A family vacation can be great fun. A time to get away and enjoy your time together without work or school or daycare worries. But being part of a family doesn’t mean you all want the same thing. That can make it hard when you’re trying to plan your holidays.
Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa strives to be a vacation destination for the entire family. Although it’s comprised of four complexes, tailored to your budget and family’s needs, it doesn’t have a huge feeling to it; you can easily walk from the swimming pool in the Caribbean Beach over to a restaurant in the Italian Village without much problem.
From the moment you check in you know you’re in for an incredible experience. Instead of lining up at the registration desk you’re invited to take a seat in the lobby and your registration paperwork is brought to you, along with a welcoming cocktail. Even the kids are greeted with pint-sized chairs, cookies and fruit punch.
Accommodations
The Beaches Turks and Caicos has a number of room configurations, including the new family suites we had the chance to try in the Italian Village.
Dining
As far as food is concerned, you’ll never go hungry with 16 specialty-dining options available at the Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa. From Caribbean to Japanese, Italian to French, Seafood to Sushi, you’re bound to find something to tempt your pallet. Plus, unlike other all-inclusive resorts, there are no dining restrictions; you can eat at any of the restaurants whenever you want (based on their operating hours of course). Only the Japanese restaurant Kimono’s requires reservations. If your schedule allows it’s really worth the experience. The food is wonderful and filling and the chef, who cooks right in front of you, is thoroughly entertaining.
Photo courtesy of Have Baby Will Travel
When we visited, my 3-year old and I tried as many different dining experiences as our time would allow but one place we visited every day, sometimes twice, was Café do Paris. Open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. we started our morning with crepes and iced coffee and ended it with delicious fresh pastries.
Swimming Pools and Water Park
The Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa boast 7 different pools throughout the 4 complexes, all within easy walking distance but for my 3-year old the favourite pool was the one located on Pirate Island. The Pirate themed water-playground features 9 slides, a lazy river, surf simulator, water cannons, cranks and spray features. Can you see the appeal?
Kids’ Programs and Camps
On those days when you want to just hang out on the beach but your kids want to go and explore, Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa has wonderful kids programs, including Camp Sesame where my daughter enjoyed activities with the characters from Sesame Street. Don’t feel guilty about dropping your kids off either; they’ll love it.
Outside of the kids program, Beaches also offers a few Sesame Street activities like the character breakfast and a great night time program where your kids are tucked in by their favourite Sesame Street character. My 3-year old loved having Zoe visit and say goodnight to her.
Spa and Fitness
While vacationing in paradise, why not treat yourself to a wonderful massage or spa treatment at the Red Lane Spa. Treatment costs are not included in your all-inclusive rate but you can use the hot and cold plunge pools and sauna’s located at the spa, at no additional cost. And if you’re looking to keep your workout up while away, use of the air conditioned fitness facilities are included, plus you can also participate in both land and water aerobic lessons.
Excursions
Looking to do a little sight seeing or local shopping? Island Resorts has a tour desk in the Caribbean Village and can help arrange a number of fun off-site trips to meet your needs (cost varies on the excursion). When we visited, my 3-year old and I explored underwater in a unique glass bottom submarine.
It’s All About the People
Yes it’s true, Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa offers a spectacular assortment of restaurants, rooms and other facilities to meet any family’s needs, but in my opinion the best part of our whole experience was the people themselves. Whether it was the person at the front desk, the waitress in the restaurant or the grounds keeper, everyone had a smile on their face and a cheerful greeting. And they talked to the kids too. My daughter loved when people asked her questions or wished her good morning and that made me feel wonderful. A resort can have everything you could ever want but if it doesn’t have the right staff your experience just won’t be the same. The Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa delivers both, the facilities and amazing people.
Only my 3-year old attended this trip with me, but there would be plenty to occupy my 6 and 8-year old, as well as my husband. I love that the Beaches Turks and Caicos All-Inclusive Resort and Spa gives us opportunity to enjoy our vacation time together and apart and not feel guilty or stressed about it. And we all come away refreshed and ready to take on school and work again. Though it won’t be long until I’ll be counting down the days when we can go back.