to open in 2026.
Contact Information
Turks and Caicos Tourist Board:
turksandcaicostourism.com/travel-agents
DISNEY CRUISE LINE COVER
DISNEY CRUISE LINE IFC
COVER
SANDALS SPREAD
Table of Contents
PALLADIUM BRAND AD
PALLADIUM BRAND SPREAD AD
Editor's Notes
TURKISH AIRLINES
Advisor Speak: Carrie Wallace Wants to Be Your ‘FamGuru’
WEBINAR HOUSE AD
2023 Readers' Choice Awards Winners
AMAWATERWAYS SC
AMAWATERWAYS
DELTA VACATIONS SC
DELTA VACATIONS
DISNEY CRUISE LINE SC
DISNEY CRUISE LINE
GLOBUS SC
GLOBUS
HYATT INCLUSIVE COLLECTION SC
HYATT INCLUSIVE COLLECTION
MGM RESORTS SC
MGM RESORTS
PRINCESS CRUISES SC
PRINCESS CRUISES
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES SC
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL SC
RCI
SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES & TOURS SC
SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES & TOURS
SANDALS SC
SANDALS
VIRGIN VOYAGES SC
VIRGINA VOYAGES
CUNARD SC
ALASKA RAILROAD SC/AD
TURKISH AIRLINES SC
Global: Outdoor Adventures & Wellness—What’s Trending for 2024
PALLADIUM CAP CANA AD
PALLADIUM BLESS HOTEL
Onsite Review: Sexy Getaway at TRS Cap Cana Waterfront & Marina Hotel
Caribbean Tourism Update
PALLADIUM D.R. AD
Onsite Review: Turks & Caicos—Barefoot Luxury
Onsite Review: Saint Lucia—Made for Enriching the Soul
Mexico: What’s New—Renovations, Grand Openings & New Experiences
Cruise Lines Step Into 2024 With Even More Booking Opportunities
Onboard Review: Oceania Vista—A New Chapter for Oceania Cruises
Onboard Review: Explora I—Ultra-luxe & Relaxed at Sea
RECOMMEND EDU HOUSE AD
CUNARD
