Northwest Point looks great How does it stack up against Turks and Caicos Club? Ive seen some "too windy" references....... My kids want to snorkel. Also are there any casinos on Turks and Caicos?

Northwest Point is not on Grace Bay Beach.Turks and Caicos Club is.I would pick Turks and Caicos Club.No comparison with the beach & terrific snorkeling near Turks & Caicos Club.

northwest point is very remote. your kids will much prefer t&c club. however it is a very small upscale resort. depending on their ages and sense of independence, you might look at the resorts further east on grace bay beach. here's a map: http://www.aquamarinebeachhouses.com/map.htm
t&c club is just below aqua houses (red mark).
the main off-beach snorkel site on provo is directly in front of coral gardens, so you might look at that. sands, ocean clubs & royal west indies are known to be kid friendly.
more details about budget and what you'd like from your resort will help with more specific suggestions.

we arent too limited on budget - this is a special trip- son's graduation .Probably in the neighborhood of $6000-7000 for 5-6 nights maybe?
Also, the kids arent interested in socializing a ton and arent interested in dance clubs etc- We have always liked fairly quiet places. this will be a family trip and they are happy if they have fun activities like snorkel or horseback. We really would prefer all inclusive but I just cant find something that is truly upscale and not themepark /cruise ship types of crowds!

Then I think Turk and Caicos Club would be a great place for you to stay. It is very close to some shore snorkeling and the beach you may feel at times you have all to yourselves. The owners of TC CLub are usually on the property, and from what i am told are very nice and personable.
Have a great trip

i think t&c club will be very nice for you. coral gardens is a bit busier all day as the snorkeling is there but as said you'll find a small reef in front of t&c club and you can easily walk down to coral gardens.

Sounds like T&C Clbu was made for you-close to everything if you want it, quiet enough for your tastes. You can walk in either direction, and in 5 minutes has terrific off the beach snorkeling. (T&C Club provides masks and snorkels at the beach.)

NP is isolated, not on the best beach, and has some long term renters-The resort itself is nice and well kept, but doesn't come close to Turks & Caicos Club in ALL respects. T&C Club is awesome, you'll feel like family, and love your vacation.

I've also seen posts where you are considering Aruba. Aruba is busy! Snorkeling is not that good, and the beaches don't come close to the ones in T&C. Aruba is fun, with tons of activities, tons of restaurants (including chains) and a cruise ship stop. There is alot to do, no one should get bored.

Having said that, on 1 trip to T&C, my 6 year old, and her 3 cousins, ages 14, 12, and 9 (at the time) said T&C was the time of their lives! They loved it. The cousins went to Mexican Rivera the following year, had a great time, but still claim T&C their favorite.

Let us know what you decide!

Hey Yall( I live in Ga

My feedback from a person who just came back from NW Point was that it was great! and Trip Advisor does rate it higher than the TC Club...... but on here everyone says go TC Club. Prices of course, much better at NW Point...... Im guessing because it is so far out. SO, Im finding it hard to decide. I was convinced TC Club, now Im not....... This lady wrote this about NW POINT to me.....

My sisters and I went snorkeling at NW Point and it was really great. They are right next to the 3rd largest reef system in the world and there were plenty of fish and lots of coral. We walked down the beach about 20 minutes to get to the best part of the coral. The beach is actually beautiful there. It's so long and you could walk the length of it in over 40 minutes. The beach is also MUCH less crowded than the beaches at Grace Bay (where most of the tourists stay). The water at NW Point does have grass growing in it in some parts, but it's not difficult to find clear areas to swim in. NW Point has free snorkeling equipment and free kayaks to use, so your kids could also do that. You can also fish right off the beach there as well. My family is very water oriented and we're quite picky, but NW Point was really great for us. Good luck!

so as you can see.. sounds pretty good for the price- about half of Turks Caicos Club.



On another note who should we rent car from?

jencla:

I update the T&C chapter for Fodors, I also am the "destination expert" for T&C over at Trip Advisor.

Their rankings at TA are based on reviews. MOST (I'd say 90%) of the reviews for Northwest Point are from the actual condo owners. (and therefore affects the ranking) Most talk of how good the restaurant, and as of Jan 2008, I had NEVER seen the restaurant open. You might as well throw out any reviews that mention the restauarant. There is no way, and if you did a poll, that NWP would rank higher than T&C Club, or Parrot Cay, Amanyara, Regent Palms, Somerset, Sands, RWI, basically everyhting but Comfort Suites. Start a new post for people to rank, you'll see.

That's why the actual forums are so valuable. People actually "discuss" everything, including rankings of resorts.

There is nothing really wrong with NWP. The resort itself is very pretty and very well maintained. If they'll be anyone else out there, better chance of them being a long term renter living there. Their beachfront doesn't compare to any other beach in T&C-it has seaweed grasses, and the sand is grainy, not the soft talcolm poweder of Grace Bay. Being on a point, it can be windy, and the the road leading out to it 1/2 is not paved, filled with potholes, and on the way to the dump-usually with (some) trash strung through it. Having never been to T&C, you'll think it's nice. Once you lay eyes on Grace Bay Beach-one of the nicest beaches in the world, you'll regret not staying on it.

Nothing wrong with NWP-but if you want to save money, stay at Sands.

While Provo is only 19 miles long, from NWP to every restaurant or supermarket, will take about 35-45 minutes each time. You'll have to have food, so sounds like alot of running around to me. (Da Conch Shack and Horse-Eyed Jacks are closer-about 20 minutes.)

I'm not trying to knock NWP, it's actually a pretty place. But to compare it to T&C Club:

T&C Club is a small boutique gorgeous little hotel. It's so beautiful, it's been used as backdrops for numerous magazines. The beach front has excellent snorkeling on eith side of it, yet the beach front is gorgeous-soft soft sand, the beach is protected here by outer reefs-so it's the calmest clearest stretch of an already gorgeous beach.

