OK, I have been researching this for a month and my wife is ready to kill me. We will be staying (I hope) in Turks & Caicos during the last week of April and I need to book a place quickly as availability is becoming limited (not to mention airfare options). We have selected T&C due to ease of access and the awesome beaches.

Here is what I have narrowed it down to:

Meridian Club: Sounds idylic, but I have received very sporadic and slow responses from the resort. Makes me very concerned when they do not return e-mails and phone messages, and the folks that do pick up the phone (if you are lucky) don't exactly sound like they excel in customer service. I understand this is a very laid back remote place, but this still concerns me.

Grace Bay Club: Looks great but some very, very negative reviews recently (TripAdvisor.com).

The Somerset: Looks very nice, perhaps a bit too stuffy and formal???

The Regent Palms: Ditto above.

Pointe Grace: Ditto above, noting a Rolls Royce is available for transfers??? This is just not our style.

Parrot Cay: Seems like you paying $$$$ just for the chance to see some celebs...their rooms appear to take the minimilkistic approach a bit too far and many of the furnishings do not even appear as if they would be comfortable.

Beaches & Club Med: While an all inclusive would be nice, these places are definitely not for us.

This is sort of a second honeymoon for me and my wife, our 15th wedding anniversary in this year and we have not traveled outside of the country since our honeymoon in 1994 (although we have traveled exrensively in the states). We like barefoot or casual elegance, but we don't mind luxury accomodations either provided the atmosphere is warm, casual and comfortable and not too stuffy.

Main priorities are an awesome beach with clear tranquil waters and great snorkeling, with access to restaraunts(s) that excel in fresh seafood (i.e.: lobster, conch, etc.).

Need quick help! Any recent experiences or recommendations? Thanks so much!

Point Grace gets my vote for a romantic getaway. Beautiful beach and not too many children.

Well, I just reviewed a few more posts on T&C, and some folks are talking about recent changes to various aspects at The Somerset that make it sound a bit more casual and informal than I thought, so maybe I need to retract my initial impression that the Somerset may be too "stuffy"?

Somerset has never felt stuffy to me-and no secret here-is one of my favorite resorts in the world BUT, if you are looking at a "lockout" (cheapest room), you need to go one step up-the lockout rooms have no views, and are attached to other bedrooms, so if the rooms are booked, you'll get noise. Also, the next step up has a full kitchen, there is a huge difference in between the 2 catogories of rooms, and worth at least the step-up. Considering the other properties you are looking at, it sounds like you are considering a Sterling house unit, which are stunning. There will be kids, but more kids where I have noted. You can still walk to Coral Gardens for off the beach snorkeling.

Point Grace is extremely quiet-the least chance for kids. Beautiful property and great restaurant, my only negative is the "be quiet" signs around the pool. While I realize it's a "zen" type ambience, the reminder for me is a turn off. It's a little bit of a hike to go snorkel, but not impossible. Not many kids, actually lately not many people at all. I would still stay here, it's a gorgeous property.

Skip Club Med-while adults only, basic accomodations, not even in the same league you are considering. Same with Beaches-family friendly, and overrun with them. Great to take them when you have them.

Grace Bay Club, don't know why it would get bad reviews on TA--gorgeous property. They have an adults only resort and restaurant. Feels like a Ritz. It's a hike to walk and go snorkeling. The villas section will have kids.

Palms is another gorgeous property. It's a little more "see and be seen" crowd-not stuffy, but good people watching. You do feel like everything has to be designor labels. Nothing wrong with that, depends what you are looking for. This is an upscale family friendly resort, so there will be plenty of kids. Has a Four Seasons vibe to it. Next door to Somerset, and has one of the best spas (my opinion) in the world.

All of the above are on the same stunning Grace Bay Beach, some are just farthur from the snorkeling.

Parrot Cay--I love Parrot Cay. It has the best service of them all. It is minimist, but still has TV, ipod docks, etc. It's on it's own island, so you are kinda stuck. Gorgeous beach, excellent spa (again, one of the best in the world if not the best.) You have to book (expensive) excursions to go snorkeling.

My actual dream vacation is a split-3 days Parrot, 4 nights Somerset. Would make a great vacation.

Pine Cay is different from all the rest. It's like upscale camping/getting back to nature. No TV, no phone, no A/C. Rooms are comftable, it's trully a get away from it all place. No children are allowed at the club house and pool area except for Summer months, and limited hours. It is on the best, most incredible beach of them all. The have nice snorkeling at "The Aquarium". It's real laid back, and food is excellent. You could actually daytrip for lunch from Provo--expensive but nice, includes boat trip.

meridian club and parrot cay are on separate islands. you would have limited access to provo and it's wonderful restaurants.
great dining all over provo, so you'll end up taking a taxi a couple times no matter where you stay.
from your description i think you should look at: http://www.turksandcaicosclub.com/Resort.html
romantic,causual elegance a bit down the beach from most of the resorts. there is a small reef to snorkel 10 mins beach walk left or coral gardens 10 mins walk to the right.
go for cocktails one evening at grace bay clubs new infinity bar.
to find some excellent appraisals of somerset, et al put blamona in the search box above. she is our resident expert and has been to all the resorts you've listed many times.

here's a map: http://www.aquamarinebeachhouses.com/map.htm

what is a good adults/couples only resort in Caicos?

