Grace Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited.

The first time we travelled there, I genuinely felt as though I’d found paradise. The sand was impossibly white, the water every shade of turquoise imaginable, and the pace of life seemed to slow the moment we arrived.

Turks & Caicos isn’t a budget destination. Compared to many of the places we’ve visited around the world, it’s one of the more expensive Caribbean islands. We spent countless hours searching for accommodation deals and quickly discovered there aren’t many bargains in Grace Bay.

That said, if you can stretch the budget and stay for at least four or five days, I think it’s worth every cent. This is the kind of place that invites you to switch off, slow down and simply enjoy being surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty.

Where We Stayed

On our first visit, we stayed at The Venetian on Grace Bay, and I couldn’t have been happier with our choice.

The beachfront location was excellent, the pool was beautiful, and our apartment was spacious, comfortable and finished to a very high standard. Having a full kitchen and laundry also made it an easy place to settle into for a few days.

My mother joined us on that trip while visiting from Australia, and I think Grace Bay captured her heart just as much as it did ours. Some of my favourite memories are of her sitting on the enclosed patio beneath the ceiling fan, reading her book, dozing in the afternoon breeze and enjoying the slower pace of island life. We had nowhere to be, nothing scheduled and no agenda beyond deciding where to have lunch or whether to go for another swim.

Those are the moments I remember most.

That first visit also sparked something completely unexpected – an obsession with Caribbean real estate. Ever since, I’ve found myself daydreaming about owning a beach house somewhere in the islands. If I ever happen to find a spare few million dollars, Grace Bay would be very high on my list.

Getting Around

One thing worth knowing before you visit is that getting around requires a little planning. Taxis are available but can be expensive, and during our visits ride-share services weren’t widely available.

When we returned a second time with a larger group, we rented a vehicle, which made exploring the island much easier and gave us the flexibility to come and go whenever we liked.

The Barracuda

I’m a little superstitious when it comes to wildlife sightings. During our first trip, we spotted the same barracuda almost every day while swimming. It always kept its distance and seemed completely uninterested in us, but my family has always believed that unexpected encounters with animals can sometimes appear around important moments in our lives.

Whether there’s any truth to that or not, I still think of that barracuda whenever someone mentions Turks & Caicos.

Returning for a Family Celebration

We returned the following year to celebrate my father-in-law’s 80th birthday, this time travelling with a larger group of family and friends and renting a beautiful house in the Leeward area.

The beach near our villa was stunning and only a short drive from Grace Bay. While I really enjoyed experiencing a different part of the island, I still found myself wanting to return to Grace Bay almost every day. There is something about that stretch of coastline that’s difficult to describe until you’ve seen it yourself.

Our visit happened to coincide with a period of increased security following a tragic local incident. There was a noticeable police presence and evening curfews were still in place, although throughout our stay we generally felt very safe, particularly around Grace Bay and Leeward.

The only slightly uncomfortable moment came after dinner one evening when someone was behaving suspiciously near our vehicle outside Da Conch Shack. On the drive home, we also passed through a police checkpoint where officers were searching vehicles with torches strapped to their guns which made me feel uneasy as the driver of our mini-bus.

Favourite Places to Eat

My favourite restaurant on the island is Coco Bistro. Set amongst hundreds of towering palm trees, it has one of the most beautiful settings of any restaurant I’ve visited. After sunset, the lights come on throughout the gardens, creating a really special atmosphere.

Reservations are essential and often need to be made several weeks in advance. I’d also recommend bringing mosquito repellent, particularly during the warmer months.

For something much more casual, we found ourselves returning again and again to The Cabana Bar at Ocean Club East. Located just a short walk along the beach from The Venetian on Grace Bay, it became our favourite place for lunch or a sunset drink. Fresh seafood, tropical cocktails and uninterrupted views across the beach made it somewhere we never seemed to tire of.

My husband was particularly pleased when our server described him as a “good island boy” after watching him eat every last piece of fish, including the cheeks. It’s one of those silly little moments that still makes us laugh.

I loved Coco Bistro so much that it even inspired a landscaping project back home. Its beautiful white pebble car park gave me the idea to use white stone around our own pool and tiki hut, bringing a small touch of the Caribbean to the Nevada desert.

A Day on the Water

One of the highlights of our second trip was a private boat excursion with the whole family. We spent the day cruising along the coastline, stopping to swim in crystal-clear water, enjoying lunch on board and taking far too many photos along the way.

We even passed Noah’s Ark, the famous floating beach club, before finding a beautiful spot to spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing in some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen.

It was one of those wonderfully easy days where there was nowhere else we needed to be, and it became one of our favourite family memories from the trip.

The Simple Days

Some of our best days were also the simplest. We walked the beach each morning, swam in the warm Caribbean water, watched the sunset and spent hours doing very little at all. Grace Bay has a way of slowing everything down.

Remembering Lou

Looking back now, it’s impossible for me to think about Turks & Caicos without thinking about our dear friend Lou.

Lou was one of our first and closest friends in the United States. He was larger than life, endlessly entertaining and someone who made every gathering better simply by being there. He was my daughter’s godfather, a proud Las Vegas native and someone who loved good conversation, great food and making the most of every day.

A short time after we returned from Turks & Caicos, Lou passed away unexpectedly. It remains one of the hardest losses our family has experienced.

I still find it difficult to believe that he’s not physically here with us anymore. I like to think he’s with us in spirit because I think of him so often, particularly at those moments when I can almost hear what he’d say or know exactly what advice he’d give. Lou was very much a “no BS” kind of person, which was one of the many things I loved about him.

In a way, Lou also helped inspire Mrs Globetrotter. The shock of losing him was a powerful reminder that life really is short, and that if there’s something you love or have always wanted to do, there isn’t necessarily a perfect time to begin. I bought the domain name for this blog shortly after his funeral.

Travel gives us beautiful places to remember, but it’s the people we share them with who stay with us the longest. Grace Bay will always be one of my favourite beaches in the world, but I’m especially grateful that we had that time there, and so many other adventures, with our Lou.

His big, wild personality and his friendship will never be forgotten.

Mrs Globetrotter Tips

Best for: Couples, families and anyone looking for a relaxed Caribbean beach holiday.

How long to stay: Four to six days.

Where we stayed: The Venetian on Grace Bay (first visit) and a private villa in Leeward (second visit).

Don’t miss: Coco Bistro, The Cabana Bar at Ocean Club East, a private boat charter and long walks along Grace Bay.

Good to know: Renting a car is worthwhile if you’re staying outside Grace Bay or travelling with family or friends.

Would I return? Without hesitation. Grace Bay remains one of my favourite beaches anywhere in the world.