traveling to provos

Old Feb 12th, 2010, 08:19 AM
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traveling to provos

My family, 12 of us total, are traveling to the Provos in May for a week long vacaction. I booked the provos in a haste and I'm worried I have made a mistake. We have traveled to Jamaica, St. John and St. Martin in the past. St. John was great for the adventurer, Jamaica was great for being with family...couldn't really get out much on our own because of the crime, but the villa and staff were wonderful, so you never missed anything. My question about the provos is this...I'm worried with all the talk about the Haitan refugees coming in and the crime going up. Is a villa on Spadilla Bay a safe place to be? Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciative. Also, with a party that large, what's the best way to get around?
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Old Feb 12th, 2010, 02:31 PM
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there is no comparison between jamaica and provo in turks & caicos. provo had a small influx of crime a year or so ago. the local police have mainly squelched that. i've heard nothing recent about any recent earthquake refugees. if you take normal precautions like locking the house when you're gone and at night you should have no problem. not knowing where you live i'd be willing to bet the provo crime rate is considerably less than your hometown.
your beach is small & you can easily see from one end to the other so you can leave stuff on the beach and go for a stroll or swim with no worries. sapodilla is a lovely beach and i think you'll like it.
re transportation: you are on the south side of the island with grocery shopping mainly mid island and grace bay beach (the big attraction on provo) on the north side. it will take you 15-20 mins to get to grace bay beach area.
with a group of 12 you will want to rent to cars - 2 or maybe even 3 if you have devoted divers a/or golfers in the group?. driving is on the left but easy, not many roads so you're unlikely to get lost & not many ppl so you're not going to encounter "traffic". almost all roads recently paved, top speed limit is 45.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 04:02 AM
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With 200,000 visitors, only 34 crimes were against tourists, with most being the "someone took my things I left on the beach while I snorkeled kind", I think the odds are in your favor you'll have a safe vacation. You can increase your odds, by closing windows and locking doors when you leave, don't leave valuables in site in a rental car, etc. The same precautions you'd take anywhere, including where you live. Hatian refugees aren't prone to commit more crimes, at least that I've heard of in Provo. T&C is helping Hatians as much as they can, as is the rest of the world.

I don't know how many adults are in your group-if it's mostly children, I would rent 2 vans--taxi charge per person and could get quite expensive--all rental companies offer vans. If it mostly adults (25 or over for car rentals) then I would get at least 3 cars, because someone is going to want a little more independance than others.....

You need transportation to get to stunning Grace Bay, snorkel Coral Gardens, and eat at the fantastic restaurants and for the supermarket. Rental cars are your best bet.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 04:15 AM
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I think anywhere you go has the possibility of having crime, but I found Provo to be worlds away from Jamaica as far as comfort, luxury and safety. Provo is one of my favorite palces on earth, and I personally, will never return to jamaica.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 04:20 AM
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I echo virginia's comments about Sapodilla Bay - We were just there last week and you can easily see what is happening around the entire bay. Chances are there won't be more than 10 other people on the beach. On a side note, once we saw what a stunning beach Sapodilla is, we vowed that we would one day rent a place there. You will not be disapointed!
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 06:17 AM
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Your responses make me feel so much better...thanks to all of you. I guess I need to quit reading the front page of their local news paper that probably puts the worse stuff on it. Blamono...to answer your question, we have 8 adults and 4 children (ages 11-14)...my mother and her friend will bring clubs and go golfing, the other 6 adults(in 40's) plan to snorkel, shop, explore, beach comb, etc. and we welcome any advice...we will be there 7 nights so have plenty of time. I'm feeling a lot better, i just get nervouse because they will be relying on me as the family tour director and this is the first place we've gone that I had no pre-ideas or referrals about. Also, Ive read that there is a dock on the south side that we can buy lobster and fresh fish to cook at house...can we get that even if lobster season is over??? thank you so much for all your advice, I really do appreciate it.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 11:29 AM
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you can not get lobster if not in season.

If in season, the dock is not as close as you think, but doable.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 04:04 PM
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here's a pretty good map of provo: http://www.aquamarinebeachhouses.com/map.htm
note the airport. look to the left of it on the map and you'll see sopadilla bay beach. from the airport you will drive out south dock road and you're home. just below (on map) south dock road is five cays road which is where the fish place is. the drive out there looks a bit questionable but people go daily. the fish place is Not fancy! but you can't get fresher fish.
as you drive east on leeward hwy (main road center of island) you'll pass a couple small groceries. the big store is past the golf course, which you can see it on your left from the hwy, on your right - you can't miss it.
take the kids for ice cream at ports of call mall.
tiki hut at turtle cove marina is fun on rib/bbq chicken night - tues i think?
if anyone wants a romantic dinner - anacoana at the grace bay club is beautiful. or everyone might enjoy a cocktail at their infinity bar.
next to sopadilla beach is taylor bay beach. be sure to go over one day. the sand is the softest you'll ever find! to shallow to swim but you can swim in the channel on the left side of the bay.
leeward or long bay beach would be the best bet for shell seekers. most of grace bay beach is within the princess alexandra national park so shells there must be admired but left on the beach.
shopping is limited. salt mills mall and ports of call mall are pretty much it but do stop at the locals arts/crafts places you'll see when you're driving around.
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Old Feb 13th, 2010, 04:51 PM
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Balamona...Do you mean that we won't be able to get any lobster in May????? We so excited about getting lobster down there?
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Old Feb 14th, 2010, 05:51 AM
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Lobster season is August 1-March 31, so unfortunately yes, you won't be able to get lobster in May. Won't be on the menu.

Virginia gave some great advice, but just in case you decide on Anacaona, no children are allowed, have to be 12 or older-so I would highly recommend Coco Bistro instead.
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