Recommend January 2013 - (Page 58)

FACTS Providenciales Shaped like the bottom half of a clamshell, this Turks and Caicos island lies southeast of The Bahamas, with which it was united at one point, and north of Cuba. Almost no one ever went there until 20 years ago, when developers stumbled upon the beach-lined north shore, put up some posh little resorts, and turned sand into gold. There are no real high-rises on Providenciales, aka Provo, nor are there any substantial towns to speak of. Nor much of a population, even. But that magniﬁcent beach has inspired a dozen or so world-class resorts, so after centuries of obscurity, little Provo is hot. There’s not a hotel on the island that doesn’t have exquisite rooms; not a chef who doesn’t deserve a show on the Food Network, and not a ﬁsh in the sea (spoiler alert: the snorkeling and diving here is extraordinary) that shouldn’t make the cover of National Geographic. Grace Bay Club, which opened in 1993, continues to win kudos from Conde Nast Traveler et alia. Seven Stars Resort, which features 125 enormous and tasteful condo units in three 7-story buildings (that’s as high as things get on Provo), is another place that keeps popping up on those “Ten Best” lists. The ﬁve-star, 54-room Regent Grand Turks and Caicos is a new arrival on Provo; the 72-room Regent Palms offers classic colonial-style elegance; the Turks and Caicos Club, with 21 luxury suites, offers yet more traditional luxury, and the Sands at Grace Bay is a sophisticated hideaway. By contrast, the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, although every bit as luxurious as the hideaways with more traditional decor, is a sleek outpost of urban chic. And Aman Resorts’ Amanyara brings a spare-no-effort Balinese sense of design to the Caribbean region. Finally, Provo has two resorts that march to their own beat. One is Parrot Cay Turks and Caicos, which occupies its own island and is one of the ﬁnest private island resorts anywhere. The other is Beaches Turks and Caicos, a 3-“village” complex that, in keeping with the tone of the island, is the apotheosis of the Beaches resorts. TURKS & CAICOS BEST TIME TO GO: November through June FUN FACT: Several of the world’s best diving sites are within a couple of miles of Providenciales GETTING THERE: Delta ﬂies from Atlanta to Providenciales ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: The U.S. dollar is the ofﬁcial currency MUST-TRY LOCAL FOOD: Conch fritters at Da Conch Shack, Blue Ranch Beach BEST BUYS: Polished conch shells are both beautiful and locally crafted INFORMATION PLEASE: Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board— turksandcaicostourism.com O ur pictures are worth a thousand words..... The West Bay Club is an intimate luxury resort on Grace Bay Beach featuring forty-six luxuriously appointed suites with breathtaking views. The resort has a ﬁtness center, inﬁnity pool, spa, a bar and restaurant. Complimentary use of kayaks, snorkel gear, bicycles and a hobie cat. The resort service is impeccable… the club concept. Studio to 4-bedroom suites available. 5 2012 Trip Advisor’s #1 Best Beach In The World - GRACE BAY BEACH Ask about our th Night Free* * 5th Night Free offer valid for one bedroom or larger. Certain restrictions apply. Offer expires 12/15/13. Visit us online to... TheWestBayClub.com Lower Bight Rd., Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands 649-946-8550 • reservations@thewestbayclub.com • Toll Free Reservations: 1-866-607-4156 WBC-12-151 ConsumerTrvl-Recommend final.indd 1 12/11/12 4:06 PM 34 http://www.turksandcaicostourism.com http://www.TheWestBayClub.com http://www.TheWestBayClub.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2013

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: The Westlake Village Inn
Tour Talk: Brendan Vacations' Boutique Journeys
Four Cheers for River Crusing
A-ROSA Silva
Delta Air Lines' 2013 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
China Remains a Time-Tested Destination
What's Hot in Vegas for 2013
Back to the Gulf
Authentic Morocco in An (Argan) Nutshell
Festive Europe

Recommend January 2013