Author: gwendolyn_harry
Date: 04/21/2008, 05:19 pm
Dear Blamona,

Given that you are the clear expert in Turks and Caicos travel, we thought we would get some advice from you in terms of where to stay (we are going end of May for Memorial Weekend)

My husband and I are looking for 1) luxurious accomodations 2) quiet pool and not very crowded beach area (this is very important).
Some of our favourite resorts have been Maroma in Mayan Riviera, Cap Juluca (resort a litle old but love the setting, Four Seasons Langkawi, Malaysia. We have also stayed at Ritz in Cancun which we dislike due to massive crowds and overbooking of chairs. We also did not find it to be particularly special or relaxing like Maroma or Cap Juluca was.

Given the above information about us, which do you recommend. I looked at Grace Bay Club however there is construction going-on. Point Grace looked appealing bc the beaches seem private though the accomodations did not seem luxurious and service may not be up to par. We are currenly booked in an ocean front suite in Regent Palm. I know your fav hotel is Somerset but how does Regent Palm compare and are their beaches very crowded? Also do we have to fight for chairs by the pool?

I have heard that the nicest pool is in Regent Palm and that would work nicely for my husband. We have requested a top floor ocean front suite so that should be very nice. I do think that you lose something (rustic barefoot luxury) when everything is marble but in your opinion is Regent Palm special and beatiful? Ive always wanted to go to Parrot Cay however my husband will be bored silly esp with lack of activities and restaurants on the island. Would appreciate any insights and thoughts and esp contrast wtih Regent Palm, Somerset and maybe even Point Grace. As mentioned, we would like luxury, relaxing place, good service, not crowded beaches and pool and that special place (like Maroma).

Very much appreciate and looking forward to your views.

G and H.

I have been to Cap, not Maroma.I've also been to other Four Seasons in different places.Palms has a nice pool, Somerset has a nice pool, Grace Bay Club has nice pools.  Point Grace has a gorgeous pool, with a very zen feeling to it.All have luxurious accomodations.  It's no secret Somerset is my personal favorite-but you can't go wrong with any of them.
My opinions:

Palms feels like a Four Seasons.  They will pamper you.  It is, again my opinion, a "see and be seen" crowd.  Designer clothes, sunglasses, martinis at the bar or swim up bar kind of place.  It is probably the most crowded of your choices.  But crowds in T&C is relative-it doesn't get crowded like Mexico or other islands, it is crowded when compared to other properties in T&C.

Parrot Cay does sound like what you may be looking for, just not what your husband looks for.Somerset and Palms are right next to each other.  Somerset is proabably more understated, you'd get pampered at Palms more.  I personally like Somerset more, it just seems a little more laided back, a little more personal.  Palms prabably has better people watching.  Grace Bay Clubs construction is winding down.  Inside the property, pool area, etc, you probably won't hear the construction.  It's proabably all inside construction by now.  They will also pamper you-sorbets and bottled water on the beach, set up tables on the beach to eat.  They proabably have the bestter service on Provo.  (does not include Parrot Cay.)

Point Grace is very quiet.  There are even signs around the pool reminding you of it.  It's small and boutique, and very gorgeous.  The beachfront is always quiet.My dream vacationnbsp; I would split 3 days Parrot Cay, 3 days Somerset-that for me would be heaven.But you can't go wrong with any of your choices.  ;-)


I think your dream vacationnbsp; 3 days Parrot Cay, (you will adore this place-it's special) and 3 days Point Grace.  Point Grace is luxurious, and seems to fit with a more private seclusion.  Palms is "busy" compared to Point Grace-and is just as luxurious.  It's a different type of clientel-the ones that want quiet vs activities.

Blamona - thank you so much for your help. That is really useful. I am going to discuss with my husband and then we will decide.

Another question - does Palms have a lot of kids running around, pool area etc? What about Somerset and Point Grace. Sounds to me Point Grace is the least with kids. We dont mind kids although if any of those places are known to have a lot, do let us know.

In terms of service, does Point Grace have good service? My husband will like the pampering at Regent Palm for sure and i know he will love the pool. We also heard that the waters around Point Grace is choppier and more winds. Is this the case?


In terms of best ocean front, I suppose they are all ocean front and luxurious. This is tough. Im obviously going with the safe choice with Regent Palm but I think I agree with you that it will feel like Four Seasons (which is gorgeus if its in Bali, Malaysia, Thailand) and can work if they keep that luxurious feel local but i certainly do not want a Four Seasons Nevis type of place. I would be very dissapointed going into Regent Palm and thinking its like Waldorf Astoria in NY. I dont think that will be the case.


Thank you once again for taking the time. Really appreciate it.

If i had to equate it, Palms is more like Four Seasons Nevis.

It's very kid friendly, and it's mostly families.

Point Grace is quiet-chances are you'll have the pool mostly to yourself. They do have an afternoon tea. I've been through it numerous times, and being small, while they pamper you-it's not that constant as Palms-and therefore Palms has more people to justify the constant pampering. (Point Grace has only 21 units.)

Palms is probably the most crowded, followed by tied Somerset/Grace Bay Club. Point Grace is extremely quiet.

As for the beachfront, Palms and Somerset are next door to each other. Point Grace is 2 properties/4 lots down from Palms and Somerset. If it's windy (Big IF, most of the time it's pretty calm) it can be slightly calmer at Palms and Somerset, but it it's windy, it will be windy the whole strip. I think the way the reef goes, it might protect Palms/Somerset slightly more, not hugely more. I do like the beach from 1 side of Point Grace to Palms, but again, the whole beach is stunning. I like the beachfront more from Point Grace to Palms more than Grace Bay Club, but again, not enough to keep me away from Grace Bay Club either.

I find Palms to seem busier than Grace Bay Club, especially their beachfront. GBC is a little more spread out, it contains 3 sections (original resort, Villas, and Estate section) vs Palms only 1 section.

I'm getting the impression that Palms is for your husband-he wants more active, you want more quiet. On the plus side, regardless of which you choose from Palms/Somerset/Point Grace, they are all an easy walk from each other. You could always stay at Point Grace, and have lunches at Somerset and Palms easily.

You can basically have it all!! 8-)

OK - im getting a better picture.

So, in terms of how calm the water is - sounds like not much difference at Point Grace versus Regent Palm.

Secondly, how is the service at receptionist at Point Grace? Are they quite responsive to complaints, room service etc?

You may want to look into Villa Renaissance also.

while Villa Renaissance is gorgeous, it's mostly self-catering and doesn't have the service that I think Gewndoln craves.

I can't answer how Point Grace is if problems arise-I have not had that experience.

We are still pretty divided by am leaning towards regent palm at this point. Somerset is a real contender but unfortunately the one bedroom suite is not oceanfront and just oceanview.

I suppose in terms of that special feeling, seems like Somerset wins over Regent Palm but Regent Palm wins over service/ammenities.

If the beach area gets too crowded at Regent Palm, I suppose we could move to Somerset's area. Point Grace unfortunately only had 2 bedroom suites oceanfront so that does not make sense as its just my husband and i.

I found your views very insightful particularly about the part of the beach you like best. That is good to know.

I suppose my only concern is why Regent Palm hasnt won more awards if indeed its one of the top hotels in T&C. Somerset, Grace Bay Club have all won various luxury hotel awards. Not sure those awards mean anything anyway. Thanks again

In my honest opinion, don't get hung up on award. Hotels pay for PR which then generates awards based on relationships. It's not always indicative of the best place on the island.