Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We were in Turks and Caicos right before Christmas.
It is beautiful - the beach, the water, the sand - but I'm positive we will not return. The food is astronomically expensive (yes, I realize it's an island and everything is brought in) but I have never seen prices like that. A bottle of water at dinner was $11, a casual meal for our family of four (hamburgers, sandwiches + fries) was $120. Dinner entrees are all around $50.
We were in a VRBO and went to the grocery store every day for water alone. Groceries were insane - $11 for a clamshell of strawberries, $20 for a 32oz tub of Fage yogurt, loaf of bread $6, etc). I did read on Reddit that people bring checked suitcases of food into the country, which makes so much sense to me on this side of it.
Booked a couple of excursions (jet ski, ATV) and they were all in the range of $150/pp for 1-2 hours.
There is also no recycling on the island (all the trash is burned), so driving around you see trash piles/garbage everywhere. We were in the Grace Bay area and there were large garbage bags of trash in the Leeward Highway median picked up every few days.
While I'm glad we got away and saw Turks and Caicos, it was not one of my favorite places I've visited. I did not find the locals very friendly either.
Not op, but this is helpful. Never realized how expensive it is.
Anonymous wrote:We were in Turks and Caicos right before Christmas.
It is beautiful - the beach, the water, the sand - but I'm positive we will not return. The food is astronomically expensive (yes, I realize it's an island and everything is brought in) but I have never seen prices like that. A bottle of water at dinner was $11, a casual meal for our family of four (hamburgers, sandwiches + fries) was $120. Dinner entrees are all around $50.
We were in a VRBO and went to the grocery store every day for water alone. Groceries were insane - $11 for a clamshell of strawberries, $20 for a 32oz tub of Fage yogurt, loaf of bread $6, etc). I did read on Reddit that people bring checked suitcases of food into the country, which makes so much sense to me on this side of it.
Booked a couple of excursions (jet ski, ATV) and they were all in the range of $150/pp for 1-2 hours.
There is also no recycling on the island (all the trash is burned), so driving around you see trash piles/garbage everywhere. We were in the Grace Bay area and there were large garbage bags of trash in the Leeward Highway median picked up every few days.
While I'm glad we got away and saw Turks and Caicos, it was not one of my favorite places I've visited. I did not find the locals very friendly either.
Anonymous wrote:I’m too scared to go to Mexico or T&C. Grand Cayman or USVI for me.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We went to Beaches T&C a few years ago (kids were 14 and 12 at the time). The beach was beautiful and the kids had fun - but it wasn't worth the price. The area surrounding Grace Bay isn't much to write home about. You'd definitely get more bang for your buck at Cancun or Punta Cana. Just do your research before choosing a resort because as 9:35 mentioned there are some bad ones.
The area around the Ritz is much much nicer than Beaches. Op, there is an upscale shopping area within a quick walk and lots of off resort restaurants in walking distance. Personally wouldn’t vacation in either Cancun or Punta Cana at any price.
Anonymous wrote:Rent a condo on Seven Mile Beach/Grand Cayman or stay at the Westin, Kimpton, or that fancy boutique hotel with the yellow umbrellas. The Ritz is way too crowded imho.
Or go to Puerto Rico. Both Grand Cayman and PR are safe enough to rent a car and explore (which you can’t do in Turks, Mexico, DR, Jamaica, etc.).
Anonymous wrote:Parts of the area around Grace Bay are sketchy. You would not be walking much. Good food though. Coco Bistro, Coyaba.
Anonymous wrote:With today’s news, who knows what will happen in late March?! Maybe Caribbean isn’t best bet.