tropicfan1

Thank you for your great answers regarding TCI vs Antigua. I think I'm definately leaning towards TCI. We may just have a long layover in Key West and go on a wild dolphin excursion there. That way, no pressure to see one once we get to TCI. If we went AI, I think Veranda sounds good, but expensive. Which resort is best on Grace Bay that is not AI. Still would like an onsite restaurant and maybe comp breakfast. I heard there are wider areas of beach on Grace Bay too; that would be nice. I could check local restaurant prices and see if it would be equal to Veranda prices if we ate out each day.

Weadles

We loved our trip to West Bay Club. I think it has one of the widest - perhaps the widest - and quietest beach of all the hotels. West Bay does have an onsite restaurant but it's really not very good. However, the beach and the quality of the accommodations more than make up for that.

Just a FYI: We found restaurants pretty expensive on Turks, but the food was some of the best we've had in any of the Caribbean islands.

blamona

All the resorts and restaurants are expensive, it's an expensive destination.

But you get what you pay for, and it's worth every penny.

Having said that, best is relative, not a bad place to stay. But actual budget would be nice, as "best" is about $3000 a night!

tropicfan1

We were hoping to keep a budget of 5000-7000 with travel and food expenses included. That is for 3 people for 7 days.

blamona

What time of year? Makes a difference too

KVR

We stayed at the Sibonne. Not the best on Grace Bay, probably, but we enjoyed it. It did have an included extended Continental breakfast. Eggs/breakfast meat was $2 a piece extra. Not all that child friendly. It's a small 26 room boutique hotel. Check out the The Sands, The Somerset and the Alexandra.

otherfootloose

One vote for The Sands.
We absolutely loved our stay there. Plenty of activity choices, great beach with easy water entry ( no sharp drop-off) and Hemingway's met all our needs as a fam of 5.

blamona

Sibonne no longer includes breakfast.

Many others do, again with budget and time of year can help more

tropicfan1

We plan on going mid May 2013 or Mid June 2013. We prefer to go in May. Again, we don't want to go over 7000.00 with air, hotel, and food. Also, we plan on staying 7 or 8 days.

TPAYT

check oyt www.vrbo.com and www.homeaway.com for some great deals in by owner units in all of the resorts..

I'll say it again even though it's not as popular with some.
We like Ocean Club West. It has a good, reasonable restaurant, walking distance to IGA, very wide beach with chairs & umbrellas for all, winding river pool, beautiful grounds.

Yes, the units are not as new or fancy as Sommerset, etc. but it's placement between Seven Stars and Grace Bay Club is excellent for luxury bars & food. The owner-owned units are in far better shape than most of the resort owned units.

Here's the site
http://oceanclubresorts.rtrk.com/?sc...408&kw=3686480

IMO, Ocean Club (original) is too far from everything. Ocean Club West is the one to look at. When I win the lottery I'll book a suite at the higher end resorts. Until then we've been very happy with all of our 4 stays at Ocean Club West.

Good luck with your search.

TPAYT

I must add. You mentioned Antigua. After 20+ islands, Antigua was one of our least favorites. We were there for 1 week and only returned to catch The Star Clipper sail boat from there. Never again, there are many that are better including TCI.

tropicfan1

TPAYT, you mentioned that Antigua was your least favorite...which ones are your top 5? Im open to suggestions. We are not going until May 2013 when my daughter finishes college. For me, I just want the clear, blue water, and soft white sand. My hubby wants all inclusive so we don't have to stress about how expensive everything is! I prefer to try different restaurants myself! For my 22 yr old daughter, I just want a good graduation vacation where we have a chance to see dolphins in the wild.

blamona

Dolphins in the wild are not guaranteed anywhere. I have seen them in different islands, especially Bahamas. I've been many times to Virginia Beach and ALWAYS see dolphins there.

Turks and Caicos has the best clear blue water and white sand, I'll be posting pictures of last week in the next couple of days.

Antigua for me is also one of my least favorite, I had a nice time but for me it's a poor man's St. John.

The AIs in turks are on the expensive side, but it fits your criteria the best. You can check out Veranda, their prices include all taxes, etc. Like a Four Seasons with top self alcohol, drenched in luxury, but quiet.

From teens to 50s, all of us have loved Turks.

TPAYT

Everyone you ask will have a different top 5 I'm sure for many different reasons. Here's ours:

Grace Bay, TCI
Anguilla
St. Bart's
St. John
Barbados

All expensive? Compared to what, Mexico? We tend to have a condo unit and have breakfast on our terrace, have sandwiches and a tropical drink at a restaurant for lunch--available everywhere at a decent cost, late afternoon snacks and drinks from our unit(sometimes taken down to the beach for sunset), and go out for dinner. There are some gorgeous outside restaurants in the islands, the food is excellent, if pricey, so every 3rd night we go to a more casual place to keep the cost down. Very doable.

As far as dolphins, I agree, not guaranteed. I do have to say though that about 1/2 of the mornings that we walked Grace Bay Beach on all 4 trips we did see JoJo swim buy and everyone got excited.