Best Resorts In Turks And Caicos

When postcard-perfect images of a getaway to sunny Turks & Caicos are flipping through your brain, the ones you're likely to conjure are probably Grace Bay, the magnificent sweep of powder-white sand and calm turquoise sea on the gateway island of Providenciales for which this tiny island nation in the northern Caribbean is famous. And yes, that is where the majority of the best resorts in Turks and Caicos are located—a few dozen in fact.

But there are also several other stellar properties located elsewhere but offering the same kind of welcoming and relaxed ambience, just without the crowds. Some even offer all-inclusive options. Here are 10 of the best resorts in Turks & Caicos, from 27 rooms to 750 rooms.

What's in a name? When it's the same as a beach often ranked among the world's best, quite a lot. Welcoming guests since 1993, Grace Bay Club was the first all-suite beachfront luxury property in the Turks & Caicos and it sits on 11 acres—including 1,100 feet of white-sand beach—on Providenciales' Grace Bay.

The exclusive resort, known for its attention to design and décor, has had three phases of development: The Hotel, the original building that's now adults-only; The Villas Suites, featuring spacious suites ideal for families (most with full kitchens and washers/dryers); and The Estate, home to expansive, custom-designed suites with an added level of service and privacy. Guests seeking an adults-only experience will find it in The Hotel's 22 spacious oceanfront suites (junior suite to two bedroom), ranging from 1,080 to 2,300 square feet and offering sea views, private pool and Jacuzzi.

The Villas Suites feature 38 accommodations set in four five-story buildings and ranging from 600-square-foot Junior Suites to a palatial 6,430-square-foot Grace Bay Penthouse Suite. For the ultimate in contemporary design and seclusion, The Estate features 22 residences (most with three or four bedrooms and many with private pools) as well as the 7,000-square-foot Penthouse Residence with a private elevator and extensive terraces.

Four dining options, all oceanfront, include Infinity Restaurant & Raw Bar for modern European-Caribbean fusion, The Grill for all-day casual dining, Krave for gourmet comfort food, and Just Tacos (a pop-up café), and there are three bars and lounges.

Sun-lovers seeking rejuvenation-based relaxation will find a sublime mix of both at The Palms Turks & Caicos, which in addition to offering 72 spacious, residential-style suites overlooking the calm turquoise waters of Grace Bay, also has a 25,000-square-foot spa. But why stop indulging at sunset? Guests can also book a "moonbathing" experience to enjoy mini spa treatments and after-dinner cocktails on lounge chairs on the beach by moonlight.

Suites at The Palms feature traditional Caribbean-inspired décor (carved mahogany beds, palm and pineapple motifs) and start with 640-square-foot Junior Suites. But the most popular options are the One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom Suites (1,500 to 2,900 square feet), which offer en suite bathrooms, full kitchens, and private balconies or terraces. The top suites are the Ocean Front Penthouses, which range from 3,400-3,800 square feet and wow with panoramic sea views ideal for day-dreaming or enjoying the sunset.

Tranquility also reigns at The Spa at The Palms, where treatments range from a HydraFacial™ to a bespoke Mother of Pearl Scrub, while the neighboring Fitness Center offers cardio and strength training as well as yoga and Pilates. Culinary-wise, guests can enjoy elegant Caribbean fusion menus at Parallel23, more casual family-friendly fare at beachside 72°West, and daily complimentary breakfast served in The Garden.

Families seeking a more budget-friendly option in the center of Grace Bay Beach should consider The Sands at Grace Bay. This property, set in six three-story buildings on six acres and featuring three freeform swimming pools, isn't the newest or fanciest resort, but many of its 114 suites—which were renovated just a few years ago and now feature airy contemporary Caribbean décor in clean neutral tones—offer the same incredible ocean views.

While studio suites featuring a kitchenette are available, the one-, two- and three-bedroom suites all have full kitchens with modern appliances and are offered in Garden, Oceanview, Oceanfront and Deluxe Oceanfront categories. The Sands is also home to Hemingway's, a casual beachfront restaurant popular for both lunch and dinner, and Spa Tropique, offering two treatment rooms and a variety of massages, scrubs and facials.

Holistic wellness is the mantra at COMO Parrot Cay, a 60-room luxury enclave located on 1,000 acres of the exclusive private island of Parrot Cay (which is also home to multimillion-dollar celebrity-owned villas). Guests are drawn here by the one-mile-long private beach, the white-washed and light-filled beach house ambience of the accommodations, and the COMO Shambala Retreat, which is set in low-lying pavilions and specializes in Asian-inspired treatments, including Ayurveda Therapy.

COMO Parrot Cay offers rooms, suites and beach houses, ranging from 645-square-foot Garden View Rooms to a 3,014-square-foot three-bedroom COMO Villa. All feature breezy contemporary décor in white cotton canvas and teak as well as spacious bathrooms and outdoor patios or terraces.

The resort's two restaurants, Lotus and Terrace, serve Southeast Asian and modern Mediterranean cuisine respectively, while COMO Beach Club features light bites and after-dark cocktails—all with an emphasis on fresh and organic ingredients.

