It wasn’t until I was filling out the entry documents somewhere over the Atlantic that I counted. Seven. This was our seventh trip to Turks & Caicos. Probably the most visited destination for us next to Italy. But here’s what made this one different from all the others: it was Mia and Lucy’s first international trip. And if I’m being honest, it was the trip I didn’t know I’d been waiting for. Before Mia turned three, travel with both girls felt dreadful, the diapers, the bottles, the pack-n-plays, the sheer logistical weight of it all. Now that we’re on the other side of that season? We feel like we can go anywhere. So we did.
We kept this one completely off socials in real time. No stories, no posts, nothing. We just wanted to be a family on vacation. Freddie and I captured moments here and there, the way so many parents do, and then we came home and put together something we hope actually serves you: a real itinerary, honest details, and all the things worth knowing before you book.
Why Turks & Caicos (Again and Again and Again)
For us, the logistics alone make it a no-brainer. We drive to Freddie’s parents in New York, fly out of Newark, which is twenty minutes from their house, and four hours later we are on the ground in paradise. No long haul. No layovers. No destroyed children arriving at a hotel. Just a short, easy flight and then that water.
But the water! There is nothing else like it. Nothing.
Where We Stayed: Turtle Inlet Villa at Grace Bay Resorts
We’ve stayed at five different resorts across our seven trips, and the one we keep coming back to is Grace Bay Resorts. This time however instead of staying at Grace Bay or Rock House, we stayed in one of their private villa collections. If you want the amenities of a five-star luxury hotel and the privacy of your own villa, this is genuinely the only way to do it in Turks & Caicos.
Turtle Inlet sits along the north coast, nestled between Grace Bay Club and Rock House. It’s a perfectly positioned strip of private villas, and what you get there is something I didn’t know I needed until I had it: your own private beach, a dedicated staff, a private chef cooking every meal on property, family-friendly water activities set up right at your door, and private transportation to and from both Grace Bay Club and Rock House whenever you want to venture out.
It is, without question, the best of all worlds. It was a full week of completely checking out. No meal prep, no prep anything because everything and anything was already planned for us.
A note for fellow Leading Hotels of the World members: As a reminder! We are LHW members and have been for close to a decade now. Grace Bay and Rock house are part of the portfolio, which means you arrive with a whole layer of elevated service already in place. If you’re not already a member, it’s genuinely worth looking into, especially if luxury travel is something you prioritize. The perks for members and the recognition make a real difference, particularly when you’re traveling with kids and every little thing counts – oh, did I mention it’s FREE to sign up?
Our Full Itinerary (So You Can Steal It)
Monday Arrival Day
We landed at 11:29am and were met immediately by our SkyPass Caribbean agent. A fast track arrival service that means you bypass the usual chaos at customs and are escorted straight to your baggage and waiting driver. I can’t overstate how much this matters with children. We were at the villa by 1PM where lunch was waiting for us. Our private chef had set up at the villa and the rest of the afternoon was ours. Just the four of us, the beach, and that water.
That evening our car took us over to Grace Bay’s restraint, Infiniti. If you’ve never been, the setting alone is worth it: a sprawling beach front dinning oasis sparkled with palm trees connected by string lighting, fire pits with seating perfectly positioned for sunset viewings, a beautifully integrated bar that then leads into the dinning patio. Request a table closest to the beach, especially if you have kids because they can run around while you and your husband sit and enjoy the sunset and a glass of wine. The food is truly phenomenal and there’s something for everybody. It’s not just order chicken nuggets and fries place for the kids. It has thoughtful food choices for everyone.
Tuesday: The Boat Day
This is the day I know I’ll think about for the rest of my life.
We left early that morning from Turtle Cove Marina for a private boat excursion and within minutes understood exactly why it’s called Turtle Cove. The marina opens into a protected area home to thousands of sea turtles, and almost immediately, we could see them from our boat. Everywhere you looked, little turtle heads were popping through the water.
What I wasn’t prepared for was Lucy’s reaction. Somewhere during this trip, something shifted in her. She fully learned how to swim and without hesitation started jumping off the side of the boat with Freddie, snorkeling through the water searching for turtles completely fearlessly. Watching your child become brave enough to inspire you is such a surreal feeling as a parent.
The entire excursion was incredibly family friendly. Everything was provided, snorkeling gear, towels, sunscreen, flotation devices for the girls, snacks and drinks, even a guide swimming nearby pointing out turtles before they surfaced so the girls wouldn’t miss them.
From there, we made our way to a sandbar about twenty minutes down the coast. The water was so blue it was hard to tell where the sky ended and the ocean began. Mia fell asleep on me at the front of the boat while we cruised through the water, one of those tiny moments I wish I could bottle forever. The sandbar itself felt untouched. Sand dollars everywhere, impossibly soft sand, shallow crystal clear water – the kind that reflects everything around you, and seagulls floating around while the girls chased them laughing barefoot through the sand.
