Located on Providenciales’ Grace Bay Beach – recently named the World’s #1 Beach by TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards – The Sands at Grace Bay is tempting spring and summer travelers with its 4th Night Free offer and reduced low-season rates starting from only $195 per night. Named one of the, “Best Hotels in Turks & Caicos” for 2016 by the U.S. News & World Report, a “2015 Family Favorite Hotel” from Family Vacation Critic and a recipient of WeddingWire.com’s “2015 Couples Choice Award”, our resort is leading choice amongst travelers of all ages seeking an affordable yet luxurious stay in one of the Caribbean’s most sought after beach vacation destinations.
In addition to offering some of the most affordable rates along Provo’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach, guests also benefit from the following free resort amenities during their stay: complimentary use of watersports equipment – including kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats; bicycles for island exploration; a Tuesday Manager’s cocktail party; three free-form swimming pools; a tennis/basketball court, and more.
Our reduced low-season rates that start from only $195 per night are available for travel beginning April 9th through December 23rd, 2016. The resort-wide 4th Night FREE Deal is valid for new bookings of three nights or more, for travel between May 1st through December 23rd. The free night is not transferable or redeemable for cash, and is not applicable for groups. More resort information may be found online at www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com – or by calling toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637 or from Canada (800) 567-5327. Travel agents receive a ten percent commission for all bookings made at The Sands at Grace Bay.
For guests of The Sands at Grace Bay and visitors of Providenciales looking to explore the nearby Turks & Caicos Islands for a fun day trip, Caribbean Cruisin’ conveniently offers daily ferry service from Providenciales to North Caicos and South Caicos Islands.
There’s also a twice-weekly ferry service from Providenciales to South Caicos, which is a 75-minute ride that departs on Friday and Sunday. Click here for the South Caicos ferry schedule: http://www.tciferry.com/south-caicos-ferry
For more information on this ferry service: Caribbean Cruisin’ (Walkin Marina, Leeward, Providenciales. 649/946–5406 or 649/231–4191. http://www.tciferry.com
In the middle of a cold and snowy winter, just thinking about sunny summer days can be rejuvenating. Traveling to Turks and Caicos in the winter time of course is even better.
The blue skies and turquoise waters provide a powerful boost to body and soul. Your visit to Grace Bay is like a week-long, massive dose of light therapy and Vitamin D supplements.
The challenge of course is giving the restorative Sun the respect it deserves and protecting your skin.
Without a little protection UV rays can damage the collagen that provides your skin with elasticity and keeps it looking smooth.
We have asked one fair-skinned guest, Masae Okabayashi of Canada, about how she cares for here skin.
Skin Care Tips for Your Beach Vacation
“I use cosmetics to protect myself from the sun. So, I use a pre-foundation from DHC. I bought it in Japan, but you can buy it Canada,” says Masae Okabayashi. “It’s cheap but is also very high quality. This pre-foundation serves as a sunscreen.”
Okabayashi traveled to Grace Bay earlier this winter with her family for a much-needed break. Originally from Japan, Okabayashi now resides in Canada.
“Believe it or not, sunlight is far more fierce in Canada than in Japan or the Turks and Caicos,” says Okabayashi. “There is a higher UV index in Canada so I take great care going out into the sun at any time of the year.”
After applying pre-foundation she then applies foundation (DHC or Shiseido)l; after Okabayashi applies a “UV block” powder as a third layer.
“On the back of my neck and my hands I use regular sunscreen,” she says. “Whether I’m on a Caribbean beach or back home I just stay out in the sun for a little while. After that I wear a cardigan when I’m on the beach… I don’t like to overdo it.”
Okabayashi says she uses a high SPF (50) when she goes to the beach, but if it’s just for going shopping I use an SPF of about SPF 30.
The reason?
“The higher the SPF, the harder it is on your skin,” she says. “Of course, if I’m out for longer than two hours the sunblock will have worn out. So I always bring a sunblock spray with me. It’s something that I can apply over my foundation and so on.”
Okabayashi says she takes special care removing sunscreen.
“The first thing I do when I return home, and if I’m not going to go outside again is that I always make sure to wash my face,” she says. “I try not leave makeup on too long after I get home.”
This is because, while sunscreen is great for protecting your skin, it is also a natural desiccant, meaning it dries out your skin.
Dry skin temporarily loses its elasticity, and over time dry skin will lead to wrinkles.
“Of course, wrinkles can be quite lovely, but for the time being I want to hold onto my shiny, smooth skin,” says Okabayashi.
