Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos Opens This Summer

It seems you want Amanyara without the Amanyara prices. In Turks and Caicos during high season that is impossible and then you are left with the RC Aruba “crowd”.

@ Pete -- Hah, totally fair, except I'm willing to go in off-season too. For example, the absolute lowest rate at Amanyara (in hurricane season) is $1,475 per night, and that comes out to $1,873 per night including taxes and fees. Ouch.

I don't really like that it's 12 stories, doesn't fit in with the Island. They shouldn't have approved anything with a design over 5 stories IMO.

Ritz Carlton South Beach is my favorite Ritz if going to the beach. It was just renovated and is only a 3 hr flight from NYC, lovley hotel with great service and in walking distance to tons of restaurants so you don't feel trapped.

I have been looking forward to the opening of this hotel for a while. The beach on Grace Bay is the best in the world.Prices are expensive but worth it in my opinion.

Ben,
Grace Bay Club is the OG of T&C. Hands down the best with regards to price / location / service. Have stayed there multiple times and nothing else compares. It is a part of FHR and depending on the time of year the room upgrades can be quite nice.

Turks & Caicos limited the building heights for decades to preserve the islands but recently got greedy. 12 stories do not fit into this island.

I stayed multiple times at the Club Med: While the accommodations are simple, you are on the same great beach and most sports are included. There is great snorkeling, wind surfing and sailing !

I always just stay at the Sands of Grace Bay. Always cheap around 200 for a large one bedroom with kitchen and dryer. Although it’s not that much of a hotel it has a small restaurant and nice pool.
The Ritz Carlton is just so out of place on Grace Bay
SAD! Lol

We've been to T&C twice and both times stayed at the Royal West Indies. Nice small owner rented condo complex next door to Club Med. You get a kitchen which convenient.
Not sure if they still do it but they had a daily 2 for 1 happy each day at the outdoor bar. It brought in people from other resorts even. It was fun. Bartender got to know me and would get me my drink upon arrival without asking.

I second the grace bay club. Phenomenal property, outstanding service. One of my families favorite vacation spots. Breakfast included as are kayaks, paddleboards, etc. Amazing beach
Also they give you a cellphone that summons your concierge anytime you want. I long to go back

Ugh. Too bad it wasn't a Park Hyatt or St Regis instead. The lack of elite recognition at Ritz properties is such a turn off, and is the only reason why I avoid booking there.

There are plenty of other cooler properties on Grace Bay, take a look at the Gansevoort for example.

If you want something different you should stay on Long Bay and take kiteboarding lessons–that's where we always stay, best kiting in the world 🙂

Years ago in the 90's I used to work for Club Med at North American HQ. I went to the Club Med T&C a couple of times and loved it. This was old school Club Med, super basic. They've changed, still looking not super luxurious, but the beach is incredible! Tons of sports, diving is great. It's been 20+ years since I've been to a Club, but the food used to be great.

Go for a beach house at Parrot Cay. You'll not regret it. It costs a little more than a base pavilion at Amanyara but provides significant better value.

I was there March of 2020 and it wasn’t very far along. Definitely looked out of place to the otherwise “underdeveloped” feel of Grace Bay compared to say, 7 Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

you’re basically paying the “not that far from rich New Yorkers tax”
Or you can call it "far away from most people tax." It doesn't guarantee that everyone will be civilized and have impeccable manners but money can't buy you everything.

Have been to T&C many times and stayed at a variety of places. The thing to note for Parrot Cay and Amanyara is that you need to really like going to the beach. That sounds obvious for anyone going to the Caribbean, but there's really not much else to do at those and they are more remote; but yes they are the top options down there along with Grace Bay Club. I prefer GBC as there's much more to do and I prefer to be on Grace Bay beach. It's a rare one that meets and surpasses the expectations. GBC also had renovations recently, so while it is one of the older properties, it's up to date and fresh. I also highly recommend Waymara (formerly Gansevoort). It's on the left side of Grace Bay and has a much more private feel to Grace Bay since the only other property there is West Bay club (GBC's little/cheaper sister). It's also a short walk to one of my favorite beach bars anywhere.

Other fun options are Shore Club (great pool, but not on Grace Bay), or get crazy and go with a Beach Enclave villa.

12 freakin’ stories?

The Bali Beach hotel was the first high rise on Bali, and it really murdered the skyline on Sanur beach.

There was such an outcry over it that it’s the reason that it’s the *only* high rise on Sanur. Kuta and Nuda Dua notwithstanding, Bali learned the hard way how NOT to build hotels.

I suspect Turks snd Caicos will learn the same lesson.

Agree 12 floors is way too tall for the island and that beach. Most of the original resorts are three or four floors. The attraction of Grace Bay is that it is not overdeveloped but it looks like that is changing.

TandC overall pretty$$$$ than some other islands. It seemed when we stayed there they charged for everything other places included. Not a place i will return to soon.,,Cabo-Espranza was sooo much better.

Already made a booking for late August. Not cheap at all, but my agent for breakfast thrown in.

Can’t wait!

Come on Ben. What you dont like Ritz-Carlton's so you just phone this post in with a rehash of youtube videos? Maybe you shouldn't do reviews or comment on beach resorts since you seem to be a city guy.

I have been to plenty of RC's and each is unique.

Sorry a bit disappointed.

Just got back from Rtiz Carlton TCI. Overall, very disappointed as it felt nothing like a Ritz. The soft product has some natural growing pains and I'm sure will be fine, but the hard product itself (appearance, pools, etc) are all lacking and make it feel like Marriott or maybe an Edition. This hotel is for certain people, but if you are expecting the Ritz experience, especially if you have been to other Ritz in the Caribbean, like Grand Cayman (one of my favorite hotels) you will be disappointed. Good news is that it did feel private and somewhat secluded, it didnt seem like a resort factory at all.