TurksCaicos

Beaches Resort at Turks and Caicos
A Taste of Paradise

One of Beaches many fountains. The outdoor theater is in the background.

by ANDREW JOHNSON
Photographs by Lisa E. Johnson

Beaches, run by Sandals, is an all-inclusive resort located on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Possessing one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever come across, it has clear and calm waters for the ultimate in swimming and sunbathing. Family oriented with Sesame Street for the youngsters, it also has some adult only restaurants and pools. It’s been voted for nine consecutive years as World’s Best for Families by travel agents at the World’s Travel Awards. The people who serve you are the most friendliest I’ve come across in the Caribbean.
With always a ready smile and warm manner, everyone seems ready to accommodate you and make your every moment a treasure to be savored. From many dining choices to kids’ programs, it’s all there. Wines and liquors are included.

The beach offers thatched covered umbrella structures with deck chairs readily available. Close by is a place to have
a buffet lunch with many culinary choices. Entertainment is also offered nightly as well as bars serving liquid refreshments even in the pools with stools for sitting right in the water. Add to this the chance to participate in all
sorts of water sports with equipment included. I’d also like to mention the constant breeze that blows making the outdoors great for dining in the evening as well.

The calm, aqua sea and white sand beach of Providenciales

The French Village pool - the largest pool at Beaches

There is a choice of themed restaurants to go to, some “adults only” for those who want a time away from the youngsters.
But spending the time with the kids was a pleasure for my family as we traveled in a group of sixteen that included six youngsters who ranged in age from five to almost thirteen. These were our close friends, the Banats,
who traveled with my brother-in-law, his wife, and my wife and daughter. In all, the Johnsons, the Gebaras,
and the Banats would always gather
for meals, especially at dinnertime, in an atmosphere of cordiality and friendship.

The quarters provided were more than adequate. One occasionally would come across the tiniest of ants or other crawling creatures which would be eliminated by the house staff spraying. Bottled water was provided in adequate amounts each day in your room refrigerator. One drawback was that it was never served in restaurants or bars on the site ( I cannot imagine why except for a possible small saving in cost).

Wines for dinner were provided with Berringer’s Stone Cellar label in various grape types with the label on the bottle displaying the Beaches logo at the bottom of the familiar label I encountered back home. Any other brand
was listed on the wine menu at a rather high cost (this to me did not go with the “all inclusive” spirit of the resort).

A newer part of the facility is the French Village with its huge pool and places to enjoy sumptuous meals including the Italian buffet at Giuseppe’s, the great coffees and pastries at the Café de Paris, and of course a French restaurant, Le Petit Chateau. At Sapodilla’s International Restaurant replete with white glove service, not far from our rooms, we savored cuisine that was outstanding.

We particularly enjoyed Schooners for its waterfront outdoor dining with the great seafood offerings. Host Carl and waiters Omar and Lando were the most attentive and friendliest we encountered, fulfilling every culinary desire.

All sorts of luxury accommodations with even butler service are available for those who wish to indulge for a much higher fee. We were satisfied with the accommodations we had, not needing this further pampering.
But the most outstanding feature of this resort is its beach and coral reef within swimming distance. Its pristine waters, free of shells and debris, make this beach “the last of the true exotics” as many in magazines have termed it.

The French Village

A sidewalk cafe at the French Village

Internet connections are available and one can send messages home or to others, although I encountered only one room with only two computers; perhaps a larger facility may have been in order.

I would say that Beaches is a nice destination to head to for the fine location you seek. I have to say though that very subtle touches are there in cutting corners, or as other put it: nickel and diming. True, you can get your drinks with brand name liquors if you ask for it, but the “bar brands,” and cheap ones at that, are otherwise used and are not the greatest. It was also a bit annoying not to be able to get a bottle of water at the pools or restaurants, having to carry your own from your room. We were told that the water on the island was drinkable, but it sure had a sulfur smell and didn’t exactly taste right. With all the pluses, I guess there must be minuses as well.

Walking through the facility’s paths, one sees the well kept gardens and flora, a Technicolor wonder create by Mother Nature and nurtured by the grounds crew. Beautiful trees and hedges are to be found in the French Village, within short walking distance, replete with its huge pool and eating facilities. Sidewalk cafes are there to tempt you.

But all in all, it’s the people there who have a great deal of the warmth and charm making this a worthwhile place to come to. It helps too that English is the spoken language in this part of the British West Indies with the U.S. dollar its currency.

An additional thought: Nurse Elaine Clare was on duty, free of charge to anyone with a medical problem. One in our group
had occasion to visit her and she was a most knowledgeable and gracious person.