palmtree2384

This is my first post but I have been reading all the posts for awhile now and am totally confused on where to stay? My husband and I are going to go next april for our 25th anniversary. We have never been to turks before. I had it in my mind that I wanted to stay at The Coral Gardens, their website makes it look so inviting. I am worried that the beach will be packed because of the snorkling in front of the hotel? I had thought about rwi or ocean club (those are in my price range) but they seem like maybe too many kids and not as nice as coral gardens. Don't know much about the sands, seems like it is about the same price as coral gardens but not as nice as far as amenities.???Any help is greatly appreciated. The only place we have stayed before in the caribbean was at the Almond Beach Club in Barbados for our tenth anniversary.
Thanks for any help you can give me. It may seem early to worry about but I have seen alot of rooms already completely booked for next April so I thought I better hurry.
Thanks.

palmtree2384

I should also add that there are some places I could probably afford a garden view room but I only want oceanfront so that seems to be alot more expensive but it is worth it to me.

KVR

We really enjoyed the Sibonne. Very small, quite, quaint hotel directly on Grace Bay. We got a 2 room suite on the 2nd floor with a partial ocean view. There were so many plants and palm tress it obsctructed some of the view. Good location and easy to walk to the Salt Mills and Ports of Call for dining. We also walked to Coral Gardens for snorkeling. It took about 20 minutes. Our other choice would have been the Alexandra.

Kristen1206

My choice would be RWI. Grounds are really pretty, rooms are great and beach is perfect! We went in late April and hardly any kids.

Kristen1206

I actually thought RWI looked nicer than CG. Another option would be The Sands.

Kristen1206

One last thing! Try to book through VRBO as opposed to the resort and you will get a much better rate. We got a really good deal on an oceanfront studio at RWI through VRBO.

Sands was recently renovated and again..I thought it looked nicer than Coral Gardens (the web site make it looks nicer than it is...seemed cramped in my opion and the beach is smaller at that end). Sands has a great location and cool restuarant on the beach. May be more kids there than at RWI though. When we go back I'd like to try the Sands. They do offer free night special on their web site.

KVR

I have to disagree with the Sands if your are wanting to avoid kids. It's looked like a miniture Beaches Resort during our trip.

beachdreams3

Everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but I have to say that I am in agreement with Kristen and believe that it would be a fairly prevalent opinion of most people who have been to T&C, that compared to some of the other hotels you are considering, Coral Gardens is not as nice and has less amenities. I have stayed at the Alexandra and RWI and would stay at either again. The Sands is newly renovated and probably provides the most amenities of resorts in the moderate price range. I only saw Coral Gardens' public areas when I went there for snorkeling. But, from what I have read, CG is less updated in terms of rooms. It also has a smaller pool, gets crowded on the beach because everyone goes there to snorkel, and is less "resort like" and further away from other restaurants than the other places you are considering.

Depending on when you go in April relative to school breaks, you could encounter more kids than you want at any of these places. Some people say that Ocean Club and the Sands attract more families, and RWI gets less, but RWI has a smaller beach area, so if you happened to hit a busy week with families, it might seem more crowded. I didn't encounter many kids at RWI (late April - early May 2007) or the Alexandra (early Dec).

virginia

i have looked around but not stayed at sibonne and think it is not really a resort but rather a very nice small, quiet hotel. sands, rwi & alexander are much larger & have more going on and all are likely to have kids around. any would be nice choices. coral gardens is not really a resort either. it is one of the original provo hotels and has large very nice condos w/ great decks if you get beachfront. the beach area directly in front where the snorkeling is does draw a crowd - but in provo terms - not actually crowded. and if you want more privacy you can walk 100yards down the beach in either direction and be alone.

Cooper

RWI hands down,but I would rent a car and drive to some of the other restaurants nearby.

liblady

We've never been to Turks before, either, and are looking for a place to celebrate our 35th, in January. We were in St. John at Gallows Point Resort in April and that was a really relaxing trip. Thinking about Cayman Isl for January. No casinos there and in January the kids should be in school so it should be quiet.

palmtree2384

Thank you so far for all your help. Cooper, I was wondering why you said,"RWI hands down"? Any reasons why it would be better than the Sands? Thanks again.

Cooper

RWI is more like a condo than a hotel.It was very spacious,we could cook there,and it had a washer/dryer.We were there two weeeks and this came in very handy.
The beach in front is never crowded and no matter what building you are in ,you are only a 5 minute walk to the beach.
Ocean Club looked a littl tired to me.Little further away from things also.
Sands looked ok, but seemed very crowded and more spread out.Definately more kids,but that did not bother me as I had two with me.
Corel Gardens was nice but was busy with snorkelers,myself inculded.IT definately had an older clientle and the better food.
You really can't go wrong with any of these places,some are just more expensive and others have more going on.
I guess why really liked RWI was the price and the condo feel.