Turks and Caicos: April good time to visit?

Old Jun 8th, 2004, 09:36 AM
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Turks and Caicos: April good time to visit?

Just curious about the weather for T&C. in April. I have not seen many posts for April travel. Is this a month that does not see much travel to T&C or Caribbean? What about mosquitoes in T&C? Are they that terrible or most just isolated horror stories? Would you say the locals are friendly and helpful? We are thinking about the Beaches resort there. I have read good and bad reviews of course. More good than bad though. Thanks, Lipstick
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Old Jun 8th, 2004, 10:45 AM
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Its hard to be specific when talking about the weather but in general April in the T&C should be just fine - expect daytime temps in the mid-80's F. April is the start of "shoulder season" in the T&C and Caribbean which is the main reason you don't hear of many people traveling during that period. It's a good tme to visit most island destinations (T&C included) as rates are lower than "peak season" and the islands are less crowds.

I did not experience any mosquito problems when I visited the T&C (2+ years ago) but my comments are limited to the 10 days I spent at Grace Bay on Provo. It is possible the stories you heard could have been about one of the other islands in the chain. Typically, you won't encounter many mosquitos near the beaches because the breezes tend to keep them away. Of course if there has been an excessive amout of recent rain the mosquito population may increase for a few days. You may encounter no-see-ums
and sand flies on the beach for about a half hour at dusk.

I personally felt that the locals were nowhere near as friendly or helpful as those on other islands I've visited (I've been to more than 20) nor was the island particularly attractive which are two of the reasons "Ive been there, done that, don't have to go back".

Can't comment on Beaches Resort as I did not stay there. AI's are not my cup of tea so I'll pass judgement.

To be fair, Grace Bay on Provo is a spectacular 10 mile long white sand beach, however, it has little natural vegetation to provide shade so beach umbrellas (provided by most resorts) are a must. There are a few very good "off beach" snorkel sites (Coral Gardens is the best). The waters on Grace Bay are protected by an off shore reef so they are relatively calm and clear with a beautiful tourquoise hue. There's an abundance of family oriented resorts and condo type units (I gather from some of your previous posts you have young children) which may make it a suitable location for your family getaway. The T&C are easy to get to from the US which is another plus. Hope this helps.
 
Old Jun 8th, 2004, 03:01 PM
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Sunnyboy, Sounds like you know a lot about the Caribbean. Can you tell me which island you love the most and why? Since I have small children I didn't know if one island would be better than another. My husband is pretty much set on an A/I and I suppose they are best if you have children. We thought about St. John too and if it had a Beaches resort we would probably go there. What about St. Thomas? How do the beaches and water compare to St. John? I really want beautiful white sand and pretty water. We also wanted to be able to snorkel in somewhat shallow water right off of the beach. Would you say the locals are friendly and helpful in St. Thomas and St. John? Thanks. Lipstick






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Old Jun 9th, 2004, 02:50 AM
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We went to Provo the first week of May this year, and the weather was very nice. We didn't have any rain to speak of (a couple of overnight showers) but there was a cold front that came through the last couple of days. What this mainly seemed to do was shift the wind direction.

Provo seems to have a pretty constant breeze so it never got too hot. Mid 80's was probably the average.

We personally didn't encounter any mosquitos, but definately noticed the flies at dusk. Only lasts a few minutes, but we tend to eat early and found ourselves defending our meals a couple of times for those few minutes. Well worth the trade off for dining outdoors and the wonderful views. I would definately bring some repellent, (and we did) just in case you run into them. We never did end up using any repellent.

I guess the friendliness of the locals depends a lot of who you run into. The person at the checkout counter in the grocery store was pretty reserved, but the staff on the excursions were great. The staff at the resort we stayed at (RWI) was also very helpful and friendly.

I don't know who's experience with the locals was more typical. We're going back this fall... hopefully we'll find the same friendliness.

As far as the island being attractive, the beach is gorgeous, and that's where we spent 90% of our time. The rest of the island is not a lush tropical paradise, its a desert island like Aruba, but without Aruba's level of development.

As far as Beaches, we didn't stay there, so we really can't offer an opinion. I've probably read the same reviews you have... mixed. A lot of the reactions people have are determined by their expectations. If you go somewhere expecting heaven on earth, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed more often than not.

Good luck with your planning, and your trip.

Ken


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Old Jun 9th, 2004, 05:12 AM
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We have only visited in December (early to mid), and at that time I thought the water was just warm enough for my taste. I would probably avoid Jan. and Feb. (though many will disagree) but April should be fine.

We have visited several islands in the Caribbean and we thought the local residents on Provo (many of whom came from other islands) were very friendly. A bit reserved, perhaps, but it was nice not to have the feeling of everyone having their hand out for your money.

We saw just a few mosquitos and came home with numerous bug bites, most of which probably came from no-see-ums. We walked the beach every day at dusk, which may explain the bites.

