There are some great spas in Turks and Caicos, and a few of them definitely top our favourites list!  Spa Sanay, located at Alexandra Resort, offers great treatments at affordable prices.  Spa facilities are quite basic and the spa itself is small, but if you are looking for a great massage or a precision pedicure, go to Spa Sanay.  Next door at the Regent Palms, there is a very lavish spa that has consistently been ranked as one of the top spas in the Caribbean.  When it's time to indulge, go to the spa at the Regent Palms.  If you need relief from overdoing it on the golf course or kiteboarding, one of the best massage therapists on the island is Mercy.  She works at Maxime's Hair Salon, which is located in Petite Place in Grace Bay.  Mercy is very popular, so be sure to call ahead to avoid disappointment.

Grace Bay is so beautiful, it's hard to pull yourself away, but if you are ready to explore some other scenic parts of the island, head to Chalk Sound.  This stunning area is home to many lovely residences, and a beach called Sapodilla Bay.  Here you can enjoy calm, shallow, crystal clear water and wade 'way out" to search for starfish or other marine life.  Kids just love this beach.  And when you have had enough of sun and sand, head over to Las Brisas Restaurant for lunch on the patio.  Las Brisas offers an extensive menu, exceptionally clean facilities and attentive service.  We love going there for Sunday Brunch.  This family owned and operated restaurant also offers non motorized boat rentals.  They also feature a terrific two hour boat cruise on Chalk Sound.  Highlights include snorkelling and viewing a sunken airplane, and visiting a small island to feed the iguanas.  The day we were there, we fed the iguanas watermelon.  It makes for a great day in the lovely Chalk Sound area.

The Turks & Caicos annual Regatta festival will be taking place from Thursday, May 24, to Sunday, May 27, 2012.

The emphasis this year will be on culture and to this end several events that will take us back to the early days of Regatta. In keeping with our theme, “KEEPING THE VIBES ALIVE!” we want to revive that family atmosphere and communal spirit of togetherness, fun and catering for every experience of the past.

The calendar of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 24 …… LITTLE MISS REGATTA CULTURAL SHOW

Friday, May 25 ………

• FASHION AND COMEDY SHOW
• MUSIC AND DANCING

Saturday, May 26 …… DAY’S ACTIVITIES

• JUMP – UP
• OPENING CEREMONY
• TRIATHLON
• KITE FLYING
• DOMINOES
• UNCLE ARCHIE’S DIVE
• BOAT RACES
• JUNKANOO CONTEST
• TUG-A-WAR
• BICYCLING BALANCING
• MAY POLE AND MANY MORE FAMILY GAMES
• SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS – SOUTH CAICOS COMPANIES CREATIVE FLOATS

Sunday, May 27 … GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA

The Providenciales Flag Festival Committee is pleased to announce the 1st Turks & Caicos International Flag Festival.  The festival will take place from June 1-4, 2012.

The Turks & Caicos Islands is home to nationals from more than 50 countries and this International Flag Festival will bring everyone together for a weekend of fun, cultural exchanges and will also give each person an opportunity to display their national pride.

President of the Provo Flag Festival Committee Abigail Delancy commented “We realize that we live in a multi-cultural society and our neighbors are now closer to us than they were twenty years ago. The Turks and Caicos share its culture with over 50 different nationalities and this is why we believe we should celebrate together. We recognize that at the end of the day all of us here in TCI are working towards the same goal, which is to make the Turks and Caicos Islands a better place”.

Flag Fest 2012 will include a kickoff party, a beach picnic and the grand event will be a motorcade & flag party which will also include the Little Miss Flag Fest Pageant at the National Stadium on Venetian Road.  There will be prizes given for the Best Flag Outfit and the Biggest Flag at the parade.  A soccer match between Haiti & Jamaica will take place on Sunday June 3rd and a Beach Party & Food Festival will be held on June 4, 2012 at the Kids Park on the Lower Bight Road.

Musical guest will include DJ’s from TCI, DR, Jamaica, Trinidad & Haiti and the featured Band will be Lee & the Force from TCI.

Since the destination has begun keeping records of visitor arrivals from the 1980’s, the Turks and Caicos have reached a pinnacle in the growth of the nation’s top industry. Visitor Arrivals to the Turks & Caicos Is-lands in 2011 showed an increase of 12.3% where the vast majority were contributed by the Cruise Arrivals. The month of December saw a growth of 23% in stay-over visitor arrivals. The overall total arrivals for the past year was 1, 009,720 arrivals. This draws on both cruise arrivals and land base arrivals to the country. When broken down separately, cruise arrivals accounted for 655,497 a 6% increase in numbers and land base arrivals accounted for some 354, 223 a 26% increase in the numbers totaling in the aforementioned surpassed 1 million mark.

