Accommodations in Turks and Caicos

For the best bang for your buck in Turks and Caicos, skip the resorts and hotels. Use Airbnb or your favourite short-term rental site. Depending on your needs and budget, you’ll find condos ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units, to small in-land cottages, to larger (and expensive) villas on the beach.

Areas to stay in Turks and Caicos

The most desired area for tourists is the Grace Bay area on Providenciales island. This has the famous Grace Bay Beach, and most of the island’s restaurants and shopping. So expect higher prices, especially for places closest to the beach.

To save some money, find a place more in-land.

Or consider staying in the Turtle Cove area. The area around the Turtle Cove Marina is where tourism in Provo got its start. Short-term condo rentals in The Yacht Club and La Vista Azul are reasonably priced, and within walking distance to the beach at Smith’s Reef, a few restaurants and a grocery store.

Also within walking distance of Turtle Cove is the Bight Beach. While it doesn’t quite match the beauty of Grace Bay Beach, it’s a close second. You can also make your way to Grace Bay Beach by foot (a bit over 1 hour) or by short taxi ride.

If you’re really looking to get away from the crowds, consider staying on North Caicos, or even further out on Grand Turk. North Caicos is accessible by a short ferry ride from the Leeward (eastern) side of Providenciales. Take a taxi from the airport to the ferry dock. Grand Turk is accessible by domestic flight from the Provo airport.65

Dining in Providenciales

The Grace Bay area has no shortage of restaurants for tourists. Turtle Cove Marina has a couple great restaurant options. If you’re adventurous enough to head to the “downtown” area closer to the airport, you’ll find more “authentic” restaurants geared towards locals.

We have a separate post on our favourite places to eat in Turks and Caicos, and saving money at Provo grocery stores.

Getting around Provo

Depending on their accommodations and itinerary, many tourists will get a rental car for their stay. We planned our itinerary so that we would not need a car. If you’re open to walking up to 30 minutes (albeit in the sun), with the occasional taxi ride, then you can easily get away without a car.

There are plenty of taxis at the airport, and depending on your destination, fares will be US$12-20+ per person. Taxis are all white full-size vans, and you’ll likely share a van with other people going in the same direction. Fares are similarly priced between other destinations on the island. Service is excellent and pre-booked taxi rides are dependable.

Leeward Highway doesn’t have a sidewalk, but most medium-sized roads have a sidewalk on at least one side of the road. Smaller roads often don’t have sidewalks, but there’s so little traffic that walking on those roads is perfectly safe.

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Did we miss any tips about visiting Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands? Ask questions or share tips in the comments below.