A little bit of heaven….in Turks and Caicos

Living in Boston during the winter is always a challenge, but never as much as this year.  Our winter has been endless!  I needed some warm air and sunshine… So, my husband, Everett, and I went online and booked a vacation in Turks and Caicos, at the Grace Bay Club.  Usually, I rely on friends and family for recommendations, but this year it was the internet.  Not sure what we were in for, off we went.  As the taxi pulled up to this beautiful British inspired hotel, we were greeted with cool towels and rum punch!  Okay, now we’re talking!

As soon as I walked into the hotel lobby I was in awe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My own Interior Designer crush,Thom Filicia, was the amazing talent behind the beautiful space.  I LOVE Thom Filicia’s style and have used it A LOT in my own home.  Last year, I had the great pleasure of meeting him in Boston and found him to be utterly charming.  His fame has not tarnished his amazing wit and fun-loving casual (yet amazingly elegant!)  approach to design.

His influence in the resort’s lobby is just so inviting that you feel more like you’re in someone’s very stylish and chic living room instead of a hotel!

 

 

 

 

After check-in, we met our “personal concierges”, Berg and Boda, and were given a cell phone to call them anywhere, anytime!  How’s that for service?!  When we arrived to our bedroom we were greeted with a beautiful, spacious room with the most amazing view ever – designed by none other than Mother Nature.

 

 

 

Naturally, we couldn’t wait to throw on our suits and head for the beach.

 

 

Now here’s where Grace Bay Club really begins to shine…  From the moment we got out of the taxi to the last minutes of our stay, every staff member at Grace Bay treated us like we were family staying in their home.  The beach attendants were already getting our chairs ready, towels out and cold water waiting by the time our toes hit the sand!

Need some time out of the sun?  Go for a dip or sit poolside in one of the covered cabanas.  As you can see, my husband wasted no time jumping into that crystal clear pool!

 

 

We dined at their restaurants, had afternoon tea in at the open air “Grille”, went to a barbecue “on the beach”, and had evenings cocktails at the gorgeous Infinity Bar.

 

 

My husband, Everett, is a professional photographer and saw a framed photograph at the hotel and just had to find out where it was taken so he could go there and photograph it himself.  He enlisted the help of Dave, the head of water sports and found out where it was…on a separate small Cay about a 10 minute boat ride away.

Well, after a failed attempt to get there on the tow boat pulling a banana boat, Dave could sense my husband’s disappointment.  He called his boss and got the OK to take us for a quick boat trip there himself at the end of his work day.  Why?  Because that’s what they do at Grace Bay Club.  They want every minute of your vacation to be perfect!

 

One day after a very long 5 mile walk on the beach, we headed back towards our room a little weary with arms full of beautiful conch shells we had found and wanted to bring back home.  We were met by Boda, our personal concierge who took our shells, had them cleaned, wrapped for travel and in a a bag in our room ready for the trip home!  Now that’s service!

My family and I have been very fortunate to have stayed at amazing resorts and hotels and we have visited countless beautiful islands.  So, what was it about the Grace Bay Club that made our vacation so special?   The people!  Hats off to GM Thierry Grandsire.  You have created a very special place filled with very special people.  We will be back!!  So, if you feel the need to escape and want to go somewhere with turquoise waters and ocean breezes, if you want to be totally pampered and treated like family, you need to go to the Grace Bay Club.  It’s a little bit of heaven…in Turks!