Grace Bay Resorts: Playing Matchmaker in Turks & Caicos Islands
February 5, 2020 by Allison Reiber DiLiegro
On Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, a land of dazzling beaches, Grace Bay Beach shines the brightest. With its powdery white sand and impossibly turquoise waters, Grace Bay Beach frequently tops the lists of the “best beaches in the world.” Grace Bay Resorts has a prime location on Grace Bay Beach (they were there first, after all).
With five luxurious properties and counting, Grace Bay Resorts welcomes couples, groups of friends, families and, naturally, all varieties of beach worshippers. While all properties offer exceptional service and extensive resort facilities, each has its own unique character. Here’s how to choose which Grace Bay Resort is right for your island getaway.
Grace Bay Club is the one that started it all. Built in 1993, the Club was the first luxury property to land on Grace Bay Beach. On top of its stunning stretch of beachfront – the longest of the Grace Bay Resorts – it remains the epicenter of the island’s social scene. With four buzzing restaurants that range from casual tacos to haute cuisine, locals and visitors come from all over the island to mix and mingle. Come Friday, the beachfront Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar – the longest bar in the Caribbean – is the place to be for happy hour.
The buzzing vibe doesn’t mean there’s all action all the time. Grace Bay Club provides plenty of space for total relaxation. There are three distinct sections of the resort: the adults-only hotel, the family-friendly suites and villas and the exclusive Estate, considered a resort within the resort. Each section has its own pool (as well as a kids’ club in the family section), so all guests can happily coexist. All villas and suites come with ocean views, private outdoor space and chic interiors, recently redesigned by celebrity designer Thom Felicia.
Grace Bay Club boasts a prime location, with easy access to the island’s must-do restaurants. The shops at The Saltmills Plaza are a ten-minute walk or a breezy ride on a complimentary bicycle. For those staying in after a day in the sun, the spa is the largest of the Grace Bay Resorts.
Who it’s right for: Couples, families and groups of friends looking to stay in the heart of Grace Bay Beach. Guests who like to explore the island will love the easy access to restaurants and shops, while sun-seekers can spend all day on that flawless beach.
Set on the widest stretch of Grace Bay Beach, West Bay Club has more than enough sand to go around. The intimate property features just 46 suites and warm, friendly staff that make guests feel right at home. The beach offers a variety of non-motorized water sports like kayaking, snorkeling (some of the best on the island), stand-up paddleboarding, Hobie Cat and beach volleyball, all free of charge. Or, you can opt to read your book by the palm-fringed infinity pool. Grace Bay Club and the surrounding restaurants are just an eight-minute drive away.
The architecture and decor combine Caribbean charm with contemporary chic. Oceanfront suites range from one to four bedrooms, each with a kitchen or kitchenette. The studio suites do not have ocean views, but they do offer access to one of the world’s best beaches at an affordable price point.
West Bay Club has a well-equipped kids’ club with engaging, supervised programming for kids 5-12. Parents, take note: that kids’ club sessions might be a perfect time to sneak in an in-suite spa treatment.
Who it’s right for: Both couples and families looking for lots of beach time, a kids’ club and a boutique feel. The location offers excellent snorkeling and a quieter scene, with most of the shops and restaurants a drive away.
Point Grace offers a Caribbean cottage experience with classic charm. The most intimate hotel in the collection, Point Grace has just 28 one- to four-bedroom suites and penthouses, each with full kitchens and expansive terraces. The architecture is inspired by 20th-century West Indian colonial architecture, with white gingerbread trim and beautiful fretwork. The interiors are bright and white with tropical touches of coral and green. Outside, there are gorgeous gazebos for watching the sunset.
Set on the point – hence the name – the property offers beautiful views up and down Grace Bay Beach. For those seeking true R&R, Point Grace has two open-air spa cabanas. Pampering treatments are elevated by the warm breeze and the sound of rolling waves.
By day, the focal point of the property is Hutchings Restaurant, surrounded by lush foliage alongside the pool. While by night, Grace’s Cottage sets the stage for a bespoke private dining affair picturesque outdoor seating in gazebos, on the terrace or directly under the starlit sky. The location is just a six-minute walk from The Saltmills Plaza, home to restaurants and boutiques, and a five-minute drive to Grace Bay Club.
