TURKS AND CAICOS 2021

For travel lovers who constantly seek wanderlust like me, the pandemic has been a difficult time to maintain at home without exploring the world. Now that vaccines are available and cases have been declining, certain countries and destinations are starting to open up their borders to allow for tourists. If you choose to travel during this time or in the next few months, it’s important to consider places that are maintaining safety protocols.

Turks and Caicos, a small tropical archipelago nation found south of the Bahamas, is less than a four hour flight from New York is the perfect destination that tourists can go to. Not only do they enforce strict border entry requirements that follow CDC protocols, but they also maintain the same safety enforcements while you’re on the island as well as when you leave.

COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Travelers are required to submit a negative PCR test no more than 5 days before arrival. They must also then submit their test result as well as insurance that covers COVID19 on the tourism’s portal at least 24 hours before their flight for travel authorization. After they arrive, travelers must also take another antigen test 3 days before their departure. This process allows travelers and locals to feel reassured that those entering the border is safe and have been tested negative.

I flew Delta Airlines and I had a wonderful experience. The airline has the middle seats blocked off and everybody on the flight is required to wear a mask. Upon arriving on the plane, alcoholic wipes were passed along to all the passengers and the snack bags are all in individual plastic zip lock to lessen contact with the flight attendants.

WHERE TO STAY IN TURKS AND CAICOS

OCEAN CLUB RESORTS: I am grateful that Ocean Club Resorts was able to host me for four nights in exchange for social content and coverage.

Join us where land and sea, relaxation and recreation, grand style and simple elegance blend in perfect harmony. Welcome to Ocean Club Resorts, poised directly on immaculate, white-sand Grace Bay Beach, voted time and again one of the best beaches in the world. We invite you to stay at one resort and enjoy all the unique experiences, dining delights and superb amenities that both resorts — which are just minutes from each other — have to offer.  Because when you’re a guest at one, you’re a guest at both.”

Located directly along the world-renowned Grace Bay Beach and turquoise waters of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, sits Ocean Club Resorts, two sister properties that provide the ideal location to activities on the island and direct beach access for guests to enjoy without going over budget. Both resorts are located just a mile away from each other. There is also a free shuttle for guests to travel between each resort and both are accessible despite which resort you are staying at.

There isn’t much of a difference between the two resorts except for the fact that Ocean Club has more of a Caribbean garden vibe with access to a tennis court and the two dining options including Cabana Bar Grill and Opus wine Bar. Ocean Club West has more of a tropical island feel with a soothing pool plus tennis courts, an on-site water sports and dive shop, a fitness center with massage therapy.

I stayed at Ocean Club Resorts and was lucky enough to experience a beach front, one bedroom suite, located on the ground floor. There was a patio area that led to the beach and was also steps away from the pool and Cabana Bar and Grill. There are also other free amenities provided by the resort including bike rentals, SUP boards, kayaks and beach and pool loungers.

My room had a large living area as well as a fully equipped kitchen, with utensils, cookware and appliances. There were two bathrooms (both which had barn doors) and a separate bedroom. The best part is that there’s also a washer and dryer so I was able to wash all my clothes and have them clean before arriving home. The suite is large enough for a couple or family and has ample space to relax comfortably. I loved that the resort gave me a feeling of home instead of feeling like I was staying at a hotel temporarily. All of the amenities allowed me to fully immerse myself in Turks and Caicos and I didn’t feel like I was just visiting.

DINING OPTIONS

Solana: The Asian-influenced Solana restaurant at Ocean Club West features seaside dining with style, including deck seating under the stars and a cozy fire pit, along with a lively teppanyaki grill and a sushi bar.

I ate at Solana on the first night and I loved that the seating was right by the beach because one of my favorite things to do while I am traveling is watching the sunset. The food was out of the world and my favorite cuisine is sushi so it’s no surprise that I ordered spicy tuna and salmon avocado rolls. They were delicious and the fish was extremely fresh. There are other options beside sushi on the menu so there is something for everybody. The service was impeccable and I highly recommend dining here!

*Since it was my first night, I just wanted to enjoy it so I wasn’t able to capture more photos, but trust me, you’ll have a great time dining at Solana!

CABANA BAR & GRILL: With a remarkable ocean view sunrise to sunset, turquoise-blue waters, and white-sand beaches, you’ll confirm you’re on the best beach in the world! Relax with us, fresh cocktail in hand and a delightful menu to fulfill your Caribbean cravings. And when you don’t want to leave this gorgeous beach, don’t worry — we’ll deliver drinks and bites directly to you.

I had breakfast at Cabana Bar & Grill everyday and also tried their lunch on the first day, which was served on the beach. It was a convenient spot as it was located right in front of my suite. The food was great and consistent and for those who really want to just stay at the resort and by the beach and pool, then it doesn’t get better than dining at Cabana Bar & Grill.

