Beaches is all-inclusive resorts launched by well-known Jamaican company Sandals. Most people know Sandals as couples resort. In 1996 they decided to target family market and opened 2 new resorts: Beaches Negril (Jamaica) and Beaches Turks & Caicos. Beaches, of course located on gorgeous beach property and cater to families, couples and singles. Everything is included - drinks, meals, entertainment, sports and kids programs. Beaches Turks & Caicos is called Beaches resort and spa (spa is extra). Turks & Caicos islands (TCI) are located south of Bahamas and North of Dominican Republic. Theoretically it is Atlantic, but the weather at the end of December was typical Caribbean weather - 84-86 degrees, clear water, not a cloud. We were lucky - for 7 days we did not have any rain! TCI is an archipelago and Beaches is located in Provianceales (sp?) in Grace Bay. It has incredible 12 mile beach. The beach is protected by coral reef and therefore no waves. It is also prime snorkeling and diving destination. The Grace Bay itself is a part of Underwater National Park. Waterskiing and JetSkiing is prohibited in Grace Bay - in order to protect coral reef. In one place - near White House Villa you can snorkel off the beach, otherwise the boats take you further and you can snorkel off the boat.

How to get there:

AA flies with connection from MIA (only 1 hour 20 min), Air Jamaica flies with connection in Montego Bay. Various charters also fly from NorthEast nonstop and also there are flights from UK. What was nice in our case that Beaches chartered their own airplane (Miami Air) which flew nonstop - 3 hours from JFK to Provo. There were only Beaches guests on the plane. On the way back the luggage check-in was done at the resort. The passengers were driven to the airport 1.5 hour before departure where airplane already was waiting for us. The crew was nice, with humor, food was OK - typical airline food. They also were serving complimentary champagne on board. There is also charter from Philadelphia.

Resort.

Great landscaping, very nice grounds. The resort was built 2 years ago as Royal Bay Resort and villas and then Sandals acquired it.They redid landscaping - the island is dry and they brought in and planted extra trees. Also, Sandals built their famous pools with swim-up bars and waterfalls. Very impressive. The place is immaculately clean. There is music pumping from the speakers which are hidden in the rocks. Very nice, relaxing spa (extra, not included). Spa staff is European, not local.

Accommodations.

There is 3 floors main building and villas. Main building has standard and ocean view rooms. Beachfront villas are 1 and 2 floors. Since there were 4 of us (2 adults, 2 children 20 and 11) we opted for 1 bedroom honeymoon beachfront villa. There is confusion with room descriptions, since half of the honeymoon villas have separate bedroom with a door, and half does not. We started vacation with villa 'without the door' - just 2 rooms, large shower and toilet and separate area outside of bathroom - jacuzzi for 2 and sink. 2 rooms have big wrap around balcony or 2 patios on first floor. There is kitchenete area where is coffee machine and small refrigerator with drinks which they refill when needed - again, only in villas. All villas have concierge service which assists you during your stay, makes restaurant reservations, provides guests with NYT fax. There was a concierge reception once a week. The villa has 2 tvs - one in each room, AC. Robes are provided, hair dryers, and usual toiletries set. They also supplied Aloe Vera gel - from sunburns. Very helpful. Plenty of room towels which are also replenished twice a day. Anyway, after couple of days we wanted more privacy from kids <g> and concierge obliged us with room with separate bedroom door - suits more for families. Both suites we stayed where in Parrot Cay cluster. It is somewhat isolated - on the right side at the end of the property behind watersports but eventually I liked it better because it allowed more peace and quiet. Only people who lived in a cluster were walking by. Beach towels are given on the beach and you are required to return the same number of towels. Towels also were available at watersports. We used to 'towel problems' in other resorts, but here it was not a problem.

Restaurants.

Beaches has 5 restaurants. 2 of them - Reflections (main dining room - buffets only) and Arizona (SouthWestern), do not require reservations. Others - Japanese, Sapodillas (Continental), and Schooners (Seafood) require reservations. Only Japanese restaurant allows kids for 6 pm seating. I recommend when you arrive, try to make reservations for whole week. Especially at busy time, like we were on Christmas week. There were big family groups and the restaurants are small and somebody just books before you 20-30 group and you are out of luck! We had friends with us (2 adults, 1 child) and I tried to make reservations for 7 of us at least once - no luck! We did not make into Japanese restaurant at all, but people reported that food was not that impressive. We love sushi, our kids like hibachi, but we are very picky and careful with sushi and probably would not try there anyway. Reflections - food is not bad, but I hate buffets <g>. We love to eat seafood in Caribbean, but in buffet fish was dry. Plus, when you are in family resort and many kids help yourselves with food - you get the picture :-). We tried to go to buffet first and get food fresh from the grill -there was always the station where the person grilled lamb shops or steak or fish.. That was good. Of course, don't get me wrong, the food was plentiful and were many tasteful choices, but unfortunately we are spoiled by good restaurants here in NY and CT and in Caribbean we stayed in deluxe resorts where food was gourmet and excellently prepared. I understand when resort tries to satisfy both parents and kid, it is very hard to achieve balance. Hopefully, this will improve. Breakfasts were good, I wish they had homemade jams rather then standard Smuckers cafeteria containers . Breakfast pastries were good, there were eggs made to order, cold cuts, usuall Caribbean fare for breakfast - some meat, fish, etc. Pancakes, French toast, fruit (even raspberries were one day), hot cereal of the day and cold cereals. Lunch was buffet in Reflections, plus buffet in Arizona. In Arizona chefs were grilling chicken, burgers, hot dogs, fish, and this was good and fresh. French fries, pizza, too. There were 2 big buffets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But from grilled seafood - only shrimp skewers - no lobsters at all. Desserts were very good at lunch and dinner. Service was not satisfactory in buffet. It was hard to get waiters for drinks, and when you finished food and started dessert, it was a project to get a waiter to clean up. People ended up ordering twice. Sometimes you don't get from the first waiter, but will get drink from second. People complain. We traveled a lot in Caribbean and I know not to agonize over it, we just went and got drinks ourselves. But some of it does get irritating, when in restaurant they just bring you main course and never come to you again - not even clean up before desert. This is the area the resort has to work on.

