Chrissy4

We're planning a trip to Turks & Caicos in early January with a 22 month old. Ocean Club seems nicer and has gotten better reviews, but Beaches caters to kids and is all-inclusive which might be easier with the little one, though it's gotten worse reviews for service, food, etc. Any advice?

We really just want to spend time at the beach and in the pool. We'd love oceanfront, but is it worth the money? How much space do you think we'll need - will a studio suffice with two adults and a crib?

Thanks for any assistance...

cindgail

I have two kids and would love to stay at a Beaches property but T&C would be the one place I would NOT want to stay at an all-inclusive. The restaurants are soooooo good you would really be missing out. Have you checked into the Sands? I didn't stay there last time but that would be my choice the next time I go. The location is great, the rooms are big and reasonably priced and they have a small convenience store on the property.

alya

Hi Chrissy4

we were in Provo last week and on the request of one of my DH's workmates we took pictures of the beach outside Beaches T&C. If you give me your email address I'll send you them.

If not, it's not a good part of the beach and I was grossed out by the condom on the beach at 4pm - you'd have thought they'd have cleaned the beach, yuk! There are no units overlooking the beach, at best you'll get a partial view from 100+ ft back.

We don't do AI but just having walked by Beaches if your choice is Beaches or OWC - I'd stay at OCW. We looked at the Sands but ended up staying at Coral Gardens.

I snorkeled before breakfast, after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, before dinner, After dinner. I think you get the point - if you want to snorkel then Coral Gardens is a good place to stay.

Save your money don't do AI, hire a car - while there's not much to do in Provo the restaurants are good, I recommend Iguana - it's nice to be able to get to restaurants when YOU want to without waiting for a taxi. They are also working on the roads.

Chrissy4

Thanks, guys. We heard good things about the Sands, but I wasn't sure it would right for a toddler. They do have a kids pool and I've since read a good review by someone with a 10 mo. old so maybe we should consider that.

As far as restaurants, our above mentioned active toddler doesn't sit too long in a high chair, or in a car, or etc. etc. so I thought if we had lots of food, already included, to choose form on-site that may help. But if we have a kitchenette, and the convenience store is there, we could probably do a lot of breakfasts and lunches ourselves then go out for dinner.

So, what can anyone tell me about the Sands?? Is a studio sufficient size? Where do you get the best price (online, travel agent...)? What restaurants are kid friendly? Thanks!!!

blamona

Chrissy4:
Sands is an excellent choice with a toddler. They will NOT let you get a studio room with the todler, they will make you get a one bedroom. One bedrooms are great with a todler though, because they have a full kitchen, a dinette area, and small living room. Hemmingways, the restaurant there, is excellent, and will even serve you lunch on the beach! (Or you can get it to go and take bake to the room) Hemmingways is outdoors, so todlers are fine there, on some nights they have a 1 man band, and your kid can even dance while you eat. Another kid friendly place (and reasonably priced to boot) is Tiki Hut, you can go by Gecko Shuttle, or taxi. Another option, is there is a service called Restaurants to go, you can order from almost any restuarant and they will deliver to you. The reception at Sands has copies of menus all restaurants, and can help with arrangements.

cdt

A 22-month-old is too young to appreciate the kids' activities at Beaches, which can be attractive for older children.

(Although I consider Beaches overpriced and overcrowded).

Also, I think having a kitchen would be a big plus with a toddler, even if you eat out most of the time.

Chrissy4

Thanks so much! I stopped in at a travel agency a few weeks back and she highly recommended the Sands so now I'm really excited! So...

Is it OK to just get the cheapest 1 bedroom (garden view) or are those rooms not so great? I'm thinking unless you splurge for oceanfront, save your money.

How do you get the best rates?

Should we rent a car and bring our carseat?

Do we need to bring beach toys and floats or are they supplied?

Thanks in advance!!

MuyLinda

Having stayed at Beaches I would choose the Sands or OC before Beaches again. We had an okay vacation at the resort but I was totally diappointed with their stretch of beach - it is unbelievably crowded compared to most other areas of Grace Bay and this was a disappointment to my family. We are pricing out Provo for late spring next year and the Sands is my #1 choice.

alya

One thing to remember about Grace Bay beach is that it's a public beach - even Beaches - so whilst only residents can sit on the resorts loungers anyone can walk or sit on the beach.

We went to Hemingways for lunch and The Sands looked a very nice clean well kept resort. If you book a garden view room ask if they have one available overlooking the pool (if this is possible) we walked past rooms that looked out over the car park.

Perhaps they were studios, hopefully someone who has stayed there can clarify this.

virginia

now that you have chosen the sands - great choice - i would look at expedia for the best prices. by the time you bundle air,sands,and car it should be a pretty good price. baring that i usually find the next best price from the resort itself. travel agents seem to be more.
have not stayed at sands so cannot speak about rm vs. rm but no matter where you are you will be Very close to the beach. 1 min walk from furthest room. i would be more interested in being away from pool or restaurant to avoid possible noise.
dittoing blamona's restaurant advice. tiki hut is very child friendly. outdoors, lots of gulls & terns flying and walking around. not pricey.
and yes i would want a car with a 2 yr old. that way if you want/need to go now! you will not be waiting for cabs or shlepping on & off the shuttle with beach gear, baby stuff, etc. i think i would bring the carseat. that way you know you have one that you trust,and baby is comfortable in. the island speed limit is 35 mostly but accidents do happen. left hand driving you know.

matkat

We stayed at the Sands last December with a 14 month old & a 2 1/2 year old & it was great. I think all the rooms are pretty much the same. We had a 2 bedroom gardenview & it was perfect. We were on the 1st floor which was great because it made it really easy to run back to the room for stuff (because we always forgot something!) or to just roll the stroller right into the room. We did not rent a car as there is not much of anything outside the resort to see. I took the shuttle to the supermarket the first day & stocked up on everything for the week. We generally fed the kids breakfast & lunch in the room & we ate lunch by the pool. I think 4 out of 6 nights we ate early dinners at Hemingways. The food was really good & it was very convenient as the kids were usually exhausted by that point. We walked to the Ports of Call one night (a short walk but a very dark road with no sidewalks) & then took a cab one night to the Tiki Hut. That was a disaster as we couldn't seem to find a cab back as it was a very quiet night there. Finally after about an hour, we called the hotel & they sent their shuttle. Just make plans ahead of time for dropoff & pickup.
The hotel does have some floats & beach toys, just ask at the snorkel desk. They also sell pails & shovels at the convenience store. The kiddie pool is great, its just a small round shallow circle but the kids loved it and we could actually sit & relax watching them. We bring our carseats as we always buy seats on the plane for the kids, but otherwise I wouldn't bother. Also, the Sands provides great full size cribs, not Pack n Plays like most hotels, so our kids slept great. Have a great trip!

mnag

We were at the sands with our 18mnth old and it worked out. Thge kiddie pool is great and they do have some floats. The restaurant is great. We did have some problems with housekeeping not cleaning our rooms until real late (3-4pm) but that may have been because it was a two bedroom condo. We did not bring our carseat as the rental cars company provided us with one (it did not appear to be as sturdy as the one we have at home). I would highly recommend renting a car if you plan on exploring the island. There are other gorgeous beaches including Sapodilla bay (my favorite) which would be great with a toddler because the water is crystal clear/blue and no more than two feet for 100 yards or so. We got a better deal by booking airfare and hotel thru aavacations.com.