If you feel like everyone you know does Turks and Caicos Islands Right now, it’s not your imagination.
Here’s what the destination just posted: Highest number of visitors in the first quarter everwelcome Staying visitors: 203,587 Between January and March, 5% increase Same period last year. It comes on the heels of a welcome year for the islands. Nearly 2 million visitors at large.
That means the Caribbean’s hottest luxury destination is constantly looking for new gear.
And it’s not hard to understand why. This is the house of Grace Bay BeachFeaturing incredible stretches of white sand and turquoise waters that regularly top lists of the world’s best beaches, it’s a destination that has built its entire identity around barefoot luxury. World-class resorts and villas, a culinary scene that gets better with each season, and unique, sparkling ocean.
It is also a destination where you can receive rewards the longer you stay. Beyond Grace Bay lies a surreal milky lagoon. choke soundA vast area filled with wild kites long bayFresh conches caught straight from the water and the constellations of the sister islands, from Cruise Energy. grand turk The untouched tranquility of the small reefs gives each a reason to come back.
But the bigger story is what happens next. Because the Turks and Caicos Islands aren’t just riding a wave of demand. We are actively expanding to meet this. New hotels, new restaurants, new major non-stop flights. In America.
Record-breaking start, more room to meet it
Numbers tell the whole story about your destination.
The first quarter record was no exception. It was a continuation of ongoing momentum that tourism officials say reflects the island’s continued appeal among travelers seeking outstanding beaches, outstanding resorts and authentic island culture.
“We are thrilled to start the year with record tourism, which demonstrates our continued position as an in-demand destination and the success of our efforts to deepen our relationships with our travel partners,” he said. Minister of Tourism Hon. Java and Jolly.
Destinations have been added to keep pace. 177 new hotel rooms Only in the first quarter. This includes new debuts as well. Hotel Indigo by IHGJust steps from Grace Bay Beach. opening Treasure Beach Village to beaches Turks and Caicos; and 20 custom suites to Ellipse Grace Bay.
The dining scene has grown along with it. New openings include: amber to beach residence, anchorage to Blue Haven Marina, The Porna Hotel Indigo Salina From the Ellipse — Four new reasons why the island’s culinary reputation continues to rise
And the big opening is yet to come: the hotly anticipated Andaz Turks & Caicos, in Grace BayHyatt’s lifestyle luxury brand is scheduled to launch later this year.
6 new ways to get there
If you are planning a trip, here are the most important parts: Getting to the Turks and Caicos Islands will be much easier from the East Coast.
boutique carrier Bermud Airlines We are embarking on a major expansion. ProvidencialesService provided 6 routes It will begin in the United States this fall and continue until next spring.
The expanded schedule includes the following flights: newarkNon-stop service is available every Saturday from mid-December to the end of April, with additional direct flights every Thursday. BostonServices are held every Saturday from mid-December to early May. and Baltimore/WashingtonNon-stop service is provided every Thursday from the end of December to the end of April.
But the headline news is the first of the pair. Bermud Airlines will fly Direct flights from Raleigh-Durham twice weekly Thursday and Sunday and Non-stop departures twice a week from St. Pete-Clearwater Monday and Thursday — The first direct flight ever From the airport to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Floridians also get their own options. Three weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale It operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from late October to early May.
“The addition of flight routes with BermudAir is a clear statement of confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and represents a meaningful step in strengthening and diversifying our connectivity to key source markets,” said Jolly.
Add it all up and you have record demand, growing room inventory, and a destination offering more non-stop access than ever before. The only question left is the best question. The question is where to stay.
Here are five of our favorite hotels in Turks and Caicos right now.
The Sands at Grace Bay
There’s a reason The Sands at Grace Bay It’s been a Caribbean Journal favorite for many years. A typical Turks and Caicos Islands beach resort, this all-suite low-rise building is located right in the most popular area. Grace Bay Beach.
Suites here are bright and airy, built for real vacations and feature full kitchens and the resort’s signature features. Screened balcony and porchPerfect for morning coffee when the trade winds blow. Three swimming pools wind through tropical gardens, and the beach is a screensaver with loungers and parasols on soft sand.
