Turks & Caicos
by Susie Howard
As part of my educational to Miami, we also had the privilege of visiting the amazing unspoilt Turks and Caicos Islands. The flight from Miami to Providenciales takes approximately 70 Minutes.
Arriving into Providenciales International Airport there is a 15-minute vehicle ride to the Leeward Marina, and then a 35-minute motor launch journey to Parrot Cay. This 1000 acre secluded private island boasts 3.2 miles of unspoilt, powder white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. We were greeted at the jetty by the Manager and his assistants and ushered to our beautiful rooms set in the gardens and furnished with teak four-poster beds. They are cool and peaceful retreats, the décor delightfully understated and with white muslin drapes that billow in the wind. Just steps from the magnificent beach are the Beach Houses with private sundecks and heated plunge pools. There is also a collection of exclusive villas for private rental. This is a resort that oozes escapism with a great emphasis on rejuvenation, and the Como Shambala retreat, the byword for holistic well-being, features yoga, meditation and ancient oriental therapies, Parrot Cay is perfect for anyone to de-stress and reinvigorate their mind, body and soul. A great highlight for me on this trip was the conch fishing trip out to the other tiny islands that surround Parrot Cay which are uninhabited by humans but full of marine and birdlife, and pure white sand.
Back on the main island of Providenciales, we were taken to the Regent Palms Hotel, this is cool and elegant with its wonderful setting overlooking the ocean, and it's breathtaking stretches of beach as far as the eye can see. Here the facilities are world class and the staff are committed to ensuring that you relax as soon as you arrive. The Parallel 23 restaurant is particularly good here and whilst we were staying the Head Chef came out to chat to us as his hometown was Birkenhead! I liked the location of this property simply because you were not tied to the hotel and could venture out to the local restaurants and bars within a 10 minute walk. Really worth a visit!
For my last hotel visit we were taken to the wonderful Grace Bay Club set on beautiful Grace Bay, noted for its turquoise waters. I loved this property - it had everything here. This All-Suite hotel originally opened in 1993 with just 21 Suites, but in 2001 the construction of another 38 Villa Suites were developed. They were created to offer a broader appeal as a family-friendly holiday destination. Children are really well looked after at the kids town programme, so parents can take advantage of the amenities of the adult only area of the hotel. With two fantastic restaurants, the new Infiniti bar (the Caribbean's longest bar - which stretches from the Grace Bay Club to Grace Bay beach) a wealth of facilities including non- motorised watersports, tennis, bicycles and a fitness centre. This is a stunning property in a great location and one definitely not to be missed.