Turks & Caicos Islands
We didn't have Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) on our vacation radar, it just happened to fall into place. We booked this spontaneous adventure only a month and half out. With beautiful beaches, weather, and a relatively short flight away, we quickly became eager for our early 2024 holiday.
To book the trip, I used my favorite credit card points to fly without paying any cash (nearly $2k savings). For our stay, we booked an Airbnb on the northwest side of Providenciales (main island at TCI for tourists). We rented our vehicle through Autoslash.com, which linked us with Avis to get the best weekly rate.
TCI is a British owned territory, which means they drive on the opposite side of the road. However, this wasn't problematic for me, and I'd say most tourists. However, if you're uncomfortable with this, you may hire a reputable company for transportation in Provo. Just keep in mind, this may add to your budget, depending on your transportation needs.
We learned quickly that TCI is not a cheap destination to visit. We found this surprising considering the residential areas of the island are developing. There are many opportunities for the white glove treatment near Grace Bay, and even higher-end luxury vacation homes all around the island waterfronts. So, depending on your budget, these opportunities may entice you for a luxurious stay.
Provo offers many places to visit, eat, and explore - which is why I believe it's the main destination for tourists. However, other islands of TCI (such as North and Middle Caicos) offer much more seclusion, yet still offer the opportunity for vehicle rentals, restaurants, and grocery stores. There is a boat ferry via Caribbean Cruisin on the east side of Provo that offers round-trip transportation to North Caicos.
We decided to take the ferry twice during our week stay since we enjoyed exploring North and Middle Caicos so much. If you love having beaches to yourself, I highly recommend booking a stay in North Caicos over Provo - at least for the majority of your stay. It's a personal preference, but that's coming from someone who loves beach seclusion, and I could care less if I'm not staying at a five-star hotel/resort. If we could do this trip again, we would stay 5 days in North Caicos and 2 days in Provo.
Now, the main reason to visit TCI: it's beautiful beaches.
Our Top 5 Beaches (as determined from exploring Provo, North, and Middle Caicos):
1) Pumpkin Bluff
We found ourselves simply enjoying this secluded location. We only saw a handful of people come and go during our two visits. Good snorkeling, beautiful lagoons with areas to explore. Not too difficult to get to from Bellefield Landing, North Caicos.
2) Three Mary Cays
Solitary area where you can explore three cays, go snorkeling, and just take your time enjoying the lagoon. It is a little challenge to get there, as it will take some time going over some rough patches of gravel road, especially with a sedan rental.
3) Leeward Beach
The less crowded version of Grace Bay. Beautiful shades of blue. Snorkeling not as good as other beaches. This is a relax and enjoy the view kind of a beach.
4) Taylor Bay Beach
Fun to play with the family in the shallow waters with very little waves. Close to Chalk Sound.
5) Mudjin Harbor
We only made it out to Mudjin Harbor (Middle Caicos) one time on a cloudy day, but it did not disappoint. The cliffs and seascape are unique compared to the rest of TCI. Beautifully refreshing. Takes over 45 minutes to travel from Bellefield Landing, North Caicos.
Favorite Place to Snorkel: Smith's Reef
Snorkeling at Smith's Reef was our favorite location, although there are several areas you may choose that could be just as nice. We just found this spot to be picturesque on a calm, sunny day. In addition, this place offers ample parking and easy access to the reef.
Our top 5 Places to Eat
1) Hemmingway's On The Beach
2) Baracuda Beach Bar
3) Mudjin Bar and Grill
4) Omars Beach Hut
5) Da Conch Shack
Budget Tip: If you're on a tighter budget, I highly recommend going to Graceway Gourmet, where you can order a freshly made to order pizza. We ordered a couple of times got a large three topping pizza for $23 - fresh in 15 minutes. It's delicious and super affordable.
Avoid: Somewhere Lounge and Cafe
We were recommended this place by a nice gentleman. The service was okay, but the food was mediocre, at best. Perhaps they were having a bad night, but I would go to one of the other restaurants listed above.
Closing thoughts and advice
I think there are two groups of people I can share my recommendation, if you are planning a visit to TCI.
Group A: Those of you planning a stay at a resort or condo. There are many great options to choose near Grace Bay Beach. A great option, if you have the budget. The only thing I would add to this vacation plan is scheduling a private charter to see the most beautiful beaches and sandbars TCI has to offer. It would require budgeting at least an additional $1,200, but I believe it would be the highlight of your trip.
Group B: Those of you (like me) planning a budget-friendly itinerary to relax yet see the most of TCI. The piece of advice I would give to others now that I've gone this route: plan 70-80% of your stay in North Caicos - if you desire seclusion and far less traffic. There are affordable Airbnb's and cottages. Provo still offers some great places, but I would spend less time here.
We hope this helps you plan a wonderful vacation to TCI! Please share if you found this helpful.
Experience TCI with an excursion via our partner:
