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Things To Do In The Caribbean

5 must-see’s near Grace Bay Beach

The island of Provo, while small and private, is also filled with interesting things to do and see. Here are our top 5:

1) Check out the National Environment Centre

Close to Grace Bay Beach and the Sands resort, the National Environmental Centre (NEC), shows the natural habitats and ecosystems of the Turks and Caicos Islands. A Children’s Park is located nearby.

2) Visit Coral Gardens

The Coral Gardens are perfect for kids, and are quite close to shore. Remember to bring surf shoes, a mask and snorkel, and also remember that children should be watched at all times.

3) Go to the beach

While most guests never want to leave the white sand of Grace Bay Beach, the following beaches are also fun to visit:

  • Sapodilla Bay
  • Princess Alexandra National Park
  • Taylor Bay
  • Northwest Point Beach
  • Long Bay Beach

4) Visit the Graceway Sports Centre

This area is perfect for families with young children, with a pool and various recreational activities. It’s also quite close to our resort on the Leeward Highway.

5) Join the Race for the Conch

The Race for the Conch is an Eco-Swim, openwater swimming competition held every year on the island of Provo. It’s a world-class event that attracts top competitors. Either join the race, or look on. It’s an exciting way to spend your time here by our resort.

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Announcements

The Sands Announces Two New Wedding Packages

Turks & Caicos Resort Unveils Two Affordable Beach Wedding Packages For Couples To Wed In The Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (July 2013) – The Sands at Grace Bay, located on Turks & Caicos’ world-famous Grace Bay Beach, is pleased to unveil two intimate and affordable beach wedding packages for the upcoming 2013/14 Caribbean wedding high-season. The two customizable packages provide couples with the basic elements for an elegant beach wedding ceremony for up to ten people, with the ability to invite additional wedding guests and add-on optional wedding day “extras” based on their ceremony and reception desires. Both under $5,000, these affordable ceremony packages allow couples to plan their dream Turks & Caicos beach wedding that is within their budget in the Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination (2012 World Travel Awards).

The following are inclusions for The Sands at Grace Bay’s two intimate beach wedding packages for 2013/14:

“Let’s Say I Do”: $1,850 Per Couple

  • On-site event assistance
  • Assistance to obtain marriage license and marital paperwork
  • Officiant for wedding ceremony
  • Witness, if needed
  • Bridal bouquet and Groom’s boutonniere
  • Wedding cake (serves 10 people)
  • 10 complimentary wedding chairs adorned with chair covers
  • iPod docking station
  • Two pole beach wedding arches with white sheer cloth
  • Special welcome amenity
  • Special turndown service on night of wedding
  • Celebratory bottle of sparkling wine

“Let’s Go For It”: $4,680 Per Couple

The “Let’s Go For It” package includes all of the offerings from the “Let’s Say I Do” package, with the following additions:

    • Brilliant by Tropical Imaging photograph package, which includes:
      • A 2-hour shoot
      • Beautiful 10×10 Turks & Caicos book with 30 pages
      • All Digital Files
    • Spa Tropique’s “I Do” Bride & Groom Spa Package that includes the following His & Her Treatments:
      • 70-Minute Swedish Massages
      • Delicious Full-Scalp Massages
      • Fabulous Foot Massages

The wedding package prices are based on a 10 person wedding and do not include room accommodations or the resort’s 10% service charge and 12% government tax. For each additional wedding guest (up to 20 persons) an additional $25 per person charge will be applied to the total package price. For groups over 20, customized package pricing will apply. Refunds will not be provided for unused features of any package purchased.

To make these packages customizable, The Sands at Grace Bay has partnered with the very best local vendors to offer special packages and pricing for couples to select from a variety of wedding day “extras” – including wedding reception dining and rehearsal dinner packages, florists, entertainers, island excursions, hair and makeup artist and much more. For more information on these affordable wedding packages and for a sampling of the wedding day “extra’s” offered for couples who wed at The Sands at Grace Bay, visit www.thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/weddings or call toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637 and ask to speak with a wedding coordinator.

