Destination of The Day
Despite it's rising popularity, Turks and Caicos remains a niche island!
Chris Rakes; All Inclusive Vacation Expert & Honeymoon, Group Travel Specialist. Like many other destinations in the Caribbean, the Turks and Caicos suffered its share of bumps and bruises as a result of last year’s hurricanes. An archipelago of 40 low-lying coral islands southeast of the Bahamas, the British Overseas Territory sustained the most damage from Hurricane Irma, though it was also impacted by Hurricane Maria. Many Turks and Caicos hotels, as well as the airport, experienced water damage and the port of Turks and Caicos witnessed even heavier destruction. However, before year’s end in 2017, most of the island’s restaurants, bars, hotels and tourist attractions had reopened.
Longtime Turks and Caicos Developer Mark Durliat, owner of Grace Bay Resorts, recently spoke with us about the destination, where it’s been and where it’s headed. Over the past two decades of working in the Turks and Caicos, Durliat has led the creation of 10 new resorts, condominiums and single-family residential projects. He has spearheaded more than 300,0000 square feet of new construction and directly sold $145 million of real estate. His initial project, Grace Bay Club, was the first luxury, all-oceanfront-suite resort in the country. More recently, Durliat’s energies have been focused on his new Rock House Resort, a 14-acre residential enclave that has a target sell out of $55 million. It will offer 41 cottages and four hillside homes.
I went down to Turks & Caicos this past Spring to check out the recovery and see what's new.
Not only did Turks and Caicos recover remarkably quickly from the 2017 hurricane season that devastated much of the Caribbean, it is experiencing a variety of important developments and is thriving as a destination on many levels. The transition has been helped along in large part by more direct flights to the Turks and Caicos in recent years. A list of cities that now offer direct flights to the Turks and Caicos at dizzying speed – New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and more.
There are a variety of new luxe properties that have opened in recent years or that are slated to open in the near future. The Ritz-Carlton, a legend in luxury has announced plans for Turks and Caicos. The project will be located in the Grace Bay. My favorite spot! In addition, Durliat’s own company, Grace Bay Resorts, recently acquired a new property, Point Grace. The luxury boutique resort, which came under Grace Bay Resorts ownership in April, offers a world-class location on Grace Bay Beach and 35 luxe suites. And, last December 2016 the much buzzed about Shore Club opened. It's a $100 million property located on a three-mile stretch of beach featuring opulent villas and lavish suites. There are three pools, poolside cabanas, a yoga pavilion and a 12,000-square-foot spa, as well as three dining venues too.
Longtime Turks and Caicos Developer Mark Durliat, owner of Grace Bay Resorts, recently spoke with us about the destination, where it’s been and where it’s headed. Over the past two decades of working in the Turks and Caicos, Durliat has led the creation of 10 new resorts, condominiums and single-family residential projects. He has spearheaded more than 300,0000 square feet of new construction and directly sold $145 million of real estate. His initial project, Grace Bay Club, was the first luxury, all-oceanfront-suite resort in the country. More recently, Durliat’s energies have been focused on his new Rock House Resort, a 14-acre residential enclave that has a target sell out of $55 million. It will offer 41 cottages and four hillside homes.
I went down to Turks & Caicos this past Spring to check out the recovery and see what's new.
Not only did Turks and Caicos recover remarkably quickly from the 2017 hurricane season that devastated much of the Caribbean, it is experiencing a variety of important developments and is thriving as a destination on many levels. The transition has been helped along in large part by more direct flights to the Turks and Caicos in recent years. A list of cities that now offer direct flights to the Turks and Caicos at dizzying speed – New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and more.
There are a variety of new luxe properties that have opened in recent years or that are slated to open in the near future. The Ritz-Carlton, a legend in luxury has announced plans for Turks and Caicos. The project will be located in the Grace Bay. My favorite spot! In addition, Durliat’s own company, Grace Bay Resorts, recently acquired a new property, Point Grace. The luxury boutique resort, which came under Grace Bay Resorts ownership in April, offers a world-class location on Grace Bay Beach and 35 luxe suites. And, last December 2016 the much buzzed about Shore Club opened. It's a $100 million property located on a three-mile stretch of beach featuring opulent villas and lavish suites. There are three pools, poolside cabanas, a yoga pavilion and a 12,000-square-foot spa, as well as three dining venues too.
One incredible sunset after another. As exciting as all of this news is for the destination, luckily Turks and Caicos will never be an Aruba or St. Maarten. All of the developments are relatively small. So, it remaines boutique in nature. The intimate nature of many of the luxury properties on the island is just one of the elements that continues to set Turks and Caicos apart.
It doesn't offer much in the way of night life either. And, with the spectacular sunsets you don't need one! It’s a place that largely slows down after dinner. But your dinner will be fabulous, as the Turks and Caicos has a thriving culinary scene, one known for its array of upscale restaurants run by small operators offering handmade, first-class cuisine and great wines.
It doesn't offer much in the way of night life either. And, with the spectacular sunsets you don't need one! It’s a place that largely slows down after dinner. But your dinner will be fabulous, as the Turks and Caicos has a thriving culinary scene, one known for its array of upscale restaurants run by small operators offering handmade, first-class cuisine and great wines.
Plan with someone who has been there more than once! Sun, sand, sea, good food and relaxation - not hustle and bustle - is what you will find in Turks & Caicos!
To start planning your trip and get help picking the perfect spot contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com. She is an experienced expert who will make it easy for you to research, customize and go!
To start planning your trip and get help picking the perfect spot contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com. She is an experienced expert who will make it easy for you to research, customize and go!
