I can’t believe I am just now publishing this spring break post, I have been crazy busy with school and dance ever since we got home! Spring Break was such a special week with my very favorite people! My family and I stayed at Beaches in Turks and Caicos. This was our second time staying there because we went with several other families in 2019 for spring break. This time it was just the four of us. We had the best time! From the crystal clear water to the activities and the food, we couldn’t have asked for anything better. AND, It wasn’t super crowded! We took the direct flight from Charlotte which was only about 2 and a half hours (3 including boarding and deplaning). Going through customs wasn’t too stressful in Turks, but coming back to Charlotte, it was SO busy! We left bright and early on a Tuesday and returned home on Sunday. It was the perfect amount of time, but I do think we all could have stayed a little longer!
~Stay~
We stayed at Beaches Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. It is the most beautiful all-inclusive resort with four villages resembling the architecture and atmosphere of France, Italy, the Caribbean, and Key West. We stayed in the Caribbean village. Our location was perfect! We had a great place and easy access to the beach and pool, the swim-up bar, the spa and fitness center, waterpark, and FOOD! The Italian village also has a very central location, while Key West is kind of off to the side, and the French village is the farthest from the coast. If quiet and not crowded is what you are going for, I would recommend staying in the French village. The nearby pool was never busy! And if you want to claim your beach chairs, I would definitely wake up early and reserve the chairs you want at any pool. They were almost always all taken by 7 or 8am.
My sister and I did the waterslides one morning which was lots of fun, but I would say they are definitely aimed more toward younger kids. We spent most of our time sitting by the pool or swimming in the ocean. The water is INCREDIBLE! It is so blue and crystal clear. I could have stayed in it all day long!
In the mornings I either went to the fitness center with my dad, slept in, or took a jog around the resort. This was definitely a great way to learn my way around the resort. My dad or I usually reserved our pool chairs at this time! I then came back to the room, got dressed and ready for the pool/beach, and then as a family we went to breakfast. After that, we headed to our chairs by the pool, read our books, swam in the ocean, or took a dip in the pool. We usually ordered pizzas by the pool for lunch, went to the mac-n-cheese truck, or ate the southwestern buffet by the pool. The southwestern buffet was my favorite! Our afternoons were filled with more reading, swimming, and lots of beach drinks! And finally, as the sun started to set, we went back to the room, showered, got dressed, and went out to dinner. There are so many great restaurants on the resort with all different types of food. We went somewhere different every night, and then the last night we went back to our favorite restaurant. One special thing we did on Friday afternoon was a trip on the Kitty Katt Catamaran, with snorkeling and a tour of Iguana Island. What a fun-filled week!
Click HERE for the link to the Beaches Turks and Caicos website!
Here are some pretty views from the trip! A view from the plane, the catamaran, and around the resort!
~Restaurants~
Breakfast
Schooner’s – Schooner’s was definitely one of my favorite breakfast places! We enjoyed sitting on the porch near the beach and a menu of your typical gourmet breakfast foods. To start, I ordered the smoothie bowl with mango yogurt, fruit, nuts, and shredded coconut. I cannot tell you all how much I LOVED this! It was so refreshing. Next, I got the blueberry buttermilk pancakes. Other things we enjoyed on the menu were the french toast with caramelized banana and Nutella and the chocolate chip pancakes! Our breakfast was a hit for the whole family.
Giuseppe’s – This restaurant is located in the French village. It’s a buffet style restaurant with all your sweet and savory breakfast foods. They served everything from eggs, pastries, bacon, and sausage to crepes, fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese (one of my favorites). This would be a great place to go with younger kids. It’s quick and easy, and has options all adults and kids would like.
Cafe de Paris – Cafe de Paris is also located in the French village (obviously, haha!). It’s the cutest grab-and-go bakery! My dad and I picked up a variety of pastries for the family to share on our final day in Turks. It was great to eat on our way to the pool to make the most of our last few hours before our flight home. All the pastries were delicious!
Sky Restaurant – Sadly, my sister and I were both not old enough to eat at the Sky restaurant for dinner (the age requirement is 16 years), but we did get to eat there for breakfast. This meal might have been one of the best breakfasts I have had, EVER. We had an assortment of items and all shared! We got the Tangerine Glazed Beignets, the Apple-Stuffed French Toast Cristo, the Eggs in Tomatillo Sauce, the Breakfast Crepe, and my sister got the Chocolate Fondue Pancakes for herself. All of it was incredible! Both my mom and I loved the Eggs in Tomatillo Sauce. This restaurant is a MUST for anyone going to Beaches!
Neptune’s – This restaurant is located in the Key West village along the beach. We ate at Neptune’s Wednesday morning and thought it was so yummy! They serve one of my favorite breakfast foods, avocado toast! To start we ordered the pastry basket and I enjoyed a tropical favorite, pineapple juice. For our main course, we ordered the avocado toast, the Frittata Rustica, the french toast, and my sister got the pancakes. It was another great breakfast!
