Travel planning and booking site, TripAdvisor®, today announced the winners of its Travelers’ Choice® awards for Beaches. Drum-roll please…Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos won the top honor as the best beach in the world this year, reclaiming its crown from 2016.
According to TripAdvisor, the company has awarded 355 beaches overall, including the top 25 in the world and local lists for Asia, Europe, Africa, South Pacific, South America, Middle East, Caribbean, Central America, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S.
“Soft sand, clear waters and balmy temperatures are common threads among these Travelers’ Choice award-winning beaches that have delighted millions of TripAdvisor reviewers across the globe,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “The Caribbean and Florida stake claims as the most decorated on the world and U.S. lists respectively, and based on TripAdvisor price reports, travelers can still find outstanding value on warm-weather escapes to these popular beaches this year.”
For the complete list of Travelers’ Choice Beach award-winners for 2018, as well as the latest reviews and candid traveler photos, visit: www.TripAdvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches. Travelers can also follow the conversation on Twitter at #TravelersChoice.
The Sands along TripAdvisor’s 2018 World’s Best Beach
‘– We’re Working to Keeping Guests Cool and Comfy In the Sun and Unveiling Amazing Savings of Up to 28% at Award-Winning Turks & Caicos Resort! —
The Sands at Grace Bay is celebrating summer with the debut of its new “The Coolest Beach Care” offerings aimed at keeping guests cool, comfortable, and sunburn free as they enjoy the resort’s pools and amazing Grace Bay Beach. Additionally, this TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence resort is offering a “4th night free” special as well as a “7 nights for the price of 5 nights” travel deal throughout the summer along with reduced low-season rates starting from only $195 per night to tempt summer travelers.
The Sands’ “The Coolest Beach Care” will provide guests enjoying the hotel’s spacious outdoor sundeck, 3 free-form pools, and beautiful oceanfront along Grace Bay Beach with the following amenities for keeping cool in the glittering Turks and Caicos sun including: a complimentary sun-screen bar with a variety of sunscreen options for guests to choose from, full-service beach lounger and umbrella set-up, and a refreshing newly created “cool-down” cocktail from Hemingway’s – a season-inspired fresh watermelon martini and frozen drinks menu!
To make a vacation stay along Grace Bay even more enticing, The Sands at Grace Bay is offerings summer resort deals that present savings of up to 28 percent off! Travelers can take advantage of reduced low-season rates that start from only $195 per night as well as the resort-wide 4th Night FREE deal or “7 Nights for the Price of 5” – both valid for new bookings – throughout the summer season.
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: The Sands provides guests with 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 nearby island exploration; a weekly Manager’s cocktail party; three free-form swimming pools; a tennis/basketball court, and many other exclusive offerings. The resort’s spacious studio and suite accommodations are equipped with all the comforts of home with most suite units featuring modern kitchens and appliances, dining and living room areas, screened-in balconies, washer & dryers, free Wi-Fi and more.
Free nights are not transferable or redeemable for cash, and these promotions are not applicable for groups. Travelers can book the resort’s promotions online at www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/rates-and-reservations/current-specials/ – 4th Night Free promo code is “4NF17”; Stay 7 Nights, Pay for 5 Nights promo code is “7FOR5-17” – or travelers can call toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; or contact a travel agent for reservations.
For guests of The Sands at Grace Bay or Providenciales visitors looking to explore the nearby Turks & Caicos Islands for a fun day trip, Caribbean Cruisin’ conveniently offers a twice-weekly 75-minute ferry service from Providenciales to South Caicos Island which departs on Friday and Sunday.
Things to do in South Caicos:
South Caicos offers world class snorkeling and diving ‘off the beach’ or a short boat ride away. There’s even an amazing 7000ft reef wall for scuba divers to explore with a few wrecks.??You can wander around the sleepy town of Cockburn Harbor and because South Caicos has a thriving fishing, conch and lobster industry, enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the local restaurants to enjoy freshly caught fish and seafood. There are many points of interest to explore including Flamingo Pond, Wades Green Loyalist Plantation, Cottage Pond and Horse Stable Beach
Other attractions for visitors in South Caicos include:
Kayaking & stand up paddle boarding through the mangroves
Bone fishing and deep sea fishing are popular as South Caicos is known as the fishing center of the Islands
Visit Long Cay to see the Iguanas
Trek along the North shore or just relax on one of the many beautiful deserted beaches.
