Beaches Resorts and Spa at Turks and Caicos is the perfect family vacation destination! Here are the top 10 reasons to fall in love with Beaches and come back year after year!
My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit Beaches Resorts and Spa in Turks and Caicos to attend the 2015 #BeachesMoms Social Media on the Sand conference, and it was beyond amazing! Considering that it was also our first kid-free vacation in almost eight years, it was long overdue, too!
Beaches is a luxury all-inclusive family resort located along a 12-mile stretch of Grace Bay beach, recently named one of “The World’s Most Beautiful Beaches” by Conde Nast Traveler. Beaches Resorts currently holds the title of “Best All-Inclusive Family Resort in the World,” and it’s no surprise that they have continued to hold that title year after year. There is SO much to do at Beaches for the entire family (from tiny tots to Grandma!) that I have to admit that I was actually a little bit disappointed that we hadn’t brought the kids with us. Next time though, we’ll be bringing our whole family for sure!
Beaches Turks & Caicos is comprised of four uniquely themed villages – French, Caribbean, Italian and Key West – and the restaurants and resort attractions match the style of the village in which they are located. For example, the restaurants Cafe de Paris (a Parisian-style patisserie cafe) and Le Petit Chateau (a romantic adults-only French dinner restaurant) are both located in the French village. Our accommodations were in a concierge suite in the Caribbean Village, which was very nice and centrally located to all of the dining and attractions.
We had a TON of fun on our vacation, and to make sure that you don’t miss any of the awesomeness that Beaches has to offer, we are sharing our Top Ten Things to Do at Beaches Resorts Turks and Caicos with you:
#1. The Beach
If you’ve ever seen a photo from “The Most Beautiful Beach in the World,” you’ve probably already fallen in love with The Bight and Grace Bay at Turks and Caicos Islands. With its warm crystal clear turquoise waters (seriously, I have never seen water like that before!) and sparkling white sand beach, it truly does feel like a scene straight out of a dream.
Tropical drinks are part of the all-inclusive package at Beaches, and employees go out of their way to make sure that you are never empty handed. Resort employees take your order and deliver drinks right to the beach – you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your beach chair! No tipping is required or allowed – this is ALL inclusive, remember!? Beaches cocktails are all made with high-quality top-shelf liquors, and their non-alcoholic drinks and punches are refreshing and plentiful as well.
What surprised me the most about the beach though was how UN-crowded it was! Though the resort was full to capacity when we visited, the 12-mile expanse of private beach was often relatively empty in comparison. We were always able to find chairs under an umbrella or shade cover, and the next closest group of people were always at least an umbrella or two away. For a large resort, the beach felt very private and was incredibly relaxing!
We definitely don’t have beaches like this in Northern California! My husband and I are “beach people,” so we spent as much time as possible on this gorgeous beach, day into night, and were happy as can be.
…and then we’d get up the next day, and do it all over again!
#2: Pirates Island Water Park
With over 45,000 s.f., the Pirates Island Water Park is perfect for kids and adults alike. The water park features three huge water slides, two medium slides, and numerous small slides for tiny tots. The park also contains a 650-foot lazy river, water cannons, a splash pad, and a kids-only swim up bar that serves ice cream, pizzas, sodas, and smoothies. If you’re looking for a little more adrenaline at the water park, the SurfStream surf simulator might be right up your alley!
There’s even a pirate ship restaurant (Bobby Dee’s) that serves up burgers, fries and classic 50’s diner fare right on-site at the water park!
#3: The Pools
If you’re looking for a break from the beach, spend some time hanging out at one of Beaches Resorts SIX gorgeous swimming pools. There are also two kiddy pools, four whirlpools, and five swim-up bars to keep those tropical drinks and smoothies flowing!
Photo by Beaches Resorts
#4: Activities for Kids, Tweens and Teens:
Beaches was created for families, so there is a TON of stuff for kids to do, make and participate in! We didn’t have our children with us this year, but that didn’t stop us from joining in on some of Beaches fun family activities!
Beaches Resorts is exclusively partnered with Sesame Street, and you’ll find all your favorite costumed characters walking around the resort, spending time with guests, and performing in evening parades and stage shows. I was really impressed with the characters, and I loved that they spent a good deal of time with each of the children, and you could tell that the kids felt SO special and loved!
Beaches offers many different Sesame Street activities that pair the children up with their favorite characters, and everyone from babies to teens can attend the daily Kids Camp to join in the Sesame Street activities and LOTS more. (Psst…the Kids Camp cost is also part of your all-inclusive package, so feel free to drop off the kids and enjoy a couple of hours of grown-up time on the beach – they’ll never even miss you!).
