Global Gumshoe | Ron Stern

This string of about 40 islands and cays is located around 575 miles southeast of Miami and is officially classified as a British Overseas Territory. For travelers, the island of Providenciales – Provo as it is known to locals – is the one that is most frequented by visitors, and their slogan “Beautiful by Nature” is well deserved.

This island has grown quite a bit since my last visit 10 years ago, and has become an idyllic vacation destination for anyone who loves the sun, sea and spas.

For newcomers, here are my top five things to see and do:

Beaches

There are eight beaches on Provo, many of which are, not surprisingly, situated at the rear of hotels and resorts. I stayed at the Regent Palms located on Grace Bay with stunning views of the ocean. The waters here are vibrant hues of aqua, turquoise, cobalt blue and green.

You can indulge in any number of water sports including kite boarding, tubing, sailing and parasailing, or you can sit on the beach with a cool drink and do absolutely nothing.

Day cruising

The concierge at most of hotel properties has good suggestions for things to do and see. Our little group of writers took a boating trip around some of the smaller islands north of Provo. The island itself covers an area of 38 miles, and depending on the time of year, you can see dolphins and whales as well as several species of birds, including egrets, herons and flamingos.

The small cruising vessels are quite fun and there are spots to snorkel or just frolic in the surf. Lunch is usually part of the equation, and in our case, the staff brought a gourmet picnic complete with champagne and dessert. I couldn’t help but think of friends back home stressing out at work, stuck in traffic or suffering through a cold winter.

Shopping and dining

The downtown area of Provo is lined with shops offering designer goods as well as a nice mix of retail shops. One of the more unusual of these is Potcake Place. No, this isn’t an island bakery, but rather a sanctuary for local feral dogs, known as potcakes. The name comes from feeding the dogs what was left over from the evening’s cooking pot the next morning. These cute little puppies are cared for by volunteers with the goal of finding them homes, and you can even take one back to the U.S. in special travel containers that fit, believe it or not, under your airplane seat.

There is also an assortment of restaurants offering cuisine ranging from casual to fine dining. We did a little dining around the area and sampled cocktails at the Somewhere Bar, appetizers at Coco Bistro and dinner at the Caicos Café. Typical island cuisine includes dishes made with fresh fish and the other local delicacy, conch.

Island tour

You can either rent a car or hire a taxi to explore the island. The cost for a two-hour tour by taxi is approximately $130 for two people. Some of the most popular attractions are the conch farm; the ruins of the 18th century cotton plantation Cheshire Hall; Sapodilla Hill, where gravestones mark the resting spots of shipwrecked sailors; and a natural phenomenon simply known as the Hole.

To find it, just look for the rock with the hand painted sign reading, “The Hole.” Here, you can stand on a ledge and look down 80 feet into a sinkhole that someone found on his property. You can’t buy memories like this.

Spas

The first thing people learn when coming to the islands is to slow down and relax. One of the best ways to do this is to spend some time at one of the local spas, exactly what I did at the Regent Spa at the Regent Palms on Grace Bay.

The World Travel Awards recently honored this location, which beat out 20 other spas around the globe for the title “World’s Leading Spa Resort.” With treatments like the mother of pearl polish and Zareeba – a herbal steam detox and cleansing – the words “pamper me” take on new meaning. The staff also goes to the extra effort of employing technicians from all over the world, including places like Bali and Jamaica, for an authentic experience.

Whether you love to soak up the sun, swim or snorkel along glorious coral reefs or simply enjoy spending time in a world-class spa, the Turks and Caicos will deliver again and again.

Where to stay

During my trip, I stayed at the five star Regent Palms located on Grace Bay. My ocean view suite came with a full kitchen, top of the line furnishings and a large balcony. The views are stunning with a palm-tree lined pool and multi-hued green and aqua ocean.

There are several restaurants on site, including the award winning Parallel 23 featuring international cuisine. Their executive chef has been with some of the world’s top hotels and can create a special in-suite meal for you and your party, with advance reservations.

I spent a lot of time at the infinity pool relaxing while watching the beach and water scene. Fortunately, you don’t have to leave at mealtime as their Plunge swim-up bar will serve you from the full menu. For more information visit regenthotels.com/EN/Palms.

—Ron Stern can be contacted at [email protected] or by visiting ronsterntravel.com and globalgumshoe.com. All accommodations, airfare, attractions and food were sponsored by the providers mentioned in this article.