Ron Moore
06-04-2007, 08:29 PM
For our 25th anniversary and my wife’s 50th birthday we enjoyed an 8-night eastern Caribbean cruise and then relaxed for a week in Turks & Caicos (Provo) - just what the doctor ordered! We limed most of our time there so I don’t have a lot of information. But it was an amazing place and a good choice of “hotels” and I apologize for the length of this report. Other folks we met that were staying at one of the Ocean Clubs, Club Med, or Beaches were considering the RWI for their next visit.
Arrived at airport, short drive to Royal West Indies resort (RWI) in Grace Bay, reserved an ocean-view room 9 months ago and we were shown to room 833, center room in building 8. Wonderful view of the pools and of the Caribbean and the reef. Couldn’t have picked a better spot. Buildings 1 - 8 are laid out 1, 2, 3, 5 7 along the right of the pools, bldgs. 4 & 6 to the left, & 8 faces the beach and pools between them.
Studio is very roomy, with 1 king or queen bed and a sitting area. Bathroom is clean and roomy although the sink vanity is small. Water pressure low but satisfactory. The studio is equipped with a washer/dryer combo, sink, microwave, toaster, and some dishes as you enter the unit. Fridge came in very handy. Many of the studios and 1 bedroom units are owned, and many are for sale by the owners. Prices are running from $300k for a 1st floor studio to $500k for a 2nd floor 1 bedroom – both garden view.
Beautifully landscaped resort, nice pools, clean towels available all day. Getting a lounge by the pool or the ocean not an issue. An employee is available at the beach to set up your lounges and umbrella, no charge. A party is held on Monday at 5 PM, excellent chicken wings and conch fritters and rum punch. Many geckos of course. Nice, quiet place. Construction of the Seven Stars and new Grace Bay condos wasn’t as bad as others had said. But it will be very crowded on Grace Bay soon.
Bought a pass at RWI for the Gecko bus, thought it would be a great way to hop around since we weren’t in a hurry. What a mistake – the “bus” is now on call like a taxi, so you won’t see it on the route and you will wait for hours. Take a taxi – worth every penny! Taxi from airport to RWI is $20, from RWI to Turtle Cove 16, from RWI to Sands/Hemingway's $6. Bikes at RWI are great for getting to the Ports of Call or the Salt Mills plaza. Sidewalks are new and are in excellent shape all over this part of the island, very surprising.
Restaurants – we spent most of our time at the RWI so I don’t have many reviews on the many restaurants on Provo. But there are several excellent choices –
Mango Reef at RWI – Excellent! Our choice most nights. Breakfast was enjoyed by others we met there, we typically ate a light breakfast on the balcony, what a view…We enjoyed their excellent pizza for lunch along with great margaritas.
For dinner my wife had the vegetable pasta with cream sauce and she absolutely loved it. I had the T-bone steak (my first actually, had always been partial to the NY strip), this was one of the best steaks I had ever had. Reminded me of steaks we had at Sebastians on Tortola – totally surprised both times. Simply amazing flavor and excellent quality of cut. So I had three while there!
I would recommend the Mango Reef for their excellent service and the consistency and quality of the dishes. One bar waitress was very aloof or just rude, but all others were very friendly and fun. The bar is a great spot during the day and night, and the pool is right there. You can charge all drinks and meals to your room.
Barefoot Café in Ports of Call plaza – Under new ownership (Jimmy’s Dive), had a great cheeseburger for lunch and excellent pasta dishes for dinner. The menu is full of “normal” dishes that you’re dying for after a few days on the island (spaghetti, etc - even meatloaf!)
Sharkbite in Turtle Cove Marina – stopped in for lunch, great cheeseburger and nice folks. TikiHut looked a little upscale for us as we were hot and sweaty.
Gecko Grill at Ocean Club was ok, Flamingo an experience.
Danny Buoy’s – stopped here for a cold beer after having zero luck with the Gecko bus and walking a mile. Gary was in from Calif because the other owner was getting married. Gary was very helpful and sympathetic since it was very hot. He even brought us 2 bottles of water while we waited for a taxi – Great guy. We didn’t make it back there at night but the belongers consider that to be the best night spot. Thanks again Gary, we’ll stop in next trip!
Hemingway’s at the Sands – We rode our bikes here during the day to see the place because many belongers consider Hemingway’s and the Mango Reef the best restaurants on Provo. The head waitress met us and was very nice, giving us an excellent table on the open deck for the evening. We returned at 7 PM and the table was waiting for us. I ordered the NY strip, ok but not nearly as good as the T-bone at Mango Reef. My wife had wanted the Lobster Pasta, we were surprised to learn that lobster was out of season. She ordered the pasta with no shrimp and enjoyed it. Our waitress was very aloof, others were very nice – just the luck of the draw as anywhere else. Saxophonist was enjoyable, bartender very good – nice spot and I would recommend it for a romantic dinner for two on the deck. Our only problem was we at the very edge of the deck, the best table for a sunset. But we were eaten alive – I had forgotten to bring the spray and I should have asked for some there. Beware – the lamps are lit but you may want to request a table in the deck center…
Anacaona at Grace bay Club – Truly an amazing place! We had wandered into the Grill area one night while strolling the beach. Really nice with open-air lounge chairs and tables and bar, nice outdoor pool at the hotel. The Anacaona was extremely nice, an open-air fine dining experience that I wish we had tried. But we were concerned about the heat and the bugs and never returned. But you should at lease see this place – gorgeous setting for a romantic dinner.
