Turks & Cuties!
Jack: “Jill, we need to celebrate Nemo’s birthday.”
Jill: “Nemo?”
Jack: “Yes, Nemo. What should we do?”
Jill: “Nemo?”
Jack: “That’s a GREAT idea!”
Jill: “Nemo?”
Our daughter (well, one of them) recently brought in a big milestone.. 21! As such, we felt we had to bring our A game and do it the “right way.” We tossed around a few ideas including Nashville but quickly realized that would have been more for us than for her. She’s not a big drinker. Us? Well…
Then it hit us; let’s take her and the rest of our brood to an island where she could go diving (hence, “Nemo”) and we could decompress.
Jill handled the research, as she always does, and narrowed the list down until we arrived at the chosen destination: Turks & Caicos! Following that, she continued her work narrowing down our list of hostels to stay in. Uh, I mean, hotels.
Now, I figure, if you’re going to do something, do it right, right? And so, we chose… wait for it… wait for it… The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos. What. A. Choice!
Our stay was simply AMAZING! The beauty of Turks & Caicos goes without saying. The beauty of the people is what really made the difference for us.
From the moment we arrived we were greeted with warmth, grace and attention. That carried on throughout our entire stay. Everyone we encountered was both professional and personable and were committed to making our visit the ‘ultimate’ experience. They succeeded.
Registering upon arrival was the most pleasant experience we have had anywhere during which we were presented with complimentary Rum Punch (an island specialty!). Oooh, that is good! It was the first of many for us on the trip.
As we were a tad early, we settled in at Noori, which is in the lobby lounge and outdoors (for that matter, the lobby itself is outdoors- yes, it works!), for some excellent sushi and more Rum Punch. The food, outstanding; the service, better still.
Once our rooms were prepared, we were personally escorted to them. Our personal escort, whose name slips my mind, was kind enough to speak of all the amenities available to us as well as where to find them. And R-C, T&C offers a considerable amount!
The rooms are exactly what you would expect of the Ritz-Carlton; well-appointed, bright and clean. The views we had from our balcony were of the ocean and simply extraordinary! Sitting out there in the evenings was simply delicious.
Leaving the girls to their own devices, we would begin every day by getting our freshly made smoothies and a big warm smile from Johnnie at the outdoor bar next to Coralli, on our way to the beach. These smoothies, some of the freshest fruit you would ever imagine- mango, banana, strawberry, coconut water- YUM!
Once there, the attendants would set up our chosen chairs with towels and umbrella and tend to any requests throughout the day including food and drink. One gentleman stood above the rest; Calvin. Calvin gave us a “WOW”, serenading our daughter with an ‘island-style’ rendition of “Happy Birthday”. Quite frankly, his warmth and attentiveness elevated the experience to another level and words simply cannot express our gratitude! We were fortunate to have him there quite a number of days during our stay.
Celebrating Nemo’s birthday one evening, we had dinner at BLT Steak… because she is a ‘piranha.’ NYC-style steakhouse, respectable wine list, truffles-galore! Once again, the food, outstanding; the service, better still.
When it came time for post-beach activities, we were open-minded and had decided to rely on Concierge. They did not disappoint! Or rather, HE did not disappoint.
Wenderson!
We simply cannot say enough about this man. Wonderful, personable, gracious and knowledgeable! It’s important to note, Wenderson was able to conclude that what we really wanted was to participate in the ‘local scene’ as best possible. Afterall, you can’t really escape the tourists on an island.
Quickly working out a plan, he recommended several ‘adventures’ for us to pursue with our daughters and put them into action including scheduling reservations and transportation as needed. Further still, he was kind in introducing us to a local gentleman, Nick- otherwise known as “Mr. Turks Concierge”- who, for all intent and purpose, took us ‘under his wing’ to assure we truly experienced the love of the island! Nick not only befriended us but also shadowed our activities to make sure we were enjoying the experience.
One activity was Wednesday evening at The Conch Shack, a mandatory experience for all including locals. The place was booked but Nick got us in, seated and tended to! What. A. Party!
The food was great, the drinks flowed, the ‘fire breathing guy’ was awesome and you can’t beat celebrating on the beach! Jill was feeling no pain.
On a side note, there were quite a few conch shells on the beach for any and all to pick up- they just wash up. My luck, one of the girls grabs the one with the live conch inside.
Another activity was the Thursday Night Fish-Fry, another mandatory experience for all including locals. It’s basically a ‘flea market’ style layout with food, alcohol and souvenir vendors. Oh yeah, and there’s a stage featuring live music! What. A. Blast!
He also directed us to THE post-Fish Fry event; karaoke at Danny Buoy’s. WHOA BOY, did we have fun! The shots flowed! Jill was feeling no pain (again) and Nemo sang a song with the full support of the crowd! The girls had an absolute blast! What memories!
Nick was simply amazing. Not only did the girls take to him and him to them… in a brotherly way, mind you… but Jill and I took to him, as well. A beautiful soul.
As for some ‘resort-related’ activities, on Reece’s recommendation, we decided to explore the beautiful Caribbean aboard the Lady Grace Catamaran; a five-hour excursion which includes snorkeling, some time at a natural refuge (Iguana Island) as well as lunch and drinks aboard- more Rum Punch!
Though Nemo is one with the oceans, I am a pedestrian. For me, snorkeling was an epiphany! The world that exists is simply amazing! Off the coast of T&C is the world’s fourth largest reef system. I saw so many beautiful fish and am absolutely clueless to their names. But they were beautiful! Also, saw a reef shark and a couple barracudas. Nemo was in her glory. As an aside, for her, this followed a day of serious diving with a dive shop (Dive Provo). By her accounts, “now THAT was amazing!”
Lastly, Jill planned for us all to go horseback riding. In the water. It was so much fun. The horses were beautiful, the handlers were awesome and Jill led the charge. Fearlessly, I might add. We so enjoyed it!
Our final dinner was at Le Bouchon Du Village. What a way to cap off this amazing week. Our server (forgive me, I cannot remember his name though he has an incredible accent) was beyond welcoming. The food was exceptional though his interactions with us all raised the bar moreso! The food, outstanding; the service, better still.
At all times, wherever we went, whatever we did, we felt welcomed and appreciated.
Upon departure, we met Noelia who followed up on our experience, simply wanting to be assured it met our expectations. As we explained to her, it didn’t meet them; it EXCEEDED them!
Though our trip ended, the memories created by the Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, as well as the people who embody the island, will remain with us forever. Or at least until our next visit!
The island is paradise, the Ritz-Carlton- second to none. But the people; they are beautiful!