Beaches Turks and Caicos
Location: set on Grace Bay on the island of Providencia, a 15min drive from the airport.
Accommodation: 212 suites and rooms in eight categories, including honeymoon suites and one-bedroom beachfront villas. A further 72 suites will be added by the end of the year.
Room facilities: all rooms and suites have a balcony or patio. Suites have separate living rooms, fully stocked bars and some have a fully equipped kitchen.
Room rates: from $2,090 per person for seven nights in a deluxe room between January-April 1999; $2,370 for a honeymoon grand deluxe oceanfront; and $3,200 for a honeymoon beachfront one bedroom villa. Children $60 per night.
History: formerly the Royal Bay Resort and Villas, Sandals bought it in late 1996 and in April ’97 converted it to the all-inclusive Beaches Turks and Caicos in a $14m refurbishment.
Target market: singles, couples, families with children.
Atmosphere: an ultra laid-back, spacious resort.
Decor: attractive low-rise, pink-washed buildings in a lush setting. Rooms and suites feature cane and mahogany furniture.
Staff: great fun. Watersports staff are friendly and very professional.
Facilities: five restaurants, including Japanese, four pools, kids’ playground and Sega games centre, excellent watersports facilities including diving, fitness centre and spa (treatments not included in the all-inclusive package.)
Food: large choice of meals, but food is good rather than great.
Overall: huge range of facilities with something for everyone, but this is reflected in the price – this is Sandals’ most expensive resort. Lowest category deluxe rooms at the back of the property are tired and could do with refurbishment. Particularly well-suited to families and watersports enthusiasts. Sand and the sea are exquisite and difficult to beat in the Caribbean.
Information/bookings: featured by Tradewinds, Kuoni and specialists. Can be booked direct with Sandals on 0800-742742.
Sample package: ú1,906 per person with Tradewinds for seven-nights’ all-inclusive in a ocean-view room in March ’99. British Airways’ Gatwick-Miami flights, connections with American Airlines.