Turks and Caicos 2015

I flew with my wife to Turks and Caicos. We flew with American Airlines from London Heathrow via Miami and went economy class outbound and business class homebound. Flying via America is the cheapest way to get to this destination but be warned, there will be a wait via the American gateway together with collecting your baggage and re-checking in your bags for your next flight to Turks and Caicos. You will also need an ESTA to enter America. Return connections are very good but there will be the same process as your journey on the way out such as checking bags etc. Please also note flying via America is very popular with the American market so flights will be very busy. My advice would be book in advance if you want the cheap air fares and this option. Flying time is around 11 hours. There is a direct service with British Airways on Sundays which may be better for families and for people on a short holiday period.

Turks and Caicos has a small airport, so we cleared immigration very quickly but had to queue for a bit to clear customs. Once we cleared customs I saw our Beaches rep, as this was the hotel we were staying at for a week in May. The transfer time is around 20-30 minutes. We arrived late at night, so I couldn't really see anything.

The Beaches hotel is situated in Grace Bay area. We checked in at the hotel and were given cold towels and a welcome drink. We were then given our room key. We stayed in the Caribbean village, room number 207, and room type Caribbean Deluxe. The room was lovely and spacious with a lovely balcony and view of the gardens. The rooms also have an Xbox games console.

This hotel is a family hotel for kids but to be honest it’s suitable for everyone including honeymooners. I hardly saw any kids during my stay. The hotel is situated on what has been voted one of the best beaches in the world. Sandals and Beaches have a no wristband policy and the hotel has 20 restaurants. I managed to get into most of them in my seven-night stay at the hotel. My favourites were Kimonos and Arizona’s for dinner and for lunch Barefoot by the Sea and Jerk Shack. One tip is to make sure you book Kimonos on arrival at the hotel as this restaurant gets booked very quickly and is very popular. There are 12 bars at this hotel.

This hotel is divided into four villages; French, Italian, Caribbean and Key West. I found the French and Key West to be the quietest villages. I would love to stay in Key West village if I ever returned, as this was my favourite. The Italian village is more for families and has the big room types to cater for larger families. There is a water park at this hotel which is really good and has free admission and unlimited rides. I managed to go on the lazy river. I think this hotel is great for kids and would bring my kids here in future. I would say you need to save up your pennies, as it’s not cheap but it’s well worth it when you get here.

My highlight was the Sesame Street character parade - this was amazing. I think everyone should see it, kids or adults, as it has a great atmosphere. Get there early, as it does get packed and make sure you bring your camera to get pictures with the characters. It happens weekly around 7pm but check with the reception desk for times. Also, there is a daily stage for Sesame Street characters before the kids go to bed around 6.30pm plus daily activities with the characters. I wish they would bring back the Sesame Street TV show, as I loved it as a kid. The hotel offers day and night entertainment. It also offers free water sports and beach games. I was very impressed with this hotel and would definitely return soon. I thought it was amazing and was one of my top 10 best holidays. Don't be put off by the size shown on the map of the resort, as I thought it would take ages to get around, but the villages are very easy to walk to. There is also a train if you don’t feel like walking between the villages. Each village offers something different based on their theme name. For example, the French Village will have things like a French café or restaurant. The hotel offers free kids club as part of the package.

This hotel is very popular for weddings and honeymooners. I saw a few weddings taking place during my stay. It has some great locations for weddings and I would recommend this hotel to get married if you wanted a family wedding.

Beaches offer a departure lounge for if you are travelling after you need to check out of your room which is around 11am. In the departure lounge there is a TV where they serve cold water, and there are toilets and shower facilities. This is where you get your transfer bus back to the airport. Try to avoid flying home on Saturdays as the airport is very busy and chaotic as they have several flights on this day.

I think Turks and Caicos is a great destination and would highly recommend it. Turks and Caicos are made up of 40 islands and currency is US dollars. The capital is Cockburn Town. They drive on the left and international driving licence is needed.