Beaches Turks & Caicos is one of my family’s favourite holiday destinations. My 3 year old always asks to go back to ‘Elmo’s Beach’ – Sesame Street characters are everywhere on the resort. Beaches is built for families. There is no tipping allowed, and everything is unlimited and included. From your arrival at the airport to your departure a week later, all of you needs are met and at times, anticipated. From their certified Autism support to the teen lounge, everyone can expect an easy vacation.
I will be honest, this resort is expensive, but we’ve been lucky to visit on a press trip and a conference called Social Media On The Sand (SMOTS), where mom entrepreneurs from all over the world meet to learn from the best of the best in social media.
From bottles of wine in your room to the awesome waterpark, delicious gluten free eats to the Sesame Street kids club, here is why we love Beaches Turks & Caicos.
Accomodations
Beaches Turks & Caicos is a big resort broken up into individual villages: Key West, Italian, French, Caribbean. Some are quieter than others (Key West tends to attract an older crowd) and some are super lively (The main pool is in the Italian Village). The resort is walkable although trains and golf carts are available should one not wish to walk.
The first time we visited Beaches Turks & Caicos, we stayed in Key West Village and I think this was my favourite spot. Our room had a bedroom, kitchen, laundry and a little porch. It was the ideal space for two adults, a baby and a toddler. Our fridge was always stocked with Robert Mondavi wine and bubbly, milk, and we had everything we needed for bottles, snacks and late night cups of tea.
The second time we went, we stayed in the French Village. The best thing about the French Village is its proximity to the waterpark. The stage (where you can see the nightly Sesame Street show) is also in the French Village, as is the best coffee on the property.
The only downside was the room. There wasn’t anything wrong – it was clean, cool, stocked with wine… It was just a standard hotel room: two double beds, bathroom, no outside space. It is your entry level room and to be honest, we couldn’t afford anything more. It just feel expensive for what it is. That being said, we were hardly in our room so it served its purpose.
Food
There are 21 restaurants on property and they are all 5 star quality. Robert Mondavi wines are poured everywhere, as is Jamaican Blue Mountain roast coffee. Some restaurants let you take away and everything is included and unlimited. For those with dietary restrictions, Beaches has so many options and works hard to ensure that every meal is delicious and enjoyable. The food is good- really good. It is fresh, unique and well planned. My kids always had options (even the baby!) and we could eat somewhere new for every meal. There are also food trucks: macaroni (yes- there is a vegan and gluten free option) and milkshakes.
Amenities
Each village has its own pool and some have two. Every main pool has a swim up bar, and servers are nearby ready to take your poolside order. All villages (except the French) open onto the beautiful beach with its powder-like white sand and sparkling oceans of turquoise and blue.
There is a little train, and shuttles that run between the villages although they are all an easy walk. Each village has a gym as well although I will be honest, I never made it inside.
The waterpark is…awesome. A lazy river snakes through a water wonderland of splash pads, fountains and even a surf simulator. Even at its busiest, this waterpark never FEELS crowded.
Out on the ocean, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, paddle boarding are all available, as is PADI scuba diving training.
Kids Club
I love the Kids Club at Beaches. I put Jamie in the Baby Club (Age 0-2 years) at 5 months and again at 11 months. He was well looked after by a team of professional nannies who recorded everything from bowel movements to how/when he napped. I went in to feed him every hour or he was the happiest little camper.
In fact, every nanny at Beaches is part of the International Nannies Association. This means that each nanny has been trained in safety, nutrition and child development. Each nanny also completes the rigorous International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) training and Autism Certification. This means that Beaches can offer families with children with autism and other special needs specialized service, engaging activities and custom dining options.
The toddler program runs from ages 3-4, the Navigator program from 5-7, Adventurers from 8-10, Tweens from 11-14 and finally the Teen program runs from 15-17. Teens have their own teen club with with video games, soda bars, karaoke, boat cruises, disco nights and much more of their own special programming.
I can’t speak to the other programs but I can tell you that the toddler program is perfect for little ones. Sesame Street characters pop up in the kid facility from time to time before performing their daily show at 6pm. There is also a Sesame Street parade which the whole family will love!
Throughout the day, kids can explore toddler pools, collect shells, get their face painted, go on treasure hunts, play with puppets, enjoy costume time, magic shows, or build a sand castle building…just to name a few activities.
I love it at Beaches Turks & Caicos: My kids love it, my husband loves it and my Mum loves it. We planned on going again in October but COVID-19 has put a rather large wrench in those plans. So when will we head there next? Who knows. Who know what the future of travel will bring. I am, however, confident that when we start flying again, one of our first trips will be here.