Our family vacations to Beaches Turks & Caicos started in Spring Break of 2019. We have been fortunate enough to have been able to make it an annual family trip and as I begin writing this blog it would be two days after our 5th time at the resort.

Turks & Caicos is ideal for our family trip since we can jump on a plane before the sun rises in Norfolk, VA and be at the Beaches check-in lobby by mid-afternoon. What makes it even easier is that we’re provided a shuttle from the airport to the resort, the ride only taking about 15 minutes.

The grounds are stunning, clean and well kept. I am constantly taking pictures of all the beautiful trees, plants and flowers that adorn the entire resort. We have stayed in the Concierge Suites and in the Butler Villas (visit their site for their resort map and room options). The rooms are spacious, usually with a television in each bedroom and with a safe for your valuables. We go as a family of six adults and three children (under 10 yrs old) so having a butler that arranges the dining reservations and securing seats at the pool or beach has been some of the most helpful advantages. The staff has, on numerous occasions, gone above and beyond to make our visits more enjoyable and memorable.

Just like Sandals resorts, they offer several dining options (all-included) with a few that require reservations for dinner. There are quite a few breakfast spots that offer a buffet or a made-to-order menu depending on your food preferences. For lunch we typically will do a buffet or order To-Go since we’re usually running in from the pool or beach (I recommend the delicious pizzas from Bella Napoli, island fare from The Jerk Shack, the kids love Bobby Dee’s burgers (there’s also a Mac-n-Cheese place near it!) or check out Arizonas lunch buffet since they have something for everyone: burgers, hotdogs, kebabs, gyros, salads and snacks. Dinner is my favorite meal and while we all have different diets and preferences, our “must-go” is Sopadillas (adults only) for their Surf & Turf. If you plan to order a nice bottle of wine on your trip, this is the place I would do it.

The two most popular pools are in the Italian and French Villages. We tend to set up in the French Village pool when we’re not running around Pirate Island Waterpark or enjoying the smaller pool at the Caribbean Village. The main pools have a swim-up bar, a hot tub and a kiddie pool attached. Just like most places, you will want to get up early to save your seats or to grab the ones that will provide some shade. This is a busy resort so chairs get taken up fast. There are several other smaller pools along with adult-only areas available that are not quite as crowded for people who prefer a quieter section to relax and read a book.

I can post pictures of the beach all day long but none will compare to seeing it in person. While it is a sight on it’s own from the resort, it’s also quite a view when seen from the top of a cliff or from a boat. We have booked at least one excursion each time we’ve visited and I would recommend it to others as they are all escorted tours either by boat or bus and allows you to experience a little outside of the resort, learning more about the history of the island.

We did the Iguana Island & Conch Cooking Experience Provo two years in a row because it was so much fun. It was exciting to take in the island and ocean views on the way to visit the endangered Rock Iguanas. Right before we stop at a deserted island for a BBQ lunch, one of the crew members invites passengers to hunt for Conchs with him before preparing them into fresh Ceviche for us to enjoy on the boat. The second time we did this tour, the current made it possible for us to snorkel around the La Famille Express Shipwreck and my husband also had the rare experience of swimming with the famous JoJo the Dolphin. This is an exceptional tour for all you get to experience along with being accompanied by a knowledgeable crew that makes sure everyone has a fun time on the boat.

In 2022 we did the Providenciales Day Tour where we visited the historic Cheshire Hall Plantation, the Junkanoo museum, lunch at Omar’s Beach Hut then ended at Turk’s Head Brewery. Then in 2023 we did the Wonders of Turks and Caicos Cave Expedition where we began by taking a ferry to North Caicos to tour Wade’s Green Plantation then hopping in a van to Middle Caicos to tour the inside of Conch Bar Cave (where we saw bats), lunch at Seaview Cafe then seeing the remarkable cliffs of Mudjin Harbor. It’s honestly nice to experience the area outside of the resort to better appreciate the history, culture and traditions of Turks & Caicos.

The other excursions we’ve tried while at Beaches were the Sunset Catamaran Cruise, the Glass Bottom Boat Tour and the Fishing Trip. The Sunset Cruise would be nice if you decide not to do other excursions since you get to see the island from the water. The Glass Bottom Boat Tour and Fishing Trip can be a hit or miss experience depending on the day as far as what you see or catch (as expected).

There are plenty of activities and events for all ages should you prefer not to leave the resort. Watersports for when you want to play at the beach, an XBOX lounge and activity area for kids and teens. There’s also a Sesame Street Parade with the Junkanoo entertainers for people with young children.

With Beaches being an All-Inclusive resort, it’s so much easier to relax on your vacation because you’re not having to worry about transportation, locating places to eat or finding activities to keep children entertained. We have had a terrific experience at Beaches and if you do consider booking a stay… I highly recommend doing an island tour to fully appreciate Turks & Caicos.