Honeymoon Ideas: Turks and Caicos
Last month, my husband and I took what we like to call a "second honeymoon" to Turks and Caicos, and we are still mesmerized by the island. If you are considering going to Turks and Caicos, GO! The place is beautiful and safe, the vibe is fun and relaxing, and everyone is friendly. Below is a recap of our experience and a couple of tips, to help guide your planning.
Wednesday:
It was a really easy 2.5-hour direct flight from Atlanta and we rented a car. This first portion of the vacation was a bit tense, since Turks and Caicos is an English territory and they drive on the opposite side of the road. But once we got to our hotel, it was time to begin our adventure.
Tiki Hut for lunch. The restaurant is in front of the marina, which is cool, but the food wasn't great.
Happy Hour at the Windsong Resort, our hotel (photo below). Take advantage of those happy hours around sunset, because the island is pretty expensive.
Da Conch Shack for dinner. This place is pretty much everything you think of when you imagine a restaurant in an island. It is right in front of the ocean, the tables are set in the sand (wear flats), and there was a live band. It was a lot of fun.
Thursday:
Our plan was to explore the island as much as possible, so we drove to Long Bay Beach (photo below). We had a hard time finding beach access, but we found a pathway next to a house and parked on the street. This beach was amazing and there was no one there. Nothing like a little private beach for a day.
Fish Fry for dinner. Every Thursday everyone goes to the Fish Fry. Live music, local food, and local vendors. Make sure to check it out.
Drinks at Somewhere Cafe. When we got to the restaurant the live music was coming to an end. But we went back for breakfast on Monday and it was yummy!
Friday:
To switch things up a little bit we decided to take a half day tour. There are several companies that offer tours in the island, but we took the Island Vibes' Snorkel Cruise. We snorkeled on the third largest reef in the world, we stopped by a beautiful island called Half Moon Bay beach (photo below) which is also famous for having iguanas, and we had some rum punch and conch salad. A fun getaway and experience.
Bay Bistro for dinner. The restaurant is overlooking the ocean, the food was really good, and the low light lantern ambiance was relaxing and nice.
Saturday:
We didn't feel like driving too much, so we just went to Grace Bay (photo below). This area is filled with hotels, shops and restaurants, and it does have a free beach access parking lot. Another beautiful and clean beach, and a great area to stay in.
Coco Bistro for Dinner. This restaurant is known as the most popular restaurant in Turks and Caicos. The hotel's concierge urged us to make a reservation before we arrived. The food was good and the tables are set outside among palm trees.
Drinks at Danny Buoy. This sports bar was recommended as the after party spot. The DJ wasn't great but the drinks were good.
Sunday:
Sunday was our last full day in Turks and Caicos, and we decided to visit another beach that was a bit far away from our hotel, but well worth it. Sapodilla Bay Beach (photo below) was amazing. It was different, shallow, and tranquil. I would recommend making a pit stop here, but I wouldn't recommend staying in this area since it's a little far from all the restaurants and shops.
Infinity Bar for dinner. This was the perfect ending to our amazing trip. Watching the sunset, listening to some live jazz, drinking champagne, and eating great food. Just beautiful!
Finally, a couple of quick tips:
As long as your hotel says beach front, it is likely going to be amazing.
Rent a car! From what we heard cab rides are pretty expensive, and having a car gives you the freedom to explore. Just be prepared to drive on the opposite side of the road.
It is pricey. If you are cheap like me, you will need to accept the fact that eating and drinking won't be cheap. I recommend to pack bottles of wine or liquor, and buy stuff at the grocery store for lunch.
Check out the free magazines, they are great guides to where to go and when. Here is the link to one of them that features a lot of great restaurants to try.
Besides the beautiful beaches, one of my favorite parts of Turks and Caicos was that since the island is so small, the Turk Islanders and the tourists visit the same places, so you get the true "local" experience. I can't wait to go back some day.
