Coral Gardens on Turks and Caicos
Jan 6th, 2010, 12:03 PM
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Coral Gardens on Turks and Caicos
Hi Everyone,
I am trying to plan our first trip to Turks this Feb 2010 and am having trouble deciding between Coral Gardens, Alexandra, and Ocean Club (West). We have been to other Carib islands like St. john, Virgin gorda and Anguilla (Ku hotel).
We like a quiter resort and will be renting a car. We also like a balcony and need a fridge. I'm not sure how busy or built up or not some of these resort are. Can anyone please shed any light for me? Thanks!
Tim
I am trying to plan our first trip to Turks this Feb 2010 and am having trouble deciding between Coral Gardens, Alexandra, and Ocean Club (West). We have been to other Carib islands like St. john, Virgin gorda and Anguilla (Ku hotel).
We like a quiter resort and will be renting a car. We also like a balcony and need a fridge. I'm not sure how busy or built up or not some of these resort are. Can anyone please shed any light for me? Thanks!
Tim
Jan 6th, 2010, 12:43 PM
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Coral Gardens is right in front of the reef and gets busy with people from other resorts to snorkel. Coral Gardens is older and needs an update IMO.
Ocean Club West, nice , wide beach, close to dining and shopping ...nice , not my fav. tho
Alexandra-newest of all, can walk to many restaurants and Coral Gardens to snorkel..
we have stayed at many places on Grace Bay , I'd pick Alexandra!
Ocean Club West, nice , wide beach, close to dining and shopping ...nice , not my fav. tho
Alexandra-newest of all, can walk to many restaurants and Coral Gardens to snorkel..
we have stayed at many places on Grace Bay , I'd pick Alexandra!
Jan 6th, 2010, 02:31 PM
#3
I know you didn't mention this place but have you thought about The Turks and Caicos Club? We stayed there last year and it sounds like what you are looking for as far as...quiet resort, renting a car, balcony and fridge. They have wonderful balconies and great kitchens. Nice and quiet.
Jan 6th, 2010, 03:35 PM
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you'll find most of the resorts on grace bay beach are condo style with full or almost full kitchens. other mid range ideas are royal west indies or the sands. coral gardens is the one place on the beach where ppl come from everywhere to snorkel so beach is almost never quiet. a short walk down the beach will get you away from ppl though. i would only stay at coral gardens if you can get one of the beachfront/facing units.
t&c club is very nice, on a quieter section of beach. 2 other smaller resorts are west bay club, close to t&c club or sibonne (one of original resorts so not all bells & whistles) which is in the center of things.
since you'll have a car - a few places to drive it to:
-for extremely romantic & pricey dinner, anacoana at the grace bay club. if it's too pricey to eat, at least go for a cocktail at their amazing infinity bar.
-cheaper fun eats at tiki hut in turtle cove marina. go for rib & bbq chicken night. or for lunch.
also at turtle cove marina is my favorite - aquabar.
mango reef has good sunday brunch. i like the italian at bella luna but it's not on the beach.
-best snorkel! go towards turtle cove marina on bight road. just before you get there turn right. church on right, over tiny canal bridge, past yacht club bldings on left. dead end - turn left. go to end of road. park in sandy lot. walk onto and up beach past 2 small and 3 or 4 large villas. there should be a rock carin on the beach. enter water in the tiny cut in the ironshore (black rock) swim out & to your left. there is a large circle shaped reef to go around. some very shallow spots so be sure you/your fins don't touch anything!!! we usually see turtles, rays and a plethora of fish.
-go out the south dock road. turn right onto chalk sound road to check out the stunning tourquoise colored sound, lots of fancy houses, and sopadilla bay and taylor bay beach. no services in this area. take water.
use the map from the FAQ page of aquamarinebeachhouses.com to orient yourself now so the island will make more sense when you get there. is a small basic island. only 2 main roads.
-ride out the blue hills highway. a couple miles out on the sea side is a blue building - da conch shack - best and freshest conch on provo. keep going to northwest point resort for lovely views of the sea.
- if you are intrepid and have rented a jeep (needed for clearance)(and they will let you change out your car for a jeep for one day if you ask) drive out the malcolm beach road (towards amanyara resort) the drive takes a while and no services but malcolm road beach is really pretty. you can see where the shelf drops off from shore so the water has an almost distinct line where tourquoise water turns to deep blue.
enjoy provo.
t&c club is very nice, on a quieter section of beach. 2 other smaller resorts are west bay club, close to t&c club or sibonne (one of original resorts so not all bells & whistles) which is in the center of things.
since you'll have a car - a few places to drive it to:
-for extremely romantic & pricey dinner, anacoana at the grace bay club. if it's too pricey to eat, at least go for a cocktail at their amazing infinity bar.