Who it’s right for: Couples and families looking for Old World Caribbean cottage charm and easy walking distance to the restaurants. There is no kids club, but there are water sports and games for keeping little ones entertained.
Travelers seeking a private villa with all the amenities of a resort will be well taken care of in the Private Villa Collection. These properties are some of the most luxurious on the island, with a variety of styles on offer: The Dunes, The Residences, La Dolce Vita, Seaclusion, Seaclusion Private Oasis, Seascape and Blue Cay Estate. All villas offer personal concierge services, daily in-villa breakfast, private chef services (with meals at additional cost), pool and beach setup daily and many more exclusive amenities.
The Residences are just steps from the beach, each with an expansive private pool just off the powdery white sand. Each of the three homes comes with four bedrooms in the main house and a fifth bedroom in a detached cottage. They are breezy and beachy in feel, with vaulted ceilings, an open floor plan and chic interiors designed by Thom Felicia. These homes are a 10-minute drive from Grace Bay Club.
The Dunes is set in a micro-resort gated community near Turtle Cove Marina, a 12-minute drive from Grace Bay Club. The two five-bedroom villas are contemporary sleek in style, with clean lines and a white color palette with pops of Caribbean coral.
La Dolce Vita is an opulent nine-bedroom villa a 15-minute drive from Grace Bay Club. The style is a contemporary take on an Italian villa, with stone details, a grotto-like pool and arched windows with wooden details. With 430 feet of beachfront, ample outdoor living space and top-tier service, la dolce vita is absolutely right.
Seascape epitomizes a luxurious island hideaway with a splash. Located on Grace Bay Beach, this stylish modern villa boasts five bedrooms and five bathrooms and expansive living space totaling 5,500 ft. Offering world-class amenities and unobstructed ocean views, it is a true Caribbean haven. Seascape can be combined with Seaclusion to create a 13-bedroom, 14.5 Bathroom Estate perfect for multi-gen family holidays and memorable celebrations.
Seaclusion is located steps away from Seascape on Grace Bay Beach. Modern and breathtaking in design, its décor is chic and brings in the brilliant turquoise from the ocean. It offers 8-bedrooms and 9.5-bathrooms with unobstructed oceanfront views and ultra-luxurious amenities. Children will love the game room downstairs.
Blue Cay Estate is the latest collection of private villas available in the beginning of 2020. These spacious light-filled contemporary villas will feature three beachfront and twelve canal front villas with full kitchens, inviting dining and living areas plus four-or-five bedrooms. Set on the northern tip of Providenciales, an eight-minute drive from Grace Bay Club, the peaceful surrounding connects guests with nature and privacy. Non-motorized sports are available and can be used from the jetty.
Who it’s right for: Spacious and contemporary with enviable locations, the Private Villa Collection is best for families and groups of friends seeking a private villa experience with all the amenities of a resort.
Set to open in 2021, Rock House will bring the romance of Capri and the South of France to one of the most scenic corners of Turks and Caicos. Set on the north coast of Providenciales, Rock House has a white sand beach at its feet and dramatic, craggy peaks at its back. Designed by award-winning interior designer Shawn Henderson, the unique property allows its stunning natural surroundings to shine with minimal, organic design. Of course, the more secluded setting doesn’t mean guests will want for anything. Rock House will offer a full range of resort activities and all the amenities one would expect of Grace Bay Resorts.
Who it’s right for: Couples, groups of friends and families seeking a dramatic, private location with a Mediterranean feel.
Contact:
Grace Bay Club & Private Villa Collection:
Email: reservations@gracebayclub.com
Website: gracebayclub.gracebayresorts.com
Point Grace:
Email: reservations@pointgrace.com
Website: pointgrace.gracebayresorts.com
Rock House:
Email: info@rockhouseresort.com
Website: www.rockhouseresort.com
West Bay Club:
Email: reservations@thewestbayclub.com
Website: thewestbayclub.gracebayresorts.com