Then there Hemingway’sis the resort’s best-loved beachfront restaurant, serving up conch fritters and rum punch at sunset as one of the island’s simple pleasures. The shops and restaurants of central Grace Bay are within easy walking distance of the sandy beach. Families love The Sands, couples keep coming back, and almost everyone leaves with a round trip planned. This is the Grace Bay you’ve always imagined.
The Palms Turks and Caicos Islands
Sands’ sister resort if you’re comfortable with bare feet The Palms Turks and Caicos Islands Full-dress glamorous, this is one of the most elegant resorts in the Caribbean.
Located in the prime location of Grace Bay, The Palms is all colonnaded architecture, manicured courtyards and grand Caribbean style, all set on a beautiful beach. infinity pool It is one of the most photogenic locations in the area. The extra-large suites are residential in size, with deep balconies and views across the famous turquoise waters.
of the resort 25,000 square foot spa It’s a destination in its own right, regularly cited as one of the best hotels in the Caribbean, with treatments centered around a tranquil reflecting pool. and Parallel 23The resort’s signature restaurant, offers some of the most sophisticated dining on the island (the Caesar salad alone is worth a table). Grace Bay is the place to go when you want to thrive. Not to mention Si Si’s amazing new design.
The Shore Club
On the other side of the island The Shore Club When the Turks and Caicos Islands opened with its first resort, the conversation about it changed. Long Bay BeachAnd it remains one of the finest buildings in the entire region.
Long Bay offers a unique beauty. It’s a vast, shallow, windswept lagoon where kiteboarders line the horizon and water glows in shades you never knew existed. Shore Club makes the most of this with its spacious, sculptural campus of suites and villas. four different pools And a sense of space that is increasingly rare in the Caribbean.
The meal itself is a draw. SuirenThe resort’s acclaimed Peruvian-Japanese restaurant and one of the most interesting tables in Turks and Caicos, along with casual beachfront and poolside options, mean you won’t have to leave. For sophisticated travelers who want Grace Bay levels of luxury in a quieter, more dramatic setting, this is the choice.
Grace Bay Club
No Turks and Caicos hotel list would be complete without a list. Grace Bay ClubThis is a property that effectively invented luxury on the island and has never relinquished its place at the top.
This resort offers legendary touches including personal butler service, beachfront suites with panoramic terraces, and the famous beachfront suites. infinity barWith a 90-foot ribbon of bars running straight out to sea, it remains one of the Caribbean’s great sunset spots. The resort is cleverly divided into zones, with adults-only areas for couples and separate villa sections for families, so everyone can enjoy their own version of Grace Bay Club.
Dining led by the beach Infinity Restaurant and Raw Baris consistently one of the island’s best restaurants, and its service culture, honed over decades, is what regulars talk about most. Grace Bay Club still feels like the standard against which all others are measured.
Kokomo Botanical Resort
And here are some insider picks. Kokomo Botanical ResortThis hideout proves that Providenciales still has secrets.
set within range 5 acres of lush botanical gardens Kokomo, in the center of the island (rooms currently priced from $410), is a collection of self-contained private homes. caribbean cottages It features a full kitchen, a shaded front porch, and a sense of tranquility hard to find on the beach. Nature trails run between the villas, connecting the freshwater oasis pool, saltwater plunge, and on-site restaurant with a focus on fresh, locally inspired cuisine.
The clever part? Guests have access to facilities owned by Kokomo. Private beach club at the western end of Grace BayLounges, umbrellas and free shuttles are available throughout the day, and on-site car rental makes exploring the island easy. It’s also one of the best values in Providenciales, which makes it that much sweeter. Word of mouth built Kokomo’s reputation, and at One Stay you can see why.
conclusion
The Turks and Caicos Islands have always had the raw ingredients: some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, uniquely colored waters, and a collection of resorts to rival any place in the world.
What we have now is momentum. Record arrivals, hundreds of new rooms, a wave of new restaurants, a marquee Andaz is underway, and six new flight routes that will make Providenciales accessible non-stop to even more people in the U.S. (including two cities that have no direct connection to the island).
Whether your version of Turks and Caicos is a screened porch at The Sands, a spa day at The Palms, a kite-lined skyline at The Shore Club, a sunset at Infiniti Bar or a garden retreat at Kokomo, there’s never been a better moment to book.
The travelers gathered there already know. Now you do too.
