From September 1 through October 31, 2010, book any room for 3 nights or more and receive every third night free!

Value Added Promotions!

*** Vaild for travel until May 15 to October 15, 2010 ***

Book a 2 Bedroom Oceanview or higher category for 7-nights or more and receive one of the following:

* Two day free car rental or $100 water sports credit.

Book a 1 Bedroom Oceanview or higher category for 5-nights or more and receive one of the following:

* One day free car rental or $50 water sports credit.

Guests bask in the sun alongside one of our free-form swimming pools or on the sands of our pristine beach. For those seeking a bit more adventure, world-class diving, a variety of water sports, golfing or day cruises to secluded islands are the order. Providenciales also offers many quaint boutiques for fun shopping excursions and a number of historical attractions worth visiting. The stars shine inviting guests to stroll along the beach in the moonlight or take in the evening’s beauty with a gathering on the dune deck at Hemingway’s Beachfront Restaurant or on their own private balcony.

More information at http://www.discovertci.tc/special–deal–the-sands-resort-many-ways-to-save.html

Enjoy an additional 5% savings off the already low rates & promotions at Ocean Club and Ocean Club West Resorts in Grace Bay, Providenciales.  This exclusive 5% discount is COMBINED with the 25% discount, so you save a total of 30% off your reservation!  More info here  http://www.discovertci.tc/special–deal–ocean-club-west-free.html

People from all over the world live and work here in the Turks & Caicos Islands.  Partly because of the laid back lifestyle of living on a gorgeous Caribbean island, but also because we just enjoy being around water as blue as can be!  There’s just something about the these islands that make people come back again and again (shhhhh… don’t tell them that we actually put something in the water!)

Our friends over at Brilliant love living here too, and they’ve put out some eBook guides on some great topics that are certainly useful to read if you’re thinking of visiting our shores for the first time.

The three e-books include

• Best beaches in Turks and Caicos
• Things to do with families in Turks and Caicos
• A guide for those with children under five

What’s best is that they’re all FREE! 

Interested?  Here’s where you go to get ‘em!

The 20th Anniversary of the Annual Fool’s Regatta in beautiful Grace Bay beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos was the best ever this year!  If you’ve missed it, mark your calendars for June 2011 to come and help us celebrate this wonderful event.

June 19th was a fun filled day for all as residents and visitors joined in the festivities of Native Sloops battling for the first ever ‘Tom Lightbourne Memorial Trophy’, Tug-O-War, Hobie Cat races for all ages, the Great Raft Race and much much more.

With lots to eat and drink (the Bambarra Rum tent was very popular), great music by DJ and the Provo Primary Steel Band, and to top it all off, the crystal clear turquoise waters of Grace Bay beach - a great time was had by all.

All proceeds from this event went to benefit the TCIFA Youth Programme.

See you next year!!!!

Check out the video clip of Tennessee Titans QB in Turks & Caicos!

West Bay Club couldn’t wait to start the summer here in Turks & Caicos, so they are offering great off season rates starting NOW. That’s right, from now til November 22 you can enjoy some outstanding rates on the luxurious beachfront suites they have to offer.

And if that’s not enough, they have a special promotion on all summer and fall, too. Stay for four nights and get the fourth night free. Stay for 7 and get a second night free, plus a $100 food and beverage credit at the Atlantic Bar & Grill. All offers include free European style breakfast, too. Summer and fall are times of the year to visit us in the Turks and Caicos, and now you have even more reasons to visit!

More details on the specials at http://www.discovertci.tc/special–deal–west-bay-club-free.html

Villa del Mar luxury hotel Turks & Caicos offer the best value for luxury accommodations in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Just steps from Grace Bay beach, our resort features spacious & luxurious suites, and a location that puts you at the doorstep of all that our islands have to offer.

• For travel until December 20, get each 5th night FREE off all rooms
• For travel until May 15, get 2 nights FREE with a 7 night stay (applicable on some room types)
• Two bedroom luxury suites price reduced!
• Enjoy a one way complimentary airport transfer (max $30) for 7 night stays on all bookings

Despite feeling like you are in a peaceful oasis when on property, Villa del Mar is literally in the middle of it all in Providenciales, the main island of Turks & Caicos. We are just steps from the world famous Grace Bay beach, which is obviously our main attraction. On the beach you’ll find a private greeter to attend to your every need – beach chairs and loungers, towels, umbrellas and cold drinks.