Thanks for the feedback! Looks like I am down to a short list of either:

1. The Somerset

2. The Meridian Club

3. Grace Bay Clubs

Blamona: Two questions:

How far is the walk to Coral Gardens for snorkeling from the Somerset? Do you just walk down the beach?

Have you stayed at the Meridian Club and if so, how is their customer service? I understand this is a very different type of Luxe (and that is what appeals to us at this remote location), but are the staff responsive to your requests? I still have a 36 hour old e-mail and telephone call unanswered from these folks.

I forgot to add-you may want to check outone of my new favorites, right in front of the snorkeling-gorgeous new resort: Windsong.

Another gorgeous new resort, about 2 properties down: West Bay Club.

Both are luxurious, yet laid back, may have some good specials going on being new...

Coral Gardens is about a 20 minute walk down the beach from Somerset.

I have not spent the night at Meridian, but I have had a tour. Call directly-ask for Bev--she's terrific. If you decide not to stay at Pine Cay, then at least day trip for lunch-you'll love that day!

We have stayed at The Regent Palms (Ocean front ,1 bedroom) and The Somerset this past January and going back to The Somerset this summer (stayed in Sterling building, 1 Bedroom ocean view, next we are renting a 1 bedroom English Cottage and asked for 2nd floor, cottages are huge, 2 full baths, Viking kitchen, etc) We viewed many units and feel Ocean view is nice but, we are at the beach or pool all day, shower, change and out for dinner, loved having full kitchen. Somerset is NOT stuffy, great staff, 2 excellent restaurants, easy walk to others, concierge will stock unit, LOVE IT , favorite and we have been to many islands.

Thanks everybody. We have now narrowed it down to either the Somerset or the Meridian Club (on Pine Cay).

We thought about the Windsong which sounded great because it is right in front of the reefs for snorkeling, but the more I thought about, this likely means that their relatively small beach is probably one of the most crowded along the entire Grace Bay (as everybody migrates to this spot for the snorkeling). Being right next the Beaches Resort probably would only make this worse. We are looking for peace and quiet, so we ruled out the Windsong and we will either just walk to the reefs from the Somerset, or we will just walk out our front door to the beach at the Meridian Club.

Unfortunately, I still have not received a return call or e-mail from the Meridian.

You have all helped me tremedously. Thanks so much for all the feedback!

Sounds like you are interested in the same trip/things we are. Can you let me know what you decide and how it goes? What is your nightly price range and where are you traveling from? Have you considered Virgin Gorda? We loved Little Dix Bay!
We are considering a trip to TCI and I don't know a thing about it -but we also want to be able to step out of our room and go snorkeling so please keep me posted which property is best for that!

blamona, on the Fodor's Bahamas 2009 edition!

rpr1: If I were you, I seriously consider spliting the trip, 2 nights Meridian, maybe rest at either Somerset or Turks and Caicos Club? T&C Club sounds like your kind of style, quiet, small and boutique, they're running great specials too. You can walk to reef to snorkel from there, beautiful and quiet resort. Actually it's featured in numerous magazine spreads all the time, so I'm surprised at myself for not thinking of it sooner.

jpniner: The only adults only all inclusive is Club Med, T&C is not a real all inclusive type destination. The only other AI is Beaches, heavy on the families. Quite frankly, both are expensive for being AI, and the personailty of them doesn't really fit T&C. If you reconsider AI and tell me more, I'd be happy to give other recomendations.

krissykris: You may also want to consider Turks and Caicos Club, or Windsong or West Bay Club-all gorgeous properties, a block or next to the snorkeling reef, quiet resorts, yet luxury. Windsong has the nicest bathrooms, all 3 have comfy beds. All 3 have decent pools.

beachgirl247: thanks for the info! 8-)

Well, we decided on The Meridian Club at Pine Cay. While we certainly don't mind being pampered at luxurious properties, since we wanted to "get away from it all", Meridian Club just seemed like the best option for us. Maybe I'm wrong, but we figured the closer we were to the snorkeling reef on Provo the busier the beach would be, so it was a catch 22 for us. We considered splitting our time between the Somerset and Meridian, but we just want to settle in and not have to deal with a tranfer.

Booked 8 nights, last week of April. Thanks for all the help!

KrissyKris: We did consider Virgin Gorda...just way to difficult to get there from here (Roanoke, VA).

Agree-we are in Oregon, it's a long journey with many connections. I'm sure whatever you pick will be fabulous!

I wouldnt make my decision about where to stay based on Coral Gardens. It's a bit disappointing! It's just a small little area off the beach, it's a fun hour excursion but that's about it.