Paradise Unveiled: The Ultimate Luxury Hotels in Turks and Caicos
Updated: Apr 3
Turks and Caicos, with its pristine beaches and turquoise waters, is a dream destination for luxury travellers seeking an unforgettable escape. During our trip, we tried to experience the hospitality of as many top-notch hotels as possible, so that we could help make your decision where to stay much easier than ours. We spent several nights at the Shore Club and COMO Parrot Cay, spent an afternoon at the Palms, and went for dinner at Amanyara. Although each hotel offered a unique and luxurious experience, it was not difficult for us to pick a favourite.
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As guests of its sister property, the Shore Club, the Palms Hotel first welcomed us not with breathtaking views of the water, but with the breathtaking views of the property itself. It is a beautiful sprawling estate with immaculate gardens and unmistakable old-world island charm. As you make your way through the grounds you will reach the central pool, an impressive sight, with the iconic Grace Bay Beach on display behind. Here we splurged on a couple of beach bar Pina coladas, and after only a few sips we forgot about the price tag. They were some of the best we’ve ever had. The water is warm, the sand is soft and the surroundings are gorgeous.
The downside for us was the number of people. Although the pool and beach being so close together is convenient, it does tend to make things feel even busier than they may be. Plus there are other bustling resorts stretching up and down Grace Bay Beach on either side of you adding to the frenzy. The pool was busy and the chairs surrounding it were full. Thankfully we found a couple of loungers on the beach, but we had to sit three rows back from the water. That being said, if a lively and bustling atmosphere adds to your vacation enjoyment, this is definitely the spot for you.
The Amanyara offers an exquisite and luxurious experience, synonymous with the Aman brand. The service was impeccable and the surroundings were breathtaking. Sipping cocktails at the ocean-view bar as the sun sets down out of the pastel sky and into the pastel waters is an experience you will not forget. The view out past the main restaurant was one of rocky cliffs dotted with guest villas, where you can watch the waves magnificently crash. However, if you venture over to the right side, there is a a sight closer to the image of Turks and Caicos you have conjured up in your head. A beautiful white sand beach with turquoise water awaits the guests.
Unfortunately, the drive to this resort was not as simple as we expected. Half of it was down dirt roads that were unlit and bumpy. The journey took about 35 minutes from town, and after going through the experience, I imagine that it would deter guests of the Aman from venturing into town to enjoy a day at Grace Bay Beach or to have dinner at one of the many heralded restaurants. If secluded luxury is your style, this is your spot.
Now THIS is the ultimate private island escape. We were picked up by the hotel SUV and whisked away to their dock on Providenciales, where we were given champagne and local Turks Head beers (a MUST try) while we waited for our boat. The ride over to the island was quick but consisted entirely of turquoise blue waters and beautiful sandy shores. A golf cart was waiting at the island’s dock to drive us over to the main area where our room was located.
The design was a perfect coastal beach cottage feel, and we were delighted to find a welcome bottle of champagne waiting. The beach here may not have been quite as amazing as the ones on Providenciales, but still ranked among the best we have ever been to. There are two pools overlooking the water, one adults-only and one family-friendly, neither of which was ever crowded. Nestled in between the two is a beach bar set up to bring you delicious snacks and cocktails all day long. Each meal was amazing, and the restaurant rotated between locations and menus every night so that it always felt different. This is one of the few properties we have ever left, without a single complaint.
The Shore Club Hotel in Providenciales, situated along Long Bay Beach, is our top pick for luxury hotels in Turks and Caicos. Although we had a couple of hiccups with the service, the resort’s layout with three distinct pools and a spacious beachfront is what won us over.
At first, we were surprised by the lack of a main and central pool, but we quickly realized the beauty of the design. Because each pool served a different purpose from family fun to adult-friendly swim-up bars, no one location ever felt crowded. Furthermore, the dense trees and lush greenery around the property created a feeling of seclusion and tranquility.
The hotel’s beach was long and narrow, which meant that chairs were only one row deep, yet still readily available. The staff will even bring you over some water bottles inside a bag of ice, perfect for beating the Caribbean heat. The first two days of our stay, Long Bay Beach (where the resort is situated) was a kite surfers’ paradise. The wind was so strong all we did was watch the colorful sails dance along the water. However, on day three, that same beach earned its rank among the top beaches we have ever been to. The water was perfectly calm without a fish or rock in sight and remained the most beautiful shade of baby blue as far as the eye could see. We soon learned that this was due to how shallow the water was. This also meant the ocean warmed up quickly, so for the first time in our life we had to get out of the water to cool off.
If you have the stamina, you could walk straight out into the ocean for five kilometers and only ever be waist-deep. At this five-kilometer mark lies a shipwreck that from the shore appears eerily still afloat, but is merely beached in the shallow waters. We rented a jet ski and headed out to the wreck, then spent the most blissful hour whipping up and down the beach admiring all of the beautiful homes. There is even a floating tiki bar if you fancy a mid-ocean happy hour.
This stretch of beach is home to only a few hotels, which only adds to the privacy you will feel as a guest. Plus the resort offers a complimentary shuttle to their sister property, The Palms, so you can still enjoy a day on the iconic Grace Bay Beach like we did.
The natural beauty of Turks and Caicos is luxurious all on its own, and the many upscale hotel options available only add to that experience. Whatever resort you select will offer its own unique charm and appeal, and hopefully leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Either way, the sky will be a pastel-colored masterpiece and the sea will blend seamlessly into it. The Turks head beers will be cold and delicious, and well worth the effort of carrying them home from duty-free. And you will be relaxed. Enjoy!
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