Stephen Jones
As I broke through the surface of the crystalclear waters, holding a pink conch shell aloft, in my mind I hoped I looked like James Bond. Instagram evidence subsequently proved that I was more like Mr Bean trying to juggle jelly.
But at least I had caught lunch for my friends on the boat, who were enthusiastically snapping away on their smartphones.
We’d been diving for the molluscs all morning on a Seaside Scavenger Hunt off the coast of the Turks and Caicos islands, one of the jewels in the Caribbean crown.
Our captain made quick work of turning our catch, a renowned delicacy, into a salad while we dropped anchor again to go in search of sand dollars (otherworldly flat sea urchins) along white sands of one of the archipelago’s many uninhabited islands.
We would need the energy for snorkelling behind the barrier reef – the third largest in the world – to marvel at the rainbow parrotfish, snapper and angelfish to name but three inhabitants of its phenomenal coral world.
It would become but just one of
several “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences we would log while staying at award-winning Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa – a luxury hotel complex on the sun-drenched shores of Grace Bay, just up the road from late pop star Prince’s second home.
Turks and Caicos doesn’t just boast some of the best beaches in the world, but THE best beach in the world – and it’s right on the resort’s doorstep.
Wander along its threemile long pristine sand, dip your toes in its clear turquoise waters and you will soon realise why Grace Bay has been voted with this accolade for five years on TripAdvisor – and why so many lovers choose to say, “I do” here.
Beaches is the family brand of the adults-only Sandals chain – and given that British Airways flies here twice a week via Antigua in under 12 hours, it’s a journey that’s doable with children.
Many will just go for the weather, as Turks and Caicos boasts sunshine 350 days of the year – but you soon discover it’s the way Beaches does holidays that’s alluring too.
The resort is split into four villages, each having an accent on relaxation. I stayed in a Concierge