Turks and Caicos Beaches Resort 2018 review and tips and advice from our family trip.

We just returned back from our Beaches family trip to Turks and Caicos and want to provide some insight and advice for future travelers. We traveled the week of April 9th 2018 for a five day stay at the resort. 

Overall, we had a great time at the resort, there is plenty to do besides the beach. Croquet, shuffleboard, chess, tennis, board games, and plenty of water sports. Staff is everywhere, so finding help was never a problem. Another note is the guests at the resort were all friendly as well, we felt very safe and I became less afraid to leave mediocre valuables on our chair while we ate and did other with things without issue. 

The weather was perfect, 82 during the day and 78 at night. Despite rain in the forecast, everyday was nearly perfect. Swimming conditions were also very nice, a reef breaks up the rough waves out several hundred yards leaving the shore very nice for small children. One note, the yellow rafts in the water are held in by a large metal stake that could definitely hurt someone jumping in without looking.  Transportation from the airport was super easy, we were directed with ease and when we arrived at the hotel we were giving wet towels and ice cold drinks, with or without alcohol. The check in process was super easy, done by I-pad from a chair drink in hand.

Most resorts are plagued with guests getting up at 6am and putting towels and sand toys on chairs to reserve them for the day. I found it awesome that it was posted everywhere that items left on chairs without people will be removed and can be found at the front desk.  Awesome! Several times, I would just ask a staff member If they had seen anyone near where we wanted to sit and they kept track, and would remove the items and allow us to sit there!  Nothing worse than every chair reserved with no one in site... Problem solved!

​Hurricane damage was still very evident as we saw from our drive from the airport.  Pack twice as much sunblock as you think you need.  We bought special sunblock that also repelled jelly fish...  although we didn't see any. Everyone was wearing the sun proof Beaches swim shirts which are $46 at the gift shop and similar shirts $10 at Marshalls.  We had to buy them also, the sun was more intense than we could have imagined and re-applying sunblock every 1.5 hours is nearly impossible to keep up with.

Also a quick note on food.  Over the trip we found the food mediocre and somewhat weird compared to our usual American food.  Also we cancelled our snorkel trip after the glass bottom boat tour, it just didn't seem like there was a lot to see.  We had plenty of fun just snorkeling down the beach at the national park..  lots a fish, but we were told it was best in the early morning and you cannot get hotel snorkel gear till 9am.

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To get to the point with helpful information, I want to give you the good and bad from each family members perspective.

​My 9 year old son Best and worst

Best
1. The French Village pool - open and spread out, the other pools were squished together.
​2. Kimodos restaurant - Make reservations at this Hibachi bar at 9am via phone from your room a few times!  It's the only restaurant that needs reservations.
3. The ocean activities were great, although the glass bottom boat was boring.
4. Reggae night was fun because he volunteered Dad to dance in from of everyone on Monday night.
5. Cafe De Paris had great pastries available all the time!
6. Xbox lounge was nice during the hot hot sun hours 12-2, able to try the new games and have a dance off.
7. Wave simulator in the water park, great instructor who gave all the kids 3 turns and made sure they had a chance.. (this made the line long but worth it. Park opens at 10am)
8. The waterpark was really fun
9. Swinging from the hammocks was super fun.

Worst
​1. The glass bottom boat was boring, we really didn't see anything.
2. Bombay, my son didn't like the indian food.
​3. Also Bobby Dees restaurant he said gave him a stomach ache.

My 7 year old boy
Like
1. Shell collecting at the beach
2. Relaxing in the room, taking a break from the sun
3. The pools and waterslides were awesome
4. Chicken nuggets at Dinos
​5.The Mac and Cheese Hut
6. Hanging out with the Shell Man and hearing how he lost his arm from a shark attack. 
7. The floaty mattresses in the pool and the fact that pools are open 24 hours!
8. Frozen Lemonade from the bar

Dislike
1. Glass bottom boat was boring (2pm)


From my wife
​Tip: Do not go to restaurants until you are hungry, long waits and serve times await you so go before you are starving.
Likes
1. Beautifully kept grounds and landscape
2. Open area in French pool and grounds
3. Rooms were nice and not out dated
4. Staff was very nice, always willing to help
5. Towels everywhere and you take what you need
6. Hobicat was an excellent beach activity for those that don't want to be stuck on a boat for 45 min.
7. Kimodos restaurant was very entertaining
8. Cafe de Paris - always available for coffee or a muffin
​9. Arizona Taco bar - great grilled chicken
10. Snorkling at the walk to reef down the shore, saw lots of fish and a sea turtle.

Bad
​1. Majority of food tastes off and is not filling
2. Abundance of bottom of the barrel alcohol in most drinks

Dads take
Good
1. Jerk Shack food was amazing, the fish was my favorite, I ate here everyday.
2. I love the chair policy, you cannot just leave a beach shovel on a chair and expect it to be yours whenever you decide to stop by that day.  Just ask the staff if you can have the chair and they remove the chair hoarders crap :)
3. I had to use the nurses station for altitude issues with my ears, the nurse was very helpful and gave me over the counter meds for free. Doctors come in at 11am and are $100 plus meds for visit.
4. Bring the Shell Man pastries and Juice, he's working hard out there.
5. I really liked using the beach by the Jerk Shack, it was down the way a bit from the crowds towards the edge of the resort.  plenty of room and was somewhat private when we were there.
6. I liked the butter chicken masala at Bombay
​7. Volleyball at 3:30 (by jerk shack) everyday although I broke my leg open on a rock at the edge of the back corner of the court.

The bad
1. Entertainment was cheesy and for younger kids, our kids are not into sesame street anymore
2. breakfast was generally bad, I hate wet eggs
3. Shop was very expensive when we had to buy swim shirt, $46 was tough although Mio working there is awesome


So thats a wrap on our trip, I hope these tips help you and your family if your heading this way.