Blogs from Turks & Caicos, Central America Caribbean - page 6

I had been trying to visit the Turks and Caicos for a few weeks now but full flights kept it from happening. I had a hotel credit at the Turtle Cove Inn that I had to use or lose by this week, since our flight goes to seasonal status on Saturday, which means there will only be one flight a week until the winter time. I tried to get on a 6am flight to Atlanta but it was full. No big deal, as there is a flight at 7:10am that will get me there in time. I cleared for that flight and was seated in first class seat 1C. It was a quick flight from Indianapolis to Atlanta, aboard Delta flight 687, an MD-88 aircraft. Once in Atlanta, I had about an hour to connect. The ... read more

Providenciales, or Provo as everybody calls it, is the westernmost island in the Caicos Island chain as well as the tourist center of the Turks and Caicos. Due to all its recent development, it is downright cosmopolitan (by island standards). Posh mega-resorts line Grace Bay, a beautiful white sand beach that runs the entire north coast of Provo for miles and miles. And there are lots of great restaurants and shopping centers to support the over 100,000 visitors annually. But besides the beach and tropical climate, the main reason people visit Provo is for the renowned scuba diving. Due to its geography and geology, the Turks and Caicos have some of the best wall dives in the world. So we were super excited to go out there and check it out. We were blown away by ... read more

When you board the plane your mind instantly starts wandering; you can almost feel the warmth of the tropical winds, high humidity and imagine the wonder of diving along a coral wall looking into the deep blue abyss around you. Your journey to the islands starts as you relax, unwind and leave the day to day behind you. You grab a brief moment to think about the fact that you fled the cold Pittsburh winter to stare at the clear turquoise waters, scuba dive, relax and read. Sitting on the tarmack waiting to for the plane to be de-iced, we are in search of a few days without phones, beepers and blackberries. For the uninformed we want to let you know that only 11 days before we left for the islands, Pittsburgh was hit with 21 ... read more

Well today unfortunately didn’t go as planned as we had some bad news this afternoon. We arrived in Grand Turk early in the morning. Lin didn’t have any tours booked but I had a 4x4 Safari tour that didn’t leave until 12:30. So we had a leisurely breakfast in the Lido then headed off to do some shopping (Lin’s idea not mine). She was trying to find some shoes (she forgot her walking shoes) but the shops right at the dock don’t have that type of thing. It was very hot (someone said over 100 and it seemed that way to me) so we decided to stop by Margaritaville to cool off (ok I had a coke and Lin had an Ice Tea). We were the only ship in port so it wasn’t very crowded. Lin ... read more

My wife and I just returned from a three night excursion at Wymara’s recently unveiled Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, a clear contender for the title of TCI’s hippest spot. Our journey began with a direct flight that departed Philly mid-morning, and arrived in Providencia, TCI in about 3 short hours. Twenty minutes later we were poolside - cocktails in hand - as the warm relaxing trade winds circulated. Our senses were further stimulated by the resort’s mellow soundtrack of ambience music, piped softly throughout the grounds and beachfront by an array of outdoor speakers. The day’s transition from the cold crowded Northeast to this ultra-luxe Caribbean destination was both surreal and heavenly. Provo Island’s decade-long building boom has indeed resulted in some comfortable vacation properties. Sadly, however, most of these resorts are informed, from an architectural ... read more