Have you ever heard the saying, “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation”? It’s probably safe to assume that it was a mom who first uttered this statement. She was likely just home from a family trip and exhausted from mothering her pack away from home.
When planning a family vacation, I admit that I’m mostly excited, but a small part of me worries that relaxation time will not fit on my agenda -- pushed out by children needing to be entertained and kept happy while home away from home. But this last time was different. With three children, one husband, four pieces of luggage, five backpacks, one international flight, one connection, a plan to make a million memories, and passports in hand, I put my brave (and hopeful) mom face on. Hopeful because this time we were headed to Beaches® Turks & Caicos. The family-friendly all-inclusive Caribbean resort promises fun under the sun for the entire family (which must include moms, right?), meals to appease all ages, and so much more. Spoiler alert: they delivered! Here’s how Beaches® Turks & Caicos gave me and my family a much-needed break while we made memories to last a lifetime.
Are we there yet?
Short answer: Yes! After our morning of jet-setting, we arrived in Providenciales airport, hopped onto the resort’s free shuttle and arrived just 20 minutes later at Beaches® Turks & Caicos. A long enough drive to give us a glimpse of the surrounding community, but short enough to keep even our youngest from getting impatient. We didn’t hear a single “are we there yet?”, and that’s a win in my book.
Where shall we eat today?
All-inclusive at Beaches® Turks & Caicos includes the all-you-can-eat dining experience. Mamas, this means someone else is doing the cooking for your entire stay. But don’t expect to be able to try every single option (we didn’t even come close during our stay), as the resort boasts a whopping 22 restaurants! From buffets to a la carte options and new food trucks (one serves up different kinds of mac-n-cheese and the other serves up ice cream!), we found something to delight every member of the family, even our picky kid (plain, cooked carrots for dessert?... no problem, according to our server). We left each meal satisfied and had a hard time deciding between going back again the next day or trying someplace new. And in case you’re wondering, adult beverages are also included.
Life is better at the beach.
The water is gorgeous shades of blue and the sand is soft, white and pristine. The gentle waves will invite the younger crowd to dip their toes into the water, and the older ones will enjoy donning a pair of goggles to see the tiny fish below the surface. The kids happily played in the surf and sand for hours while we enjoyed lounging on beach chairs. What more can you ask for?
Adventure is out there... and plentiful!
When we had enough of sandcastle building and catching rays, we headed over to the aqua center on the beach. The all-inclusive amenities continue here, where you can reserve a spot on a glass-bottom boat, a snorkel excursion, or a scuba diving experience. Guests can also try several other water sports activities like windsurfing, or they can take out kayaks, paddleboards, and more. Snorkel equipment is also available and can be put to use just a few miles down the beach where a coral reef offers views of colorful tropical fish. During our stay, poor weather conditions turned our snorkel excursion into a simple boat ride and while we were disappointed, I appreciated that safety was at the forefront of the staff’s minds.
The fun doesn’t stop on the beach either! The resort has 6 pools (including the biggest hot tub we’ve ever seen), two kiddie pools, and Pirate’s Island Waterpark, complete with slides and a lazy river. And since parents get tired way faster than kids, the Beaches Kids Camp program gives mom and dad a break, while keeping the kids entertained. Parents even have the option of having a romantic dinner for two while the kids enjoy supervised fun.
Traveling with little kids? A Beaches partnership with Sesame Street brings all of your child’s favorite characters to the resort as they mingle with guests for hugs and photos. There are also weekly Beach Party performances featuring fun songs and dancing. Traveling with tweens and teens? They will love the XBOX Play Lounge, where they can enjoy unlimited play, including Kinect with Xbox (Just Dance competition, anyone?), Xbox 360, and Xbox One, plus Club Liquid, where they can hang out with new friends. Weeknight activities like stage performances and fire dancers are enjoyed by all. Beaches Turks & Caicos really raises the bar on catering to everyone in the family.
Time for bed.
We are a party of five. This can be tricky at most resorts that feature two queen beds as accommodations. Our room in the Italian Village (just off the main pool!) was a perfect fit for our family. It featured a set of bunk beds with a pull-out trundle bed for our three children and a king size bed for mom and dad. The best part? The two areas were separated by a sliding door! Translation: We could send the kids to bed, and unwind a bit longer together without disturbing them. There was plenty of room for us all, comfortable beds, a fully stocked fridge, and great views from our balcony.
Among those views were some of the other villages. Beaches® Turks & Caicos is actually five resorts in one. The various villages offer a wide variety of amenities to suit families of every size and budget. Upgrade to Butler Level service for a true luxury vacation. Because what’s better than a cold drink on the beach? A cold drink on the beach brought to you by a butler!
You can’t fake good service.
What really sets Beaches Turks & Caicos apart from the other resorts we’ve visited is their incredible service. Every staff member we encountered was friendly and happy to go above and beyond to help... like when we got turned around trying to find a certain restaurant and the staff member we asked for help stopped what he was doing to guide us all the way there, engaging us with conversation the entire time. Our children were greeted with high fives and made to feel special at every turn. Every interaction was pleasant, and that went a long way in helping us to focus on just having a good time.
Wait, wasn’t there a hurricane here?
With the resort’s perfectly-manicured landscaping and freshly-painted buildings, it’s easy to forget that the area was recently torn apart by Hurricane Irma. But just outside the resort, the effects of the recent hurricane are still abundantly visible. From scaffolding set in front apartments, to roof repairs taking place atop several businesses, it's evident that the community is still rebuilding from the devastation.
During our stay, we had the incredible opportunity to visit a nearby school where we spent time reading and playing math games with the school children. This school is among many in the local community that receives support from the Sandals Foundation (founded by the parent company of Beaches Resorts). Their very important message: The Caribbean is open for business, and it’s more important than ever to vacation here. Your vacation dollars and donations help Sandals Foundation to continue to educate, support, and rebuild the local community, such as the school we visited. The hurricane did not just damage buildings. Whole libraries were lost and supplies were ruined. Families were left homeless. Now really is the time to consider vacationing at Beaches Turks & Caicos. Not only will you come back with a lifetime of memories, but you’ll also be helping to support the people who call the island home.
A beautiful destination, all-inclusive amenities, and helping to rebuild a community… that’s enough reason to go, don’t you think? Thank you, Beaches Turks & Caicos for helping this busy mama of three slow down, relax, and recharge! We can't wait to visit again!
The writer received complimentary accommodations for the purpose of this review. As always, all opinions are 100% her own.
