Ten Best Things About Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

This is my own list of the 10 best things about Grand Turk.  I invite others to add their top 10 to the comments.

1.  Totally Relaxing - (If you aren't relaxed by the end of day 1 by day 2 you will be for sure!)

2.  Laid Back - (No Hurries, No Worries)

3.  Gorgeous Sea - (For swimming, snorkeling and diving or just admiring.)

4.  Walk along the beach in the moon light - (Though walking along the beach just about anytime is a treat.)

5.  Clear Starry Nights - (The black velvet sky is awash with a dazzling array of sparkling stars every night.)

6.  Walk down historic Duke St. - (The historical street lined with white washed walls and colonial buildings)

7.  Wonderful Weather - (It is really pretty nice year round with the lovely tropical breeze, though July through October can be a bit warm but still enjoyable)

8.  Dining in the open air beside the sea - (The restaurants are all out in the open and many are beside the sea.  I love to hear the lapping of the waves, it's very romantic)

9.  Casual Dress - (Flip-flops and shorts anywhere, anytime, this make packing easy)

10. The Potcakes- (The local dogs are called "Potcakes" they love to follow along as you walk down the street or the beach.  They are nice companions)

April in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

My family and I have been traveling to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands for 24 years.  This year was the first time I have been to the Turks and Caicos in April.  I think it may now be one of my favorite months there.  I am so happy to depart the New England weather in the winter months and truly enjoy the lovely tropical temperatures in February but I have to say I think the air and water temps in April are pretty much perfect.

This April, 14 of us traveled down to the Turks and Caicos from the Boston area, leaving behind 40º temperatures.  We arrived in Providenciales mid-afternoon to temperatures in the mid 80's, ready to peal off the layers of clothing and thankful for the ever present tropical breeze.  We herded our pack of travelers through the customs area,  and collected our bags.  A few of us changed into more weather appropriate attire.  Once we had checked in with Air Turks and Caicos for our flight to Grand Turk and deposited our bags we headed in to Guilly's Restaurant at the airport for a Rum Punch and a Grouper sandwich.  This is how we usually spend the layover between Provo and Grand Turk.  Soon we were in the air again on our way to Grand Turk, a short 25 minute flight.  The plane flew low enough to see the sister islands and water below - no clouds.  I am always amazed at the turquoise color.  Some of the water below looked so shallow that you could wade through.  I'm not sure if it really was as shallow as it looked but I'm sure the water is relatively shallow to account for the turquoise color of the water, the deeper water is more of a royal blue.  Finally with a perfect landing we disembarked and collected our bags.

Dennis of Grace Bay Car Rentals met us at the airport with our 2 cars.  With the crew we had, and all the bags, including the numerous baby items, it took us 2 trips to get us with all of our paraphernalia to Crabtree Apartments.  This was no big deal since the apartments are probably only a 5 minute drive at most.

Everyone shed their cool weather clothes, dawned their bathing suits and headed to the water for a swim. The water was delicious, warm and calm, once in, it was hard to get out even as the sun was going down.  We watched the horizon for the "Green Flash"  a cloud free horizon being the perfect conditions for spying it.  Some of us caught a glimpse, but not all, you have to pay close attention.

We all dried and changed for dinner, once again in a big herd we headed for the Sand Bar, about a 10 minute walk down Close Haul Road.  It was a lovely evening with a cloudless sky, you could see a blanket of stars above.  The warm breeze wrapped around us and the 3 friendly dogs tagged along by our sides.  I love the walk to the restaurants in the evening;  it's a charming stroll down Duke St. with the stone and white washed walls that run along the narrow street which is lined with antique buildings and quaint gateways.  It feels to me a bit like I have stepped into the past.  The music from the Sand Bar drawing us in, we stepped in from the street.  We were lucky enough to find a table by the sea that could accommodate us all.  One reason I love the Sand Bar is because you sit on an outside deck literally on the edge of the water, with the sounds of the sea and the brilliant views just a few feet away.

By the time we had finished our meal we were all pretty tuckered out and wearily headed back to our apartment.  We each entered our humble abode and climbed in to our comfortable beds.  We shut the light and let the gentle lapping of the waves outside our windows lull us to sleep.  This was the end to the first day of a perfect family vacation.  I think there may be many more Grand Turk April vacations in store for us.

Getting To Know You

Running a vacation rental can be crazy but it is fun too. I have met so many people from all over. We have had guests from Italy, England, Germany, Canada and the US. Some people try to find every scrap of information they can on the internet about us or have a zillion questions while others just see the pictures and information they have seen on our website and are ready to book.  I'm always nervous that the person with the zillion questions won't be happy, and that I didn't tell them something they needed to know about Grand Turk or our place or that the person who didn't ask anything but just booked, didn't expect the kind of island they landed on or thought Crabtree Apartments was something different than it actually was.

I don't know why I worry because time and time again my guests write back saying they loved Grand Turk and they loved our place.  To me it feels so good to know, I, in my little way, am making people happy.  I have enjoyed the telephone conversation I have had with my guest too, being invited to visit when I am in England and come to an Italian dinner if I ever find myself in Italy.  People can be so friendly.

We have had one of every kind, Fudge Makers, Ministers, Authors, Florists, Doctors, Heritage seekers, Honeymooner, Anniversary Celebrators, Engineers, Professors, Families with Toddlers, Families with Teens, Retirees, Ladies Groups, Divers, Father's and Sons and the list goes on.  Some guest come with laptops and have a working vacation and others don't even want to see a bit of communication equipment, not even TVs.

One thing they all have in common; When they return home they are all rested, relaxed, only in a way Grand Turk can make you relaxed, and rejuvenated. In the words of Xavier Tonneau, a colorful resident of Grand Turk and previous manager of Crabtree Apartments, an artist, musician and wonderful chef, whom sadly passed away a few years ago; "Grand Turk soothes your sole." I have to admit that somehow it does.