Once again Turks & Caicos is in the news.   And, once again the islands are being recognized for their natural beauty and unique environment.  TripAdvisor recently announced the winners of its inaugural Travelers' Choice Islands awards.  Based on millions of valuable traveler reviews and opinions, the awards recognize more than 100 islands across the globe, including dedicated lists for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, and the United States.     

Providenciales has been voted the third best island in the Caribbean and received enthusiastic reviews and feedback from travelers’ postings on TripAdvisor.   Visitors pointed to the wide range of activities available here as well as our picture-perfect coastline.   Tranquility, diversity, beauty and charm - these are the reasons people come to Turks & Caicos, and the reasons they keep coming back.

This endorsement from the world’s largest travel web site reinforces what guests at the Alexandra Resort already know.  If this doesn’t tempt you to book your next vacation here maybe our Stay Longer, Save More promotion will.   Not only will you save up to 35% on your booking but you’ll get discounts on spa treatments and excursions with Caicos Dream Tours.   Please contact the resort for more details at 1-888-695-7591.

The Picture Perfect Coastline of Grace Bay Beach

For families, Turks & Caicos is a great vacation choice.   The destination is quick and easy to reach from major cities in North America, and it’s a safe place to visit.  Modern grocery stores, clean drinking water, state-of-the-art medical facilities and reliable communications services take some of the travel safety worries away for parents.

The Alexandra Resort is a great property for families. In addition to offering spacious and  comfortably appointed suites that include kitchen facilities, we have our Pelican Kids club, an awesome freeform swimming pool and the resort is situated in one of the best areas of Grace Bay - right on the beach and in close proximity to many restaurants and shops.

If your idea of a great family vacation includes escaping the routine and spending quality time together, you’ll be looking for family-friendly dining options.  Fortunately, you won’t have to look very hard here.  There are a number of great restaurants on Providenciales that are sure to make everyone in the family happy.  Here are some of our favorite places for value-oriented family dining experiences:

The Tiki Hut Island Eatery - Dockside at Turtle Cove Marina

This casual dining spot has a consistent track record for serving good quality food at reasonable  prices.  It offers a relaxed atmosphere that makes dining with families and/or larger groups a breeze - literally!  The Tiki Hut is located on the docks at Turtle Cove Marina. This open-air restaurant has been an island establishment since 1992.   They are famous for their Wednesday Chicken and Rib Night, which always delivers a lively atmosphere and delicious grilled specials in addition to their normal menu.   It’s open for lunch and dinner weekdays, and also for breakfast on the weekends.   Reservations are recommended for six or more.  Phone (649) 941-5341.

Baci Ristorante

Also located in Turtle Cove, Baci is an Italian restaurant that has been feeding locals and visitors for the past decade.   The place has a beautiful yet relaxed ambiance with an indoor dining room that spills out to an open-air terrace directly on the water.   The menu features fresh pastas, seafood, veal and brick-oven pizzas that can be enjoyed at the table or to go.    The long bar at the entrance usually serves as a meeting spot for locals who gather after work.  It is open Monday through Saturday nights and weekdays for lunch.   Reservations are recommended:  (649) 941-3044. 

Mango Reef

Our own Mango Reef Restaurant located at the Alexandra Resort on Grace Bay is always a great choice for families. With a wide variety of menu options and an extensive kids’ menu, the food here is always good and the setting is fun.  Kids love the beach terrace, which is a great spot to dine while the sun sets.   Plenty of outdoor seating on the beach terrace means you’ll always get a great table. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and live music is featured on Tuesday and Friday evenings.   Mango Reef also provides the lunch for children attending Pelican Kids’ Club at Mango Reef.  Guests staying at the Alexandra Resort can also enjoy the convenience of ordering room service from Mango Reef.  For reservations or carry-out service:  (649) 946-8200.