Lunch
Reflections Restaurant – Located in the Caribbean village, this restaurant is a buffet with a variety of international foods. It’s great for families who love all different food cuisines! We ate here on Tuesday right after we arrived to the resort. It was easy, yummy, and fast!
Arizonas Southwestern Cuisine – This southwestern restaurant is located right near the Iguana pool and the beach. The pool chairs we sat in for the majority of our time there were right next to this restaurant. They served a buffet daily that I enjoyed for lunch. I loved the pulled pork tacos, grilled chicken, and veggie skewers! This was so easy to grab and eat sitting in your pool chairs. No need to put your coverup back on and sit down at a restaurant!
Bella Napoli Pizzeria – The perfect meal to enjoy on the beach! Just walk up to the counter, order your personal pizzas, come back in half an hour and enjoy a delicious wood-fire oven pizza! You can order one of their specialty pizzas or build one of your own. They were incredible and a great size! Below is half BBQ chicken and half pepperoni. Oh, and don’t forget to pair every meal with a strawberry daiquiri!
The Mac Daddy of Cheese Food Truck – My sister and dad ate this most days for lunch while my mom and I ate the Arizona’s buffet. They LOVE this food truck! It is located right nearby the waterpark area and the French village. They serve anything and everything mac-n-cheese! Everyone at the resort loves it. I will say a single item on the menu is not really a full meal, it is more like a side. If you are planning on eating a full meal, I would recommend ordering two items off the menu. If not, a single item is the perfect afternoon snack! Below are the mac-n-cheese nachos and the fried mac-n-cheese balls.
Dinner
Schooner’s – Dinner on Thursday night was at Schooner’s! This restaurant is located right off the beach. We enjoyed dinner with a scenic view of the ocean and the sea breeze in our hair! The menu consisted of mostly seafood, with only one vegan/vegetarian entree option, and a filet mignon. With my mom having a shellfish allergy and the fact that my sister and I don’t eat seafood, we had few options to choose from. Although we were limited with choices, my mom, sister, and I all ordered the filet and it was delicious! My dad got the swordfish and loved it as well. My mom and I both ordered the Roots, Fruits, and Leaves salad with goat cheese as an appetizer and my dad ordered the Fried Crab Cake. We all enjoyed the Flourless Chocolate Cake and the Ginger and Peach Torte for dessert. This is a great place for all the seafood lovers!
Le Petit Chateau – Located in the French village, Le Petit Chateau is a beautiful restaurant with the most elegant decor. We enjoyed one of our more fine dining experiences on the trip, here. The food was so yummy and I loved everything about the atmosphere! We all ordered the french onion soup as our appetizer and the Salade de Ratatouille. They were classics we all had to try at a French restaurant! For our entrees, my mom, dad, and sister got the Tournedos de Boeuf (grilled beef medallions with mashed potatoes and a green peppercorn sauce), and I got the signature dish, the Poulet Cordon Bleu (ham and cheese filled breaded chicken breast with rice pilaf, vegetables, and a lingonberry relish). I thought my meal was absolutely delicious! For dessert we ordered the molten chocolate cake! Yum, yum! We loved dressing up for a fun fancy dinner!
The Cricketers Pub – I think everyone in my family would say that this was by far their favorite restaurant in all of Beaches. We even had to go back on the last night for another meal because we loved it so much! I loved the iceburg wedge salad as an appetizer, and for my entree I got the Aloo Gobi which was stewed cauliflower, potato, basmati rice, and naan bread. I loved it! The rest of my family loved the cottage pie, the beef and stout pie, and of course fish and chips. English classics! They also had the best dessert on all of Turks and Caicos! It’s a sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel sauce and and vanilla ice cream. It was incredible.
Party on the Beach – Every Friday night at Beaches there is a party on the beach! There is a huge buffet of a wide variety of food, lots of music, dancing, a full dessert table, and lots for younger kids to do as well! We loved the food and the fun atmosphere of the event. When planning your trip, I would make sure you definitely stay for a Friday night to enjoy the beach party!
~Activities~
Ocean Water sports – All of the water activities at Beaches are included! No need to worry about any extra fees! We enjoyed paddleboarding, sailing, kayaking, and the hydrobikes. In addition to those activities, windsurfing, snorkeling, waterskiing, glass-bottom boat rides, tubing, and bodyboarding are just a few of the MANY other water activities offered. These activities are great for the whole family! I would definitely take advantage of the extremely variety of water sports and activities as you can! I have never been to or seen another place with this many options, so use them!
Kitty Katt Catamaran Cruise – This was a 3 and a half hour trip on the water we did one afternoon. It was one of my highlights of the trip. It included snorkeling, a tour of Iguana Island, snacks, music and drinks on the boat, and a final stop to ride the waterside off the boat! We watched the sunset on the cruise as well and it was beautiful! This trip is great for all ages, and you always have the options to opt out of anything you feel uncomfortable doing. We did have to book this trip prior to our arrival and it is not included as a part of the all-inclusive resort payment. It is worth it though!
~My Outfits~
What a special trip we had and I know you all will too! Happy Spring Break, happy travels, and Happy Turks and Caicos!
xoxo, Joanna