Holidays in the Turks and Caicos offer fantastic white sand beaches fringed with warm, emerald waters and coral reefs with a rich and colourful marine life. Like the Bahamas to the north, the Turks and Caicos are sunshine islands ideal for a lazy week or two by the sea. Officially they are a British Crown Colony, but the style here is abundantly American. Expect big cars, well-stocked supermarkets, prices in US dollars and accommodation in resort hotels where your room comes with a huge fridge and kitchen facilities. International flights land on Providenciales, and few travellers go further thanks to the 12-mile/20-km sweep of Grace Bay, which has a superb beach where most hotels are situated. Standards are high and the island is developing fast, and while the arid, low-lying interior has little of interest, there is a lot of fun to be had out to sea. The Turks and Caicos are renown for their excellent diving, and there are good excursions to outlying islands should you want to get off the sun-lounger.
Beach bums
Divers
Safe and easy family holidays
Sunburn - there’s little shade on the islands.
It’s worth hiring a car for a few days on Providenciales to visit sights, shops and restaurants. The best way to explore the outer islands is by hiking and biking. British passport-holders don’t need a visa for holidays of thirty days or less in the Turks and Caicos. It’s recommended that passports have six months to run to expiry.
The Turks and Caicos enjoy a hot tropical climate. Temperatures peak in August at up to 37°C/ 98°F. The hurricane season is June to November. October and November are the wettest months.
Direct flights to the Turks and Caicos from the UK take around eleven hours. You can also fly via Miami.
Driving is on the left-hand side. Standard taxi fares exist for most destinations on the main islands. Agree the fare with the driver before beginning a journey.