The island also hosts the annual BIG SOUTH Regatta held in May each year.
Explore the Conch Bar caves or hike across the Crossing Place Trail
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
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 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.
This past month USA Today’s Melanie Reffes visited The Sands at Grace Bay and wrote an incredible article highlighting her stay at our Turks & Caicos resort! Below is the Seaside Splendor article written by Melanie Reffes, accompanied by her beautiful photo tour of The Sands at Grace Bay which can be fully viewed on the USA Today website: Seaside Splendor.
Less than two hours by air from Miami, Providenciales is the biggest island in the Turks and Caicos and a sunny escape from the winter winds at home. Seven miles from the Providenciales International Airport, The Sands at Grace Bay fronts the baby-blue sea on Grace Bay Beach; the finest talc white sandy stretch on the island. The resort marries Caribbean chic with a casual vibe in 114 suites and studios in six three-story buildings that stand no higher than a palm tree. Each one to three bedroom suite features with ocean or garden views and all of them are spacious — up to 1,600 square feet — and have modern kitchens, dining rooms, washers and dryers and screened in furnished patios and balconies ideal for an afternoon siesta or a cocktail as the sun sets behind the beach. Studios with ocean or garden views are cozy comfy with pull-out couches for guests (or small kids). Wi-Fi is high-speed and complimentary throughout the resort.
For the active-minded, gratis bicycles are perfect for exploring the island, tennis and basketball court is lit for night play and the fitness center stays open until 11 p.m. The Sands at Grace Bay is also a short hop from the 18-hole Provo Golf Course and a pair of marinas for those wishing to explore the island by boat. Caicos Dream Tours arranges paddle boarding, kayaking, Hobie cat sails, spectacular snorkeling and diving in the healthy barrier reef and tours around the island. If you’re lucky, you may spot JoJo; the playful dolphin who has called this section of the sea home since 1980. If you’re just looking to wind down, find your own lazy hammock in the Coconut Grove Garden, revel in a calming soak in the open-air Jacuzzi, plant yourself on a sun lounger by one of three pools or snag a shady spot on the beach under a thatched palapa. For a regal rubdown; massages at Spa Tropique or en-suite are blissfully serene.
A culinary ode to Ernest Hemingway, who fished in the sea surrounding the island, Hemingway’s is beachside dining perfection from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Perched on the shore with servers so friendly you’ll swear you’ve met them before, a table on the dune deck is where to greet the morning with a spicy Blood Mary, stack of crazy good almond pancakes or a yummy ’Ernest’ omelette with a dab of the local hot sauce called ‘Ghost Story’. Big salads are divine for lunch and for dinner; locally-caught frittered conch and a buttery South Caicos lobster tail are the order of the day. Save room for a key lime pie martini and a deliciously shareable fried ice cream served in a sweet tortilla basket sprinkled with cinnamon powdered sugar and chocolate sauce.
Stan Hartling, CEO of The Hartling Group – the developers of three award- winning Turks & Caicos properties including The Sands at Grace Bay – is the Honorary Chairperson for this year’s Salvation Army Kettle Drive in Turks & Caicos.
The Sands at Grace Bay is delighted to join The Hartling Group properties in this year’s goal of raising $50,000 for the Salvation Army, to support families in need this holiday season.
Wait…there’s another way the Hartling Group is spreading holiday cheer: for ALL those who donate at least $25 towards this cause, you will be entered for a chance to win a one-week Turks & Caicos vacation at our sister property – The Palms Turks & Caicos! The Palms Turks & Caicos luxury resort is a 72-suite resort also situated on world-famous Grace Bay beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos and this one-week vacation giveaway is valued at over $7,000. The more that you donate, the more that you will be entered to win The Palms vacation prize:
Donate $25 and receive 1 prize entry
Donate $50 and receive 3 prize entries
Donate $100 and receive 8 prize entries
Donate $250 and receive 25 prize entries
To donate towards this great cause online and for contest details, please visit www.TCIKettle.com. Resort guests who wish to donate may also simply contact the Front Desk and one of our guest service representatives will be pleased to apply the donation you wish to make to your account. The prize winner will be drawn on December 23, 2015.
Please join in our mission of helping others and giving back this holiday season. Every donation, no matter how large or small, will be gratefully received!
The Turks and Caicos Islands lie in the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the Bahamas, and about forty minutes by plane from Miami and the North American mainland.