Hemingway’s

If you are looking for a bit more elegance but in a relaxed atmosphere with a menu that will please everyone in the family, you should go to Hemingway’s at The Sands Resort.   Some of the seating area is covered and the rest is on the beachside terrace.   It’s open from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.    The terrace has a JoJo Bell that people can ring when they catch a glimpse of the famous dolphin swimming by.   The great thing about this place is the menu has gourmet choices such as its juicy filet mignon or fresh grouper, as well as kid-friendly options such as chicken fingers and the brownie sundae for dessert.   For more information or reservations: (649) 941-8408.

Giggles

When the formalities of dinner are done or if you are just looking for a fun outing for you and the kids, you can head to Giggles in the Ports of Call shopping complex.  This little shop is a sweet delight - with soft-serve ice cream and an abundance of loose candy and other treats.    It is basically an ice cream shop and candy store rolled into one!  The phone is (649) 941-7370.

Be sure to call The Alexandra Resort for your next family vacation 1-800-284-0699!

Family Fun in the Sun in Turks and Caicos just in Time for Easter

The Turks and Caicos Islands was recently named one of the top ten family vacation destinations for 2013 by Family Vacation Critic, an online family travel planning guide.   According to the travel resource, January is the peak month for family vacation planning, with spring break and Easter just around the corner and summer following quickly. 

With families doing their research and planning now, we thought we’d highlight some of our favorite family things to do in Turks and Caicos.   (This is just a partial list - to see a more comprehensive overview of things to do with kids, check out our June 2012 blog.)

Chill out on the world-famous Grace Bay Beach - the beautiful soft sand and calm clear waters of Grace Bay Beach are the perfect setting for family fun in the sun.   The Alexandra Resort has a prime location in the heart of Grace Bay and the Princess Alexandra National Park.  In addition to these wonderful natural attractions, the Alexandra Resort offers its guests an expanded set of family services, including the new Pelican Kids’ Club, which offers supervised beach activities, pool time, crafts, games and lunch at Mango Reef.   If you want to really enjoy the surroundings consider our luxury, oceanfront four-bedroom penthouse suite.   With 3,840 square feet of living space and unobstructed beachfront views, this can be an ideal option for larger families that want to stay together without compromising on space or the views!  And just for Easter, the resort is offering their Hip Hop Special with savings up to 35% along with complimentary Easter Egg hunt and baskets plus kite making workshop.  Details on http://alexandraresort.com/rates_packages/specials.html.

Glow with the worms – this unique phenomenon happens every month approximately three to five nights after a full moon and is fun for all ages.  It’s a mating ritual of the marine worms - each worm glows near the surface of the water producing a light show that lasts about 15 minutes.  The best way to see the event is onboard a glow worm cruise, which generally start a half hour before the sunset.   Our favorite glow worm excursion is on the Atabeyra, a 77’, traditionally rigged trading schooner.  Visit www.suncharters.tc to learn more.

Scout for Iguanas - no visit to Turks and Caicos is complete without a trip to Iguana Island, otherwise known as Little Water Cay.   The Turks and Caicos rock iguana is a critically endangered species of lizard and Turks and Caicos is the only place in the world you can see one!  These funky animals resemble mini-dinosaurs and are the only inhabitants of the Little Water Cay.  You have to take a boat to go see them and there is a small entrance fee that is well worth it.  You can walk along the decked path and see the rock iguanas in their natural habitat.   They like to hang out in shallow burrows and blend in with their setting so spotting them is a kind of sport - you’ll enjoy seeing who can find the most. 

Giggle at Giggles - One of the islands’ most popular spots for a refreshing ice cream or sweet treat is Giggles, located in the Ports of Call shopping center.  With barrels full of loose candy that you can buy by the pound and various flavors of hard and soft ice cream as well as a range of topping options, Giggles is heaven for most kids and a fun and refreshing stop while searching for souvenirs or after lunch or dinner.

Scuba dive without getting wet - See the sea under the sea in a semi-submarine.  The Undersea Explorer from Caicos Tours allows you to get down below the waves and see stingrays, turtles, exotic tropical fish, sharks and spectacular coral formations while still being able to talk and stay dry.  If you get really lucky you might even spot JoJo - the local resident dolphin.

