Hello fellow travelers, my husband and I plan to go to Turks and Caicos in July, 2003. We will rent a car at least some of the 12 days and like to eat well. We were hoping to keep the hotel costs down. We have been considering the lowest priced rooms at Ocean Club West and Coral Gardens (we know the snorkling is great at Coral Gardens). Also thought about Turtle Cove Inn and Carribean Paradise Inn. The things we care about most are the snorkling and not confronting a lot of kids and noise. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Linda

Have been to Provo over a dozen times and the last 8 have stayed at Coral Gardens. In July you are going to find more families and kids visiting the island. Turtle Cove Inn is obviously in Turtle Cove which is basically a marina for Yachts. It is not on the beach. Really wouldn't recommend it. Caribbean Paradise Inn is a nice small place but again not on the beach. I suggest looking into Sibonne (www.sibonne.com) very nice small quiet place on the beach. About a 20 min walk to Coral Gardens. They have a very nice one bedroom suite with kitchen above the old dive shop which is about the only poom with a very good beach/ocean view. The other rooms face a courtyard filled with flora. The only drawback is the pool is rather small. Their restaurant Bay Bistro is very good. You can keep costs down by having a kitchen and eating breakfast and some lunches inSince it is off season you can probably negotiate a good deal

I gare with Coral GArdens - it is beautiful. Rooms are immaculate, very peaceful in atmosphere. And you are right about the snorkeling - right in front of the rsort. Great underwater trail to follow. You can keep costs down by bringing in food. Just a great quiet and laid back place.

I really like the Turtle Cove Inn area at the marina.There are good restaurants right there at the marina, Tiki Hut, Banana Boat & Sharkbites. Also easy walk to Grace Bay beach with the best snorkeling on the island at the channel marker.Better than Coral Gardens snorkeling.

do rent the jeep NOT car if you keeping it more than a day or two.there are the 2 main roads which are fine and the rest that are rough.and the best places to find are on the later.provo has tons of good food. try Anacona great food and atmosphere. think you might like ocw or coral gardens. coral gardens definetly has the quieter location.

Coral Gardens would get my vote too. Quiet, wonderful snorkeling right in front of our room. The pools last June were never crowded...in fact we usually had them to ourselves! The units have fully equipped kitchens. We drove to the IGA and shopped for some breakfast food, so mornings were relaxed as we ate had croissants and coffee while enjoying the ocean view from our balcony. We enjoyed dining at Coyaba, and my husband and I both went for wonderful massages on site. I would have no hesitation recommending the Coral Gardens. We rented a jeep for the week. Could've used some additional shock absorbers though! The roads are rough. Have a great time, Linda.