Club Med's Turkoise Village in Turks and Caicos
All-Inclusive Resort on Provo Island's Grace Bay is for Adults Only
Jun 3, 2009
Island destinations in and and around the Caribbean Sea have long attracted tourists seeking sun, beautiful beaches, water sports or just a place to escape the routine of home. One of the least known and least visited of these is a British crown colony, Turks and Caicos Islands.
The British Crown Colony Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos consists of 8 islands and more than 40 smaller cays in 200 square miles of the Atlantic ocean. The archipelago is about 600 miles southeast of Miami, 40 miles south of the Bahamas island Mayaguana and 90 miles north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The islands formed atop limestone banks surrounded by coral reefs, and are known for premier snorkeling and scuba diving. The Turks islands lie to the east, across the Columbus passage. Fewer in number than the Caicos islands, the Turks islands include Grand Turk, a primary destination and site of the colony's capital, Cockburn Town.
The Caicos island chain sits to the west, and includes the most popular tourist island, Providenciales, also known as Provo.
Provo Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Providenciales island is the most developed, yet is only 23 miles long and just 4 miles wide. Grace Bay lies along 12 miles of its northern shore, showcasing some of the Caribbean's most beautiful powder-white sand beaches and calm turquoise water. Among other resort destinations, Club Med's Turkoise Village is located on Grace Bay, providing easy access to this spectacular public beach.
Club Med's Turkoise Village on Providenciales Island
Club Med's resort complex has been popular with adult tourists for years. This is an all-inclusive destination, including all meals, soft drinks, non-premium alcoholic beverages, airport transfers, entertainment, a variety of sports and other activities, as well as basic accommodations. A swimming pool, tennis courts, bocce ball, volley ball and water sports are among offered activities. Most sporting activities are free, including group lessons, but complex activities such as scuba diving are available only with an additional fee.
One of the more unique activities offered by the resort is the "Circus", where guests can learn trapeze flying, tight rope walking and trampoline.
Generally speaking, the buffet meals are excellent, well-prepared and varied throughout a week's stay. Seating is mostly at tables for eight, so couples looking for a private meal are not likely to find it.
The Cost For a Vacation at Club Med in Turks and Caicos
Costs vary, depending upon time of year and dates of travel. Currently, Club Med is offering a "fifty percent off companion fee" special. For example, a one week vacation for two in early December, 2009, under this special would cost a total of about $3,000, including round-trip airfare from Miami, or about $3,300 from Phoenix.
Is a Vacation at Club Med's Turkoise Village a Good Choice?
What's best for one is not always best for another, so care should be taken before choosing any destination. For tourists wanting to sample restaurants around town, an all-inclusive resort may not be appropriate. Turkoise is also restricted to adults only, which may or may not appeal. The availability of "free" alcoholic beverages all day and much of the night can tempt some guests to excess. Turkoise Village is more party-oriented than tranquil.
Although the average age of guests covers a broad range, any given week can be more limited. Guests traveling alone or with a single companion might feel out of place if most other guests were groups traveling together or from a different generation.
Party orientation, with wide availability of alcohol and late night entertainment, is not compatible with scuba diving. Diving demands well-rested, as well as focused, divers and dive leaders. Tourists with underwater interests beyond snorkeling might want to consider other dive operations or accommodations.
Reviews from other tourists also are available for many popular destinations, and Internet sites such as Trip Advisor sometimes include relevant guest comments.
The beautiful beaches, turquoise water and coral reefs of Turks and Caicos are good reasons to visit this Caribbean paradise. For social-oriented adult tourists, Provo Island's all-inclusive Club Med resort may be a good choice.
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