Turks and Caicos Trip Report
Mar 30th, 2009, 01:22 PM
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Turks and Caicos Trip Report
We returned from Provinciales on Sunday 3/22. Re-entry was tough, I think because our vacation was so relaxing.
We stayed at the Regent Palms for a week. It was everything that people said it was. Right down to men lightly spraying a lavendar mist on me while at the beach! We particularly like the fact that the we didn't feel that the hotel was always trying to get more money from us. For instance, they gave out free bottled water. We didn't feel like we had to tip everybody all the time. I went down and tipped the men who helped us get our chairs and cabanas at the end of our trip. They were very grateful, I don't think they expected anything. I LOVED the fact that there was plenty of room at the beach so we were water front and could always get chairs and a cabana. No waking up in the am in a panic that we hadn't reserved a seat!
Our rooms were lovely, we were in a 2 bedroom suite. The rooms reminded me of the Ritz in Grand Cayman if you know those rooms. Our teenage sons fight all the time so the fact that there as only a king-sized bed in the 2nd bedroom was a bit of an issue until I remembered that there was a pull-out in the living room.
We had them stock the fridge with some food which was really unnecessary as they have a small store there that has snack essentials (including beer and wine).
Overall we thought the food on the island was mediocre. The first night we ate at the hotel's pool side restaurant. My husband and I ordered snapper which wasn't very good. The restaurant is really very good for bar-type fare so if you eat there don't expect gourmet. The hotel's "nicer" restaurant Parallel 23 was very yummy (and expensive). We went back to Parallel 23 without kids and had another fantastic meal. We went to Shark Bite which wasn't much for food but the kitchen staff came a put some chicken in the water and a few sharks came to dine (BIG Sharks too! Like 8-10 feet!!!) The boys loved that!
The first night my husband and I went out to dinner without the boys, the concierge recommended Magnolia, that was a big disappointment. We ordered their 2 specialties, tuna and pork tenderloin. Both were awful. I heard time and again from others that they had a sub-par dinner there. Not sure why the concierge recommended it.
Our best meal BY FAR, was at Coyaba. The service was excellent as was the food. We had neighbors who also tried it and agreed it was the best meal of their vacation.
We took the boys to Anacaona. What a beautiful setting. The food was OK, I would say it was a distant 3rd behind Coyaba and Parallel 23. However the setting on the beach was tops. I think the kids liked the fact that the menus lit up (as did I! No glasses!). They had a band playing reggae. etc which was fun. We all danced.
As for activities...the first day on the recommendation of the Regent Palms concierge, we chartered a boat through an outfit based on the west side of the Regent Palms beach (I think it may have been through the Alexandra resort) Although we had a blast, it was over priced. I would recommend using one of the tour companies others have talked about on this website. Hubby and son went on a bone fishing 1/2 day that was very successful, I'm sorry I don't know the outfit, but this was also through the hotel concierge. The concierge also recommended Caicos Dive for my husband and older sons first SCUBA experience. That was a HUGE success. Bottom line on the hotel concierge was Joe was unbelievably great, the rest were so-so.
We will definitely go back, stay at the Regent Palms, hire a boat through Caicos tours and limit where we eat or even make a few dinners in.
Thanks to everyone on this site who helped us plan our vacation. Sigh it's over but there's always the next one!
We stayed at the Regent Palms for a week. It was everything that people said it was. Right down to men lightly spraying a lavendar mist on me while at the beach! We particularly like the fact that the we didn't feel that the hotel was always trying to get more money from us. For instance, they gave out free bottled water. We didn't feel like we had to tip everybody all the time. I went down and tipped the men who helped us get our chairs and cabanas at the end of our trip. They were very grateful, I don't think they expected anything. I LOVED the fact that there was plenty of room at the beach so we were water front and could always get chairs and a cabana. No waking up in the am in a panic that we hadn't reserved a seat!
Our rooms were lovely, we were in a 2 bedroom suite. The rooms reminded me of the Ritz in Grand Cayman if you know those rooms. Our teenage sons fight all the time so the fact that there as only a king-sized bed in the 2nd bedroom was a bit of an issue until I remembered that there was a pull-out in the living room.
