Caribbean Dreams: Discovering Paradise in Turks and Caicos

Resting in the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast of the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of seven main islands and about 40 small islands and uninhabited cays. This easily accessible island chain has come into its own as a idyllic island getaway complete with pristine beaches, deluxe resorts and a gloriously indulgent lifestyle. Visitors can look forward to some exceptionally soft, white sand beaches lapped wonderfully warm, clear azure waters, ideal for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Other popular activities include: exploring the caves of Middle Caicos; whale watching from the Grand Turk Lighthouse; discovering the ruins of Cheshire Hall, a 200-year-old cotton plantation; and visiting the Turks and Caicos National Museum.

Currency

US Dollar (USD; symbol US$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of US$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of $1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday-Friday 08h30-16h30.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at most major banks. Travelers’ checks and major credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, shops, restaurants, banks and taxi services.

There are several international banks in Turks & Caicos and most offer ATM machines that participate in global networks such as Cirrus, NYCE or Maestro. Western Union and other wire transfer services are also available. On the smaller islands, it is recommended to bring cash as credit card acceptance and banking facilities are not as prevalent as in Providenciales.

In addition to the international airports on Grand Turk and Providenciales, there are landing strips on Middle Caicos, North Caicos, South Caicos, Parrot Cay, Pine Cay and Salt Cay.

interCaribbean (intercaribbean.com) and Caicos Express Airways (caicosexpress.com) cover domestic destinations.

There are currently no airports on East and West Caicos. However, an airport at West Caicos is under construction as part of a long-delayed development project to bring a luxury resort to the island.

Car hire is available from some local firms on Providenciales, Grand Turk, and North, Middle and South Caicos. Hiring a car is recommended if you're planning to do any substantial independent sightseeing. In addition to cars, agencies may rent scooters, dune buggies and three-wheeled roadsters. On Salt Cay, the main form of motorised transport is electric golf carts. A national driving licence will be necessary, plus an International Driving Permit if your licence isn't in English.

Grand Turk and Providenciales have the most developed road systems and can be easily covered by car. Roads in rural areas can be poor. Use caution while driving; traffic laws are only loosely enforced and some drivers can be aggressive or reckless. Vehicles are driven on the left hand side of the road.

Taxi services are available at most airports, but the supply may be limited and you often need to share. Negotiate the fare beforehand.

There are no public buses on Turks & Caicos, and you should avoid using the illegal jitneys that are common on the island that at best, overcharge tourists and at worst may be unsafe.

The TCI Ferry operated by Caribbean Cruisin (www.caribbean-cruisin.com) is a daily ferry service between Providenciales and North Caicos, and twice-weekly to South Caicos. A commuter ferry runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between Grand Turk and Salt Cay. You can charter boats at most of the inhabited islands.

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Local food in Turks & Caicos is mostly Creole style and can be found at inexpensive eateries such as the Middle Caicos Cafe and Sailing Paradise on Providenciales. Nor do you have to dig deep in your pockets to get a meal at a more polished restaurant: the popular chicken and ribs dinner on Wednesday nights at the Tiki Hut in Turtle Cove Marina is just over $10, and the most famous eatery in Turks & Caicos, Da Conch Shack, offers reasonably priced conch and seafood dishes.

As well as traditional foods, continental dishes are also available. Many visitors dine in their hotels, but there are plenty of alternatives. Although some establishments have buffet-style dining, table service is common. Alcohol is freely available and a wide selection of imported beer, wines and spirits can be found in most bars.

More upscale dining is available at resorts and stand-alone restaurants, especially in Providenciales. Parallel 23 at the Regent Palms and O’Soleil at the Somerset at Grace Bay are examples of fine-dining restaurants serving international cuisine.

Grand Turk has the familiar Margaritaville but also authentic local eateries and the gourmet Guanahani restaurant at the Bohio Resort. Options on the smaller islands are generally informal cafes and beach bars.

Tipping is generally accepted based on North American guidelines. Some restaurants add a gratuity automatically to their bill. Be sure to check before paying.

Turks and Caicos benefit from a tropical climate; tempered by trade winds, and generally pleasant, nights can be cool, with rain in winter. Hurricanes and tropical storms (with flooding) can strike between July and November.

Most days are warm and sunny, so you can definitely leave your winter garb at home. Clothing made using lightweight, breathable materials in light colors is recommended. In addition to good quality sun screen, bringing along a sunhat and sunglasses are essential. Some nights can be chilly during the winter, so a light sweater may be useful.

Electrical sockets in the Turks and Caicos Islands are very similar to the electrical outlets found in the United States and Canada, and if your appliance has a North American plug, it's possible that you won't need any adapter at all in order to plug in there. However, there are two potentially very important physical differences that may need to be addressed with an adapter: grounding and/or polarization. If your plug has one or both, and the socket doesn't, then the plug may not physically be able to fit into the socket without an adapter.

Electrical sockets on the islands usually supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts AC. If you're plugging in a U.S. or Canadian 120 volt appliance, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance is not compatible with 120 volt electrical output, a voltage converter will be necessary.