Family-friendly resort amenities, optional excursions and island attractions await at The Sands at Grace Bay.
Our spacious suites offer all the comforts of home and are ideal family-sharing accommodations. Our complimentary resort amenities that range from water sports equipment, bicycles, three swimming pools and much more – offer plenty of ways for families to have fun under the sun. Our resort’s world-famous Grace Bay Beach location boasting pristine white-sand and warm, crystal-clear ocean water simply can’t be beat.
Families seeking an added-value Caribbean vacation experience and quality time together in the world’s leading beach destination, should look no further than The Sands at Grace Bay. Our top-rated resort caters to families of all types and ages, from new parents traveling with infants or toddlers, to families with school-aged children and teens, to grandparents traveling with their grandchildren, and even groups of families vacationing together for a special occasion or family reunion.
We invite you to explore our family pages for a brief overview of our family-friendly resort amenities, optional excursions and island attractions, kid-friendly dining options and more. We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to our tropical paradise.
“Here families find comfort in spending time together in the pool and on the beach, enjoying a snorkeling excursion through the resort’s partner Ocean Vibes, swinging on hammocks with books, and just sitting around the table on the patio, taking in the views while eating fresh fruit and conch.” – Editor, Family Vacation Critic
Enjoy many conveniences and amenities while staying at The Sands at Grace Bay.
In-Room Amenities: The resort’s accommodations feature all the comforts of home – complete with modern kitchens and appliances, dining and living room areas with comfy couches and a TV, screened-in balconies, and washer & dryers (in most units). For those traveling with infants or toddlers, the resort offers roll-away cribs, high chairs, and pack & plays that are available upon request.
Watersports: We offer a variety of exciting ways for families to enjoy ocean activities together during their stay. To fully appreciate our Grace Bay Beach location, we provide our guests with free use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, stand-up paddleboards, volley ball and Hobie Cats. This complimentary watersports equipment can be reserved at our Beach Hut, between 8:30am and 4:00pm daily. Our friendly Beach Hut staff will provide helpful tips for the use of all equipment.
Bicycles: Complimentary bicycles are available for guest use for nearby exploring from daylight to dusk. Bicycles can be reserved at the front desk on a first-come, first-serve basis. Our resort bicycles are a convenient and fun way for families to explore close-by island sights, beaches, and visit the local shops and restaurants during their stay.
3 Swimming Pools: Families have their choice of three free-form swimming pools that flow throughout a central garden courtyard and are connected by canals. The resort’s heated swimming pool offers stunning ocean views, and our 18-foot diameter children’s pool is ideal for small children. A cascading waterfall, a relaxing Jacuzzi, and small grottoes adorn our pools. Lounge chairs and towels are available poolside.
Tennis, Pickleball & Basketball: The resort’s outdoor tennis/basketball court are available from 6:00am to 11:00pm daily and are lit for night play. Racquets are provided when guests reserve their court time at the front desk, and tennis balls are for sale at our resort convenience store. A family game of tennis or basketball is a great way to help the kids burn off some extra energy before relaxing by one of our three pools or beach.
Babysitting: Our in-room babysitting services allow parents to enjoy a romantic dinner, a couples spa treatment, or quality alone time together during their family vacation. The hourly babysitting rates, with a maximum of three children per babysitter, are as follows: $12/hr for 1 child, $16/hr for 2 children, and $26/hr for 3 children. Please contact the resort concierge for more details and provide a minimum notice of 24 hours when requesting babysitting arrangements, as this is an independent contract service.
Games: Reserved for a rainy afternoon or for families looking for a fun game night with the kids, we provide a variety of board games that guests may sign out at our front desk during their stay. Some of these family favorite games include scrabble, dominoes, and Trouble. Please visit the front desk to view our complete game board selection.
DVD Players: We also offer DVD players compatible with our in-room TV’s that guests may sign out from the front desk. We do not offer movies, however, we encourage families to bring some of their child’s favorite DVDs from home. DVDs may also be rented from the nearest video store on the island.