-cheaper fun eats at tiki hut in turtle cove marina. go for rib & bbq chicken night. or for lunch.
also at turtle cove marina is my favorite - aquabar.
mango reef has good sunday brunch. i like the italian at bella luna but it's not on the beach.
-best snorkel! go towards turtle cove marina on bight road. just before you get there turn right. church on right, over tiny canal bridge, past yacht club bldings on left. dead end - turn left. go to end of road. park in sandy lot. walk onto and up beach past 2 small and 3 or 4 large villas. there should be a rock carin on the beach. enter water in the tiny cut in the ironshore (black rock) swim out & to your left. there is a large circle shaped reef to go around. some very shallow spots so be sure you/your fins don't touch anything!!! we usually see turtles, rays and a plethora of fish.
-go out the south dock road. turn right onto chalk sound road to check out the stunning tourquoise colored sound, lots of fancy houses, and sopadilla bay and taylor bay beach. no services in this area. take water.
use the map from the FAQ page of aquamarinebeachhouses.com to orient yourself now so the island will make more sense when you get there. is a small basic island. only 2 main roads.
-ride out the blue hills highway. a couple miles out on the sea side is a blue building - da conch shack - best and freshest conch on provo. keep going to northwest point resort for lovely views of the sea.
- if you are intrepid and have rented a jeep (needed for clearance)(and they will let you change out your car for a jeep for one day if you ask) drive out the malcolm beach road (towards amanyara resort) the drive takes a while and no services but malcolm road beach is really pretty. you can see where the shelf drops off from shore so the water has an almost distinct line where tourquoise water turns to deep blue.
enjoy provo.
Jan 7th, 2010, 06:50 AM
#6
After vacationing on 20 or so islands, our perfect place is Ocean Club West on Grace Bay.
We like:
The low rise buildings---no walking through a huge lobby to the beach.
Wide beach with plenty of chairs & tables---in 2 trips there we never were in need of a spot to sit.
Casual restaurant open for all three meals---good prices, and they would make you a hamburger or sandwich at night even though it wasn't on the dinner menu. Sometimes you just don't want a gourmet meal every night.
Condos have kitchens---we like to have breakfast on our balcony, and like a frig and microwave for snacks, wine, soda, etc.
Great workout room and tennis courts.
River pool with the island & grills---just in case you want to grill out.
Ability to walk to 10 or so restaurants easily.
Yes, there are many fancier and more expensive places on Grace Bay, but Ocean Club West is just our style and we will return there this year.
We like:
The low rise buildings---no walking through a huge lobby to the beach.
Wide beach with plenty of chairs & tables---in 2 trips there we never were in need of a spot to sit.
Casual restaurant open for all three meals---good prices, and they would make you a hamburger or sandwich at night even though it wasn't on the dinner menu. Sometimes you just don't want a gourmet meal every night.
Condos have kitchens---we like to have breakfast on our balcony, and like a frig and microwave for snacks, wine, soda, etc.
Great workout room and tennis courts.
River pool with the island & grills---just in case you want to grill out.
Ability to walk to 10 or so restaurants easily.
Yes, there are many fancier and more expensive places on Grace Bay, but Ocean Club West is just our style and we will return there this year.
Jan 8th, 2010, 11:48 AM
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Wow! Thank you all for the great information. A great help.
It looks like ocean Club West is out of Junior suites so is Ocean Club (not west) still a good option? Good to know about Coral Gardens' busy beach. Not really what we are looking for. I'll check out TC Club as well.
It looks like ocean Club West is out of Junior suites so is Ocean Club (not west) still a good option? Good to know about Coral Gardens' busy beach. Not really what we are looking for. I'll check out TC Club as well.
Jan 28th, 2010, 02:04 PM
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We stayed at Coral Gardens before and will be back in Feb. Every room has a balcony with kitchen.
A great snorkeling area is right behind Coral Gardens. There are more people on the beach than in other areas-but that is because in general the beaches are uncrowded. By "crowded", when we were there in Nov., we shared the beach with about 12 other people.
A great snorkeling area is right behind Coral Gardens. There are more people on the beach than in other areas-but that is because in general the beaches are uncrowded. By "crowded", when we were there in Nov., we shared the beach with about 12 other people.
