asverrill

Trying to decide between the two second week of november. Ocean Club in Turks, private villa in cayman.... want nice beaches and plenty of snorkeling. Any suggestions?

blamona

Both will fit tue bill. Tell us a little more about what you're trying to get out of a vacation.

Beaches, both are great, but TCI beaches are nicer

Snorkeling, both are great, but it depends where you stay how easy it it is to access. There are resorts in TCI that are much closer to the reefs than OC.

Restaurants, both are great. Settings I give the edge to TCI, Caymans also has fast food chains

Caymans gets cruise ships, sometiimes up to 7 large ships, TCI gets none. (November shouldn't as bad except for Thanksgiving)

Nightlife, especially in November, TCI is almost nonexistent. Caymans has some.

TCI is a quiet 15 years ago version of Caymans.

What's your budget? That helps to know too. And where you're flying from, can make a huge difference in airfare depending which you pick.

Nitlife

asverrill

Just want some good food, rest, some snorkeling.. No need for nightlife. Looking at a house in Tayor Bay in Turks and Rum Point in Cayman. Coming from the Boston area... are the beaches just as nice in Cayman as Turks? Want to do a few day trips.. Liked the idea of exploring Middle Caicos..

Caribzack

If you want good food , rest & snorkeling--Turks & Caicos for sure! Taylor Bay will offer quiet --you will have to drive to snorkel. We hated the cruise ships in the Caymans--watched people get thrown off of the resort grounds--tried to crash. Shops etc were so crowded when ships in port. Rum PT. I believe is far from dining on GC...fyi .The beaches and water color is better in Turks & Caicos ..

Bassguy66

If you are looking for a nice beach, Rum Point is NOT the place. The best beach on GC is Seven Mile Beach which is about 45-50 drive from Rum Point.

asverrill

How far would we have to drive to snorkel if we stay at Taylor Bay. Would it better to stay at the ocean club? Any comments re: the Ocean Club east.

thanks for all the comments very helpful!

Caribzack

From Taylor Bay to Bight reef or Smiths reef is about a 15-20 minute drive. Yes, it would be better to stay at Ocean Club to be on Grace Bay BUT Ocean Club is on the Eastern part of Grace Bay and the snorkel reefs are on the west end--about a 10 minute drive or 45 min to 1 hour walk. I think staying on Grace Bay is great and the grocery store, restaurants are nearby. Taylor Bay is very residential and the water is very shallow to swim...you must walk way out to get in past "Chest high " water..
What about checking yout Villa Del Mar on Turks & Caicos or The Sands---much shorter walk to snorkel from the Sands.
Also, I agree Rum Pt....no way...

virginia

i have to stick up for rum point. we stayed in villa thatch hill & had good snorkeling right in front of the house. beach not as nice as seven mile but had no people on it. it is a long drive to most dining. has only kaibo yacht club & rum point restaurant for dinners.

otoh provo is my favorite island. more quiet than gc. some really good dining but not cheap. i have also had a house on taylor bay beach. we liked the location, but the beach is truly shallow (knee high) for a football field out. limited snorkeling along the edge of the beach where they have dredged a place for boats to access the ocean point houses. the sand is the softest i've ever felt anywhere!!

asverrill

virginia,
Funny as it is between Thatch Hill and staying somewhere on Turks. Just haven't found the right place on turks. Any suggestions considering you have been there. Need to pull the trigger soon..

virginia

assuming it's just 2 of you, we stayed in what is now called stone's throw in ocean point off taylor. (it used to be 2 br now 1).
more expensive but on grace bay beach at the west end near turtle cove marina & excellent snorkeling are ballyhoo, coriander, nutmeg & callaloo or 1 of the 3 townhouse like cottages at grace bay. all found on http://www.tcvillas.com/vacation_villa_rentals.shtml

re thatch hill. i see that they've repainted inside in the past 2 yrs. they put in a new frig when we were there. we used the porch for dinner every night. the pool is decent sized. has washer/dryer. have breakfast at over the edge one morning. beach food at rum point for lunch or good drinks is fun.

both th & all the tcivillas are very well managed.

asverrill

thanks
we have decided to go to turks. Restaurant suggestions?

blamona

Coco Bistro and Bay Bistro are excellent

Caribzack

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