Spa Tropique: Our on-property Spa Tropique offers a “Mommy & Me Little Mermaid Package” that was created with mothers and daughters in mind. It includes a Spa Manicure and Spa Pedicure for mom, a child’s Mermaid Manicure and Mermaid Pedicure, and Happy Hair Braiding or Wrapping. The Spa offers a variety of different packages and individual services including manicures and pedicures, massages, facials, and much more. Click for more about Spa Tropique for more details.
Hemingway’s Restaurant: Our beachfront open-air restaurant boasts a casually elegant family-friendly atmosphere and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our award-winning restaurant boasts a popular kids’ menu for children 12 years and younger, as well as mouth-watering island-inspired cuisine and delicious cocktails for grown-ups. Featuring a spacious poolside deck just steps away from Grace Bay Beach, Hemingway’s is a great place to relax and unwind with your family after a day of fun in the sun and enjoy live entertainment, tasty bites, and the cool ocean breezes.
Bugaloo’s: If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path and laid-back beach dining experience, Bugaloo’s is a ton of fun for the whole family and is a favorite amongst locals. It offers music and dancing, limbo contests, and serves up fantastic food daily for lunch and dinner including freshly caught fish and conch. Plus, it’s located right on the beach so your kids can swim and play while you enjoy the ocean views and relaxed atmosphere. Bugaloo’s is located in Providenciales’ Five Cays Settlement, which is a 20-minute car or taxicab ride away from our resort. Read what other travelers are saying about Bugaloo’s.
Giggles Ice Cream & Candy Parlour: Located in downtown Grace Bay, Giggles ice cream and candy parlour offers some of the island’s sweetest treats and desserts and is a fun family destination for those traveling with kids. In addition to its selection of candies, pastries and pies, Giggles is known for serving up delicious cool treats on hot sunny days including soft and hard serve ice cream, low fat yogurts and sorbets, milkshakes, and floats, as well as banana split and hot fudge sundaes. Located just a short drive or bicycle ride away from the resort, Giggles is open Monday through Saturday from 10am – 10pm and on Sunday’s from 12pm – 10pm.
Resort Suites: The fully equipped kitchens and comfortable dining areas in our one and two-bedroom suites provide families the convenience of preparing home-cooked meals during their resort stay. Our kitchens are equipped with modern appliances including a stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster, blender, and coffeemaker, as well as dishware, pots/pans and cutlery. Our Junior Suite kitchenettes include a mini-fridge, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, dinnerware and cutlery.
IGA Grocery Store: Open year-round, the Graceway IGA grocery store is Providenciales’ main supermarket that offers a wide selection of food, fresh produce, meats, beverages, a deli, bakery, and everything your family might need to stock your kitchen and prepare snacks and meals during your stay at The Sands at Grace Bay. The IGA grocery store is within biking distance or a short taxi ride away from our resort. Taxi fares from The Sands at Grace Bay to the IGA store are $10 per adult and $5 per child, each way.
Convenience Store: Our on-property Sand Dollar convenience store is open daily from 9am to 7pm (5pm on Sundays. The Sand Dollar offers a light selection snacks and beverages as well as t-shirts, tote bags, hats, sandcastle kits and more.
Families enjoy many diversions when staying at The Sands at Grace Bay.
The Turks & Caicos National Environmental Centre: Located along Providenciales’ Lower Bight Road, across from an excellent children’s park, the National Environmental Centre is a fun and informative way for visitors to learn about the indigenous wildlife, fauna and flora, and the habitats and ecosystems that can be found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Both children and adults will enjoy the colorful exhibits on display, that provide information on the distinct beaches, shells, birds, reptiles, and wildlife that can be found around the island. Museum admission is free, and it is open daily from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Cheshire Hall: A key historic attraction in Providenciales, this is the site of a former cotton plantation that dates back to the late 1700’s. Located on a hilltop near the downtown area off the Leeward Highway, this site consists of preserved ruins that can be viewed along a stone-lined trail that leads to fifteen points of interest, including the Great House, a cotton press base, kitchen, cistern, a well, a cannon and a reproduction of a slave cabin. Guided tours provide visitors with more information on the historic plantation days of the Caicos Islands. Cheshire Hall is open on weekdays between 8:30am to 4:00pm. There is a $10 entrance fee per person.
