The
Location: North 21 deg
47.111 min, West 72 deg 12.281 min
Turks and Caicos
General Information:
Grand
Turk Cruise Center Web Cam
BASIC
Phone Book (White/Yellow Pages)
Airport and Flights Information
Weather (Bight Reef, Providenciales)
POINTS
OF INTEREST MAP INCLUDING RESTAURANTS
GETTING AROUND:
Rental Cars: Rental cars are available from Avis, Budget, and Hertz (all of which can be reserved online), as well as several local rental car companies. It is best to reserve well ahead, as cars can be hard to come by during high season. Be aware that driving is on the left hand side of the road, though many of the rental cars also have the wheel on the left (US style). Avis and Budget have a desk in the airport, after you exit customs. Check in there and they will call a van to take you to their off-airport locations. For Hertz, you have to call them for pickup. None of the companies have cars actually in the airport. Note that the smallest rental cars are pretty much clown cars with lawnmower engines, so you may want to consider an upgrade. Also note that automatic transmission is not the default, so be sure to check what you reserve if you want an automatic. Most roads are now paved, but even those can be rough – another reason to get a larger car. If you plan to go on unpaved roads, be sure your rental agreement allows it. A rental car is recommended if you plan to leave your resort (beyond walking) at least once per day during your stay.
Taxis: Taxis are readily available in Provo and Grand Turk (but not the smaller islands), and it costs about $20 per ride to and from most island locations. There are, however, a few quirks. First, there is no centralized taxi number to call, and you cannot hail cabs on the street. You have to call an individual driver when you need a ride (with the exception of at the airport upon arrival where taxis are always available). Since drivers change frequently it is best to ask your hotel or restaurant to call a taxi for you. Once you get a cab, get their card or number so you can call them again. Second, there are no taxi meters. There are generally agreed prices to and from most locations, but it seems like an honor system. It is generally best to ask the fare before you get into the cab. Tipping is expected as in the US. In spite of these quirks cabs generally come quickly and can be an efficient way to get around.
Ride Sharing (Uber, Lyft, etc.): Uber and Lyft are NOT available in Turks and Caicos. A local startup ride sharing service called Conch.Cab has failed and is no longer in business.
Coral Gardens
Note: Coral Gardens Condominium complex units are rented by individual owners. Most are managed by one of two management companies operating as “Coral Gardens” and “Coral Gardens at Grace Bay”. The Somewhere On The Beach Café, located beachfront on the Coral Gardens property, is managed by an independent third party. A small number of condos at Coral Gardens are rented privately by their owners rather than through either of the two management companyies – amenities for those units may differ from those offered through Coral Gardens at Grace Bay.
Coral Gardens on Grace Bay Web Site
Coral Gardens Video (QuickTime)
Somewhere On The Beach Cafe (also on Facebook)
Expedia Reviews (Coral Gardens on Grace Bay)
Trip Advisor Reviews (Coral Gardens on Grace Bay)
Other Condo-Hotels on Providenciales
Leeward Area:
Grace Bay Front Row,
East to West:
Grandview (residence only, private rentals available)
Pinnacle (residence only)
Regent Grand (residence only, private rentals available)
Mansions (residence only)
Northwest Point and
Malcolm Beach Area:
Northwest Point Resort (distant, struggling to stay open, VRBO only)
Amanyara ($$$$$ !)
Villa
Rentals on
Dining Guide 2024
Baci (in Turtle cove, good moderate Italian, recommended)
Bay Bistro (waterfront location but
boring menu)
Bella Luna (high end Italian upstairs, very good, recommended. Also pizza on lower level – eat in or take out)
Caicos Café
(Italian with seafood orientation)
Coco Bistro (Outdoor garden setting)
Coyaba ($$$$)
Grace’s Cottage (Pretentious and $$$$)
Hemingway’s (waterfront, at the Sands. Recommended when not busy.)
Las Brisas (Very good food, Portugese; nice chalk sound location, can get windy. Recommended at sunset.)
Le Bouchon du Village (very good, French style sidewalk café. A favorite, but expensive.)
Lupo (Pizza and Pasta)
Magnolia (Very good food, view of cove and ocean from
elevated location. A favorite, go at sunset.)
Mango Reef (Very good, extensive menu, waterfront in Turtle Cove; recommended)
Mr. Grouper (Fish, fish, fish. Avoid Thursdays due to local fish fry congestion.)
Somewhere On The Beach Cafe (at
Turks Kabob (good carry out)
Coco Van (carry out)
Tide
Table (water is clearest when tide is coming in)
Diving
Only: Dive
Site Map
Snorkel
Tours:
Caicos Island Charters (Recommended)
Glass
Bottom Boat:
Undersea Explorer Glass Bottom Boat (formerly Reef Peepers)
Fishing Charters:
Golf:
Horseback Riding
Sand Fleas: Like most Caribbean islands, the beaches
have sand fleas. They are very small and
you will never see them. They come out
at night, starting about an hour before sunset.
Most people never know they are there – no bites and no
inflammation. Some people, however, are
very susceptible to sand flea bites and will respond with itching and inflammation
like a mosquito bite. The local
treatment to reduce itching is to make a poultice by crushing a Benadril tablet
and mixing it with face cream or body lotion, using only the minimum amount of
lotion to make a poultice; rub this on the bites (it will probably be pink due
to the pink coating of the Benedril tablets) to reduce itching. [DISCLAIMER:
This is not medical advice, see a medical professional before using this
or any other self-treatment remedy.]
Official TCI Government Tourism Site
News and
Events:
Radio Stations
Weather
and Hurricanes:
Turks and Caicos Hurricane History 1851 - present
Turks and Caicos on U-Tube:
Underwater Video (Coral Gardens Reef – U-Tube)
Jo-Jo the Dolphin (Famous semi-tame dolphin who lives in Grace Bay)
History:
Grace Bay: Grace Hutchings sailed to Providenciales
(formerly known as Blue Hills) from Grand Turk in 1892 with her new husband
(Hugh Hutchings, Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos from 1933-1934) to
honeymoon in the hills of the Bight, overlooking the breath-taking turquoise
sea. Grace was a gracious, elegant young woman who charmed the local residents.
Soon after she and her new husband departed, the locals named the twelve mile
beach along the north shore in her honour.
Columbus: Did Columbus Land Here ?
Books:
Beautiful
by Nature (by Julia nd Phil Davis)
The
Turks & Caicos Islands: Lands of
Discovery
(by
Amelia Smithers & Anthony Taylor)
Turks
Islands Landfall (by H. E. Sadler)
The
History of Mary Prince (A West Indian Slave)
Page last updated fall 2023