Continental restaurant - service was good, much better then at buffet, food was good, but not very interesting. We went together with my husband and enjoyed quiet 'adult' dinner.

Schooners - that was the best restaurant - or were we hungry for grilled seafood? We had mussels for appetizer, lobster tails for main dish. Don't remember dessert, though. We ate with our older son. Restaurant is right on the beach, so we watched our 11 year old running by with his newfound friends (he ate hamburgers before we left for our dinner). Very nice dinner. Our reservation was 6:30p, the first seating. However, our friends went for 9pm dinner and were disappointed since the service was very rushed and lobsters were warmed up - did not look like from the grill.

No Afternoon tea - surprise. Maybe because caters to American Clientele?

Staff.

Was very friendly, tried to accommodate. Enjoyed Fitness instructor Len, our concierge staff, front desk people were very nice. Housekeeping tried to do their best. I told them that we would like our rooms to be cleaned from 10-11am and eventually they did it.

Bars.

There are 6 bars. There are also swim-up areas in the pool - that was great. Liquors are brand name. Wines were good. Big selection of beer including Jamaican Red Stripe and Mexican Corona. Of course, plenty of those special Caribbean drinks. Kids liked to get their own drinks. Bartenders are friendly.

Activities.

There is plenty to do. Pool tables, ping-pong, darts, big chess sets in the garden. In addition, there are board games you check out and then have to return. Bikes are available to venture outside resort (people reported that there many dogs followed the bikers).

For kids, there is state of the arts Sega center (I wish they did not have it!!!!). Kids spent a lot's of time there and some adults, too. There were often volleyball, basketball, games, pool games, horseshoes. 

Watersports/Beach.

Grace Bay beach is the most spectacular beaches we've ever seen. 12 miles of white sand,  clear water, easy access in the water - just perfect. No waves since the bay is protected by reef . We are beach people and before that our favorite #1 was Shoal Bay in Anguilla and #2 7 mile Negril Beach. Now #1 is Grace bay. Friends who went to Grand Cayman said this beach was better then Cayman's 7 mile beach... Snorkeling is off the beach (they require people to wear vests) at the White House. There is also snorkeling boat 3-4 times a day - sign up a day before. Every time the captain takes you to different spot to snorkel. Fish is spectacular. We even saw the sea turtle once! There is also scuba diving included in the price. We did not do it. They also have sunfish and hobie cats windsurfing boards. Instructions are given before you try it. Also, they have ocean kayaks and aqua cycles.

Kids.

Our 11 year old enjoyed himself tremendously. We looked for him first days, but later gave up. When we saw him, he was always busy with new friends. There were some employees children and our son spent a lot's of time with them. They were hanging out in the bars, pools, sega. Kids are walking freely in resort, it is very safe. There is no security on the beach, but unlike in other islands, it does not pose a problem in TCI. I believe there are some security personnel in the resort, but it did not catch my eye...

We did not use organized kids program anymore, but I saw parents sign up kids and they were supervised by kids counselors. There are also private babysitters available for young children and also if the parent choose not to use group care. Everybody seemed to have good time. You can see 5 year olds group guided to the pool to swim up bar and ordering a drink. Cute!!! Bottom line - kids were happy - what else parents would want?

Tour.

We took a catamaran cruise with company Sail Provo for half a day. $42 per person, kids are 50% off, under 5 are free. They took us to water key island to watch Iguanas, then snorkeling. They provided drinks and snacks. It was very relaxing morning.

Sports and Fitness.

There is a power walk at 7 am on the beach. I took it once and liked it, although it was intense. Other days we just walked on our own. The same instructor teaches water aerobics in the pool and steps and aerobics. There is fully equipped gym. My husband used it, I did not... Water aerobics was fun, though.

Other...

We also took a taxi and visited other resorts. I liked Grace bay club the most - when our kid will become 12.. Ocean club looked nice, but not as upscale as Grace Bay. There was also nice little hotel Le Deck in walking distance from the beach, and very basic bungalows Treasure Beach Villas. I was told that the food is very expensive on this island... There was not much shopping either. Just pure relaxation, and beach.

Entertainment.

It was almost non-existent. There are so-called Sandals Playmakers but there were not active enough and did not mingle with the crowds like you Club Med GO's or Superclubs Social Directors. In the evening there was some local music. Disco is a juke box. Our 20 year old was disappointed, but at 20 people have different priorities... <g>. Talent show - kids were cute, but when parents try to show - pleeeese! One night was Reggae class, and there was a very good Jamaican entertainer Nicky OJay (we love reggae), but he was performing 3 days in a row! Anyway, the stars were bright, and beach is spectacular at sunset and at night.

Clientele.

Was predominantly American families at Christmas week. (1 plane Sun-Sun from JFK). Clients I've sent  there off-season in November reported many Canadians (charter from Canada) and Germans and British. Mostly middle and upper class families (who can afford to bring up to 4-5 kids :-).

Conclusion.