Location Hightlights

    * Casino- 3-4 Minute Walking Distance
    * IGA – 8-10 Minute walking Distance
    * Coco Bistros 4-5 Minute Walking distance
    * Salt Mills Shopping Plaza – 12 -15 minutes walking distance
    * Beach – 1 minute walking distance
    * Provo Dive/Calico Jacks/Giggles Ice Cream/ Big Bamboo (ports of call) – 3 – 4 minute walking distance
    * Coyoba – 2-3 minute walking distance
    * Jai’s Jewlery – 10-12 minute walking distance

Several of the island’s best restaurants are less than two minutes away by foot. Within a two minute walk, we recommend fine dining at Anacaona (across the street at Grace Bay Club), and Coyaba (around the corner). Or seaside lunch at Seaside (a daytime beach restaurant at Ocean Club West). Fresh is a great new ‘all natural’ deli for breakfast and lunch, just across from Coyaba. Within another 5-10 minute walk are Coco Bistro (set in a romantic garden under the palm trees), Caicos Cafe (an authentic French Caribbean experience), Mango Reef (a diverse menu at the Royal West Indies), and Opus (a new comer but instant favourite on the TCI dining scene).

Just around the corner from Villa del Mar (2 minute walk) is Casablanca Casino, where you can test lady luck. It’s a full casino with table games and slots, and a friendly staff to help even beginners have a fun – and possibly profitable – time.

Shopping is readily available nearby to Villa del Mar. The Ports of Call shopping area offers a range of gift shops clothing stores and other shops, as well as two restaurants and a fun ‘dive’ bar (Jimmy’s). Try Calico Jacks (upstairs) for live music on the weekends. Further down Grace Bay Road, but still within easy walking distance, is The Regent Village and Salt Mills Plaza, both with diverse shopping options and upscale boutiques for clothes, art, and other items to take home with you. Check out Jai’s for top of the line jewellery and watch brands available at duty free prices. Salt Mills offers a number of dining options including sushi, an Irish Pub and an authentic American style diner.

Golfers will enjoy the challenging track at Provo Golf Course, which is a 10 minute walk up the road from Villa del Mar. Tee times are easily arranged and the fully stocked pro shop offers top of the line rentals, and a full selection of golf gear and clothes.

Water spots operators offering scuba diving, beach combing, sunset cruises, fishing (deep water, reef and bone fishing) will pick you up and return you to Villa Del Mar. Ask at our front desk for details.

We can also arrange for taxi service to restaurants or other services that are a little bit of a longer walk (note that within a 15 minute waking distance form Villa del Mar are the majority of restaurants in the Grace Bay area). Taxis drivers can also take you on island tours to see all of Providenciales. For the more adventurous, we can even help you get to our outer islands, like North Caicos, Middle Caicos or Grand Turk – all of which can be experienced as a day trip from Villa del Mar, so you are back in your luxurious suite for another restful night’s sleep.

Even though I live here on the island, things still tend to get busy with the usual routine of school for the kids, work, and sports.  So we’ve only had the pleasure of a pleasure  ride on Dave’s Atabeyra twice now, and both times had an excellent time. 

Easter Monday, and we pulled up to the Big Blue back yard in Leeward around 1:45 pm with a bunch of friends who decided to rent out the boat for a half day and enjoy some time on the water.  Adults and kids all got on board and got quickly settled in with our bags of goodies, towels, etc and proceeded to leave the dock right on time.  The vessel itself sails gracefully on the water and the mood is easy and relaxing with all of us taking in the turquoise shades of the water and listening to the cool reggae vibes.  Weather was just mint as a cool ocean breeze cooled the hot rays on the back.  Junior (just started about 6 months ago with the Atabeyra) was a nice addition to the trip, was interesting hearing his story about coming up the ranks in the Caicos Marina in Long Bay.

After sipping on some beverages and just chillin, catching up with friends and enjoying the ride, we pulled up to the old and abandoned ship out in the middle of the ocean, at first, I thought we were just getting close to it to check it out, but I then heard a few of the guys and teens jumping out of the boat, swimming to the net type ladder and proceeded to climb up the ship!  Scary, but fun, I couldn’t resist and took the ‘plunge’ out myself and did the same thing.  These crazy kids got all the way to the very top (bow) of this monstrous ship, and jumped off the bow!  Well, I couldn’t let that happen without giving it a go myself, so I did the deed with a ‘weeeeeeeeeee’ all the way down and slammed into the frigthening but irresistable water below.  What a rush!  I was a proud dad when my 7 year old jumped off the Atabeyra and proceeded to swim to the ship as well to do the same thing, so up I went with him and followed him down. 

After spending another half hour or so just swimming around and enjoying the scenery, we got on board again and headed past the point to Little Water Cay (Iguana Island), where a bunch of the little ones got off again and went exploring to see Iguanas.  I decided that it was again another time to catch up on the drinks and chatted away some more while some of my fav Marley tunes came on.  What a life!  Some of the boys ended up playing soccer on the beach and the girls went swimming.

Back to the marina in Leeward by Big Blue, goodbyes to all, and on our way back home. 

All in all, this was probably one of the most memorable Easter Mondays we’ve had as a family.

