After a whirlwind year of fast paced adventures, all we wanted was to hit pause—preferably with our toes in the sand and a piña colada in hand. Turks and Caicos had been on our dream list for ages, and when JetBlue dropped their Black Friday sale, I didn’t hesitate for a second. We happened to be in Japan on Black Friday so I was halfway across the world in Japan, already on vacation, and still couldn’t resist booking another one.

Let’s talk trip planning—aka my favorite kind of strategic puzzle. I keep a running list of dream destinations, loosely mapped out over the next couple of years, complete with optimal seasons. Then it’s all about playing the long game: monitoring fare trends, tracking award availability, and hoarding points like a madwoman. But here’s the real magic: I wait patiently (okay, sometimes not so patiently) for a sweet sale or a killer points redemption. When that deal drops I am ready to book!

Day 1: Saturday
Touchdown in Paradise: Our Turks & Caicos Arrival + First Impressions

We kicked things off with an early morning nonstop flight from Boston to Providenciales—and wow, that plane must’ve been riding some tailwinds, because we landed in just over 3 hours (quicker than most of my trips to Florida!). It was smooth sailing through the airport too—despite the buzz about Saturdays being chaotic at PLS, we breezed through immigration and baggage claim in about 30 minutes. Maybe it was our pre-noon arrival or the fact that we were skirting the edge of high season in late March… either way, no complaints here!

Rental Car Real Talk

We grabbed our rental through Hertz, and while we had a short wait for the shuttle to their off-site lot, the process was easy overall. Quick tip from your travel advisor: if it’s been a while since you rented a car in the Caribbean, double check your credit card benefits ahead of time. Many local agencies don’t accept Amex (guilty—I forgot!) which meant I couldn’t use my usual insurance coverage and had to buy the policy from the rental company. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely something to keep in mind if you’re planning to DIY your driving.

Kokomo Vibes & Left-Side Driving

From the airport, we drove (on the left side!) to our first stay: the Kokomo Botanical Resort. If you’ve never driven on the left before, don’t stress—there are lots of rotaries (roundabouts), which actually make navigating pretty straightforward. I’ve done left-side driving in a few countries now, and you get the hang of it quickly!

Check-in at Kokomo was super welcoming. The manager greeted us with a chilled welcome drink by the pool before showing us to our adorable standalone cottage—each one is a 2-bedroom, 1-bath hideaway nestled in lush tropical gardens.

Why Kokomo?

While Kokomo isn’t beachfront, it has charm and great value. The atmosphere is serene and low-key, with a cozy pool, hot tub, and on-site restaurant. And don’t worry—you’re not missing out on the beach life! Kokomo has its own setup at Grace Bay Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches in the world), complete with beach chairs, umbrellas, and a short shuttle ride included.

Kokomo Botanical Resort

Lunch + Beach Time

We grabbed a fresh, tasty lunch at the WE Market Cafe on-site—I had the poke bowl, my boyfriend went for the flatbread, and we both left happy. Afterward, we headed to Grace Bay Beach, accessing it via the included Alive and Well Beach Club, conveniently located right next to Bight Park. There’s plenty of parking if you prefer to drive instead of take the free shuttle, and the beach attendant took care of setting us up with chairs and umbrellas.

Pro Tip: Grocery Stop = Vacation Hack

Every cottage at Kokomo comes with a small kitchen (fridge, stovetop, microwave), and since Turks & Caicos can be pricey, we made a quick grocery run for beach-day snacks. There is nothing better than charcuterie, chips, guacamole and wine after a day at the beach.

Day 2 – Sunday: Scenic Drives & Sunset Sips

I know I said we were going to take it easy this trip, but I’d never been to Turks & Caicos before! Kokomo left a cute little map of scenic routes in our cottage, and that was all the excuse I needed to hop in the car and explore.

We followed the route out toward Chalk Sound, and wow—this drive is a must. Picture vibrant turquoise water, dreamy villas, and vacation homes that will have you browsing real estate listings by the end of the ride. We stopped to stretch our legs and soak it all in, then made our way to Taylor Bay for a quick dip.

Taylor Bay was absolute bliss—low tide meant you could walk forever before the water even reached your waist. Super calm, family-friendly, and somehow sheltered from the wind that hung around most of the week. A total hidden gem. Park along the road and look for the path. It’s not marked however, there are white concrete walls on either side and a box with tourist brochures by the entrance.

That evening, we made our way to the iconic da Conch Shack. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s totally worth it. With toes in the sand, conch fritters in hand, and the best rum punch I’ve had in a long time, I was in my happy place. My only regret? Not taking a taxi so I could responsibly enjoy another rum punch (for real, I only drank 1/2 of one cup). Pro tip for parents: there is space for kids to run around while the grown-ups sip island drinks.

You may also want to plan for a Wednesday night when they have Junkanoo and Fire Show. Reservations necessary for Wednesday night and busy seasons.

Day 3 – Monday: Mangroves & Macchiatos

We kicked off Monday with a Clear Kayak Mangrove Tour through Clear Bottom Adventures. The tour started at Heaving Down Rock Marina, and the fun began right away—they towed us across the windy bay (first time being towed in a kayak, and honestly? Genius). Once we were paddling under our own steam, our guide navigated us through the mangroves, pointing out conch shells, turtles, and even a lemon shark! When he picked up a live conch to show us, I had a slight pang of guilt about last night’s fritters.