Got a sunburn, Spa Tropique can help you. Feeling tired after spending months in the trenches at work during a cold winter? Spa Tropique can help you. There’s treatments for everything from headaches to the aches and pains of expecting mothers.
Spa Tropique Beach Bliss Treatment
A detoxifying seaweed wrap, mini facial with strawberry mask and aromatherapy massage are the perfect way to end a day at the beach.
With two treatment rooms conveniently located in Building 1, Spa Tropique promises a blissful escape to relax and revitalize during your Turks & Caicos trip.
5 Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Skin
Cover up, and consider wearing a light cotton cardigan to the beach
Wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30
Understand that sunscreen will dry out and damage your skin, so be sure remove as quickly as possible.
Be gentle on your skin when removing cosmetics
Get plenty of “beauty sleep” by going to bed earlier in the evening.
2016 Guestroom Refurbishments For Grace Bay Beach Resort
The Sands at Grace Bay located on picture perfect Grace Bay Beach is excited to announce its resort-wide enhancement project in 2016!
By early 2016, all resort accommodations will have received new luxury bedding collection.
In August and September, additional guestroom enhancements and refurbishments will be made to complement the new bedding. During this time, the resort will not be open for reservations between the dates of August 20, through September 30, 2016.
The resort looks forward to bringing even greater value to its guests when it re-opens on October 1, 2016!
About the Sands at Grace Bay
Located only 80 minutes by air from Miami, and with regular airline service from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Toronto, The Sands at Grace Bay is an easy-to-reach destination for the perfect Caribbean vacation.
An all-suite resort, The Sands at Grace Bay offers a spectacular, central beachfront location on Grace Bay Beach, awe-inspiring views and beautifully-appointed and newly refurbished accommodations.
Within a 6-acre Caribbean plantation-style setting, The Sands at Grace Bay comprises 114 suites in six, three-story buildings. It is embraced by lush, pristine tropical landscaping and located on Grace Bay’s 12-miles of powdery white sand known as Grace Bay Beach that boasts dazzling turquoise waters.
The Sands at Grace Bay is kicking off another #SandsSelfie social media contest for the month of March – where both current and past guests who post a resort “selfie” photo onto the resort’s Facebook or Instagram pages, will be entered to win a future 3-night stay in a luxurious one-bedroom Oceanview suite.
The contest encourages guests to share fun and memorable selfie photos of their Turks & Caicos trip and stay at The Sands at Grace Bay, located on Grace Bay Beach – recently named the World’s #1 Beach by TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards. In addition to our world-famous beach destination – our resort has also been named one of the, “Best Hotels in Turks & Caicos” for 2016 by the U.S. News & World Report and received a Couples Choice Award from the popular wedding planning site WeddingWire.com.
The steps to enter our SandsSelfie contest are simple:
1) guests take a #SandsSelfie photo from the resort property – and can use our new Sands at Grace Bay “Selfie frames” that will be conveniently placed at selfie stations by our pool and also by our award-winning beach
3) and “follow” the resort on Facebook and Instagram to receive winner notification
The #SandsSelfie contest is happening now through March 31st. When the contest ends, one #SandsSelfie photo taken on the resort property will be randomly selected from either the resort’s Facebook or Instagram account as the winner. Photo entries must include the hashtag #SandsSelfie in their photo descriptions during the contest period, to be entered. Those who enter must “follow” the resort Facebook or Instagram pages, to receive the winner notification. One winner will receive a gift certificate for a free 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom Oceanview Suite for a future visit to The Sands at Grace Bay – that can be redeemed within one year from the date it’s awarded.
The Sands at Grace Bay still has availability during the upcoming popular spring travel months, but travelers will need to reserve their stay soon as space is limited. You can check our resort availability online via www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com website or call toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; or contact a travel agent for reservations.
Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos has just been named the World’s #1 Beach by TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards! Of course, this comes as no surprise to those who have stayed with us at The Sands at Grace Bay and had the opportunity to enjoy our resort’s pristine stretch of Grace Bay Beach during their Turks & Caicos vacation. Not only does our world-famous beach boast unbelievably clear water, with hundreds of shades of blue and green and white sugar sand, but our ocean water is surprisingly warm. In the summer, a dip in the surf at Grace Bay Beach may feel a lot like taking a warm bath – with ocean water temperatures ranging between 82 to 84 degrees (28-29 degrees Celsius). The winter water temperature is a bit cooler but still incredibly comfortable, ranging from 74 to 78 degrees (23-26 degrees Celsius).
