March 7 - 10 (4D3N):  Yes vacationing in Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) could be expensive…but it is worth every penny given that Grace Bay was voted the World’s best beach in 2018!  According to the locals, September is a cheaper time to visit given the hurricane season and that locals tend to take vacations at that time.  With about 3.5 hrs non-stop flight from NYC, you can easily visit TCI on an extended long weekend.  We also chose to stay at a hotel that was a 3-min walk to the beach as opposed to being on the beachfront to be more cost-effective. 

*Highly Recommended

Day 1

• AM flight to PLS from Newark

• Shuttle to Ports of Call Resort ($16.50/person where the shuttle made one stop before dropping us off)

• Check-in @ Ports of Call Resort* (moderately priced hotel a block away from Grace Bay Beach)

• Salt Mills Mall:

  • Lunch @ Fresh Catch

  • Anna’s Art Gallery*

  • Frozen yogurt @ Turkberry

• Buy water @ Graceway Gourmet Market*

• Grace Bay Beach*

• Thursday Fish Fry (Go after 7pm; a taxi is ~ $8/person)

Day 2

• Breakfast @ hotel

• Grace Bay Beach

• Lunch @ Graceway Gourmet Market (good lunch menu at the Deli counter)

• Ports of Call Shopping Plaza

• Relax by the hotel pool/hot tub

• Pool tournament @ resort (losers get free drinks!)

• Dinner @ Mr. Grouper* (~25 mins walk or $6 taxi/person)

• Casablanca Casino* (free shuttle + $25 casino credit from the resort)

Day 3

• 1/2 Day snorkeling & conch cruise with Caicos Dream Tour*:

  • Hotel pick-up @ 8:15am

  • Snorkeling @ Turks and Caicos barrier reef

  • Dolphin sighting

  • Sandwich & conch salad

  • Half Moon Bay (beautiful sand bar for picture taking & iguana sighting)

  • Return to Grace Bay Beach @ ~ 12:30pm

• Conch + fish tacos @ Skull Rock Mexican Cantina

• Kayaking @ Grace Bay Beach

• Chill by hotel hot tub

• Dinner @  Caribbean Element*

• Casablanca Casino (free pick-up from Element)

• Beer & card game by the hotel Pool Bar

Day 4

• Airport pick-up from Sadrack @ Trans-Palm* (Nice & clean SUV for $16/person)

• Conch burger @ Gilley’s Airport Restaurant (not too many choices at the airport but the conch burger was delicious)

• Noon flight to Newark

Other points of interest & food

• Turk’s Head Brewery

• Snorkeling @ Coral Gardens

• Cocovan (if you can’t get a reservation at Coco Bistro)

• Jack’s Fountain

• Bay Bistro

• Kalooki Restaurant (live music)

• Somewhere Cafe & Lounge (the place to be after visiting Coral Gardens)

• da Conch Shack

• Fried chicken @ Sweet T’s (maybe a pitstop to/from the airport)

Tips

• Thursday Fish Fry is a big deal in town.  Most restaurants will be closed for dinner when Fish Fry is on, so call ahead to confirm if you don’t plan on partaking in Fish Fry (or prepare to cook your dinner)

• Casablanca Casino is pretty small but it has many penny slots and table games.  Ask your hotel for the voucher so you can gamble for free.  Try the rum & coke (free when you play), it was pretty good.

• If you are looking for a massage on the beach, there is one near Flamingo Cafe on Grace Bay Beach.

• We arrived at the airport about an hour before boarding for a Sunday noon departure and it only took us 10 mins to get through security.  Be sure to take advantage of online check-in so you can make an immediate right to the security line when you enter the airport.

• Taxi rates are expensive in TCI…so try to walk as much as you can and try your luck with the casino shuttle to see if they would offer pick-up at a restaurant instead of the hotel.

• Try the local light beer - “I Soon Reach” by Turk’s Head. Check out their other beer names.