Weekly Island Fish Fry: Every Thursday evening from 5:30 – 9:30pm, the Island Fish Fry brings together locals and island visitors to celebrate an evening of “all things TCI.” Located at the Bight Children’s Park, this fun and casual family-friendly weekly event features local food vendors, entertainers, bands, and cultural acts. This a great way for families to take in the incredible sights, tastes, sounds, and distinct culture of our island. Local children’s groups perform, “Henry the Conch” makes an appearance, there is folkloric storytelling and skits, dancers bring the crowds to their feet and local restaurants serve up their specialty menu items including freshly caught fish and dishes bursting with island flavors. The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board sponsors the event in collaboration with the Department of Culture and DEMA.
Snorkeling at Coral Gardens: The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to one of the longest and most stunning coral reef systems in the world. Also known as Bight Reef, the Coral Gardens snorkeling area is just a short walk down the beach from the Sands at Grace Bay resort and is one of the most popular snorkeling areas for families in Providenciales. The shallow waters that can be accessed right from the beach, the diversity of fish, the clearly marked boundaries, and the safely roped off area make this a great spot to bring children to snorkel. Plus, families staying at The Sands at Grace Bay may use the resort’s complimentary snorkeling gear to bring to this popular snorkeling site.
Chalk Sound National Park: Locals refer to the beaches surrounding Chalk Sound as “the children’s beaches” – including Sapodilla Bay Beach, which offers shallow, calm and crystal-clear water that is ideal for young children learning to swim. Chalk Sound is a protected national park and natural lagoon located on the southwest side of Providenciales. It features hundreds of small rocky islands and brilliant turquoise blue water. Kayak tours are an incredible way for families to experience the island’s vegetation, wildlife, birds, and breathtaking scenic views. Guided kayak eco-tours of Chalk Sound are offered through the local business Big Blue Unlimited.
Families will love the natural wonders and diversity on Providenciales.
Visit to “Iguana Island”: Several Providenciales tour providers offer round trip boat rides and snorkeling excursions that include a visit to Little Water Cay – aka “Iguana Island” – a small, protected cay that is home to thousands of endangered Turks and Caicos Rock Iguanas. This is one of the only places in the world where you can spot these unique iguanas in their natural habitat – and is top attraction for kids. These large lizards may look scary at first, but they are actually harmless and shy herbivores. A walking trail through Little Water Cay offers visitors an opportunity to view these incredible reptiles up close, as they sun along the sand and rocks of their protected island.
Snorkel & Conch Cruise: Caicos Dream Tours offers a popular half-day snorkeling trip that is ideal for families and children of all ages. This four-hour snorkel and conch cruise excursion is offered 7 days a week and allows families to experience the third largest coral reef system in the world that surrounds the island of Providenciales. This is a terrific excursion option for families looking for a half-day snorkeling adventure that offers breathtaking sights both above and below water and four hours of pure fun.
Undersea Explorer: Caicos Tours provides a fun way for families to see the underwater world without getting wet, from inside a semi-submarine vessel known as the “Undersea Explorer.” This specially designed boat operates just above the surface of the water and allows passengers to sit and view the breathtaking Coral Reef, fish, turtles, and even a “real life Mermaid” from five feet below water, through viewing windows. Tours are 45 minutes in length. More information can be found on the Caicos Tours website.
Glow Worm Sunset Tours: A Glow Worm Sunset Cruise promises a magical evening for all ages. On this unique boat tour, your family will have the opportunity to watch the water come alive with beautiful green flashes of light that are produced by marine worms – a unique natural phenomenon that only occurs in this part of the Caribbean for a few nights each month following a full moon. For more Glow Worm Tour information, visit our Tour Operator Desk located at our Beach Hut or contact us directly.