Now that the word is out that we’re located on the world’s very best beach, we encourage you to take advantage of our low-season spring rates and our Spring and Summer 4th Night Free deal before our resort occupancy is full. More and more travelers from around the world are making reservations with us to enjoy our idyllic beach destination, so now is the best time to book an affordable spring getaway to The Sands at Grace Bay.
This spring and summer you’ll enjoy our affordable low-season rates plus you’ll have endless fun in the sun with our array of free amenities including three swimming pools, ocean watersports equipment, bicycles and more. Plus, our spacious and luxurious studios and suites are ideal for families, groups of friends, and couples and come equipped with all the comforts of home.
The Sands’ low-season spring and summer rates kick off on April 7th and the resort’s 4th Night Free Deal begins May 1st, 2016. BOOK NOW: http://thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com.
The Sands at Grace Bay has unveiled its 2016 Turks and Caicos wedding and romance packages for couples seeking an affordable yet luxurious beach wedding, honeymoon or romantic getaway in one of the Caribbean’s most sought after vacation destinations of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos – named the #1 Island In The World by TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards. These packages conveniently allow couples to customize the details of their stay, by selecting their accommodation type, length of stay and time of visit – based on their desired preferences and budget – to turn their dream Turks & Caicos wedding or vacation into a reality. This top-rated resort continues to receive 5-star reviews from couples on leading travel review and rating sites including TripAdvisor and the wedding planning site WeddingWire.com, which gave the resort a “2015 Couples Choice Award” for consistently receiving positive reviews in the areas of service, value, flexibility, and professionalism.
The Sands’ two romance packages feature special touches such as couples massages, sunset beach cruises and more. Regardless of which package is selected, couples will find it easy to fall in love all over again while taking quiet strolls along the resort’s pristine stretch of Grace Bay Beach, enjoying romantic candle-lit dinners on the Hemingway’s dune deck, and relaxing together in The Sands’ elegant and spacious suites that feature oversized balconies and all the comforts of home. The following are The Sands’ 2016 Romance Package inclusions:
Fall in Love Again Package: $750 Per Couple
Chilled bottle of sparkling wine in room upon arrival
70 Minute Swedish Massage For Two
Couples Sunset Cruise
Lasting Love Romance Package: $1,350 Per Couple
Chilled bottle of sparkling wine in room upon arrival
Fresh Flowers & Strawberries in room upon arrival
His & Her Spa Treatments For Two including:
70 Minute Swedish Massage
Full Scalp Massage
Mini Reflexology
Couples Sunset Cruise
Couples Beach & Snorkel Cruise: a scenic excursion for two that includes a boat tour of Providenciales’ secluded Cays and snorkeling along the island’s top-rated coral reefs
Roundtrip Airport Transfers
The resort’s 2016 beach wedding packages, both under $5,000, provide couples with the basic elements for an intimate Grace Bay Beach wedding ceremony for up to ten people with the ability to invite additional wedding guests for a nominal per person charge. These packages may be enhanced with optional wedding day “extras” – a variety of special add-on services offered from island vendors that include a tented beach barbecue and bonfire, local entertainment & island musicians, flowers, fireworks, hair and makeup services and much more. The following are inclusions for The Sands’ 2016 beach wedding packages:
“Let’s Say I Do”: $1,895 Per Couple
On-Site Event Assistance
Assistance to Obtain Marriage License and Marital Paperwork
Officiant for Wedding Ceremony
Witness, if needed
Bridal Bouquet and Groom’s Boutonniere
Wedding Cake (serves 10 people)
10 Complimentary Wedding Chairs adorned with chair covers
iPod Docking Station
4 Pole Beach Wedding Arch with White Sheer cloth
Special Welcome Amenity
Special Turndown Service on Night of Wedding
“Let’s Go For It”: $4,750 Per Couple
*The “Let’s Go For It” package includes all of the offerings from the “Let’s Say I Do” package, with the following additions:
Brilliantby Tropical Imaging Photograph Package, which includes:
A 2-hour shoot
Beautiful 10×10 Turks & Caicos book with 30 pages
All Digital Files
Spa Tropique’s “I Do” Bride & Groom Spa Package that includes the following His & Her Treatments:
70-Minute Swedish Massages
Delicious Full-Scalp Massages
Fabulous Foot Massages
In addition to the resort’s affordable rates and luxurious studio and suite accommodations along Grace Bay Beach, couples also benefit from the following added-value amenities during their stay: complimentary use of watersports equipment – including kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats; bicycles for island exploration; a Tuesday Manager’s cocktail party; three free-form swimming pools, a tennis/basketball court, and more.