If you posted this question on TA forums, overall, you'd probably get the same answers as here.

Thank you so much for such specific info- Indeed that is why these forums are so valuable and knowing more about what trip advisor is really about helps tons!! However I will say the lady that wrote me was a renter like me. Not an owner there.
Saving money isnt an issue except that if two places ARE nearly identical ( which you say is absolutely not true) then Id pick the less expensive one. I am one of those people that would lOVE an AI, but not a cheesy one-- I do NOT want to even think about whats for lunch or dinner. however I just cannot find one in our budget- 600 -800 a night- that is for 2 adults and 2 teens. We are so past the point of wanting to all cram in a room! I would personally love to go to Hermitage Bay Antigua- but they are 2 people to a suite ONLY - more like 1400-1500 a night for 2 suites... Galley Bay doesnt accept 14 yr olds, A couple of others are TOO quiet, too removed... Its been hard. Add to that a family preference for the super white beaches and very vivid water...... well Turks and Caicos looks like it fits us best in every other way. I am leery of the Dominican Republic resorts I do not know why. Something just isnt clicking there for me. Do you know anything about Casa de Campo?

jen, did your friends actually stay at nwpoint or just go out there to snorkel?
fyi - the reef extends the entire length of the island.
i too like the 'looks' of the resort and have thought of staying. as blamona noted the landscaping is lovely and they obvioiusly work hard to maintain it. i have walked their beach. it is nice, but not a pretty as grace bay beach. we did not swim so can't speak to the seagrass.
i have only been out there twice and the restaurant was not open either time. by this i do not mean not at that hour of the day i mean not at all. their site says they're open nov to aug. we went in nov and april.
it is condo and to stay there we would expect to do most of our own cooking (we've chosen villas instead) but it's a haul to get to the grocery. (lord forbid i should forget some crucial ingredients)
there is no question that it is a looong way to anything (horseback riding, restaurants)
just comparing the resorts nwpoint looks great. but the location has discouraged me from staying.
good luck with your decision. do let us know...

The lady I corresponded with stayed there and snorkeled there and she wasnt an owner.. THANKS to all who have helped--I appreciate your kindness and time.
Turks and Caicos Club it is , if we do not do one of the Iberostar properties like the Lindo in Mexico- totally different types of vacations- Just have to decide what is best for the family! I really really do not want to grocery shop or think up "whats for lunch- whats for dinner" I am TIRED of that. It seems renting on Turks and Caicos will be like a really beautiful, more exotic but still a version of what we already do regularly in the deep south- Isle of Palms, Gulf Shores, Destin etc and I am trying to decide if thats what I want. I am not a "foodie" but I do like tasty food so the AI thing is weighing heavily on my mind. My friend says those AIs in Mexico -- Iberostar resorts-- are very very nice and that everyone we know that has been there had a great time.So, Turks and Caicos wins on beach and water beauty- and Im sure the restaurants are great on the Island.But.... no brainer kind of stuff? Im thinking Iberostar Lindo.

OK we decided- thanks to all the great advice here

We are definitely doing Turks and Caicos Club 6 nights in June we have booked our flights and are finalizing plans for TC Club on Monday with our travel agent

we are going to rent a car when we get there

Ive decided we have to do Sun and Fun Guided jetski tour ( my kids love jetskis) and Hemingways, Conch Shack, and explore beaches like Malcolm Rd etc on our own.

What other casual dress restaurants would you suggest? My husband is the type that on vacation does NOT want to dress up-- nice shorts and a golf shirt is his idea of vacation

Is the Conch Farm "too young" for 18 yr old and 14 yr old?

Is SNUBA worth it?

THANKS

conch farm - have never been with kids. it is not exciting but is informative and tour only takes 30/40 mins and what you learn at the very end is quite interesting! be sure to ask to see the conch pearls in the little shop. they are lovely and pricey.

re provo dress code. the island will be very pleased with your husbands style. shorts & t are ok almost everywhere. exceptions might be anacaona (this is as romantic a setting for dinner as you'll find so you might take him 1 pr of casual summer pants, http://www.seasonsinstyle.com/hoteli...el_57_1908.jpg ) grace's cottage, coyaba & a couple others.
my personal favorite is aqua at turtle cove. i like the italian at bella luna, in the glass house mid-island. we liked sunday brunch at mango reef. dh and kids will like sharkbite for a burger. they have a few game machines and a cool tshirt. take the whole fam to bbq rib & chicken night at tiki hut on wed.
here's a list of all on island: http://www.turksandcaicostourism.com...staurants.html
and this one has descriptions: http://turksandcaicos-guide.info/food/name/a/
in the airport pick up a copy of wherewhenhow, info on everything with dining guide.
if you don't try anacona at least have a cocktail at their brand new infinity bar.
have never tried snuba but it looks fun.
and now the way to the best snorkeling spot. smith's reef. this is a kinda special spot. you must enter the water directly in front of the rock carin on the beach and go into the sea on a narrow sand path, in order not to walk on things you should not touch. i sit on the rocks just into the water to put my gear on. once in swim out 30 yds and to your left. there is a huge coral head to swim around. some of this reef is extremely shallow and you need to be really careful not to touch. in some spots i could not even use my fins and just drifted. good fish and we've seen turtles and rays on each visit.
so you head to the turtle cove marina area. coming from t&c club there is a right turn on dirt road just before the marina motel. immed on right is a church, then over a tiny canal bridge and past the yacht club hotel on your left. road dead ends. turn left. go to end. enter sandy parking area beside fancy villa. walk onto the beach and past maybe 5 villas and you will see the rock carin. and don't tell everybody where it is.