Land-Base Arrivals (Stay-Over Visitors)

The Arrivals for stay over visitors saw an increase of 26% totaling 354,223 when compared to the numbers of last year arrivals of 281,1559.

The destination continues to draw on its major source market, the United States with Canada in second place. The United States continues its dominance in arrivals to the destination due in part to major airlift to the destination that increased in 2011, namely JetBlue from New York and Continental from New Jersey. The Tourist Board expects the Canadian market to grow even more in 2012 with the addition of the new in season direct flight from the eastern Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Arrivals for the USA 2011 were 262,142, Canada- 42,282, Europe-6,902, Caribbean-39,913 and the remaining countries total 2,839 in arrivals. Overall arrivals from the USA showed an increase by 34%, Canada increased by 13% while arrivals from Europe had a declined this year by -9%.

If you are in Providenciales on the 3rd or 4th night after a full moon, don't miss the opportunity to see the glow worms!  We recommend going with Captain dave and his crew on the Atebayra - www.suncharters.tc.  This local phenomena features the mating ritual of the local glow worm.  Right on cue, 50 minutes after sunset, the male and female worms perform a phosphorescent dance.  We went on the cruise last month and adults and children alike loved the show!  Captain Dave and his crew offer great hospitality and a comfortable ride on the Atebayra.

One of the best spots on the island to enjoy dinner and a fantastic view of Turtle Cove and Grace Bay is from Magnolia Restaurant.  This well established dining establishment features classic dining fare and locally caught fish.  Magnolia is known for their tuna.  Providenciales is a relatively flat island, but Magnolia Restaurant is located on a hill overlooking Turtle Cove, which incidentally is the site where the first hotel in Provo was built (the Third Turtle - no longer in operation).  Magnolia Restaurant is about a 10 minute drive from Alexandra Resort.  Reservations are recommended.

White-sand beaches, calm clear water and a bountiful barrier reef make the Turks and Caicos island of Providenciales a hot spot for families, snorkelers and divers.

Some call rock-free Grace Bay Beach the best in the world. For an unusual experience, divers can walk along the ocean floor at Smith's Reef, where underwater signs describe the reef's ecosystem.

Additional destinations include Iguana Island (home of endangered rock iguanas), the country's only golf course, art galleries and a casino.

Providenciales neighbourhoods

There are original fishing villages here. These are The Bight, Blue Hills and Five Cays.

Five Cays is still where the fisheries are located.

Blue Hills is a local area with many small local eateries and bars.

The Bight stretches from the Grace Bay Road down to Turtle Cove Marina. There is one of the best places to snorkel from shore here called The Bight Reef. This is located in front of a resort here called Coral Gardens.

There is the most well known tourist area here of Grace Bay. This is where the majority of the resorts are located.

Leeward is at the Eastern end of the island of Providenciales. This is where the leeward Marina is located which is where many of the fishing and excursion companies are located. This is also a very nice residential community, rapidly expanding.

Turtle Cove Marina, is a very popular part of the Island, comprising an extended Marina, Restaurants, some shops and bars. There is a small hotel, a new Condo development for long term and short term rentals, beautiful large homes and some smaller quaint Island homes that are also rented out short term. There is a wonderful place to snorkel from the shore here called Smith's Reef.

Long Bay: This is on the South Shore and is a residential area. There is a very picturesque Beach here. long Bay Beach. It is rockier with many conch shells along the stretch of it. This is a very popular place for horse-riding and walking.

Turtle Tail: This is on The Southern Shore and is the residential area that can be seen behind The IGA Supermarket here. There is a large inland area of water here called Flamingo Lake which is very popular for bone-fishing and Flamingo watching at certain times of the Year. There is a small Marina here where two of the Dive operators go from.

Sapodilla Bay, Taylor Bay and Chalk Sound: These are higher end residential neighbourhoods.  Chalk sound is the inland body of water that is the brightest shade of blue you have ever seen. Sapodilla Bay is a beautiful quiet bay. Great for children to wade into. Taylor Bay around the corner is a very beautiful and quiet bay, with some gorgeous homes set along it.

Discovery Bay and Cooper Jack: Residential area comprising extended canal systems for people to have their boats out front of their homes.

Downtown:  There are some offices, banks, a few shops and government offices here. They are building a new sports centre downtown now, and there is a new Ball park and Stadium.

Kew Town: This is predominately a local/Haitian/Dominican area behind the Downtown and airport area.