The Turks and Caicos islands has a warm climate, stunning beaches, incredible resorts, undisturbed marine life, and amazing watersports and activities. It is easy to see why so many travellers want to visit.
But before you travel to this picturesque location, read this guide, which lets you know more about your destination for easier planning:
Plan a Trip to Turks and Caicos
Traveling to a new destination often requires a lot of research - even if just for a relaxing beach holiday! Planning is even more important when visiting this exclusive destination as prices aren't cheap and there are so many places you could stay and things to do. So, what are the important things to know before you book?
When to Travel
Turks and Caicos are known for their popularity especially during the busy tourism season. A great way to enjoy lesser tourists and cheaper prices is to plan your trip during the less busy seasons.
Months:
One of the best things about Turks and Caicos is the favorable weather. Regardless of whether you visit in the rainy season or the warmer months, the weather feels amazing. Use this in your favor by avoiding the peak months (December to March) and instead settle for April to May.
During these months, most tourists have headed back to their countries, and you can enjoy lower costs and exclusive access to most attractions. June to November are also low seasons. However, the threat of hurricanes often clouds these months, and it is thus best to avoid traveling at this time.
Days:
Traveling to Turks and Caiscos on weekends is often a lot more expensive than week days. But that aside, many tourists arrive in Turks and Caicos during the weekends. You can end up spending a lot of time waiting in line, which can sour your experience. Travel during the week, skip the lines, and enjoy more convenience!
These small changes will make a big difference.
Visa
A tourist visa is not required for stays under 90 days but you must have a valid passport to enter and exit Turks and Caicos? You can get a passport in days using a trusted passport agency and save time!
Where to Stay
When people think of Turks and Caicos, many of them envision staying in the major islands such as Providenciales. However, staying on the other lesser-known islands has many benefits:
- The islands also boast beautiful beaches, abundant marine life, and numerous tourist attractions,
- You can connect to the main islands by road or boat, e.g., North Caicos and Middle Caicos have a connecting road, and
- Smaller islands have fewer people and thus allow you to spend more time unwinding, undisturbed by other guests. A good example would be South Caicos.
If you are after a truly exclusive stay and have the budget, consider staying in the private islands where you can unplug from the rest of the world.
How to Save Money
Can you visit Turks and Caicos on a small budget? Of course! While the exclusivity of these islands may have you thinking that you must splurge on items, that is not the case. Here are some ways you can save money.
Travel in the rainy months:
We have mentioned that April to May are the ideal months as they have less traffic than the peak months. But guess when the hotel and airline costs drop the most? The rainy season from June to November! Per projections, hurricanes are most likely to hit between August and September, and you should avoid these months.
Choose a cheap island:
You can stay in one of the exclusive resorts on islands such as Providenciales or save money by choosing hotels in Grand Turk and Salt Cay. Even better, you can cut back on costs by choosing an inn instead of a hotel, as the price differences are significant.
Get travel insurance:
Having good insurance is important no matter when you travel outside the U.S. It is especially so when you travel to these islands in the rainy season when hurricanes are a risk. Get insurance that covers you in case of illness, injury, or luggage loss.
Book tickets early:
The sooner you book your hotel or flight, the less you spend. Most hotel and airline booking sites use surge pricing that responds to changes in demand and supply. If you can get your tickets months before you travel, you can save a lot of money - sometimes, you can spend 50% less!
Avoid go-betweens:
When you are on the islands, you will find many concierges and drivers referring you to some places where you can eat or enjoy watersports. Often, the facility will charge you extra so they can pay a commission to the person who brought you to them. By avoiding go-betweens, you can pay the actual rates.
These islands use the U.S. dollar as the official currency. And with conversions out of the way, keeping track of your expenses will be easy!
How to Stay Safe
Although Turks and Caicos is a very safe destination, you still need to have some caution.
Here’s some top tips how to stay safe and healthy:
Outdoor safety: You want to ensure that you reduce your risk of injury when enjoying outdoor activities by considering the following precautions:
- Wear enough sunscreen,
- Stay hydrated,
- Use safety gear when necessary, e.g., when diving,
- Pay attention to safety precautions, e.g., you should ascend slowly when coming from a deep dive, and
- Only swim when the weather conditions allow it.
General safety: Generally, these islands are safe, but some (like Providenciales) have witnessed a crime rate increase. You can protect yourself in the following ways:
- Stick to the tourist areas,
- Keep your travel documents in a safe, and
- Do not walk alone at night.
- Sharing your itinerary with your loved ones is also important.
How to Get Around
The islands lack public transportation, and the only way to get around is by car or taxi. It's advisable to rent a car as taxis are expensive and often charge per person rather than per trip. Renting a good car willl cost around $40 to $50 per day and allows you to explore the islands at your own pace. Local travel companies also offer day tours and sightseeing activities which can be booked online or once there.
Book a Trip Today
The Turks and Caicos islands are some of the best islands in the Caribbean and once you visit you'll realise why they are so popular. If you have been here and have any recommendations to share let us know in the comments section below.
