We were recently pleasantly surprised to see three of the islands in Turks and Caicos were in great shape since the hurricane devastation from a couple of years ago. We were told the reason they did not experience as much damage was due to building codes used in Miami implemented on the island. Whether that is true or not I can not be sure, but I will tell you they are definitely open and ready for business.
Getting there –
We flew into Providenciales in West Caicos. I would definitely recommend renting a car if you are not staying at a resort. There are so many beaches to explore and it just makes life easier to have the flexibility with a family.
West Caicos is only about 43 square miles, so getting from one side to the other only took about 20 minutes. This is a British territory so you will have to drive on the left and encounter lots of round abouts, but otherwise driving wasn’t quite as crazy as some other islands.
Food costs –
We had read food prices were exponentially higher on T&C and it was true. I packed a suitcase full of food I thought we might need for a week, and after arriving we went to the local IGA and bought the rest. Anything fresh or healthy was extremely expensive compared to Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, or St. Marteen. If you plan to visit T&C, plan accordingly. (Sadly, the jobs we saw advertised in the newspaper payed only $6 – 10/hour. I can’t imagine trying to feed a family healthy food with those costs.) Speaking of costs, it’s an island, so gas prices were also high (app $5.25/gal).
Beaches –
Grace Bay & Sapodila Bay were our favorites beaches on West Caicos. Both have been listed as some of the best beaches in the world and it is not an exaggeration. Both beaches also offered food nearby and amenities for a full day of family fun. We also visited North and Middle Caicos for the day via ferry. More to come on ferry visits…
Where to stay –
We rented a VRBO and stayed on the northwest side of the island. The 2 bedroom was perfect for our family and it was very quiet and beautiful. Unfortunately, this part of the island also has a LOT of seaweed this time of year so we were unable to use the beach as much there. Luckily, nearby beaches were easy to get to and had no issues.
Overall, we loved T&C and I’m sure your family would too. Please reach out if you have any questions. Happy Travels, BW.