I was able to get to know the staff since I saw them daily and they are all wonderful people. I usually feel like I don’t enjoy my breakfast when I’m at home since I often have a lot of things on my plate to do afterwards. The beauty of having breakfast at Cabana Bar & Grill was that I was able to enjoy my time and could be present with my surroundings and the food.

Opus Wine-Bar-Grill: Featuring exquisite dining, a stunning garden lounge, and an extensive wine list, the sophisticated Opus Wine-Bar-Grille is ideal for celebrating life’s special occasions.

I saved dining at Opus Wine-Bar-Grill on my last night at Ocean Resorts because I knew I wanted to end my trip with an unforgettable experience. I cannot even begin to rave about Opus because it’s a restaurant that blew me away. Upon entering, I was mesmerized by the beautiful decor and ambiance. The tables all had flowers and lanterns and was positioned in a way that reminded me of a wedding reception. The outdoor area was perfect to enjoy dinner and there was an overall romantic vibe surrounding the atmosphere.

The staff were also extremely friendly and attentive and the food was beyond delicious! We had an appetizer sampler, provided by the chef to start. I ordered the grilled mahi mahi which came with rice, mango salsa dressing and vegetables. My friend ordered the seafood pasta, and we both enjoyed our meals to the highest satisfaction level. If you’re like me, then you always say yes to dessert so I made sure to save room for that. We ordered the Apple Tart with vanilla ice cream and the Creamy Coconut Caramel dessert, topped with dark chocolate. The combination of both options were perfect as the coconut chocolate was rich, which balanced well with the tart, which was refreshing and lighter in taste.

As I was enjoying my meal and taking in the setting, I couldn’t help, but smile at the simple fact that my experience at Turks and Caicos was ending in such a perfect manner. If you stay at Ocean Resorts, then dining at Opus Wine-Bar-Grill is a must!

WHAT TO DO:

Ocean Club Resorts motto is “doing nothing” and I love that messaging. Most people who will choose to go to Turks and Caicos just want to relax and vacation and I promise you will definitely get that while you are here. I woke up everyday to catch the sunrise at 7 am and also made sure to catch the sunset around 7 pm. There is nothing I love more than to watch the sky turn colors because it’s such a beautiful sight and it’s something I wish I could see more of in my lifetime. I also loved that each sunrise and each sunset was unique and different which made the moments more special. Some mornings, the sky was lighter and reminded me of pastel colors and other mornings it was more bright like cotton candy. Some evenings, the sky was a beaming orange, and other evenings, it was a calmer yellow. I didn’t have a preference for the colors but it was always a great surprise to catch them.

Most of my days spent at Ocean Club Resorts was laying on the beach, catching some sun and swimming in the pools. However, when I knew that the resort offered free bike rentals, I had to jump on that opportunity because bike riding is one of my favorite activities. My friend and I decided to rent bikes to explore downtown area. One local cafe we discovered was called Lemon2Go and the atmosphere of the cafe was charming and it reminded me a little bit of Tulum. I ended up going there everyday while I was at Turks and Caicos. The cafe offers healthy drinks and bites and I would recommend trying their matte lattes and cappuccinos.
*I don’t have photos of bike riding since I was too focused on the road, but it was a liberating moment to bike in the morning with the wind in my hair and to hear the birds chirping. As you can also see from the above photos, the cafe is also great for photos so definitely put this on your list the next time you’re in Turks and Caicos!

Other activities that you can do while you are at Ocean Club Resorts are diving, surfing, tennis, excursions (snorkeling, Iguana Island, cave exploration, beach BBQs and private tours can be arranged), golf, ecotourism (kayaking, bicycling or hiking), and fishing. Aside from bike riding, I also went kayaking. Although I’m not that great at it, I still had an amazing time because I was able to be close to the water and it was fun to try and learn to navigate with the paddles and move with the waves. As you can tell, there is something for everybody and it will be impossible to not have a positive experience!

I also wanted to note that Ocean Club Resorts was very helpful with arranging the COVID tests. The testing center was at Ocean Club West and it was easy to make an appointment online. It took 15 minutes and I was able to get my result right afterwards. The staff also made me feel extremely comfortable. The process itself is obviously not pleasant but they were able to make me feel relaxed and I couldn’t thank them enough for going out of their way to make the process smoother. The resort also keeps your results and delivers it to you before you leave, so you are prepared for the departure flight back. The process was extremely easy and effortless and it took the stress off of me while I was there so I can enjoy my time and relax instead.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Overall, my first time visiting Turks and Caicos was amazing and I’m so thankful that I was able to spend it at Ocean Club Resorts. The five day getaway was much needed and I was able to truly unplug, decompress and enjoy my time with the beach, ocean and sun. I definitely will add this on my list of recommended vacation destinations. If you are looking for a nice vacation or holiday, then check out Ocean Club Resorts. *They are also doing a special offer that allows up to 38% discount from now until December 18, 2021 for bookings online with no mimmimim stay required.