‘Twas just a fortnight ago I sat on the sea’s edge with my paramour quietly reading. How lovely it was to have no clock, no responsibilities, and no dependents nearby handing me a booger.
As I opined in my Huffington Post piece last month “Vacation: All We Ever Wanted. Vacation: Miles to Getaway!” it was so nice for the two of us to just get away to the Caribbean for a bit.
To relax.
To stare at the ocean.
Waking up to the sound of waves crashing.
To only think about how early one needs to leave to walk down the beach in time for our dinner reservation.
Ahhhhh…
Beauty Can Be Easy
Our little getaway was perfect. We choose Turks & Caicos because we always wanted to go there and because there was an amazing mile redemption promotion going on (let’s be honest here).
We stayed at the beautiful Ocean Club West resort on Grace Bay which was in walking distance to the majority of restaurants and shops in the area. The one day we (rightly so!) ventured out of the area was to dine at the infamous Da Conch Shack. For this we rented a car – surprisingly cheaper and easier than a round trip taxi!
Perfect For Couples Or Families
While I loved our vacation for two – I can certainly see the draw to this island and specifically to this hotel for those traveling with children. The low key resort offered rooms of all sizes with our two bedroom suite being so big I felt bad that it was only us!
My husband and I spoke multiple times about how if our kids were there we could put them to bed at 8pm & still enjoy the room and view with the lights on until our desired bedtime (which was embarrassingly early most nights). Isn’t that all one wants when traveling with children?
There was a fully equipped kitchen ready to go for any meal as well as strainers, etc. available to wash off a quick fruit snack.
The Perfect Resort In Turks And Caicos
Coupled with a gym and full spa – Ocean Club West could not be beat. Funny as it sounds – I appreciated the little details – like the foot shower at the entrance of the beach/resort allowing you to easily clean off your feet vs. doing the “don’t get me wet” hokey pokey one plays with a full outdoor shower. There was a beautiful pool, beautiful fountains, and even little statues here and there a kid would love to “find” on a scavenger hunt throughout the resort.
My Favorite Part Of Turks And Caicos Was The Balcony
But I must say – my absolute favorite part of all – was our huge screened-in balcony. We’d wake and read there, we’d come home and read there. We’d drink coffee and sit there. Any time of day, it was perfect. To me the height of luxury is not the lobby of the resort but the proximity I can sleep to the ocean. If I can hear the waves and nothing else I’m in heaven. This was heaven.
Dining in Turks And Caicos
One of our favorite meals (both for food and view) was at the resort’s Seaside Cafe. Our first night there we just sat and repeated over and over “THIS is what vacation is all about”. The Seaside Cafe should not be missed. No matter where you stay. It is straight and to the point. If you read the restaurant’s name it’s exactly what you get. When I go to the beach I want to eat by the ocean. Simple as that. Keep your fancy inland bistros.
As a guest of Ocean Club West you’re welcome to take advantage of all the amenities of their sister property Ocean Club too – located a nice walking distance down the beach. They welcome guests either by foot or complimentary shuttle. I loved this option as the walk “there” is always more fun than the walk “back”. Plus it’s like getting two resorts for the price of one.
Ocean Club West and Turks and Caicos should be on your short list for your next solo, singles, couples, girls, or family vacation (omg is going back myself an option!!?). I found this resort to be both affordable and reasonably priced in an otherwise expensive area. The resort had every amenity we wanted and the location could not be beat. I would happily recommend it but more importantly I would go back in a heartbeat.
If you do visit, it’s good to secure airport transfers in advance. We used Mr. Virgil’s taxi service roundtrip and were very happy with them. You can reach them at: 649-231-0199 or at hughlou@tciway.tc.
Bon Voyage – or as they say in Turks and Caicos – “have a good trip”. Because they speak English. They also take your good old George Washington’s.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Don’t forget to check out all the family friendly vacation spots we’ve researched!