We had them stock the fridge with some food which was really unnecessary as they have a small store there that has snack essentials (including beer and wine).
Overall we thought the food on the island was mediocre. The first night we ate at the hotel's pool side restaurant. My husband and I ordered snapper which wasn't very good. The restaurant is really very good for bar-type fare so if you eat there don't expect gourmet. The hotel's "nicer" restaurant Parallel 23 was very yummy (and expensive). We went back to Parallel 23 without kids and had another fantastic meal. We went to Shark Bite which wasn't much for food but the kitchen staff came a put some chicken in the water and a few sharks came to dine (BIG Sharks too! Like 8-10 feet!!!) The boys loved that!
The first night my husband and I went out to dinner without the boys, the concierge recommended Magnolia, that was a big disappointment. We ordered their 2 specialties, tuna and pork tenderloin. Both were awful. I heard time and again from others that they had a sub-par dinner there. Not sure why the concierge recommended it.
Our best meal BY FAR, was at Coyaba. The service was excellent as was the food. We had neighbors who also tried it and agreed it was the best meal of their vacation.
We took the boys to Anacaona. What a beautiful setting. The food was OK, I would say it was a distant 3rd behind Coyaba and Parallel 23. However the setting on the beach was tops. I think the kids liked the fact that the menus lit up (as did I! No glasses!). They had a band playing reggae. etc which was fun. We all danced.
As for activities...the first day on the recommendation of the Regent Palms concierge, we chartered a boat through an outfit based on the west side of the Regent Palms beach (I think it may have been through the Alexandra resort) Although we had a blast, it was over priced. I would recommend using one of the tour companies others have talked about on this website. Hubby and son went on a bone fishing 1/2 day that was very successful, I'm sorry I don't know the outfit, but this was also through the hotel concierge. The concierge also recommended Caicos Dive for my husband and older sons first SCUBA experience. That was a HUGE success. Bottom line on the hotel concierge was Joe was unbelievably great, the rest were so-so.
We will definitely go back, stay at the Regent Palms, hire a boat through Caicos tours and limit where we eat or even make a few dinners in.
Thanks to everyone on this site who helped us plan our vacation. Sigh it's over but there's always the next one!
Mar 30th, 2009, 02:14 PM
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So glad that you loved it...now you are hooked..did you walk next door to The Somerset? We stayed there in Janaury and are going back this summer. O'Soleil ( the high end spot) and the pool bar/restaurant LunaSea is excellent!
Mar 30th, 2009, 03:32 PM
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Great trip report, thanks for posting.
As I recall, you were concerned there might not be enough activities in T&C to keep your husband and teenage sons happy. It sounds like they found plenty of things to do and had a good time!
As I recall, you were concerned there might not be enough activities in T&C to keep your husband and teenage sons happy. It sounds like they found plenty of things to do and had a good time!
Mar 31st, 2009, 08:19 AM
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Wow, I'm impressed! You remembered! Yes there was plenty to do, EVERYBODY was happy!
And I''m embarrassed to say we never walked into the Somerset. We walked by it several times and I remarked to hubby that we should check it out. We also talked about going to O'Soleil but we were VERY busy on our vacation! lol It looked lovely, very similar to Regent Palms.
YES we're hooked. So nice to go to a place that isn't over built.
And I''m embarrassed to say we never walked into the Somerset. We walked by it several times and I remarked to hubby that we should check it out. We also talked about going to O'Soleil but we were VERY busy on our vacation! lol It looked lovely, very similar to Regent Palms.
YES we're hooked. So nice to go to a place that isn't over built.
Apr 1st, 2009, 08:39 AM
#6
I have to agree with you and emcash on restaurants.
In March'08 we went to Magnolia---great view, so-so food & service. We did not return in '09.
In'08 &'09 our favorites were Coyaba and Coco Bistro. Will definitely return to these in'10
I had fun reading your report. Enjoyed all the details.
In March'08 we went to Magnolia---great view, so-so food & service. We did not return in '09.
In'08 &'09 our favorites were Coyaba and Coco Bistro. Will definitely return to these in'10
I had fun reading your report. Enjoyed all the details.
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