Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos

I’m going to be honest with you here. Turks & Caicos were not on my bingo card of places to visit, but when I got an opportunity to travel there, I definitely wasn’t going to pass it up. I’m not sure why it wasn’t really on my radar before, but I’m Caribbean, and I think sometimes we can be particular about which islands we want to visit. For me, Turks & Caicos was more touristy and didn’t really have the strong culture I look for when traveling. But each destination has its own purpose, and Turks and Caicos is really just a place to enjoy its white-sand beaches, clear water, and amazing weather. It’s a place to unwind, escape reality, and just enjoy each moment. And for that reason, I would say it’s worth it.

 Now, because of this, we didn’t venture off the resort, which is not typical for us, but it is typical for people visiting Turks and Caicos. And the way our resort was set up, it had everything for adults and kids, so there really was no need to leave. That being said, this is a guide to traveling, especially to Beaches- Turks and Caicos, a resort owned by Sandals. I will walk you through the process of getting there, the transport from the airport to the hotel, the hotel's amenities, and our honest impressions of everything it has to offer. If you’re planning a trip to Beaches Turks and Caicos, then you will want to read this! Xx

HOW TO GET THERE

We were visiting family in Texas, so we ended up flying from Houston. Though the distance isn't incredibly far, there are no direct flights from Houston, so we had to have a layover. There are a decent number of airports around the US that fly direct to Turks and Caicos, so I would look into the closest one to you, because direct is always better with kids, especially if the flight is not super long.

FLIGHTS

We flew Southwest. They had really great prices on flights to the island, but if you know Southwest, you know you can’t pick your seats. But the hack is: if you’re traveling with young children, board the flight after group A, so technically you don’t need to worry about seat selection. We had absolutely no issue finding seats together on every flight and some of our planes were not even close to full. We travelled in early/mid November, which seemed to be a good time (just before the holiday travel rush). Keep in mind, there were no TVs on the plane, and Internet cost $8 per device, which isn’t bad, but you need a device to connect to for the kiddos, which is why we brought their iPads. But we didn’t even need to pay for the internet because of this hack. This really ended up being a lifesaver for us because no TV on the planes was not the business. Thank God they were not long flights.

CUSTOMS

Once we landed, they handed us custom forms to fill out. The airport is very small, and when you land, you are on the tarmac, so you immediately de-board outside. Good thing there is a ramp so you don’t have to lug your children and luggage down stairs. If you check a stroller it will randomly be outside on the floor in front of the airplane. When we got to the customs line, I was shook! I have never seen a custom line so long and that moved so slow. It took us 2 hours to get through customs. Apparently, this is typical for Turks and Caicos unless you just happen to get a flight that lands on its own, with no other flights de-boarding, AND you're one of the first people off the plane. There is a way to expedite customs by paying $250 per person, but I didn’t look into it because I don’t think it’s worth all that. You also may be able to finagle something if you’re traveling with an infant. I would ask someone working at customs if you have a child under 1.

 HOTEL TRANSPORT

After we finally got through customs, we grabbed our bags and headed out. When I tell you this airport is tiny, there is nowhere else to go but out. There, you will see car rental services and shuttles to various hotels. Beaches has a free shuttle, and you can check the schedule before you land so you can coordinate with your flight. You can also coordinate with the hotel when you book your trip. We used a private driver from Champion and it was nice to have our own private car. They even brought car seats for the girls. The trip from the airport to the resort is quick. About 15 minutes which is lovely after a long travel day.

THE PROPERTY

CHECK IN PROCESS

When we approached the hotel, we got a warm welcome from the staff and were greeted with cool towels to wipe us down (the humidity hits you right away once you step onto the island). This is the second Beaches property we’ve stayed at, and I will say I do love the check-in process. Rather than standing in line and checking in at the desk, someone greets you and brings you over to the couches in their large lobby area (which is also equipped with water, snacks, coloring activities for kids, and a TV). They sat us down, brought us some drinks, and then brought us a tablet to enter our information to check in. Then they brought us our keys and walked us over to our room where our luggage was already waiting for us.

The property comprises different villages, each with its own vibe and amenities. But you can easily explore each village on foot and access everything they have to offer. The resort has 21 restaurants, 10 pools, a kids' club with so many activities and a Build-A-Bear Workshop, a spa, Tennis, mini golf, a 12-mile white-sand beach, and so much more. Honestly, it felt like its own little town, and it was fun trying out the different restaurants and activities. At first we thought we had to take a golf cart everywhere and though the property is large, it is definitely walkable but if you have tired toddler feet or are tired from carrying a baby, it’s nice that they have an option to call a golf cart for you and there’s even a cute little train that comes on a schedule that goes to different villages. We were there 6 days and barely touched all the things they had to offer. Everyday housekeeping gives you a list of free activities for the day that you or your kids and can join in. If you’re the type of person who likes to stay active on vacation, you will never be bored, but it’s also nice because with all the pools, beach, and swim-up bars, it’s set up for a chill vacation too.