Horseback Riding: Provo Ponies offers a one-of-a-kind horseback riding tour along a secluded stretch of Long Bay Beach on the southeast end of Providenciales, where horses may actually walk through the quiet shallow waters of the ocean. Two guided horseback rides, one morning and one afternoon ride, are offered every Monday through Friday. These tours are for children 7 years and older, and all riding levels are welcome including beginners who have limited or no experience riding. For added convenience, Provo Ponies offers optional transportation to/from The Sands at Grace Bay and their stables for an additional charge. Visit the Provo Ponies website for more information, rates, and to make reservations.
Snuba: Snuba is a fun, kid-friendly way to explore the underwater world without needing a scuba dive certification. Snuba is a shallow water diving system that bridges the gap between snorkeling and scuba diving. It allows all ages, from kids ages 8 and up to seniors, to swim a maximum of 20 feet underwater to view tropical marine life in their natural habitat including turtles, stingrays, lobsters, and beautiful fish and coral reefs. Click here for more information on Snuba tours in Providenciales.
Photos to Cherish for a Lifetime
Sands Resort Portraits with Paradise Photography
Create special memories of your vacation in the Turks and Caicos by arranging a beach portrait session during your stay at The Sands at Grace Bay. Don’t miss this opportunity to make memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
The fun and friendly photographers at Paradise Photography know the best locations around resort and are experts when it comes to the beach. Whether you’re a family or couple, you’ll enjoy a relaxed one-hour session around the picturesque grounds of the Sands resort and world-famous Grace Bay Beach. Choose a morning or sunset portrait session that includes:
Sessions are limited so contact Paradise Photography directly to book your portrait session. They can help you with choosing the best time of day and provide helpful tips on what to wear.
Website:
A divine jumpstart to your Caribbean holiday or wedding celebration.
With two treatment rooms conveniently located in at the resort, Spa Tropique promises a blissful escape to relax and revitalize during your Turks & Caicos trip. Choose from a range of spa packages which include pampering bundles such as facials, massages, manicures and pedicures, or customize your experience.
Our trained aestheticians and massage therapists can guide you through the diverse spa menu to help select the treatment options that will offer you the most benefit. Massage offerings range from a classic Swedish and hot stone massage to a deep tissue and couples massage. Inspired by the tropical island of Turks & Caicos, some of the unique facial and body services include a strawberry or papaya face mask, kiwi & coconut body polish, a smoothing mango and passion fruit scrub, and a detoxifying seaweed wrap.
Spa Tropique Wedding Packages & Services
If you are planning a wedding in the Turks and Caicos, Spa Tropique offers a variety of special services and wedding packages to relax and rejuvenate brides and grooms before or after their big day, including the following:
· “His & Hers” couples massages
· Manicures & pedicures
· Body polishes
The spa also offers special packages for bridesmaids, mothers of the Bride & Groom, and separate bride and groom relaxation packages.
Spa Hours – The Spa Tropique is open 7 days a week with treatments scheduled between 9am-7pm.
Reservations – For advance reservations please call 649-331-6060, or email at [email protected].
Spa Menu – Browse the spa menu by clicking on the link below:
We offer a variety of exciting ways for families to enjoy ocean activities together during their stay. To fully appreciate our Grace Bay Beach location, we provide our guests with free use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, stand-up paddleboards, volley ball and Hobie Cats. This complimentary watersport equipment can be reserved at our Beach Hut, between 8:30am and 4:00pm daily. Our friendly Beach Hut staff will provide helpful tips for the use of all equipment.
The resort’s outdoor tennis/basketball court are available from 6:00am to 11:00pm daily and are lit for night play. Racquets are provided when guests reserve their court time at the front desk, and tennis balls are for sale at our resort convenience store. For those who wish to improve their game or for private lessons, reservations can be arranged by the concierge with a local Tennis Pro. Tennis Pros charge a fee for their services and are subject to availability.
The Sands has also recently added pickleball courts, so no need to pass up your new favorite game while traveling!
A family game of tennis or basketball is a great way to help the kids burn off some extra energy before relaxing by one of our three pools or beach.