We liked Provo and want to return to see the other islands and do the things we missed while there. Snorkeling and parasailing over the reef should have been our priorities but we were just enjoying the beautiful beach and our balcony too much this time. But nice people, great restaurants, beautiful blue water and powdered sugar sand – paradise found.
Arrived at airport, short drive to Royal West Indies resort (RWI) in Grace Bay, reserved an ocean-view room 9 months ago and we were shown to room 833, center room in building 8. Wonderful view of the pools and of the Caribbean and the reef. Couldn’t have picked a better spot. Buildings 1 - 8 are laid out 1, 2, 3, 5 7 along the right of the pools, bldgs. 4 & 6 to the left, & 8 faces the beach and pools between them.
Studio is very roomy, with 1 king or queen bed and a sitting area. Bathroom is clean and roomy although the sink vanity is small. Water pressure low but satisfactory. The studio is equipped with a washer/dryer combo, sink, microwave, toaster, and some dishes as you enter the unit. Fridge came in very handy. Many of the studios and 1 bedroom units are owned, and many are for sale by the owners. Prices are running from $300k for a 1st floor studio to $500k for a 2nd floor 1 bedroom – both garden view.
Beautifully landscaped resort, nice pools, clean towels available all day. Getting a lounge by the pool or the ocean not an issue. An employee is available at the beach to set up your lounges and umbrella, no charge. A party is held on Monday at 5 PM, excellent chicken wings and conch fritters and rum punch. Many geckos of course. Nice, quiet place. Construction of the Seven Stars and new Grace Bay condos wasn’t as bad as others had said. But it will be very crowded on Grace Bay soon.
Bought a pass at RWI for the Gecko bus, thought it would be a great way to hop around since we weren’t in a hurry. What a mistake – the “bus” is now on call like a taxi, so you won’t see it on the route and you will wait for hours. Take a taxi – worth every penny! Taxi from airport to RWI is $20, from RWI to Turtle Cove 16, from RWI to Sands/Hemingway's $6. Bikes at RWI are great for getting to the Ports of Call or the Salt Mills plaza. Sidewalks are new and are in excellent shape all over this part of the island, very surprising.
Restaurants – we spent most of our time at the RWI so I don’t have many reviews on the many restaurants on Provo. But there are several excellent choices –
Mango Reef at RWI – Excellent! Our choice most nights. Breakfast was enjoyed by others we met there, we typically ate a light breakfast on the balcony, what a view…We enjoyed their excellent pizza for lunch along with great margaritas.
For dinner my wife had the vegetable pasta with cream sauce and she absolutely loved it. I had the T-bone steak (my first actually, had always been partial to the NY strip), this was one of the best steaks I had ever had. Reminded me of steaks we had at Sebastians on Tortola – totally surprised both times. Simply amazing flavor and excellent quality of cut. So I had three while there!
I would recommend the Mango Reef for their excellent service and the consistency and quality of the dishes. One bar waitress was very aloof or just rude, but all others were very friendly and fun. The bar is a great spot during the day and night, and the pool is right there. You can charge all drinks and meals to your room.
Barefoot Café in Ports of Call plaza – Under new ownership (Jimmy’s Dive), had a great cheeseburger for lunch and excellent pasta dishes for dinner. The menu is full of “normal” dishes that you’re dying for after a few days on the island (spaghetti, etc - even meatloaf!)
Sharkbite in Turtle Cove Marina – stopped in for lunch, great cheeseburger and nice folks. TikiHut looked a little upscale for us as we were hot and sweaty.
Gecko Grill at Ocean Club was ok, Flamingo an experience.
Danny Buoy’s – stopped here for a cold beer after having zero luck with the Gecko bus and walking a mile. Gary was in from Calif because the other owner was getting married. Gary was very helpful and sympathetic since it was very hot. He even brought us 2 bottles of water while we waited for a taxi – Great guy. We didn’t make it back there at night but the belongers consider that to be the best night spot. Thanks again Gary, we’ll stop in next trip!
Hemingway’s at the Sands – We rode our bikes here during the day to see the place because many belongers consider Hemingway’s and the Mango Reef the best restaurants on Provo. The head waitress met us and was very nice, giving us an excellent table on the open deck for the evening. We returned at 7 PM and the table was waiting for us. I ordered the NY strip, ok but not nearly as good as the T-bone at Mango Reef. My wife had wanted the Lobster Pasta, we were surprised to learn that lobster was out of season. She ordered the pasta with no shrimp and enjoyed it. Our waitress was very aloof, others were very nice – just the luck of the draw as anywhere else. Saxophonist was enjoyable, bartender very good – nice spot and I would recommend it for a romantic dinner for two on the deck. Our only problem was we at the very edge of the deck, the best table for a sunset. But we were eaten alive – I had forgotten to bring the spray and I should have asked for some there. Beware – the lamps are lit but you may want to request a table in the deck center…
Anacaona at Grace bay Club – Truly an amazing place! We had wandered into the Grill area one night while strolling the beach. Really nice with open-air lounge chairs and tables and bar, nice outdoor pool at the hotel. The Anacaona was extremely nice, an open-air fine dining experience that I wish we had tried. But we were concerned about the heat and the bugs and never returned. But you should at lease see this place – gorgeous setting for a romantic dinner.
We liked Provo and want to return to see the other islands and do the things we missed while there. Snorkeling and parasailing over the reef should have been our priorities but we were just enjoying the beautiful beach and our balcony too much this time. But nice people, great restaurants, beautiful blue water and powdered sugar sand – paradise found.