Located along 800 feet of fine white sand on Providenciales' Long Bay Beach, which is mostly home to private residences, The Shore Club Turks & Caicos opened in 2017 as an alternative to the livelier ambience of resort-lined Grace Bay Beach.

Sleek and glamorous—yet in an understated neutrals-with-a-touch-of-pale-blue way—the 148-room resort features four pools (among them the highly photogenic Colonnade Pool), three restaurants (including SUI-REN, named for the Japanese word water lily and featuring Peruvian Japanese cuisine by Chef Martin Davies), three bars (snapping selfies in the Rope Bar is a must) and the Dune Spa, (located in three oceanfront treatment bungalows).

Accommodations range from 640-square-foot Garden-, Pool- or Partial Ocean View Junior Suites to Three-Bedroom Executive Penthouses with fully equipped kitchens and wraparound oceanfront balcony with hot tub. The ultimate splurge: one of the three 8,800-square-foot Villas featuring six bedrooms, a private pool, and private butler and chef.

Parents appreciate the ease of all-inclusive resorts, and Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales is home to one of the Caribbean's most family-friendly options—especially for those with active kids aged 4-12: Beaches Turks & Caicos. Not only does the 93-acre property have a 45,000-acre Pirates Island Waterpark plus 10 pools, but there's also a roaming cast of Sesame Street characters for the pre-school set and an Xbox Play Lounge for tweens who are more into screen time than sunscreen.

Adults, meanwhile, can enjoy some grown-up time at the Red Lane Spa (while the little ones attend Kids Camp) or in any of the 15 bars (including swim-up, piano, beachfront and British pub). Accommodations at the 750-room resort sprawl over five different villages—Italy, France, Caribbean, Key West and Seaside—and are bookable in 52 different categories sleeping between two and seven guests.

And with 21 restaurants, there's bound to be something even picky kids will love, from pizza and Italian specialties to sushi, jerk chicken, tacos and diner-inspired favorites. Add in unlimited watersports and land activities and there's something for every member of the family.

Luxury is practically the middle name of most resorts set along Providenciales' Grace Bay and The Somerset on Grace Bay certainly offers it—but on a scale that's both elegant and intimate. With just 53 villas, ranging in size from 1,400-square-foot One-Bedroom Residence to a 5,300-square-foot five-bedroom Penthouse Estate with two- and three-bedroom villa and estate options in between, the resort's décor features marble floors and updated traditional furnishings.

All are located in seven buildings overlooking the beach, a striking infinity pool and a landscaped croquet lawn. Somerset also has two restaurants (Barbetta, a fine-dining Mediterranean brasserie, and family-friendly Barbetta Pool Bar) plus a weekly Beach BBQ and a spa by Teona (massages are also available on guests' private terrace).

Another well-located residential-style resort with upscale amenities yet somewhat more reasonable rates than many of its neighbors, Seven Stars Resort & Spa offers 115 suites overlooking scenic Grace Bay Beach. Junior Suites total 620 square feet and feature white-fabric draped canopy beds, kitchenettes and furnished terraces, while One-, Two- and Three-Bedroom Suites range from 740 to 3,250 square feet and have a full kitchen.

The resort's grounds are home to two pools (one is Providenciale's only heated saltwater pool and the other is adults-only), tennis and basketball courts, a fitness center, a kids' club and a full-service spa (with beachfront cabana massages available, too). Two restaurants, the upscale fine-dining option Seven and casual, open-air The Deck specialize in fresh local seafood. There's also a Champagne Shack for whenever a craving for bubbly strikes.

Wymara Resort and Villas, a 91-room resort on the western end of Grace Bay Beach—formerly branded as the Gansevoort—offers something most other Turks & Caicos properties don't: decidedly modern décor with a sexy vibe and a see-and-be-seen sunbathing and party scene around a spectacular 7,000-square-foot beachfront infinity pool with round beach beds and four "island pods" that can be reserved for the day for a fee.

Studio accommodations with kitchenettes are 620 square feet and feature a sensual glass-enclosed shower in the bedroom while suites have full kitchens and range from 1,106-square-foot one bedrooms to three bedrooms totaling 2,542 to 3,700 square feet—all featuring airy white and blue décor with expansive terraces. The property also has several nearby four- and five-bedroom Villas with contemporary décor and resort privileges.

Dining-wise, Wymara offers two signature restaurants, Stelle and Zest, the former for Mediterranean-Caribbean fusion and the latter for casual beachfront Asian and Italian favorites. Pink Bar, set on the sand, specializes in rosé and craft cocktails with a menu of small bites. A spa with three treatment rooms, a fitness center, and complimentary non-motorized water sports round out the offerings.

For something different—as in just 27 rooms and a low-key vibe—head to less-touristy Grand Turk instead of Providenciales and unwind at Osprey Beach Hotel. This is a place to escape the crowds, savor the sun and sand, and enjoy access to excellent diving and snorkeling. Accommodations are spacious yet definitely on the traditional side, but prices are a fraction of most rates on Grace Bay.

The hotel has an oceanfront restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and an atmospheric Birdcage Bar that's a popular spot to watch the sunset. Other activities include massages and body treatments at the spa, kayaking, and horseback riding on the beach.