Midway through, we were able to get out of the the kayaks to float in the clear, shallow water. A dreamy way to spend the morning. I recommend setting up this trip to coincide with high tide to make it easier to kayak.

Afterward, we made a pit stop at The Market at Blue Haven for sandwiches and a much-needed iced coffee, then headed back to the resort to finally lean into some true downtime: book in hand, soaking in the hot tub.

Day 4 – Tuesday: Chill Mode (and a Sick Day)

Well, the relaxation must’ve been too effective—my partner came down with a cold and was completely out for the day. I took it as a sign from the travel gods to fully embrace the art of doing nothing. Pool. Hot tub. Kindle. Repeat.

My view from the hot tub:

Day 5 – Wednesday: Boutique Cottage to Resort (aka Welcome to Beaches)

Time for a change of scenery! We checked out of Kokomo and into Beaches Turks & Caicos, an all-inclusive wonderland located on Grace Bay Beach.

Our room was in the Caribbean Village—one of the original sections, but still super comfy and centrally located. Caribbean Village is right next to the construction of the new Treasure Beach rooms however it didn’t feel noisy. I think they are also starting to renovate some of the Caribbean Village.

When you look at their map Beaches seems huge, with multiple "villages," tons of restaurants, pools, and a lots of white-sand beach. We found that everything was within a short walk. This is nothing like the massive resort I envisioned. They also have shuttles in case you need them.

We arrived before check-in time but were able to use the resort right away, so we slipped into our swimsuits and hit the beach before lunch at the buffet (which was surprisingly delicious with local flavors and tons of variety—even a kids’ section!).

By 3 PM, our room was ready. The staff gave us a quick rundown and personally walked us there—bags already waiting. After a little downtime, we headed to Mario’s, the on-site Italian restaurant. Think antipasto buffet, hearty pastas, and a dreamy tiramisu finale. We rolled ourselves back to the room happy and full.

Day 6 – Thursday: Beach, Pool, Repeat

Now this was the kind of day we’d promised ourselves. My partner was still dealing with a cold so we relaxed. We rotated between the beach and pool. I started another book and embraced the fact that this trip was a total 180 from our usual "walk until we drop" itineraries.

We skipped breakfast however I did go JoJo Java for coffee as well as a little croissant. Beaches and Sandals serve Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in all the restaurants and they also have self brew packets in the rooms. This has to be the best coffee I have had at an all-inclusive.

For lunch smashburgers, fries and a milkshake at Bobby Dee’s as well as an afternoon snack at the mac & cheese truck.

In the afternoon I had an amazing massage at the Red Lane Spa. This was our second Sandals / Beaches stay and they gifted us a $50 certificate towards a spa treatment. Honestly, I already had one planned and this sweetened the deal. All guests are allowed to use the gym, steam, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools. My massage was around 2pm and it there were only a few people around. Since it’s a family resort they also have some spa treatments perfect for teens.

Dinner was at Dino’s Pizza. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting gourmet pizza but they have it. We even thought about getting one to go on the day we were leaving.

Yes, we ate like teenagers today - burgers, mac and cheese and pizza and loved every minute of it. We did walk a lot, does that count?

Iced coffee and iced hot chocolate from JoJo Java

Day 7 – Friday: Snorkel Fail & Sushi Redemption

I had every intention of going on the included snorkel tour—got up early, ready to go… only to find out you need to sign up the day before at 7 AM. Whoops. They kindly squeezed me in for Friday, but the trip was canceled due to windy weather (a theme this week!).

Still, not a total loss—sunshine, pools, and beach time made up for it. That evening we dined at Soy, the resort’s sushi spot. I gave the conch “sushi” a try—wasn’t my favorite, but the rest of the meal more than made up for it. Fresh, tasty, and beautifully presented.

Bonus: Friday night was Caribbean Night, complete with a beach buffet and a lively street party. Music, lights, and lots of fun vibes all around.

There are a few chickens and cats on the property. They mostly keep to themselves but Mac the Mac and Cheese chicken will clean up and scraps by the mac and cheese truck and Sushi, the Soy Restaurant cat, will gladly help with any leftover sushi. Yes, we named them.

Day 8 – Saturday: So Long, Paradise

Our flight wasn’t until 4 PM, but check-out was at 11 AM. Luckily, we were able to hang at the resort and store our bags, which made for a nice, slow final day. Since we had a car, we skipped the included transfer, but it’s worth noting: Beaches and Sandals include round-trip airport transfers in every package—a nice perk for stress-free travel.

A word of caution: the Turks & Caicos airport is small, and Saturdays (plus school vacation weeks) can get very busy. Give yourself at least 2 hours to clear security—and don’t expect to hang out comfortably. It’s functional, but not exactly a lounge-y kind of place.

Trip Recap

This trip was so worth the wait. I’ve had Turks & Caicos on my list for years, and now that I’ve finally been, I can confidently say: it lives up to the hype. The beaches are some of the most stunning I’ve ever seen—soft white sand, endless turquoise water, and a laid-back vibe that makes it easy to truly unwind.

Whether you’re traveling as a couple, a family, group, or looking for peaceful villa life, Turks & Caicos has something for you. And if you’re interested in planning your own adventure, I’d love to help! I have been helping customers book villas and resorts for over 20 years!