Reinventing the resort: Beaches Turks & Caicos
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/travel/hotel-reviews/a21599171/beaches-turks-and-caicos-review/
The minute we arrived at
Beaches Turks & Caicos, after a character building 11-hour flight thanks to our toddler in tow, my preconceived notions of the all-inclusive resort were challenged. No wrist band policy? Phew.
Located in my absolute dream destination, I always picture island life from the view point of a charming beach hut, but since becoming a parent the lure of full facilities specifically for families became real, especially when looking so far away from home. The question was, could this vast resort featuring four separate ‘villages’ feel authentically Caribbean? If you want it to,
yes. Choose the buzz, or choose serenity; we found you can bespoke Beaches to your tastes. So we did.
Location
The resort is located in Grace Bay, on the north shore of Providenciales island, Turks & Caicos. Crowned the World’s #1 Best Beach in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards, lined with graceful palms, the 12-mile stretch of white sand gives way to the calmest waters with unreal turquoise hues. While the beach views put it on bucket lists, so too does the underwater world, having earned Grace Bay its ranking as one of the top scuba diving destinations on the planet.
If you’re a scuba junkie, Beaches will indulge you with unlimited trips for certified divers at no extra cost. In addition, you can get your marine fix with snorkeling trips, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding or via a glass bottom boat (toddler-approved, in our case). There are, naturally, other bookable boat excursions to suit those wanting to purely sightsee / sunbathe / sink rum punch offshore. Each to their own.
The resort
Beaches Turks & Caicos works on a ‘luxury included’ basis, with no queuing, no tipping and no bill-signing admin involved. The all-inclusive quality really stood out, from the specialist choice of drinks (there’s nothing purely ‘house’ about it) to the excellence of the food and general high standard of hospitality. Warmly attentive, the staff were consistently engaging which added to the resort’s fun, friendly, feel-good vibe. Given that there’s something for everyone, it attracts a real mixture of guests in nationalities and ages; largely–but not exclusively–families and ‘WeddingMooners’ (there’s rarely a day without ‘I dos’ being exchanged on the beach).
Throughout the resort, room sizes–and therefore rates–vary widely. Each distinct village boats various pools (some adults only), restaurants, bars and even cafès. We resided in the Key West Village, the newest and quietest of the four (the others being the vibrant Caribbean Village, the sophisticated French Village and grandiose Italian Village) which features three- and four-bedroom villas, some even with butler service – should you wish.
Our spacious two-storey, two-bedroom suite came complete with a concierge service, meaning the fridge was constantly stocked with champagne, wine, beers, spirits and soft drinks. Handy when your two-year old sets you a curfew. However, on two occasions after his bedtime, we swapped the in-suite nightcaps for nights out, by utilising the babysitting service courtesy of a fully-trained nanny from the resort crèche.
The daily childcare centres, called Camp Sesame in homage to
Sesame Street, which the resort has collaborated with on kiddy entertainment, are open all day, every day at no additional cost for parents. Managed by specialist staff, the spacious, air-conditioned facilities come equipped with cots, educational games, play areas per age group, a children’s swimming pool and outdoor playground. No expense spared.
My husband and I took advantage of it as much to get our little one out of the scorching heat at times as for us to have a peaceful swim in the sea/frozen margarita in the adults-only Jacuzzi. Not only did leaving him feel safe, but our son was keen to get stuck in to their activities and high on fun when we collected him. This, plus the water park – featuring a Pirates Island-themed aqua playground for toddlers – were no doubt his highlights.
A whopping 21 dining options could have certainly overwhelmed, but I was surprised that the choice added to the feeling that at this specific resort you don’t get the same experience as everyone else.
For us, it was often a case of sushi and champagne at Soy (wholly recommended), or a BBQ with reggae and Red Stripe at the Jerk Shack (spicy Caribbean cuisine, bikini-on-the-beach style).
The lively Kimonos, a Japanese teppanyaki experience, proved a huge hit for my son’s second birthday celebration, with stunning food prepared at the table by talented, theatrical chefs. On a date night, Sky – with its spectacular sunset views and seafood – was sensational, and for our coffee-and-cake cravings, Café de Paris became a daily haunt.
When it came to drinks the atmosphere was happy hour
all hours, with the option of mimosas at breakfast, swim-up bars in various pools curating cocktails to your taste, and fine wines aplenty when dining.
The spas
The two Red Lane Spas on the resort felt really reflective of the Caribbean; its backdrop, traditions and aromas. Their own products, harnessing native ingredients such as ginger, coconut, raw sugarcane and wild yam are used in the various body, face, hand and feet treats.
The side-by-side couples massage my husband and I enjoyed could have been booked on the beach or in the comfort of our suite, but we relished the spa experience, with its recipe for relaxation perfectly measured.
Sustainability and philanthropy
It was important to me that for a holiday like this, eco-friendly practices came as part of the package. Beaches, with its Jamaican founder, is Caribbean at heart and, with its sister company, runs the Sandals Earth Guard. This environmental programme at the Sandals and Beaches resorts is a promise to the islands they operate on to aid the preservation of the Caribbean ecosystems, reefs and animal life, plus assist in the conservation of the planet’s environment as a whole.
The Sandals Foundation, meanwhile, is their philanthropic arm. All funds from the nonprofit organisation go directly into social development programmes benefiting the islands in which they work across the Caribbean, be it investment in education, the environment or sustainable projects in communities.
While Beaches Turks & Caicos surpassed my expectations for a family package holiday, I would stress that if you’re looking for an exotic break with complete chill and privacy, it’s probably not for you. Its scale certainly absorbs guests well, but it can feel busy at times, and given that it’s part of a famous family-friendly travel brand, the focus is as much on the little people as the big ones. Not necessarily a problem if you don’t have kids, but potentially so if you don’t tolerate them. For us, besides the location, finding pockets of peace coupled with entertainment (and frankly, distraction) for our son bought us endless convenience and happy memories – the height of luxury in our book.
