Destination Spotlight: Turks and Caicos

It’s been a bit since I’ve highlighted any vacation destinations on my blog, so I thought it was time to bring it back. I know that sometimes it helps spark ideas for future vacations and I’m all for that! If you know me personally, you know that I’m not a big fan of traveling to the same place twice. I love to explore this great big world and hope to encourage others to do so as well. That being said, I thought that this week I would shed some light on the Turks and Caicos islands.

Turks and Caicos are made up of 40 islands, 8 which are inhabited. The majority of the population and tourism happen on the Providenciales (Provo) and Grand Turk islands. These islands are located less than 90 minutes from Miami. The main airport for Turks and Caicos is located in Provo, however there are options from there for flying to Grand Turk. Provo is very family friendly. There is an ordinance preventing any construction above 5 stories. There are also no traffic lights or Starbucks! English is the native language and US dollars are the local currency, however it is a British territory and driving is done on the left side of the road. There isn’t any public transportation on the islands either, however taxis and rental cars are easy to locate.

Turks and Caicos have year round beautiful weather. With 350 days of sunshine per year, they see very little rain, mostly during hurricane season, from June to November. The temperatures dip a bit November thru April, but remain consistently warm year round.

The beaches on the islands are some of the most beautiful in the world. Hundreds of miles of soft, white sand and crystal clear waters without any rocks, seaweed or pollution, thanks to being protected by one of the largest barrier reefs about a mile off shore. Grace Bay Beach is probably one of the best known beaches, located on the north shore of Provo. There you will find luxury accommodations and some of the most beautiful water. Long Bay Beach is located opposite of Grace Bay and is a great spot for kite boarding or horseback riding.

There are several different types of accommodations on the islands, including all-inclusive resorts, adults only resorts, small boutique style resorts and you can even stay on your own private island, Ambergris Cay. It can be a bit pricey to dine out and buy groceries on the islands, but the beauty makes it all worth it.

If you’d like to find out more about Turks and Caicos, I’d love to help you plan your vacation there.

Destination Spotlight: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is one of the most highly visited Caribbean destinations for very good reason.  Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, this beautiful area is located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea.  With over 40 miles of sugar white beaches and calm, warm water, it's a beach lovers paradise.  Punta Cana is easily accessible from all over the globe, with direct flights from many major cities (including St. Louis).  

The year-round average daytime temperature in Punta Cana is 82 degrees.  The weather is fairly consistent all year.  The months of December to April see the best weather, but the winter months also bring larger crowds & higher prices.  The most affordable and least crowded time to visit is in March to May.  July to September often have a little bit higher temperatures and humidity, while they are most susceptible to tropical storms in September & October.

The accommodations in Punta Cana consist mostly of all-inclusive resorts.  There are many to choose from, including family-friendly or adults-only resorts.  Staying at an all-inclusive resort means that you never even have to leave the resort.  Enjoy all of the food and drinks you want and sit and relax at the pool or beach or enjoy some of the all-inclusive activities.  If you do look for a little more adventure while on vacation, there are tons of excursions to choose from.  Punta Cana is one of the best golf destinations in the world, with 19 amazing golf courses.  Some other popular activities include zip-lining, wind surfing, kayaking and sailing.  

The locals in Punta Cana are mostly Spanish speaking.  The Peso is the national currency of Dominican Republic.  Although, around tourist zones, the American dollar is widely accepted.

If you're interested in planning a trip to Punta Cana, I would love to help you.  Contact me for more information.

Destination Spotlight: The Bahamas

The next destination that I wanted to spotlight is the Bahamas.  The Bahamas are actually made up of over 700 islands and cays, some packed with resorts and some uninhabited. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, these beautiful islands begin at just 50 miles off the coast of Florida.  The Bahamas are known for having some of the clearest water on the planet, as well as powder-fine sand beaches.  They truly are a sight to see.  

The Bahamas have a warm and winter-less climate.  They see an average of 340 days of sunlight annually.  The wettest months are in the summer months of May & June, while they see a little bit cooler evenings in December thru February.  Average temperatures range anywhere from 70-90 degrees.

The official language of the Bahamas is English and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar.  Both are accepted throughout the islands, so there's no need to exchange money.  If you decide to rent a car and go exploring on your own, British driving laws are enforced, so plan on driving on the left side of the road.  Most of the major islands have duty-free shopping, saving you 25-50% off of U.S. prices.  

Whether you visit the larger, more popular islands of Grand Bahama Island or Nassau Paradise Island, or the more secluded islands of Mayaguana or Cat Island, each island has unique characteristics and offerings for everyone.  While it may seem overwhelming to choose just where to visit in the Bahamas, I can help you narrow down which island(s) are perfect for you based on your interests.  Scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing and environmental tours are just a few of the options available in the Bahamas.  You can even swim with pigs on Big Major Cay off the Exuma island!

As far as accommodations go, there are many different types to choose from.  Some of the larger islands have a variety of all-inclusive and other resorts, while many of the smaller islands have smaller boutique hotels, guest houses and rental homes.  Several of the islands have their own airports, making it easy to travel to, but another popular option is to visit by cruise ship.  Several of the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Disney all have private islands in the Bahamas that only passengers may visit.  

I recently completed the Bahamas Specialist program, which means I am now a certified Bahamas Specialist, and I would love to help you plan a vacation so that you can see these beautiful islands for yourself.  Contact me for more information.

Destination Spotlight: Aruba

I'm really excited about spotlighting one of my favorite Caribbean islands, Aruba.  Aruba is near & dear to my heart because that is where my husband & I went for our honeymoon.  This Dutch Caribbean island is a perfect spot for many types of vacations.  Whether it's for a honeymoon, wedding, family vacation, couples getaway or a group of friends, this island has so many things that appeal to all types of travelers.  

Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean, just 9 miles north of Venezuela.  It's a small island at just 19 miles long and 6 miles across, making it so easy to navigate around and see the whole island while you're there.  Aruba is very safe and has the highest return visitor rate in the Caribbean.  The residents there mostly speak English, Dutch & Spanish.  There are plenty of various types of accommodations in Aruba, from all-inclusive resorts and high-rise hotels to private bungalows.  There is even a resort where guests have access to a private island that is home to a flamboyance of flamingos.

Their tagline is "One Happy Island", which could be because Aruba has more sunny days than any other Caribbean island. It's located just outside of the fringes of the hurricane belt, which means it sees very little rainfall.  On average, it receives only 16" of rain per year with the greatest likelihood of rain in October and November.  The average temperature year round is in the low 80's, with cooling trade winds which keep you comfortable all day long.  Aruba has the most beautiful white sand beaches made from crushed coral, so the sand never feels hot on your feet.  

If you're looking to do something other than relaxing on the beach, there are so many options on the island of Aruba.  It is known as the wreck diving capital of the Caribbean, with sunken ships from two WWII shipwrecks as well as sunken airplanes, all easily accessible for scuba divers.  The largest national park in the Caribbean, Arikok National Park, covers around 20% of the island.  There are plenty of opportunities for activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, windsurfing & ATV riding all around the island.  I highly recommend renting a jeep for a day and exploring or going on a glass-bottom boat tour.

If this sounds like where you would like to plan your next vacation to, contact me and we'll get started planning your trip to paradise.  I'm confident that you will love it there just as much as I did.

A few grainy images from our honeymoon in Aruba...