About The Sands at Grace Bay

The Sands at Grace Bay is situated on the world-renowned 12-mile crescent of powdery white sand known as Grace Bay Beach. Named one of the, “Top 30 Hotels in the Caribbean & The Atlantic” by the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards, this gracious, family- friendly 114-room resort offers accommodations in studios and 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites ranging from 1,000 to 1,600 square feet, all of which combine comfort-focused amenities and spectacular natural surroundings. Each suite also comes with a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living room areas, a screened-in private balcony, washer/dryer and much more. The Sands at Grace Bay is the home of Hemingway’s Restaurant and Bar – a legendary beach-side venue and local favorite – where guests can enjoy gourmet selections and island specialties seven days a week. Spa treatments by Spa Tropique are also available by appointment.

Media Contact:
Cassie Dittrich, (802) 522-0714,

Categories
Things To Do In The Caribbean

Bonefishing in the Turks and Caicos

The Turk and Caicos offers many opportunities for fishing. While the nearby Bahamas is considered the top location for bonefishing in the Caribbean, if you’re hoping to try out the sport for the first time – especially if you’re trying to fit in some fishing with a family vacation – Providenciales is an ideal location.
bonefishing in the caribbean
Why? For one thing, Provo is easy to get to (not all bonefishing spots sport an international airport), and many of the shallow salt flats that are the bonefish’s typical haunts are close by, within a half hour drive from the Sands resort on Grace Bay.

Slip out and go for a private fishing vacation

So, if you’re travelling with family or a loved one who does not necessarily like fishing, Provo is a good place to start. You can nip out for a half day or so, starting early in the morning, returning early enough to spend the rest and best part of the day with your family.
Generally speaking, the bonefish (nicknamed “the grey ghost”) prefers the changing tides, and comes close to shore during full tide.
The fish are far more powerful than trout or steelhead, and provide an amazing experience for fishing.
Popular bonefishing spots on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos include Bonefish Point, on the extreme western tip of the island (west of the Chalk Sound). Other areas include the tidal shallows between Provo and Pine Cay to the east, although the islands ringing shallow Caicos Banks to the south of Provo offer many opportunities.
What to bring with you for bonefishing in the Turks and Caicos:
  • Fly Rod
  • Fly Reel
  • Tropical Fly Line
  • Nine foot leader and 16# floro tippet
  • Flies (#2-6 tan gotchas are best)
  • Polarized sunglasses

Most people keep well-covered up when flyfishing for bonefish, with a long shirt, long pants, a hat, and something to cover the face.

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Turks Caicos Information

Providenciales Taxi Cab Fares: Getting to The Sands at Grace Bay

A frequently asked question we receive from our resort guests is, “How much will a taxi ride cost to/from the airport to The Sands at Grace Bay?”  The current taxi fares for a one-way trip from the airport to The Sands at Grace Bay are $28 for the first two persons, and each additional passenger (beyond the first 2) will be charged an additional half fare per person ($14).

Below is a list of the current taxi-cab fares from the Providenciales Airport to a variety of different resorts, restaurants, beaches and other island destinations.

We look forward to seeing you soon, on your Turks & Caicos vacation!

 

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Turks Caicos Information

Permits Now Required to Import Animal and Plant Products To TCI

The Turks & Caicos Islands’ Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, recently issued a press release stating that permits are now required to import animal and plant products into the Turks & Caicos Islands in an effort to protect the people, plants, animals and environment throughout the TCI. This is an effort to further prevent the entry of serious disease or pests of animals and plants from coming into the country, and to ensure the continued safety and health of our island residents and visitors.

Visitors importing the following types of controlled commodities or regulated articles below must now apply for a permit prior to importing their goods into the Turks & Caicos Islands:

Controlled Commodities (Animal Health Ordinance 2012) include live animals such as cats and dogs or any species of animals; animal products and by-products such as pork, beef, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, cheese, fish and fish products.

Regulated Articles (Plant Protection Ordinance 2012) include live plants, seedlings, vegetative stems, seeds for propagation, soil, cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, germplasm, as well as used agricultural implements or machinery.

For further explanation of the import conditions and new permit process, members of the public may contact the Department of Agriculture at [email protected], and/ or 649-946-5801 or visit www.gov.tc.