The beauty of Turks and Caicos is different from other islands in the Caribbean. It is not only a magnificent place to be but is a real paradise and a very luxurious travel destination. I had the best time in Turks and Caicos; the people were kind and the hospitality everywhere was of a very high standard. A while ago I decided to visit the Caribbean but there were so many beautiful islands in the Caribbean to choose from I wasn’t sure where to go. In the end I chose Turks and Caicos because it did not seem as touristy when compared to the Bahamas or some of the other islands. The best reason to visit Turks and Caicos is absolutely the beautiful white sand beaches and the crystal clear sea. There are many areas to stay on the islands in Turks and Caicos, all of which are beautiful, this trip I chose to stay on Grace Bay beach. I love the convenient location of the luxury hotel resorts on Grace Bay as it makes it easy to explore both the local restaurants and high end hotel restaurants alike. As I love to be on a quiet beach away from many people to really enjoy the private and clear blue ocean, based on what I read and the pictures I saw I decided to stay at the Alexandra.

I was so happy when I arrived at the Alexandra, the room was beautiful and as soon as I went on my balcony I could see the bright blue ocean stretching as far as I could see. It made me forget about everything. I could not wait to get out to the beach it was so alluring. I love the private beach area at the Alexandra. The hotel provided umbrellas for guests and the staff were very friendly. I got to the beach, found my chair and ordered a mojito, what a great start to my vacation. Grace Bay beach is consistently rated one of the top five beaches in the world – it was immediately clear to me why. When I looked around, everyone seemed so relaxed enjoying the time of their lives and that included me as well.

My first day of the trip was amazing and when it came to dinner time I decided to take it easy and eat on the terrace by the beach. The Alexandra has a beautiful terrace dining area where you can listen to the live band and enjoy dinner while watching the sunset. I ordered fried conch for my dinner. When you come to Turks and Caicos you must try conch. This is a very typical very local dish here. I am a big fan of conch and I was glad to be able to sample local conch just about every day here. After dinner I decided to take a night walk on the beach to free my mind and dip my feet in the ocean while watching the stars. This first day of the trip was heaven for me.

I was really amazed by how friendly the staff at the beach was. They provided me with great information about where to go, places to see and where to eat. The second day I decided to try out parasailing to enjoy the pristine view of Grace Bay and the big bright blue sea from the air. It was stunning and so much fun. After parasailing I went on a boat trip right by the beach near my hotel to go conch hunting. The conch hunting was fun and I was able to enjoy conch ceviche made from the conch that I caught – it doesn’t get any fresher than that – such a great food experience. While relaxing before heading back to the hotel, I was lucky to see sting ray right off the side in the shallow water.

My third day was exciting as I found a guide to show me some of the other islands as I wanted to explore and learn more about Turks and Caicos. He picked me up right at the hotel and I immediately told him that I was hungry and I needed to eat at a local restaurant where the locals love to go so he took me to his favorite local restaurant. I had the best conch salad there as well as a grilled whole fish, a great way to kick off the day. After a wonderful late breakfast we proceeded to the ferry to get to one of the other islands. The tour guide was well prepared and had an arrangement for a car once we reached the other island. Thanks to the guide I was able to see some great places and get a lot of information about each place. It helped me feel like I really got to know Turks and Caicos and not just the area around the hotel. I love the freedom and the way I travel which makes my trip so unique and allows me to learn about the location, the culture and the geography. It is not only a trip to enjoy the sights but also to get to know the people and the hidden spots. This whole day private trip all around the islands was incredible and it made me really fall in love with Turks and Caicos. I was totally exhausted by the end of the evening so I decided to chill by the beach a little bit before I headed off to bed and ready for another wonderful day.

Another wonderful day was ready for me as soon as I awoke. I wanted to explore more about Grace Bay beach so I walked along the beach until I hit a great spot for breakfast at the Coral Garden area where I could enjoy my breakfast at the second floor terrace with the ocean view. I had to fill up my energy level with steak and eggs and a smoothie. The staff here was also very friendly and I had a fun conversation with the team here. After a wonderful breakfast I was ready to go for a snorkeling trip at the Coral Garden. The snorkeling was right off the beach. This made for so much fun and a very relaxing day without having to worry about transportation and getting on a boat. The snorkeling here was great and there were so many bright and colorful fish just right off the beach. When It got a little too warm for snorkeling during the afternoon I decided to walk back to the resort where I could enjoy an afternoon cocktail and some snacks. I was pampering myself in the shade, listening to my iPod, snacking and enjoying a cocktail when I started thinking that I wanted to explore more and enjoy more snorkeling here in Turks and Caicos. I always love to go snorkeling wherever I can so I got up and planned for a snorkeling trip for the following day.

The next day I embarked on a snorkeling trip by boat to head out to a prime snorkeling spot. The wind, fresh air and the clean smell of the ocean gave me the energy I needed and drove my curiosity about the ocean life out here. Once we reached the offshore coral reef we all jumped right in. It was very beautiful and the water would so clear that I could see each beautiful fish with crystal clarity. I felt like those gorgeous fish were a magnet attracting me forcing me to keep looking, staring and diving down to get closer and closer. I had such a lovely time enjoying this beautiful ocean life and the pristine coral each with different features. This was a brilliant way to spend the day.

This getaway trip to Turks and Caicos was tremendously inspiring for me. It was a relaxing trip and everywhere I looked the beauty was endless. I went snorkeling, caught and ate fresh conch, went parasailing, enjoyed some time on a sailboat and spent a day getting to really know the islands with my private guide. I was lucky to see most of the islands and was able to learn about the great hidden spots, just a great experience. I cannot wait to go back soon.