Beach bonfire - Eating on the beach can be a fun treat if it’s executed properly.  Every Friday night Pelican Bay Restaurant hosts a beach pig roast from 5pm until 10 pm so you can enjoy the fun setting, some good food and not have to worry about packing up at the end.   The night always includes a beach bonfire, which makes it even more exciting.  The kids will love toasting marshmallows over the open fire and parents will appreciate the $5 Bambarra rum drinks.

Go fly a kite - The wide flat beaches and gentle trade winds that are characteristic of our beaches make it a great place to fly a kite.  Every year in April there’s a kite flying competition put on by the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board.   Typically the event is held on Easter Monday - so if you are planning to come to Turks and Caicos around Easter, be sure to bring your kite.   Only hand-made kites can be entered in the competition. There’s a full day of family fun activities and prizes are awarded for the largest kite, smallest kite, most artistic kit and best overall.

We hope this short list entices you to come to our islands with your family.    Spring, summer, winter and fall are all good times to visit, so check your schedule and start planning.

First Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner did it, followed by Bruce Willis and Emma Heming, and more recently Bryan Ferry and Amanda Sheppard.   Getting married in the Turks and Caicos is becoming a trend.  But don’t worry; you do not have to tie the knot here to take advantage of the romantic setting and perfect weather.   Honeymooning in Turks and Caicos is a very popular way to enjoy the romance of island life- and for good reason.  There are a host of great things to do that will make your honeymoon special, memorable and most importantly - romantic.

First off, staying at the Alexandra Resort, located on world-acclaimed Grace Bay Beach, provides the ideal setting for romance and escape.  The spacious suites offer large decks or patios, where you can relax and enjoy the stunning ocean views.  Occupying 600 feet of frontage on Grace Bay Beach, you can enjoy leisurely walks together for miles or simply indulge yourselves in sunbathing on the beach.  Resort amenities include a large freeform swimming pool, free non-motorized water sports, tennis courts, a full-service spa, an on-site activities desk, a fitness center and a gourmet restaurant - Mango Reef - serving Caribbean/French inspired dishes on its ocean-side terrace.

Mango Reef can provide one of the most memorable honeymoon experiences.   The staff can help you arrange to have a barefoot dinner for two on the beach and be serenaded by the sounds of the ocean, with dinner service lit only by moonlight and a few tiki torches. What better way to start off married life than dining alfresco on one of the world’s best beaches?

To keep the romance theme going, you can enjoy his and her massages at an island spa or - better yet - have the treatments in the comfort of your own suite or on the beach.   In addition to the full-service spa at the Alexandra, which offers luxurious massage and beauty treatments, there are other day-spas located near by.  A deep-tissue massage might be just the thing you need after the big day.  

Later, you can dress up and head to Magnolia Restaurant & Wine Bar to watch a beautiful island sunset.  Magnolia has a terrace that faces Turtle Cove Marina and serves refreshing cocktails to go along with the magnificent view.   You can sit back and relax with an aperitif while looking for the famous green flash that sometimes appears just as the sun is sinking into the sea. 

Watching the sun setting over the brilliant turquoise waters may give you the itch to get out on the sea and enjoy some of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ greatest treasures.    There are numerous ways to enjoy our restorative waters, but one of the best for honeymooners is a private boat charter.    Kenard Cruises offers a top-of-the line experience on a luxurious yacht.  They can provide a full or half day excursion to some of the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen - only accessible by boat and most likely only occupied by you.  

With all this romance, you’ll want to capture this special time to ensure your honeymoon lasts well beyond your visit to Turks and Caicos.  To do this we recommend engaging the services of a professional photographer.  There are many photographers to choose from - one we recommend is Christine Morden of Paradise Photography, whose impressive portfolio boasts shots of luminaries including President Obama, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. And, she has seen her work published in a number of renowned periodicals such as Destinations Wedding & Honeymoons, Elite Traveler, Real Life and El Diario.   You can hire her for the day, for an hour or for the afternoon and capture this special time forever.   The white sand and brilliant blue waters of the Turks and Caicos form the perfect setting for fabulous photos that will be treasured for years to come - just like the memories of your honeymoon.