Thanks to the great company, Captain Dave, Junior, and Turks & Caicos’ Resident favourite, the good ship Atabeyra.

Was high time that the family made its way over to explore some of the outer islands of the Turks & Caicos Islands, so we packed a bag full of snacks and headed to Leeward Marina (at the very end of the Leeward Highway) to catch the TCI Ferry over to North Caicos.  The folks at ‘Caribbean Cruisin’ are pretty well organized, and we purchased our return tickets to get over to North Caicos for just $30 for adults and $20 for kids 9 and under.  The marina itself is very scenic with nothing but clear turquoise water views from the dock. 

The ferry left exactly on time and reached exactly a half hour later at Sandy Point in ‘North’ where we met up with Suzie from Pelican Car Rentals.  Suzie is truly a doll and always has a smile on her face.  Her and her husband Cliff own and run the Pelican Beach Hotel.  For this trip, we decided to head straight for the Causeway connecting North and Middle Caicos so that we can go exploring around ‘Middle’ and time it so that we can have a bit of time to also get up to Pumpkin Bluff in North on our way back in time to catch the ferry back at 5:45 pm.  Both North and Middle Caicos are truly beautiful Caribbean islands and are what you typically think of when you vision a Caribbean Island in the sun (Provo is more developed and touristy, so was quite a different vibe and scene over there). 

Driving over the causeway was quite interesting, it was unfortunate to see what damage the hurricane did in September of 2008, but still very driveable and extremely safe.  On Middle Caicos, there are a wide variety of sights to see, including Bambarra Beach, Conch Bar Caves, Mudjin Harbour, Indian Cave, Crossing Place Trial, Haulover Plantation and several more.  So we set out to see the sights and was totally surprised at how naturally beautiful this island really was.  Every small village that we passed by (such as “Kew” and “Bottle Creek”, had willing and friendly locals who were excited to tell us about where to go, how to get there, and who was related to who (did I mention how proud they are of their island?).  Middle Caicos is a very large island, about three times the size of Provo, but only 300 residents.

We arrived at Mudjin Harbour near to the Blue Horizon Resort and headed up the driveway and parked by the concrete path down to the beach.  What a sight!  Simply stunning.  I had to stand there for a few minutes in awe, just thinking how lucky I was to see what I was actually seeing.  On the way down, you see a dramatic cave formation with some lovely benches in the shade, followed by white powdery sand, a long stretch of beach and ended up at Dragon Cay.  There were only two other people enjoying the beach and said that they were just out snorkeling. 

After spending some time there (and taking at least a hundred pictures), we headed off to try Daniel’s Cafe, and again, were totally impressed with the casual and scenic ambiance that this friendly restaurant had to offer.  After meeting up with Daniel Forbes himself and getting to know him a bit, he opened the door to the ‘Middle Caicos Co-op’ where they make local items including weaved baskets and dishware out of a conch shell.  We headed back to the restaurant and met Daniel’s son Devon who turned 34 years old that day!  We ordered fish and cracked conch, totally delicious.  This father and son combination brought out a highly unique personality and charm of the establishment as they took the time out to talk to us and share stories.  This is not something that you have a chance to do at many other restaurants (in TCI, or around the world) so it really stood out to us.

After enjoying a wonderful meal and great company, we jumped in the car and stayed on the paved road, across the airport tarmac, and onto a rough road by a roundabout and into the brush.  The gates at the cave entrance suddenly appeared and there came Mr. Dennis with his light brown truck.  He gave us all flashlights and gave us a great tour of the interesting cave formation, which just happens to be the largest above-water cave formation in the entire Caribbean!  The kids really loved walking around the limestone rock and looking for bats with their flashlights (watch out for the bat poop which apparently the Lucayan Indians many many years ago would reap and use for excellent manure).

By this time, we thought it might be a good idea to head back to the causeway and back to North.  That we did, and still had time to stop in to Suzie’s Pelican Beach Hotel for a drink (one more for the road).  We met up with an interesting school teacher there who was just sitting and enjoying the water on a Saturday afternoon and sharing some stories with her.  Up to Pumpkin Bluff and then back down to the Sandy Point ferry area.

Once again, TCI Ferry Services got us back exactly half hour later to Provo.

All in all, a day trip to North and Middle Caicos are well worth it, in fact, if you come to Turks & Caicos and just stay in Provo, some may argue, that you haven’t experienced all that this wonderful destination has to offer.

Estimated Costs for taking a day trip over to North and Middle Caicos from Provo:

• Return ferry transfers on TCI Ferry Service:  $30 per adult or $20 per child 9 and under
• Rent a car from Pelican Car Rentals:  $75
• Gas to get you from North Caicos to Middle Caicos and back:  $15
• Lunch at Daniel’s Cafe in Conch Bar including drinks per person:  $25
• Guided 1/2 hour tour at Caves per person:  $10