The climate is warm and dry for most of the year, and this climate has influenced the kinds of foods people enjoy in the Turks and Caicos.
Being surrounded by ocean, the main focus of Turks and Caicos Islands food culture is seafood. The country’s status as a crossroads between the Caribbean and Europe far to the northeast has also contributed to the national cuisine.
More recently the Turks and Caicos’ relatively prosperous economy has attracted people from all over the Caribbean who have also brought their food culture with them.
The History of the Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands have been inhabited for almost a thousand years.
The first inhabitants were the Lucayan, the original inhabitants of the Bahamas, and related other indigenous people who inhabited other parts of the Caribbean.
While the Lucayan are longer present in the islands, a glimpse of their way of life be found in the famous caves found on Middle Caicos.
Maize, Sweet Potato and Salt
Besides fishing, the Lucayan people of Turks and Caicos subsisted on many foods traditionally associated with the New World including beans and sweet potato, as well as manioc and cassava.
The Lucayan’s presence can still be seen by the presence of salt pans around the islands. Salt has always been an important commodity since ancient times. It is used not only for seasoning, but also for preserving food such as fish for long periods of time.
The Lucayan, like of the Caribbean’s other original inhabitants preserved salt, and some of the locations of these salt pans still exist today.
The Europeans Arrive
Columbus first reached the Caribbean in 1492, reaching what is now San Salvador in the Bahamas, to the northwest of the Turks and Caicos.
Following Columbus began five hundred years of change in the Caribbean. Europeans arrived to grow sugar and other crops, and to establish outputs in competition with other European nations.
They also brought the practice of slavery with them, including thousands of people from Africa whose ancestors still live in the Caribbean today.
In the Turks and Caicos various European occupiers such as the French and later the British focused on producing salt.
Salt production was so closely associated with it was once featured on the flag of the territory:
While the Turks and Caicos is known for Bambarra Rum today, distilling rum, the tipple that is characteristic of the Caribbean has never really been practiced on the islands.
This is because the islands are generally too dry to grow sugar cane, the chief ingredient when making rum.
Cuisine of Turks and Caicos Today
If you travel to the Turks and Caicos today you’ll be able to choose from almost every cuisine on earth.
This is because, as the islands have become more popular as a tourist destination people have been attracted from all over the world to live and work here.
The island of Providenciales in particular offers everything from sushi and high-end fusion cuisine to Indian and Chinese food.
Of course, everyone who travels to the Turks and Caicos will want to eat seafood, which includes local delicacies such as mahi mahi, tuna, rock lobster and the ever-present conch.
Drought-resistant maize (a kind of corn) does well in the semi-arid conditions of the Turks and Caicos. As a result, hominy grits are a popular part of traditional local cuisine.
The Unique Food Culture of Turks and Caicos
Photo courtesy of the ecoseaswim.com
While the Turks and Caicos is a modern international crossroads of cultures, the islands are also a melting pot of Caribbean culture.
For example, many people travel back and forth between the Turks and Caicos and the neighbouring country of Bahamas for work or to visit family.
Other people from countries around the Caribbean will also travel to the Turks and Caicos for work, and all bring their food culture with them.
Traditional Foods… Brought From Somewhere Else
Since the arrival of Europeans and people from Africa, local food has been based on the sea and on maize.
Two traditional dishes, grits and johnnycake, are distinctive Turks and Caicos specialties. As the travel blog Caribya notes:
Islanders love “boil fish and grits” for breakfast, and “boil fish and johnnycake” for lunch. For supper, fresh seafood alongside peas and hominy is a staple. In fact, once upon a time, when an island wife was asked what she was serving for dinner, her typical response would be “peas and hominy and penn on.” “Penn on,” was slang for “Depends on,” meaning that dinner would be peas and hominy, and the meat would depend upon whatever fish or game her husband had caught that day.
These days such traditional foods are harder to find in Providenciales, the tourist hub of the Turks and Caicos.
However, should you venture to Middle Caicos you’ll have the chance to encounter an older way of life, and this included food.
Other traditional dishes include conch and hominy, cod fish cakes and corn bread. Steamed conch, stewed conch, and stewed fish and grits.
Crab and rice, which features the blue crab common to the islands, is also a local comfort food.
A photo posted by TURKS & CAICOS FOOD & CULTURE (@tcifoodandculture) on
These foods are a real taste of the Caribbean, so it is worth seeking them out.