KIDS CLUB 

The kids club is such a great part of the resort. Not only do they have so many activities for the kiddos, but they also offer babysitting, so you can enjoy some time alone with your significant other. It’s cute because they have a kids camp and the kids get to hang out with each other and socialize. You can also just use the kids club with your kids at your leisure if there is no camp in session. We went in with the girls and they were having a blast with all the toys. They also do lots of activities with the Sesame Street characters. They had a baking with Cookie Monster event where the children could bake actual cookies with the Cookie Monster character, and that was just one of many interactions. The kids' club also has a schedule, and you can sign up for any of the activities. This is where you can also sign up for child care services if you want to have a day excursion without the kids or a date night with your significant other.

XBOX Lounge

We didn’t use this because it’s definitely geared toward teenagers (who else is going to play video games on vacation, haha), but the lounge also had fun games like fuseball and was a cool little spot to hang out with your friends if you’re a tween/ teenager. I like that the resort caters to both smaller and older children in that way.

THE ROOM

We stayed in the Italian village, which we really liked because it is one of the more modern villages. Each village has its own little vibe, which I thought was really cool. We were on the ground floor with a patio that led directly to the pool. The good thing about that is it was easy to go in and out with the kids. No stairs or elevators to navigate each time. The “bad thing” was that we were right next to the pool, so all the parties, DJs, splashing, etc., were heard from the room. We don’t mind noise like that, but if you’re someone who does, this type of room may not be for you. I would ask about this before booking.

 Aside from that, our room was perfect logistically. When you enter, you find the first “bedroom” for the kids with a bunk bed and TV. Our girls are too little for a bunk bed, so they brought in a crib for our youngest. The room also had its own vanity with a sink, closet, and lots of storage. A whole wall of drawers and shelves. It also had a pocket door for privacy, which was amazing at night. We had the girls go to bed earlier than us, closed the door, and turned on some white noise so we could have some wind-down time as adults.

After their room was the full bathroom, which had a tub, a shower, and a double sink. The bathroom also had a lot of shelving and drawers for your things. I especially liked the “hamper” drawers for dirty clothes or towels. The second room also had a large closet, a TV, a California King bed, and a daybed. We easily could have brought an additional person. It also had a large dresser and two nightstands with storage. We had a private patio, which I mentioned led out to the resort and pool. I loved having a patio, but having our room right in the thick of things meant we kept the blinds closed most of the time so people couldn’t see everything we were doing, which wasn’t exactly ideal. But I know some people are more open than we are, so it might not bother you to be more exposed. Show those buns, hun! The way the room was set up, you could easily spend two weeks there with no issues. They also offer laundry service, which is a nice convenience.

THE BEACH

Beaches Turks & Caicos has a 12-mile stretch of white-sand beach with the bluest, clearest water. And it is so warm and inviting. I LOVE the Caribbean Sea. The only downside is that it is a public beach, so it can get really crowded, and you need to man your spot. If you try to go during a popular time of day, you may have a hard time finding a chair and an umbrella. But they are lined up all along the beach, so you may just have to walk a bit up to find one. I also love that they have shower stations at various exits along the beach so you can rinse off the sand. I’ve been to a lot of beaches, and the sand in Turks & Caicos is SUPER fine and immediately sticks to you. We were cleaning sand out of things for weeks after the trip. 

WATER ACTIVITIES

There are plenty of water activities you can book once you’re at the hotel (and even before your stay). These activities are booked through an outside company, so they’re not included in the all-inclusive price. You can call the hotel to learn about their offerings, but some activities include snorkeling, paddleboarding, jet skiing, and parasailing.

THE POOLS

There are at least 10 pools at the resort (including a kids' swim-up bar!), each offering something unique. If we were to visit again, my goal would be to try to visit every pool. Some were smaller and more private, while others were large and expansive with swim-up bars. You need to reserve a cabana in advance if you want more privacy, and I recommend doing so before your stay. But honestly, you don’t really need a cabana, as pool chairs are set up everywhere. Also, most of the pools have a bar nearby where you can order drinks, but if you want food during your pool time, you have to visit one of the restaurants and take it to go, and not all restaurants offer takeout. It was very thoughtful that most of the pools had a large kiddie section with a shallow end for kids to swim safely. The Italian Village, where we stayed,  has the largest pool. 

