Turks & Caicos: the expert Q&A

Our Product Executive, Melissa, has just returned from an island-hopping adventure across Turks and Caicos. From dreamy beaches to the best places to stay, she’s answering your most-asked questions about this captivating cluster of Caribbean isles.

What makes Turks and Caicos different from other Caribbean islands?

It’s not your typical ‘first-time to the Caribbean’ island. It’s for travellers who want something a little different – an island that’s cosmopolitan yet true to its roots. It has a relaxed charm with Western know-how and very high standards. A three-star here feels more like a four-star anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Paint us a picture – what’s the island like?

This British Overseas Territory sits southeast of the Bahamas and is made up of around forty islands and cays, only a handful inhabited. Providenciales (or Provo, as the locals call it) is where most of the action happens, home to the island’s best resorts, restaurants and shops.

Beyond town, the landscape is flat and arid, shaped by limestone rather than rainforest, so you’ll spot lots of cactus, scrub and low-lying brush. It’s more Mexico than Caribbean, with a desert-meets-ocean feel. And the beaches? I’ve never been somewhere with sea so turquoise and sand so white.

How did you get there?

I flew with British Airways from London Heathrow via the Bahamas, landing in Providenciales late afternoon, just in time for a sunset cocktail before dinner. I travelled in Premium Economy and would definitely recommend it for the extra comfort. The added space, service and upgraded dining made such a difference on a long flight.

You can also connect through Miami, Antigua or Barbados if you’re pairing it with another island. Miami is especially easy – the onward flight is only about 90 minutes.

One Bedroom Villa, Wymara Resort & Villas

Where should you stay for serious style points?

Wymara Resort & Villas has major wow factor, with three of the island’s best restaurants and showstopping oceanfront villas. The Palms on Grace Bay has a refined, old-school glamour – think Sandy Lane in Barbados. 

Salterra Resort & Spa, set on the smaller island of South Caicos, was another highlight: quieter and more remote but full of character, with one of the best spas in the region and superb snorkelling right offshore. Getting there was an adventure, flying low over reef-ringed cays.

Alexandra Resort

How did the island measure up on service?

The service was exceptional. People from all over the world work in the hotels and restaurants here, bringing an international flair that really raises the bar. Nothing’s too much trouble, and there’s a warmth that feels completely genuine.

©Beaches Turks & Caicos

Which hotels are perfect for couples or families?

For couples, I’d say Wymara and Blue Haven are right on the mark. Both are chic, stylish and very cool. 

For families, Beaches Turks & Caicos is the big name for a reason, with more activities than you could possibly fit into one stay. Alexandra Resort is a smart pick too, a low-key all-inclusive with à la carte dining at both the resort and its sister hotel, plus kids under 12 stay, eat and play for free.

Blue Haven Resort

How does Turks & Caicos cost-wise to other Caribbean islands?

It’s definitely a premium destination. Prices reflect that, but so do the standards. The food and service are on par with the Middle East or the Maldives, which you don’t get so much with the laid-back vibe of other Caribbean islands.

The dine-out scene’s a bit like Barbados in spirit, but expect to pay a little more for the extra variety and consistently high-quality food and service.

The Sands at Grace Bay

Is it recommended to go all-inclusive?

All-inclusive isn’t the norm here and that’s part of the charm. Turks and Caicos has a fabulous foodie scene, a bit like Dubai, with international chefs and a huge range of cuisines, from beach shacks serving Caribbean staples to fine dining, Asian fusion and Japanese. The fun lies in restaurant-hopping between hotels; you’ll end up planning a return trip just to enjoy the places you missed first time round.

All-inclusive can still make sense, though. For families it’s great value (kids, unlimited ice cream, say no more) and for couples it keeps planning to a minimum. Most hotels are condominium-style, so you’ll often have a kitchenette, giving you flexibility to mix things up.

Grace Bay Beach

Which beaches lived up to the hype?

Grace Bay Beach really does live up to its reputation, often voted one of the best beaches on the planet. It’s butter-soft, spotless and the sea shifts through every shade of blue, stretching out some 30 metres from the hotel to the water. And no seaweed in sight, which is a big win.

Other worthy mentions are Long Bay, a favourite for kitesurfers, while Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay stay shallow for metres, making them swimmable all day long. Over on South Caicos, Sailrock’s beach feels like a castaway dream, untouched and ridiculously beautiful.

Si Si at The Palms 

What were your top dining moments?

Honestly, it’s hard to choose! My top picks were Infinity at Grace Bay Club (Asian fusion with a Caribbean twist), Land and Sea at Wymara and Si Si at The Palms for sophisticated Mexican. Coco Bistro and Van serve fine dining by night and food-truck bites by day – both excellent. For a taste of local life, try Da Conch Shack, Mr Grouper’s or Omar’s Beach Hut for seafood straight off the grill.

What’s there to do beyond the beach?

Plenty! Take a boat trip to the Caicos Cays to see iguanas on Little Water Cay or swim in the clear shallows of Half Moon Bay. Explore Chalk Sound National Park, where a turquoise lagoon scattered with tiny green islets is brilliant for kayaking and paddleboarding. Between January and March, you might even catch humpback whales on their migration past the islands.

The diving here is next level. Turks & Caicos sits on an underwater plateau that drops 7,000 feet into the deep, so the wall dives are incredible and the reefs are full of colour and life.

You can also pop over to one of the neighbouring islands, South Caicos, Grand Turk or Ambergris Cay, even just for the day. Top tip: if you’re in Providenciales on a Thursday, don’t miss the weekly Fish Fry at The Bight. Food vendors dish up conch, mac and cheese and jerk chicken, stalls sell handmade crafts and there’s live reggae music and dancing.

How easy is it to get around?

Taxis can be pricey and charge per person rather than per trip. Expect around $40 per person for a 30-minute ride one way. There aren’t any buses, so it’s well worth hiring a car or using hotel shuttles. Resorts like Wymara, Alexandra, Blue Haven and Ocean Club often run them. Most hotels along Grace Bay are walkable, so you can wander one way along the beach (sunset walk recommended) and taxi back if you fancy.

When’s the best time to visit Turks & Caicos?

The best time to go is during the main Caribbean season from December to April, when it’s warm and dry. I travelled in October and had sunshine all week with no rain at all.

Is it good for a twin-centre trip?

Definitely. Providenciales and South Caicos make an easy twin-centre if you want to see two sides of the islands. You can also combine it with the US, with Miami only a 90-minute flight away, or fly in via Barbados, Antigua or Jamaica.

Finally, 4 words to sum up Turks and Caicos?

You’ll never regret going.

Salterra Resort & Spa

This article was created on 23rd October 2025. The information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Feature by Heather Flanagan.