Stay & Play

Club Med Turkoise
An Inviting Adult-Only Escape in Turks & Caicos

by Susan Campbell

I don’t know about you, but when I used to think of Club Med, wild and crazy spring break romps and family vacations full of exuberant kids came to mind. So when I found out that Club Med also has an adult-only escape, and it just happened to be located right on one of my top three favorite beaches on the planet- I was all in!

Glorious Grace Bay Beach- Providenciales
Before we get into the nuts of bolts of this resort, we must talk about this beach. Seemingly endless uncrowded miles of brilliant white crushed coral carpet cresting turquoise calm aqua waters- it’s seriously worth a trip to Providenciales – also locally called “Provo”- just to experience it. In fact, Grace Bay Beach constantly ranks in the top ten beaches of the world, and was chosen number one on Trip Advisor in 2018. It’s that gorgeous.

Casual barefoot fun on Provo’s best beach
Of course, Grace Bay Beach is the chosen location for all of Provo’s main resorts, it all depends on the kind of holiday you’re looking for. But if you’re seeking a really fun, casual, all-inclusive adult-only escape there, look no further than Club Med Turkoise.

Newly refreshed
Following massive renovations after hurricane damage in 2017, and also because it was due as this was one of the very first resorts to be established on the island, the entire complex has now been upgraded to 4-trident standards- Club Med’s internal rating system.

With 284 rooms stacked in colorful complexes, the resort spans 34 acres of super prime beachfront property. But I won’t lie, the older rooms are still a tad small and Spartan by today’s resort standards- and most don’t have balconies. So do opt for one of the 92 new deluxe rooms, with balconies, fresh decor, and sea views. But seriously, you’ll not be spending much time in your room anyway with so much to do.

For dining, there’s one big main buffet restaurant- with indoor and outdoor seating. It’s truly massive and comprehensive on all levels, and the fare was consistently fresh and creative. There’s also a fancy wine tasting room with tapas, but not included in the price. Sharkie’s Grill & Beach Bar is your only other option for food, but their casual fare is very tasty and the seaside location is lovely. They could use a few more food option spots to be honest, but they told me an additional more high-end dining room was in the works for this year, so that will be welcome.

Activities & entertainment
If you can tear yourself away from lounging on that soul-soothing beach, you can try windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, and snorkeling, all included in the cost. There is also a great dive operator on site. There’s also tennis, beach volleyball, basketball courts and billiards as well. Or you can work out at the newly renovated indoor fitness centre and enjoy free fitness activities like sunset yoga. And of course, being a Club Med, there’s always some kind of crazy races or themed activities and parties going on all day, and all night it’s live music and energetic dancing by their newly renovated infinity pool. ( Which is incidentally open 24/7 – a rare treat.)

Fly through the air or spa by the sea
Then there is the flying trapeze! The signature activity at this particular resort is a huge trapeze set-up for guests including free lessons. Even if you don’t partake, it’s a lot of fun to watch. Also fun is to hear the shrieks of those attempting it while you are getting a glorious seaside massage at the new spa nook right next door.

The beauty of this spot is that there is plenty of room to have some quiet time by the sea, but lots to do if you want to join in and be social. Best of both worlds, and a bargain on Grace Bay Beach.

www.clubmed.ca/r/Turkoise/y