re: Turks and Caicos

I am not a beach guy, in general Island stuff doesn't interest me, but wife and I are going to Turks for Mardi Gras next year it looks like.

Looking to stay in Grace Bay.

Do most people just stay on resort or is there actual stuff to do nearby?

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Triva: Why are some flamingos pink while others aren't?

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Shrimp?

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We leave on the 21st and still haven't decided on transportation. I am terrified of the UK driving thing.

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Get a car. At least for part of your trip. There are great restaurants that you may not be able to get to otherwise (unless you take taxis, and after a few taxi rides, you will wish that you had rented because of the cost).

The driving there isn't difficult at all, and it's generally a slow pace.

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Get a car. At least for part of your trip. There are great restaurants that you may not be able to get to otherwise (unless you take taxis, and after a few taxi rides, you will wish that you had rented because of the cost).

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We just got back a few weeks ago, and I have been slacking on putting up a trip recap. I would highly recommend getting a car. Driving there really isn't that bad, and it makes it a lot easier to get around. We were able to see a lot more of the island and do it on our time and not have to wait for a cab.

Also, if you are leaving on the weekend, I highly recommend getting the VIP Fast pass. The airport was packed as all the flights leave at roughly the same time. It made getting through security a breeze. After that, we had our own lobby with AC, food, and drinks. The airport on the weekend is an absolute shite show. So having a place to sit, relax, and drink before leaving there made it all the better.

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We arrive on Sunday and just learned there are no alcohol sales.

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No alcohol sales where?

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No alcohol sales where?

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I think it's just at the grocery stores and liquor stores (I got caught on Good Friday last year looking to buy a bottle of wine for Taylor Bay and was faced with locks around the alcohol section of the grocery store).

Bars and restaurants should be serving.

Well, that's new.

I haven’t been since before Covid but beer could be purchased in groceries then.

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I haven’t been since before Covid but beer could be purchased in groceries then.

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Have you been drinking? Of course it can. The issue is that grocery stores and liquor stores can’t sell alcohol on Sundays (and religious holidays such as Good Friday). They have blue laws on Turks.

Anyway, the poster will be fine at a bar or restaurant.

Edit: I see what happened. AlxTgr said "We arrive on Sunday and just learned there are no alcohol sales."

He should have said "We arrive on Sunday and just learned there are no alcohol sales in stores on Sundays" just to be more clear.

Anyway, no biggie unless he was planning on just drinking in his room or taking some alcohol to a beach without a bar or restaurant.

We were there a few years ago. It'd be a perfect place for vacation, especially if you’re looking for a relaxed, understated location.

Tourism Overview

We rented a townhome that was 2 blocks from the beach. Easy 15 minute walk to the beach or into Providenciales.

GraceBay Townhomes

Frankly, wasn't our favorite island that we've visited. I'll give my pros and cons:

Pros:
Easy flight from the US
Beautiful beaches
Good seafood

Cons:
VERY expensive
Flat non-descript arid island
Poor island outside of the main tourist areas
Have to drive on the left side of the road

Highlights of the trip:

Rented a car and went to Taylor Bay Beach. One of the most idyllic beaches on the island of Providenciales. A bit of a drive from Grace Bay Beach, this relatively isolated beach is definitely worth the trip. Later stopped on the way back for lunch at a really cool restaurant on the water: Bugaloos Location is on water and very nice. Little dark area to travel to at night, but once you are there, it is very nice. Best conch on the island in our view. Often have live music.

The other highlight was our snorkeling trip with Island Vibe Tours. I used to dive extensively, and will say the shore access snorkeling isn't that great of the several spots we tried. But once you go off shore, it's very nice. They did a great job and we stopped off at the Iguana Island.

Selected Photos!