If you want to get an in-depth look at the cuisine of Turks of Caicos, be sure to check out the @TCIFoodandCulture Instagram feed. The photos are mouth-watering and verge on “food porn.”
Conch Fritters and Deep Fried Fish
While conch fritters are said to be the characteristic food of the Turks and Caicos, this dish is said to be a relatively new arrival to the islands.
The Caribbean Queen conch is the native mollusk and number one export for the Turks & Caicos Islands. It’s said that each of the islands in Turks and Caicos produces its own unique flavour of conch meat.
Conch can be served in a variety of ways, including fresh conch salad and conch fritters.
Fritters are a relatively new addition to the cuisine of the Turks and Caicos because in the past in the past, cooking oil was very hard to come by.
So pan frying, poaching, stewing or roasting was typically how people prepared this delicious Turks and Caicos treat.
Festivals and Events: the Best Way to Experience the Cuisine of Turks and Caicos
The best way to encounter the traditional cooking styles of Turks and Caicos is to visit one of the many festivals that are held throughout the year. It’s a way to meet new friends and create long-lasting memories.
Thursday Night Fish Fry
Fried fish is also a new addition to the cuisine of Turks and Caicos, but it has grown to become a cornerstone of community life in Providenciales.
It’s a great way to taste local cuisine and also meet the local residents of Providenciales. Conch Festival The Conch Festival is held on the last weekend of November every year in Turks and Caicos.
This traditional Caribbean beach bar serves up delicious local foods, including curried conch, cracked conch, fried conch, conch fritters and conch creole. That’s a lot of conch!
The restaurant is also located across the road from a beautiful beach.
Bugaloos
Bugaloos is another local favorite on the island of Providenciales.
Located south of Five Cays Settlement, about twenty minutes by car from Grace Bay Beach, Bugaloos serves comfort food, with a beautiful view of the ocean added for free.
You have GOT to check out Bugaloos on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Fresh, local TCI food. Heres buffalo Conch! pic.twitter.com/O4hVKnz1gg
However if you’re a guest at the Sands and you want to experience authentic local cuisine, you just have to head over to Hemingway’s, right on beautiful Grace Bay Beach.
The local Caribbean Queen conch is served in many Turks & Caicos restaurants including our very own Hemingway’s beachside restaurant at The Sands at Grace Bay.
The “Conch Served The Way You Like It” menu option offered at Hemingway’s is a great way to experience the taste of our Caicos conch in a variety of ways, as you can choose amongst conch fritters, conch fingers or a fresh conch salad.
These are all delicious and refreshing after a full day of fun under the sun. Another restaurant specialty is the chef’s conch chowder, which is a traditional spicy island recipe that is also made with fresh local conch.
What’s Your Favorite Food When You Visit Us?
Do you have a favorite food or place to eat when you visit Turks and Caicos? If you do, let us know in the comments!
The Sands at Grace Bay resort offers an affordable and convenient option for travelers in town for the island’s 12th annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival – a popular weekend event that celebrates the island’s most famous delicacy, unofficial mascot, and chief exporting product.
Located on Providenciales’ world-famous Grace Bay Beach, The Sands at Grace Bay is offering incredible savings for fall travelers now through December 19th including a 4th Night Free offer, low-season rates starting from only $195 per night, and an array of free amenities including watersports, bicycles, a weekly cocktail party and much more.
Kicking off on Saturday, November 28th, the 12th Annual Turks & Cacios Conch Festival will take place in Blue Hills, Providenciales. This year’s line-up of family-friendly events includes tasting tents where local restaurants compete for the best Conch dishes, live local music and entertainment, and plenty of children’s activities. The hallmark “conch-etition” conch tasting event showcases over 25 local restaurants that compete in several culinary categories including the Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder and Best in Show. A Bacardi Mojito challenge is a mojito making competition that features the island’s best bartenders, including the resort’s first place reigning champion Hemingway’s Restaurant. The line-up of children’s activities includes a special kids’ area that will feature traditional island games including tug of war, sack race, and egg and spoon races, as well as an appearance made by Henry the Conch. For more information on the Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival, visit http://www.conchfestival.com/.
The resort’s 4th Night FREE promotion is valid for new bookings made on all room categories at The Sands at Grace Bay, for consecutive stays of four nights or more started and completed now through December 19th, 2015More information on this 4th Night Free 2015 offer can 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.