In the Caribbean there's usually a trade-off between dramatic scenery and great beaches. We chose Provo because we like to take really long beach walks. The best compromise I've seen so far is St. John, which has green hills and beautiful SMALL beaches. No long beach walks there, but very good snorkeling from shore, and hiking trails in the National Park.
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Old Jun 9th, 2004, 06:26 AM
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TO: lipsticktraveler - Although I do not mind revealing my favorite island I'm not sure it will help you choose your spot in paradise since my tastes may be completely different from yours (I'll tell you my favorite at the end). I understand, however, your desire to find "the perfect spot". To that end it might be helpful to give you a better understanding of the Caribbean and its islands. If you include the Bahamas and the T&C's (which are not actually in the Caribbean) there are over 1,000 islands and cays, all of which are different. There are two basic types of islands, flat coral based islands (Bahamas Out-islands, the T&C's, Anguilla, Barbuda, Anegada, Aruba, to name a few) which tend to be flat, rather featureless, scrubby and have little natural vegetation but usually have long expanses of white or near white sand beaches that streatch for miles and shallower turquoise blue waters directly off shore. Often, but not always, these islands lack good snorkeling direcly off beach but have very good to excellent snorkeling along extensive reef systems a mile or so off shore.

The volcanic based islands have mountains, lush green interiors, rain forests, water falls, smaller darker sand beaches (these can range in color from light gold to almost black) lined with natural palms, and the waters surrounding these islands tend to be deeper and a darker blue in color. These islands sometimes have good snorkeling spots that are easily reached from shore and even better spots accessible by boat.

Adding to the above is the fact that some islands offer great shopping, while others have an abundance of big hotels, some have casinos, others are very secluded and difficult to get to, still others boast active night life, some islands have an abundance of AI's others just small inns and villas while still others are private island resorts, a few are havens for cruise ships while others are so off the beaten path you are likely to be the only ones on a beach at any given time - the list of differences goes on and on. What I'm trying to get across is they are all different and no one island "has it all".

So how does one choose which island works for them? It's not as difficult as it may seem. First, don't let others pick your island - save that decision for youself - but certainly use forums like this to gather information. Second (and perhaps most important), get a good guide book (Lonely Planet, Fielding's or Fodor's are the best) and read up on all the islands. This will help you narrow your choices to islands that appeal to you. When researching try to answer some of these questions: Are you the type of person who likes to explore or do you prefer to remain close to your resort? Are you looking for seculded beaches? Do you want a full service resort or do you prefer the intimacy of a quite inn? Are beachfront accomodations important to you? Do you really want an AI (as you mentioned)or would a nice resort offering just a full or partial meal plan work? Do you want casinos or active night life? Do you need access to TV's? Do you want upscale dining or would you rather have the comfort of fast food restaurants? Do you want to sample local cusine or eat in at your hotel? Do you want an island with a European, American or West Indian flair? Once you answer these and other similar quetions you will be able to narrow down your list of possible destinations. One should also be a little flexible. For instance you mentioned a desire for "white sand beaches" - this limits you to only a few islands (mentioned above) however, if you expand that to "light sand beaches" you open up hundreds of possibilities. The truth be told some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean have light golden beaches so don't let the lack of "white sand" be a deterrant. Also, if you limit youself to islands with "long" beaches you'll miss some fantastic locales. Another thing to consider, most beachfront hotels and resorts are on good swimming beaches and therefore by definition don't have good "on-site" snorkeling. You have to be prepared to venture off-resort to seek out the best places.

I hope all of this helps you and others navigate their way across the islands. Half the fun of island travel is discovering the unique diferences each destination has to offer. In my travels I've visited islands I've loved (and returned to time and time again), some I like and will go back to some day and still some I found were just "OK" but in my opinion don't desrve a return visit and only one that I truley disliked.

Finally, to answer your original question, I have two favorite islands. At the top of the list is Virgin Gorda - it has a great combination of smaller to mid-lenght light golden sand beaches, crystal clear waters in varying shares of blue and turquoise, fantastic views of neighboring islands, access to hundreds of off shore snorkeling sites a few decent restaurants, and except for The Baths is not overun with tourists. My other favorite island has lush rain forests, long dark sand beaches lined with tall palms and lapped by steel blue waters, no high rise hotels, only a few small resorts, some great restaurants, very friendly locals, only a limited amount of shopping, no casions, is a little more difficult to get to and is where I built my dream house. It remains my secret.
 
Old Jun 9th, 2004, 09:46 AM
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I have been all over the caribbean and Provo is still my favorite island.
I have encountered the occasional bunch of mosquitos (usually after rain and away from the beach). The people are polite but reserved and a little shy. (Personally I prefer this to the insincere "butt-kissing" I have encountered in some parts of the caribbean.) Beaches is about the last place I would stay on Provo (too expensive and too many people) but what I like and don't like may not be the same as what you do. I like gorgeous, safe, clean and clear ocean waters, snorkeling, a LONG beach that is great for walking, some decent dining opportunities, polite helpful honest people, fairly consistent weather. I don't need a casino, tons of shopping, nightlife. There are a number of smaller resorts and hotels on Provo and that is what I prefer.
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Old Jun 9th, 2004, 10:43 AM
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Thank you to everyone for such good advice. I have never traveled as much as you guys so I think that is why I am trying to find that "perfect place". You know. Also finding a good place to take my children plays a big part. I have really enjoyed researching my destination and reading everyones posts. You will probably see more of my posts soon. Thanks again. Lipstick.
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