THE WATERPARK

Having a waterpark in your resort is next level. There were large waterslides, a splash pad, a kids' play area for younger children, a swim-up bar, multiple pools, a lazy river, and a surfing simulator. They also have lounge chairs all around so you can lounge while your kids enjoy the water. The girls really liked the lazy river. There is also an Ice Cream Truck located in the waterpark which you already know was a hit. If you have older kids you feel comfortable venturing out on their own, then this is the perfect spot to let them hang while you enjoy some peace and quiet lol. Either way it’s definitely a great place for the whole family.

THE FOOD

The food oh the food. 21 restaurant options in fact. We definitely were not able to go to everyone during our week-long stay (although I guess we could have tried and challenged ourselves). Some restaurants are ages 12+, so if you have littles, you wouldn’t be able to go, or you would have to leave them with their child care services. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the number of plant-based options they had at the resort. Every restaurant we went to had a plant based offering. Though I am mostly plant-based and do not eat dairy or meat, I do dabble in seafood here and there, and, of course, there’s no better place to get seafood than on an island, so you know I had to indulge a little. Below are the restaurants we tried and how we liked them.

Neptune’s

Neptunes had a lot of great options especially for breakfast for the kids. But not really good options for a vegan for breakfast. My kids love oatmeal, and it was on the menu, so it was perfect. Neptune’s faces the water, but it’s at ground level, with lots of plant life surrounding the view, so you don’t exactly get that “I’m eating on the beach” vibe. Their dinner was amazing, and they had more than 1 plant-based option, as well as great seafood options. I would definitely recommend Neptunes. And kids of all ages are welcomed.

Bobby Dee’s

There is a cute diner with old-school vibes located near the water park. The food is very basic. Burgers, fries, etc. Also in the diner is grab-and-go pizza, and a little ice cream parlor that makes milkshakes and cotton candy. They had a veggie burger here that was ok. Though this is a great spot to just grab some chicken nuggets and fries for your kids especially if you are enjoying the waterpark, it wasn’t our favorite but worked for the convenience.

 Sky

Sky is a must-visit because it’s a rooftop restaurant, so you can eat with a view. Although the tables closest to the edge get the best view. The breakfast was good with lots of options. I’m not sure how it is for dinner but I could see it having cool vibes at night. It would be a cute spot for date night.

Kimonos

Habachi is another fun one for the kids, even though our kids, especially the youngest, were not fans of all the fire and loud noises. It’s like any other typical hibachi where the chef entertains and cooks the standard food you normally see on a hibachi. You have to make a reservation for this so keep that in mind before your visit as reservations tend to book up. I would book this before you even arrive. You need to allot at least 2 hours for hibachi since it’s already a process and the service is slow.

There are a few restaurants we intentionally didn’t visit because they are buffets, and that’s not really our jam, but if you want a plethora of options for you and the family without waiting on a server, this is a great option. And they switch the menus up so it’s not the same thing every night. We did stop by Bayside, a buffet, to grab some dessert. It was fun just picking out any dessert we wanted from the options. The girls loved being able to grab dessert and eat it in the room.

Please note that there is no room service at Beaches. You have to leave your room to eat, so if you are really set on room-service vibes, keep this in mind. It is nice that you are forced to leave the room, though, and because there are so many restaurant options, there is always one near you. Keep in mind that for dinner, some of the wait times were LONG, and the service is very slow. Some slower than others. We spent sometimes 1 hour before we received our food at some spots. Of all the restaurants we visited. Neptune’s had the fastest service. I also noticed that service picked up on the weekend and was quicker than on weekdays. I’m not sure if it’s because they have more people visiting on the weekend and thus more staff but it was a notable difference in service.

Overall, we had a nice stay and I do think it’s the perfect trip for a family if you want to just turn off and stay in one spot during your vacation. For the price of the resort, I wouldn’t really want to venture off and not enjoy everything it has to offer, so to me this is a stay-at-the-resort kind of trip. They always have promotional offers, so I would make sure to check for them before booking. If you want to actually explore the island of Turks and Caicos I would not recommend staying at Beaches. But for the expansive resort retreat for the whole family, it’s definitely checks a lot of boxes.

If you have any specific questions about our stay or the resort feel free to email us at hello [at] thebrownfamilytravel.com and I would be happy to answer! xx

See pricing and availability for Beaches Turks & Caicos HERE and use code MISSENOCHA for $$ off your stay.