The 2016 wedding and romance package rates exclude the price of room accommodations, resort taxes and service charges. The wedding package prices are based on a 10 person wedding: for each additional wedding guest (up to 20 persons) an additional $25 per person charge will be applied to the total package price and for groups over 20, customized package pricing will apply. For more info, visit:Turks & Caicos Packages.
The Art Crawl returns to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos this winter and in early spring.
The Provo Art Crawl is a fun and casual night of wining and dining at local cafes and restaurants. It’s a great way to try out as many restaurants in Turks and Caicos as possible… including, of course The Sands at Grace Bay’s own beachfront Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar.
The Art Crawl occurs on the third Wednesday of the month: Here’s the Art Crawl schedule for 2016:
Wednesday, January 20th
Wednesday, February 17th
Wednesday, March 16th
Wednesday, April 20th
Providenciales Art Crawl Details
The real attraction of course is browsing the wide variety of local art galleries that dot the Grace Bay area. Resort guests and Islanders alike can join in the crawl wherever they would like for some art, food and drinks.
A trail has been provided for ease but, true to our Caribbean island lifestyle, there are no set times or route that must be followed.
Each location will stamp your map and once you have all the stamps, you will be entered in the PAC raffle for one of three unique prizes.
Here are some images from the January 2016 art crawl:
Every year from January through the beginning of April thousands of North Atlantic humpback whales migrate through the Turks Head passage that separates South Caicos and Grand Turk, towards the Dominican Republic for birthing. During this time of year, the whales can be seen and heard all over the Turks & Caicos Islands and can even be spotted right off of Grace Bay Beach beyond our reef. Whale watching tours are now offered from Grand Turks and Salt Cay and are popular excursions taken by many tourists visiting our Islands each year. For information on the various whale watching tours and excursions offered in Turks & Caicos, you visit the following website: http://turksandcaicostourism.com/salt-cay-turks-and-caicos/salt-cay-tours-activities/
Tourists play a big role in helping to protect our Turks & Caicos whale population, as they often seek to experience these magnificent creatures during their Turks & Caicos trips. To ensure our Humpback Whales continue to return to our Turks & Caicos Islands, here are some points to consider from the Turks & Caicos Department of Environment & Maritime Affairs that can help keep these whales safe on their journey through our waters:
During the Turks & Caicos whale migration season, boats and vessels should approach slowly, carefully and quietly (keeping engine noise to a minimum). Maintaining a respectful distance ensures that the will not be stressed or feel threatened.
Avoid “fencing in” the whales by blocking them between boats, too close to shore/shallow water, cutting off their direction of travel, or chasing after them.
If whales change their direction 3-5 times, it means they are feeling hassled and stressed. Simply maintain your distance and allow their space. Disturbed whales will swim away and your viewing could be unfortunately cut short.
When operating a vessel, move parallel to the whales to avoid approaching them head-on, as this may give the whales the impression that they are being chased. Surprised whales may show aggression and become very dangerous given their size.
Mothers and calves are tired and are more likely to be “spooked.” They need extra consideration of the above.
Remember: whales are much bigger than people and most whale watching vessels. Safety is always a priority, for both the whales and the viewers. Approaching them with caution ensures the whales stay happy and you will get the most out of your experience.
The menu at Hemingway’s restaurant menu has been updated
Happy New Year! We are looking forward to warmly welcoming both new and return guests this year and we’re excited for you to have the chance to experience our incredible and world renowned Grace Bay Beach location in 2016!
Not only is our resort idyllically situated on a pristine stretch of Grace Bay, but so is our resort’s award-winning Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar – a legendary island favorite that is a casually elegant open-air restaurant with a gorgeous deck overlooking the incredible beach and ocean views. Hemingway’s is open daily from 8am till 10pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features live music and deliciously prepared fresh island fare.
The restaurant menu has recently been updated and we invite you to explore the delectable offerings that you can enjoy this year just steps away from The Sands at Grace Bay by downloading the restaurant menus at the following link: http://thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/the-resort/dining/.
Bursts of tropical flavors tempt all palates at Hemingway’s…like the cinnamon raisin French toast or Huevos Rancheros La Tequila for breakfast, Caribbean jerk marinated chicken sandwich or soft fish tacos with sweet mango chutney for lunch, the South Caicos lobster tail or blackened porthouse pork chop with Mango Papaya salad for dinner, and sweet fried ice cream served in a sweet tortilla basket or homemade Bacardi rum cake served with ice cream for a dessert. A kids menu is also featured for all meals to please the palates of our younger visitors.
