Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are one of the best beach vacation spots I have found in my many travels. I am very picky about my beach vacations and I have to say that TCI checks off almost all of my boxes for the perfect beachy getaway. The island of Providenciales is home to “The Best Beach in the World” as determined by Travelers Choice; Grace Bay beach. This beach offers visitors a little over 3 miles of soft white sand, pristine blue water, and a barrier reef. Grace Bay is found between Leeward Beach to the east and The Bight Beach to its west. The 3 beaches together offer a little over 12 miles of walkable sand.

If the beaches don’t lure you in, the amazing food should capture your attention! While TCI doesn’t have any chain restaurants… none of the typical fast food places you would expect to see in an area teaming with tourists… it does offer amazing cuisine! Yes, Grand Turk has Margaritaville, but I can’t blame them as this is where the cruise ships come into port. A cruise in the Caribbean doesn’t seem complete without the potential for a drink at Margaritaville! Due to it’s location, TCI has become a melting pot of international cuisine while keeping many local flavors.

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Turks and Caicos, as the name suggests, is a country made up of 2 island groups Turks (Grand Turk and Salt Cay in the east) and Caicos (Providenciales, and North, Middle, West, South, and West Caicos to the west). The 2 island chains are divided by a 20 mile wide passage called the Columbus Passage. There are a total of 98 named islands and cays with the 9 mentioned above being inhabited. TCI boasts a population of about 30,000 people and is a British Territory. Long live the Queen!

Enough of the factual information. It’s time to get down to business! Many of my friends and family have asked about my recommendations for traveling to TCI and why I love it so much… ready or not… here goes nothing!

Pros:

• English is the primary language. This is wonderful for those English speakers who are nervous about traveling to a country where they don’t speak or understand the local language. While many locals also speak Spanish or Creole, everything from menus to road signs to tour brochures are printed in English.
• The US Dollar is the primary currency. NO EXCHANGE RATE! One of the things that seems to stress me out most when I travel is not really understanding what I’m spending. In TCI, I don’t have to worry about calculating an exchange rate or knowing what coins and bills are which denomination.
• Electricity- Another item that TCI has adopted from the USA is the 120 volt electrical system so leave your electrical converters at home! You won’t need plug adapters as they also use US plugs. No worrying about melting your iPhone or not being able to charge your camera batteries.
• The weather! I mean, it doesn’t really get much better than TCI! Temps range from 75-90°F and the ocean temps stays about 80 degrees all year long! Rainfall is limited in the islands, but windy days may happen due to the eastern trade winds. The islands can be impacted by the Atlantic hurricane season, but haven’t sustained any major damage in many decades.
• No visa requirement- all you need as a US traveler is your passport!

Cons:

• Expensive! TCI can be very expensive but with a few tips and tricks, hopefully I can help you save some $ along the way.

Where to Stay:

There are many options for accommodations on the islands so lets take a look at them!

All-inclusive: there are a couple all inclusive options on Providenciales, however, I don’t recommend them! If you book all inclusive, you’ll be tempted to stay at that 1 location to get your moneys worth and since Provo is so easy to explore, why only see 1 beach and eat the same food everyday?

Villas: This is a great option for large groups or big families. Many villas boast wonderful views, beach access, great kitchens, many amenities and may offer more privacy than a traditional condo or hotel room.

Hotel/Resort: There are many hotel and resort options in Provo that offer a range of nightly prices and may include discounts for weekly rentals. Typically, you’ll be able to find a restaurant onsite and there will likely be amenities that you’ll share with other renters. Like your average hotel or resort, you’ll probably be sharing space with others at some point, however, this can be a fun way to get to know other travelers or find new friends to get out and sightsee with!

AirBNB/VRBO: This options likely affords you the best price range and can be handy for the budget minded solo or couples adventure. I’ve always gone this route because of the budget friendly options. If you decide on an AirBNB/VRBO option, there are a few areas you’ll want to pick from… Grace Bay, Turtle Cove, Long Bay, and Taylor Bay. Wheeland, Blue Hills, West Harbour and Northwest Point are not unsafe; they are farther from what you’ll want to see and unless you know the island, may be a little harder to navigate. The Downtown area isn’t somewhere I would choose to stay due to the safety of the area after dark. Overall, TCI has very little crime to speak of and I have never felt scared or unsafe in any way on the island.

Getting Around:

I would HIGHLY recommend renting a vehicle while traveling TCI, especially the island of Providenciales. The island may be small, but it is long and taxis are not super reliable. If you choose the taxi route, always negotiate the fare before your departure so you aren’t surprised by your bill when you arrive at your destination.

There are a few car rental companies to choose from and you may even find an AirBNB option that includes use of a vehicle. I always rent a Jeep from Island Life Jeeps (https://islandlifejeeps.com). Russ and Rhonda are the amazing owners and have made me feel like family while I’m on the island! Plus, it’s fun to drive around the island with the top down and the music up!!

Sarah’s Savvy Selections:

Pack your non-perishable snacks. Food is expensive on the island and I’ve found that packing microwave popcorn, granola bars, protein bars/protein powder, almonds, trail mix, candy, etc to have on hand help cut down my food budget.

Eat breakfast at your rental. I usually purchase eggs and some fruit for breakfasts and make sure I eat a good meal before heading out for the day. This way, I can throw some snacks in my beach bag and then go out for supper without feeling like I’m breaking the bank.

Pack a water bottle. I bring my 40 oz HydroFlask (https://www.hydroflask.com) with me so I don’t have to buy water throughout the day. I can count on my water staying cold even while it’s in the sunshine on the beach! I pick up a few gallon jugs of water at the grocery store rather than cases of bottled water and put them in the fridge at my rental. This also cuts down on your plastic waste you’ll leave behind on the island. PS- the water on the island is safe to drink, but because it is salt water that is run through reverse osmosis, it just doesn’t taste very good. You can also thrown in a few Crystal Light packets or your favorite flavor mix for a little added treat.

Bring a bottle of your favorite alcohol in your checked luggage. US travelers entering TCI can bring 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of wine. I pack my bottle of Crown Royal and then grab my mixers from the grocery store. This way I can pre-mix a drink or pack my cooler for the day if I want a beverage on the beach.

Don’t pack your party clothes! Providenciales doesn’t have a large night life so you won’t need to meet any strict dress code requirements. Higher end resort restaurants may require non-beach attire for supper but I have found that a sundress and sandals for women and chinos or dress shorts and a polo shirt are men is acceptable dress attire on the island! There is a golf course on Providenciales for those golfers out there which does have a dress code in place.

What to do:

• Beaches/Water sports
• Turks Head Brewery
• Rent a Jet Ski/boat tour
• Ride horses in the water
• Kite surfing lessons
• Golf
• ATV rentals
• Caves and cliffs
• Deep sea fishing