Grace Bay Club

I’m not a pool guy. There, I said it.

If I’m in the Caribbean and the sun is shining—why in the world would I spend any time at a pool? But the pool fronting The Estate, the luxe resort-within-a-resort at Grace Bay Club, isn’t the norm. This sleek, T-shaped, modern design is just so sexy.
The pool sits just steps from the beach, with two palm trees shading the bright blue water.

Umbrellas abound, of course. Wooden lounge chairs sport cushy padding perfect for all day relaxing and there are even a couple of choice beds outfitted with flowing white drapes perfect for catching soothing West Indian trade winds.

Better yet, it’s only one of the resort’s three pools. An adults-only pool is located at The Hotel and the family-friendly pool at The Villas is an escape for parents and children alike. While The Estate pool is reserved only for guests of these ultra-luxury accommodations, all three feature attentive staff and amenities to remind you just what “five-star” truly means.

As if all that isn’t alluring enough, there are two additional aspects to these pool areas that put them over the top.

The first are the poolside cabanas, located just off the sands of Grace Bay Beach. Here, in open-air-yet-private spaces, guests can indulge in Grace Bay Club’s Anani Spa signature body treatments.
The second is the hot tub. Hot tub in the Caribbean? Yes and yes! You haven’t experienced sundown in the lap of luxury until you’ve done it sipping sundowners in a hot tub.

Few amenities at luxury resorts warm the West Indian cockles of my heart quite like authentic flavors on the menu. A Johnnycake here or seafood curry there is usually enough to coax an easy sense of familiarity to the surface, but at Grill Rouge on Grace Bay Club they go a step further. Once a week they completely transform the entire menu into a Caribbean Beach Buffet. This is not the menu you would expect at a luxury resort, which only makes it that much sweeter. Appetizers at Grill Rouge include Turks green papaya salad, a Jamaican pepper pot, and pickled escoviche yellowtail snapper. All delicious options, but it’s during the main course that my island food loving taste buds really get rewarded. Stewed conch, Johnnycakes, curried mussels, sautéed red snapper, curried goat, spicy steamed oxtail, macaroni pie, red beans and rice, scotch bonnet chili with plantain mash—this menu could have been ripped from some a local’s secret haunt down the street! And that’s before even considering the whole fresh fish grilling up on beach barbecues. To make the night even better, they move all the seating out onto the sands of Grace Bay Beach. Local West Indian food on one of the best beaches in the world as the sun sets serenely in the west—can you think of a better way to end the day?

Some like to call Grace Bay’s new Residences a “micro-resort.” I prefer to think of them as a collection of three luxurious homes with the impeccably delicate service of a five-star resort. The central room of each home is take-your-breath-away spacious with high vaulted ceilings. It includes a well designed dining area and a kitchen sporting solid wood cabinets and top-of-the-line appliances from Sub-Zero and Wolf. The home divides into four bedrooms and five bathrooms bringing the total interior to over 6,000 square feet. Details like a black lacquer piano and al fresco wooden-backed rain showers contribute to the experience. There’s also a fifth bedroom in a detached cottage perfect for a child’s caregiver. But perhaps the most defining feature of The Residences is the 95 feet of private, immaculate beach reserved for each home. The entire side of the home that faces the water can be opened to take it all in—extending the 2,600 square feet of private deck space surrounding the infinity pool, outdoor barbecue, and sunning areas. And don’t forget, all this comes with 5-star luxury resort management. Expect a personal concierge, daily housekeeping, in-villa chefs, and more at your disposal. Plus access to all the world-class dining, lounging, and other services offered at the Grace Bay Club down the beach. Sophisticated, luxurious, and certainly exclusive, the all-new Residences by Grace Bay Resorts’ Private Villa Collection need to be experienced to be believed.

I’ve been to a few beaches, and I have to say I haven’t seen any that compare to the cliche-ridden soft, golden sands of Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos. Not only do you get a view of those gorgeous “turquoise” waters but you also feel like you have the beach to yourself! There are no peddlers; nobody begging you to get your hair braided. I hope the island stays like this. On cold days like this in Canada, I dream of this beach. Turks and Caicos is absolutely worth your pretty penny. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Stix is a pop up restaurant and bar in Providenciales that sits directly on the sand in front of Grace Bay Club. Its 30-foot long communal table lined with brightly colored purple and orange seats looks out on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, serving rose by the glass alongside shish-kebab style snacks like grilled lion fish with pickled carrots and coriander and jerk roasted coconut corn on the cob -- all on sticks, of course. We might have been their best customers -- ending up in the same seats for every sunset of our trip.