My kids are grown up, but were they little again, a suite in the Italian Village at the all-inclusive Beaches Turks and Caicos, located on gorgeous Grace Bay Beach, would be a sure bet. The most alluring part: A separate bunk room for the kids, wonderfully appointed with two mahogany bunks -- one atop the other -- with a trundle bed under the bottom one; and, to keep them busy on the rare rainy day, their own 27-inch flat-screen TV with a state-of-the-art Xbox.
Beaches Turks and Caicos has a stunning array of rooms, more than 600 in all and the bulk of those -- with some 14 categories -- in the new Italian Village, which was added in 2009 at a cost of $150 million. It was money well spent.
I had one of the smallest rooms in the village and it was plenty roomy for a single guy, some 640 square feet of pure luxury and comfort. It was called the Tuscan oceanview family suite, with separate kids' room, and had a giant, four-poster, king-size mahogany bed that you can get lost in all alone.
There was a 42-inch flat-screen TV, more than enough viewing space for a room this size. Next to it was a bar area and a full array of hard liquor that's part of the all-inclusive package, and a fully stocked refrigerator with water, juices, soda and beer (Turk's Head beer, in fact, terrific local brew). The bar area also comes with a microwave and coffee machine.
The kids' room is a place I could have called home, with the bunks, huge, mahogany shelves, its own sink and of course that Xbox. The suite shares a bathroom, and it's a beauty, with two-basin mahogany vanity with wall-mount make-up mirror and hair dryer; a large whirlpool tub; separate rainhead shower; and private toilet behind two wooden, louvered doors.
The bath boasts Carrera marble throughout, and the sinks and tub are skirted by a luxurious green marble with iridescent inset tiles. By far, it's one of the most comfortable bathrooms I have ever seen at an all-inclusive resort.
The only drawback, if there is one, was my room came with the tiniest balcony imaginable; they're all not like that, but the positioning of my room in the Pisa building of this complex meant sacrificing space, and while my balcony was tiny -- maybe eight feet across and tapering down in a triangle shape of much less width -- it was rather cozy, with tiny table and chairs and a pretty cool view of the pool and grounds, and the ocean to my right. All in all, a terrific room.
The big mama of the Italian Village rooms has to be the Turin Water's Edge walkout, two-bedroom imperial family suite, which opens directly to the powdery, white-sand beach from two oversized patios. This stunner is 1,368 feet of luxury and includes everything my room had and much more, including connecting doors leading to a living room with daybed and trundle, sleeper sofa, cocktail table, lounge chair, desk, 42-inch flat-screen TV, oval dining table with seating for six, wet bar and butler's pantry.
And speaking of butlers, the high end of accommodations here at Beaches Turks and Caicos features full-out butler service. This is white-gloved service at its finest, with butlers trained to the highest standards of the elite Guild of Professional English Butlers. They do it all, from unpacking and packing your luggage to attending to your wardrobe to serving dinner on your private terrace.
Even without butlers, the service here is pretty terrific. The maid that I had, Louisa, always seemed to be around, inquiring if I needed anything, tidying up, working around my schedule and coming back when needed. Midday, an attendant comes to refresh your minibar. And the staff throughout is incredibly attentive, from bath personnel to the dive shop to waitstaff in the resort's 16 restaurants. My first day I realized I didn't have a robe in the room and made a call. Moments later, one appeared at my door.
And there is absolutely no tipping (save for the butler service). Go ahead, try. I did, a couple times. Got turned down, politely of course.
I took a tour of the other two villages: Caribbean and French, and found them both outfitted gorgeously in the architecture and appointments of their namesakes. The Caribbean Village is a seaside garden paradise set in a canopy of coconut palms and other lush landscaping. The French Village is designed in the sophisticated style of Paris, with elegant gardens leading past sidewalk bistros. Each village has a massive pool and a series of others, six in all throughout the 65-acre resort that is easily walkable and not as big and imposing as its acreage may sound.
The room styles and appointments vary from village to village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, but one thing is uniform: Attention to detail and one of the best staffs you'll ever find at a Caribbean all-inclusive.
Beaches Turks and Caicos
Lower Bight Road
Providenciales
Turks and Caicos, BWI
Phone: 649-846-8000
Website: www.beaches.com