The Wine Cellar in Turks and Caicos just announced a creative recycling program for Bambarra Rum, a product that is unique to the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

When you bring back empty bottles of the locally-blended Bambarra Rum you get a free bottle of Bambarra Rum!   OK, you need to bring back 12 bottles - but the rum is good, so it may not be so difficult to do!

Bambarra Rum is as unique as the Turks & Caicos Islands.  It’s named after one of the original settlements in Middle Caicos where a group of African settlers were welcomed after their slave ship, the Trouvadore, wrecked off of East Caicos in 1841. The rum is bottled and blended in Turks and Caicos so it captures the flavor and history of the islands - making it an ideal souvenir as well as a good aperitif!  The rum comes in five different flavors: Gold, Silver, Coconut, Reserve and the top-of-the line Trouvadore. 

For more information on Bambarra Rum - click here.   Better yet - visit the Turks and Caicos and taste for yourself.  Alexandra Resort's Mango Reef Restaurant features the rum in a host of creative cocktails that you can enjoy by the pool, on the beach or watching the sunset on your own terrace in our spacious, oceanfront suites!

The Turks and Caicos Islands, a string of 40 different islands and cays located in the West Indies, are an excellent vacation spot at any time of year. These islands have beautiful weather year-round, with temperature ranging from 85 to 90 degrees between June and October and 80 to 84 degrees from November to May, and 350 days of sunshine in an average year. If you’re in an area where fall is chilly and dreary, the Turks and Caicos Islands are just the place to enjoy some beautiful weather and get away from it all for awhile. When you get there, here are a few of the fun activities you’ll be able to enjoy.

• Snorkel, SCUBA, or SNUBA. The Turks and Caicos Islands are an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. Grand Turk Island in particular is well known among divers for the coral reef wall that runs parallel to the island. West Caicos also has spectacular coral reefs and underwater rock walls. Another fascinating dive opportunity is presented by the shipwrecks, some hundreds of years old, off the shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Snorkelers will enjoy the government established snorkeling trails that allow snorkelers to view coral gardens and come into close contact with the area’s amazing specimens of marine life. Want something more challenging than snorkeling, but you’re not quite ready for SCUBA diving? Try SNUBA (surface nexus underwater breathing apparatus) that allows you to explore the ocean at a depth of 20 feet. SNUBA is an exciting new sport that is appropriate for ages 8 and up.
• Take a glass bottom boat tour. If you can’t or don’t want to swim, you can still explore the undersea beauty in the waters around the Turks and Caicos Islands with a glass bottom boat tour. Several companies in the Turks and Caicos Islands now offer glass bottom boat tours. This is an activity that the entire family can participate in. Non-swimmers will be able to see the coral reefs and marine life through the clear bottom of the boat, and snorkelers can hop into the water and do some exploring of their own. The tour boats provide snorkeling equipment and drinks.
• Go windsurfing or kiteboarding. Want a thrill or a challenge? Try windsurfing or kiteboarding on Providenciales. Here you can find PASA certified instructors and rental equipment that will allow you to experience flying with the wind or water. The climate and water conditions on Providenciales are perfectly suited to these exciting sports.

Traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands in the fall may also allow you to find special deals. For instance, the Alexandra Resort has several fall specials: the fourth night free offer and the Caribbean Wine and Food Festival package, but this must be booked before the end of October.  Also, Air Turks & Caicos is offering their Autumn-Matic fare sale: $20 off each way, for a total savings of $40, for any round trip ticket purchased between October 1st and November 30th.  With the great savings and the beautiful weather, fall is a perfect time to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands!

(Thank you to Ashley Bennett for the article)

It has always been convenient for Americans to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands.   For one, we use the US dollar - so there is no need to worry about currency conversion.  Secondly, getting here is a synch with direct flights from major US cities and just over an hour from Miami, 3 hours from New York or 3.5 hours from Toronto.  And, English is our common language! Now there’s even another convenient development - the US Government opened a Consular Affairs Office in Providenciales this month.