As we headed back, another boat captain let us know dolphins had been spotted nearby, and within minutes we found an entire little dolphin family, a mom, dad, and baby dolphin swimming and jumping beside the boat. The girls were absolutely screaming with excitement. It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen.
Before heading back, we stopped at Iguana Island (new fear unlocked), which was both hilarious and slightly terrifying. The iguanas basically sprint toward the boats because they know they’re getting fed fruit. Mia is still talking about the “guanas” weeks later.
We made it back to the villa completely sun drunk, salty, exhausted, and happy in the way only a truly perfect vacation day can make you feel.
That evening, we had dinner at Vita at Rock House, which felt completely different from Infiniti in the best way. More intimate, tucked dramatically into the rocks overlooking the water, with that slow Italian style dinner service that reminds you meals are meant to be lingered over, not rushed.
Wednesday: The Slow Day
The ultimate luxury of this entire trip, as simple as it sounds, was waking up every morning to a full breakfast spread prepared for our family.
Each day, our chef would prepare all of our favorites and it allowed us to completely check out in a way I didn’t realize we needed. Mornings really define the rhythm of a day and there’s something transformative about starting slowly, taken care of, coffee in hand with nowhere to rush off to.
We would sit together on the beachside patio listening to the waves before wandering down to the beach still in our pajamas, coffees in hand. There’s honestly something magical about standing barefoot on the beach at 8 AM in pajamas that just hits differently on vacation.
And in the spirit of slowing down, some of the best travel days are the ones with absolutely nothing urgent on the agenda. With two pools at the villa, we spent most of the day drifting between the water, the beach, and doing very little at all.
The highlight of the day was a private pizza making experience with our chef at the villa. Flour everywhere, tiny hands shaping dough, complete chaos in the best way. The girls talked about it nonstop for the rest of the trip.
That evening, our chef prepared dinner at the villa and we ate outside as the sun went down. Simple days somehow always become the ones you remember most.
Thursday: South Bank & Spa Day
On Thursday, we headed to South Bank Resort, one of the newest luxury properties in Turks and Caicos by Grace Bay Resorts. The property sits half along Long Bay and half on the ocean beach side. The property feels modern, design forward and centered around a stunning ocean swimming lagoon, marina lifestyle, and a quieter side of the island that feels more tucked away and residential.
We spent the afternoon at Lua Beach House, the resort’s waterfront restaurant, which immediately became one of our favorite spots of the trip. The entire space is beautifully done, relaxed but elevated, with open air dining overlooking the cabana lined lagoon and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours.
While Freddie and I each snuck away for massages at the spa, the girls spent the afternoon at the Kids Club, which ended up being such a gift as parents. The programming felt genuinely thoughtful and creative rather than just childcare, with activities inspired by the island itself, from crafts and cooking to outdoor play and discovery.
Afterward, we all met back up for dinner at Lua before heading home to the villa. The entire evening felt easy in the best way, beautiful food, tired happy kids, warm ocean air, and that slow vacation feeling where no one is checking the time anymore.
Friday: Departure
Leaving Turks and Caicos never gets easier for us. By our final morning, none of us were ready to leave. We had one last breakfast prepared at the villa while the girls ran barefoot between the patio and the beach, already asking when we could come back. Freddie and I just sat there soaking in those final few hours, trying to stretch them a little longer. And then suddenly, just like that, it was time to go.
Our SkyPass agent met us curbside at the airport, making departure just as seamless as arrival, and before we knew it we were wheels up and heading home.
What still amazes me most about Turks and Caicos is how accessible it feels for families despite feeling worlds away. Four short hours from Newark and you’re somewhere that looks and feels this extraordinary.
Seven trips, two little girls, one week that I will not stop thinking about. Turks & Caicos has a way of doing that, of making you feel like you’ve found the place you were always supposed to be. We’ll be back. We always come back!
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go
- SkyPass Caribbean for fast track arrival and departure is worth every penny, especially with young children. Look for the blue uniform and the curbside kiosk, they’re easy to spot right as you get off the plane and before customs.
- Deluxe Transport Services scheduled by the hotel and handled all of our ground transportation throughout the week. Reliable, super kind and professional, always on time.
- Book the villa over the hotel rooms if your budget allows. The private chef alone changes the entire rhythm of a family trip. No rushing kids to restaurants for every meal, no negotiating menus. It is a total game changer.
- Book the boat day early in the week so you have something to talk about for the rest of the trip!
- Leading Hotels of the World membership is completely free to join and gives you access to exclusive member perks across some of the most beautiful hotels in the world, including room upgrades, complimentary breakfast offers, early check in and late check out opportunities, member only rates, personalized amenities, and priority experiences. If you travel often, especially internationally or with family, it’s absolutely worth signing up before your next trip.
More details, specific booking contacts, and everything you need to recreate this trip are linked below!
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