Beaches Turks & Caicos - You don't want to miss it!
Recently, our agency was given the opportunity to go tour the Beaches Resort in Turks & Caicos. As Courtney and I flew into the island, both of us looked out the window and said “Look at that water!” This was definitely not my first time in the Caribbean or seeing beautiful beaches, but this was by far the most beautiful water I have ever seen.
Upon our arrival at the airport, we passed through customs and immigration with no issues. We had to do some paperwork and get a Covid test prior to leaving home, but it was easy. Don’t stress about going to a Sandals or Beaches resort due to the new travel requirements - contact one of our travel advisors who can walk you through the process with ease. Also, if you are concerned about navigating the Turks & Caicos Customs & Immigration, we can help you make arrangements to be escorted through the process like the VIP that you are!
With our bags in hand, we headed straight to the transportation curb outside the airport and a gentleman asked where we were going. Beaches Resorts provides complimentary round trip transportation between the resort and the airport, so we were able to immediately board a van for the 15 minute drive to the resort. Easy!
The moment we stepped out of the van at our resort, we were greeted with cold towels and cold drinks - most appreciated! Our luggage was sent to our room and we were shortly escorted there as well. One thing we could have done, and suggest you do, is make your dining reservations with the concierge prior to leaving the lobby when you arrive. If you download the Sandals app on your phone, you can read about the different restaurants and what they serve prior to your trip. When you arrive, the concierge will be able to give you advice and answer any of your questions. I will say that there are a few things we would definitely repeat on a future trip - the conch fritters at Barefoot by the Sea, the chicken parmesan mac and cheese at the mac and cheese food truck, and the fruit punch anytime we walked past a bar! It wasn’t your average fruit punch - this was amazing, especially with a couple of slices of lime!All of your meals and beverages are included at Beaches and Sandals resorts, as are your gratuities. They have a strict no-tipping policy, the staff are even wearing buttons that say “no tips, please”. The only exception is if you have a room with a butler, and that is at your discretion whether to tip the butler or how much to give them. I would be prepared to give your butler a nice tip, however, because the level of service is out of this world.
The resort is divided into themed villages, each with its own personality, unique guest rooms, and conveniences. Centered in the resort is the Italian village. This section is on the beach, surrounds the main pool, and is home to several of the restaurants and shops. Next to the Italian village on the beach is the Key West Village. This is a more quiet area, perfectly suited for adults and for families with babies that might need to nap during the trip. There is an adults only pool in this area where you can relax, enjoy the sun, or read a book in a more serene atmosphere. There are a couple of restaurants in the Key West Village, but it is mostly guest rooms and cottages. On the opposite side of the Italian Village is the Caribbean Village. This is a beautiful area, also on the beach, with a relaxed atmosphere, similar to what you find in the Key West Village. It is home to the nurse’s office, what I would call the main gift shop, a kids club called Camp Sesame, Creative Crafts (where everyone in the family can make their own beautiful creations to take home to remember your trip), and several restaurants. Directly behind the Italian Village are the Pirate’s Cove water park and activities area and the French Village. The French Village is not on the beach, but is a short walk from the beach through either the Italian or Caribbean Villages. You will find the food trucks, a bakery, and some quick service restaurants in the water park and French Village area.