Tweens and teens will enjoy the X-box Lounge, Scratch DJ Academy, and Trench Town, a game room full of basketball, foosball, air hockey, ping pong and billiards tables sized just for them. Guest accommodations also come with an X-box system (with pre-loaded games) in each room, and additional games are available to borrow from the game lounge. There were a couple of times that we walked by and discovered Trench Town completely empty, so the grown-ups popped in for a little bit of air hockey and ping pong fun before the kids returned!
The resort hosts nightly events for all ages including a fun foam party on the beach, a dance party at Pirates Island, and a teens-only dance club, Club Liquid. Adults can unwind at the adults-only Turtles bar or join the family fun at karaoke nights at the Cricketer’s Pub. Evening nannies are available for in-room nighttime childcare for a small fee.
#5: Water Sports
You can’t visit this gorgeous warm ocean without experiencing some of the Caribbean’s best water sports! Beaches Resorts all-inclusive package includes unlimited water sports including snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing, aqua trikes, and even SCUBA diving – all for FREE! Lessons are provided for all water sports including a SCUBA refresher course for those who are already certified.
Beaches also offers a 4-day Sailing School course (for a small fee) for people as young as 8-years-old who desire to learn the art of sailing.
#6: Nap in a Hammock:
Need I say more? There are plentiful hammocks all over the resort in which to relax and unwind while listening to the sounds of the sea. These large oversize white sail hammocks are located in the Key West Village.
#7: The Red Lane Spa
While you’re in relaxation mode, I highly recommend a trip to the Red Lane Spa. For an additional fee, guests can enjoy one of over a dozen different types of massage, body scrubs, facials, manicures, salt baths and much more. My husband and I received deep tissue and hot stone massages, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The spa also carries their own line of products, and I brought home an oil cleanser and mud mask that are seriously divine.
#8: Dining, Dining, and MORE Dining!
Beaches Resorts is home to 20 unique international dining experiences including 5-star Caribbean, French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine, and SO much more! With this many restaurants, the only problem you’re going to have is deciding which one to eat at next!
Breakfast options include sit-down restaurants with personalized dishes along with several different buffet and cafe options for on-the-go dining.
Lunch and dinner are so tasty that you may find yourself eating “second dinner” more than once! We ate this incredible chef’s platter of sushi late one night at Soy restaurant after we had already filled up on Caribbean jerk fare at the resort’s weekly Treasure Beach dinner party. Luckily we had lots of friends there to share our second dinner with us!
Of course, you have to save room for dessert, too! Each of the restaurants offers their own dessert menu, or you can pop into Cafe de Paris to grab a hot cookie or a sweet tooth fix from their pastry case. (Note: the chocolate ganache cake is awesome, and so is the red velvet cake!)
I was disappointed that we missed the open-air rooftop dining at Sky restaurant on this trip to Turks and Caicos. Due to rainy weather, it was closed for a couple of days, but we’ll be sure to catch it on our next trip back! It looks pretty incredible, doesn’t it? That view!
#9: Kimonos Restaurant
I know, I know, I already mentioned all of the delicious dinner restaurants available, but Kimonos was an experience that deserved its own spot on our Top Ten List! We have been to lots of high-energy hibachi restaurants in our lifetime, but nothing has ever compared to the entertaining show that we received at Kimonos (not to mention that their food was my favorite dinner that I ate all week!). Chef Cookie was hysterically funny, and he alternated between telling us funny stories of island life and encouraging us to sing along and dance with him as he cooked our dinner. You really just have to see it for yourself…
Kimonos is the only restaurant at the resort that requires reservations, so make it a point to stop and make your reservation right after you check into your room!
#10: Land Sports
With all the time that we spent on the beach, we didn’t find very much time to enjoy all of the land sports that Beaches has to offer, but they definitely deserve a mention. In addition to a large state of the art fitness center, the resort also offers tennis, basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard, lawn chess and croquet on their grounds. As with the water sports, all land sports come with unlimited free instructional lessons and equipment use during your stay.
Resort guests can also enjoy billiards, darts and other games at the Cricketer’s Pub while watching their favorite sports teams on television. A variety of popular board games are available to play at the pub, and games may be rented from the game shack as well.
Our stay at Beaches Resorts and Spa in Turks and Caicos was an incredible experience, and I can’t wait to bring my family back to the island to enjoy the resort again soon! There really IS something for everyone at Beaches!
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.