 |
Turks & Caicos Islands
The Experience
Grace Bay wasn't the first resort in the Turks & Caicos, but this is the place that put the sandy archipelago on the jet-set map. It certainly helps being on what many people consider the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean -- 12 miles of talcum-powder-soft white sand set against dabs of turquoise and sapphire sea. But it's the little things that set Grace Bay apart from the other resorts on Provo island: sorbet on the beach, champagne by the pool, chilled towels whenever you please and an attitude that nothing is beyond the realm of possibility.
The RoomsThe overall architecture is a modern take on Spanish colonial -- ocher walls hunched beneath tile roofs -- but Grace Bay's interiors don't pledge allegiance to any one culture. You find Egyptian cotton sheets and chromatic Haitian artwork, Mexican four-poster beds and Indian knickknacks, an eclectic mix that somehow blends into a harmonious and eye-pleasing whole. At 850 square feet, even the smallest suites seem downright enormous. And don't expect to be unplugged; flat-screen televisions and Internet access are part of the package. While most guests opt for Caribbean-Mediterranean grub at the resort restaurants, rooms are also equipped with kitchenette and fridge for those who desire a "homemade" meal. The 2,000-square-feet beachfront suites -- replete with two bedrooms and three baths -- kind of make you wish you had an entourage to bring along.
The ServiceWarm, friendly and obliging are three terms that describe the Grace Bay staff. Although, since the adjoining condo/villas were opened in 2005, some guests have complained that the staff is now stretched too thin and requests take longer to fulfill.
The HighlightsTruth be told, there are a hundred beaches in the Caribbean as good as this one. What really sets Grace Bay apart is water -- scuba and snorkel that's out of this world, as well as easily accessible from the resort. Among legendary local dive spots are the precipitous West Caicos Walls -- a 6,000-feet plunge into liquid oblivion -- and Molasses Reef, where treasure hunters discovered the remains of the oldest European wreck ever discovered in the Western Hemisphere. Drawing heavily in ingredients from these same waters, Anacaona restaurant has etched a reputation as one of TCI's finest, with dishes like conch ceviche, lobster raviolis and sautéed ahi tuna. Equally appetizing, the menu at Anani Spa features both traditional treatments and more offbeat delights like the Hawaiian Wave massage and the Exotic Hand Ritual.
-- Joe Yogerst