We know that you won’t be making a special trip to Turks and Caicos because of this  - but knowing that the U.S. has an official presence on our islands makes all of us feel reassured. 

"With the opening of this office, we are celebrating the strength of the ties between the United States and the Turks and Caicos Islands," said Mr. John Dinkelman, Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. "ties that unite us through our common concerns for tourism and the safe travel of our citizens."

Dinkelman, who was here for the grand opening ceremony, pointed out that roughly 3,000 American citizens reside in Turks and Caicos and over 700,000 are expected to visit in 2013, so the timing is ideal for the establishment of a permanent facility in Providenciales.

So, as you plan your Fall/Winter vacation - keep in mind all the travel conveniences a trip to Turks and Caicos has to offer.  In addition to the new US Consular Affairs Office, there are the short flights and the fact that we share the time zone with the Eastern sea board, same currency and same language as America.  But, perhaps the biggest convenience of all is not what we have in common but what sets up apart.  Our mesmerizing beaches are luxurious but also relaxing and are only a few steps from the spacious, beachfront suites of the Alexandra Resort.   Our setting, staff and services will make your next vacation easy and unforgettable.  Come see for yourself - be one of the 700,000 Americans who visit us this year, but do enjoy the privacy of Alexandra Resort while you are at it.

The Alexandra Resort and Spa was designed with the family in mind. Nothing better illustrates this than our spacious rooms, tastefully decorated and available in a range of configurations.  We hope you'll enjoy this brief slideshow we've prepared to help you get a better feel for the accommodations at the Alexandra Resort and Spa and maybe even a little inspiration to come to Turks and Caicos on your next vacation. 

This slideshow made with Smilebox

As the world celebrates the European win of the 39th annual Ryder Cup it’s a good time to bring to light a special golf offer in Turks and Caicos.   The Provo Golf Club, a Karl Lytton designed course located minutes away from the Alexandra Resort, is offering a kids-play-free special when they play a round with an adult after 10am.

The 18-hole championship course, which is frequently described as one of best in the Caribbean, has hosted some major regional tournaments - including the Caribbean Amateur Championships and its own version of a Ryder Cup.   Even with this international attention, playing golf often gets overshadowed as a vacation activity by the exceptional beach and watersports we have here.  With the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach at its front door, the Provo Golf Club has stiff competition for the attention of visitors.  However, those that venture onto the course are well-rewarded.

The course boasts lush fairways and immaculate greens and has a natural, rugged design that combines a great test of golf with the natural flora and fauna of the islands. The layout is excellent from beginners through low handicappers, as there are four sets of tees for all golfing levels.  The club’s full service pro-shop is equipped with premium TaylorMade golf clubs for rental as well as top-of-the-line equipment and attire for sale.   Lessons are available from the club pro and multi-round discount packages are available for adults.  

At Provo Golf Club, playing golf is a great family activity even when you are on vacation.  Golf imparts integrity, discipline, and sportsmanship, as well as providing good exercise.  In golf you are your own referee, you call your own penalties and keep your own score, which teach the importance of taking responsibility - an excellent lesson for kids of all ages.   With golf, differences in age and acumen are irrelevant.  Multiple generations can play together, enjoying the aesthetically pleasing and competitively stimulating environment.  And finally there’s the golf cart - we all know how much kids love driving golf carts.  In fact, in addition to the beautiful course, there is a putting green and chipping area on site too, which is good for people who may not want to go out on the 'real course' and gives kids a chance to learn the game in a more controlled way. 

One of the nice things about the Ryder Cup - in addition to providing three days of gripping golf where the world’s best golfers from the United States and Europe display their skills - is that there’s no monetary reward.  The competition is purely about the love of the sport, the pride of winning and being your best.  This is also a great family value to impart and share.  

With all these altruistic attributes of golf we are almost forgetting to mention the best benefit of golfing in Turks and Caicos - afterwards you can plunge into the sea just across the street with your child. Reward yourselves for a job well done on the course with a refreshing smoothie at the serviced beach at The Alexandra.