Feel at Home in the Caribbean at The Somerset on Grace Bay

If you’ve always dreamed of owning your own beach house, this resort is for you. Situated beside the turquoise waters of Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos, this 53 villa resort offers guests luxurious amenities with all the comforts of home. From engagement-cation to babymoon, The Somerset on Grace Bay is somewhere you’ll want to escape to year after year.

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

As soon as we pulled into the palm tree-lined driveway of The Somerset, we instantly felt relaxed. The island’s nearly perfect average of 350 days of sunshine per year was just the escape we needed from the frigid NY winter. We were greeted warmly by the General Manager, his wife, and a cold glass of the best rum punch I’ve ever had. After capturing every Instagramable nook of our palatial one-bedroom villa, we popped open our perfectly chilled (yay ice buckets!) complimentary bottle of champagne and let the vacation vibes start to soak in. 

Accommodations 
From 1,400 sq. ft. one-bedroom residences to 5,300 sq. ft. five-bedroom penthouse estates, The Somerset has suites to accommodate honeymooners and large families alike. Each villa is equipped with marble floors, flat screen televisions in the living room and bedroom(s), a gourmet kitchen, washer and dryer, an outdoor terrace or balcony with views of the croquet lawn, garden, pool, beach or ocean, and more. There is also an iPad stationed at the breakfast bar that you can use to do everything from looking up activities to ordering room service.

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

When booking your villa, there are three different types of buildings to choose from, The Estate Buildings, The Stirling Building, and The Residences. The four Estate Buildings frame the pool area and house the 3-bedroom Estates — one on each floor. The Penthouse Estate has space for up to 12 guests in its 5,300 square feet. Offering views overlooking the pools and beautiful Grace Bay Beach, the 1, 2, and 3-bedroom Pool and Ocean Villas in the Stirling Building are centrally located on the resort's property. For families with younger children, the multi-story Residences are set back from the pools and beach and surround a lush croquet lawn. For wedding guests on a budget or honeymooners who aren't ready to splurge on a villa, there are also 275 sq. ft. guest rooms available.

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

For couples getting married at The Somerset, there are room blocks available. You can receive 1-3 complimentary nights depending on how many rooms your group reserves.  Plus, if you come back for your anniversary, you get 10% off your stay, one night free, and a bottle of champagne. 

Beach and Pools
A perfect day in Turks and Caicos consists of splitting your time between the pool and the beach. Start your day off by soaking up the sun and taking a dip in the resort's refreshing zero-entry infinity pool. If you are looking to get a workout in, there is a lap pool as well. As the sun moves across the clear blue sky, migrate down to the beach where lounge chairs and tables to hold your frozen cocktail await. All you need to do is sit back and relax as you listen to the sound of the waves kiss the shoreline. But don't miss out on taking a dip in the azure ocean! As a self-proclaimed aquaholic, I can attest that Grace Bay Beach has the clearest aqua-hued water I've ever seen. There are no filters necessary for your photos here. 

Photo Credit: Mary Gillen

Weddings
On our way to dinner the first night at the resort, we took a peek at a beautiful wedding reception set up on what I would find out later is the Croquet Lawn. Centrally located between the main entrance and the lobby, it’s the largest lawn space on the island of Providenciales (think Gatsby vibes with a tropical twist) and can accommodate up to 200 guests. There are five location options for your wedding reception at The Somerset. The second option, the Estate Lawns (seen below) are perfect for couples that want views of the sea in a garden-type setting. The capacity of this venue space is 150 guests. Many brides choose to stay in the rooms right outside of the estate lawns, allowing them space and privacy to freshen up if needed. 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

If you envision a poolside wedding, the pool deck is another popular choice for your big day and can accommodate 300 guests. For a more intimate affair, The Pavillion restaurant can seat 60 guests. This space is also a good option for your rehearsal dinner. And last but certainly not least, you can host a 200 person reception on the beach. Believe it or not, this option is the most affordable because there is no site fee. Due to that savings and the obvious natural beauty, the majority of couples opt to host their ceremony on the beach. 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

You can choose from wedding packages starting as low as $1,495 and customize them to fit your personal style. All of The Somerset's wedding and reception packages include personal coordination, a rehearsal, and an officiant. Once you choose your wedding style and nail down your décor, then comes the tasty part, choosing your menu. From your cocktail hour to a buffet or a multi-course seated dinner, award-winning Executive Chef Brad Townsend and his staff cook up classic appetizers and entrées with a unique Caribbean flair. Popular dishes include surf and turf, jerk chicken, snapper filets or grilled chili-lemon mahi-mahi with truffle mac and cheese, spinach salad, and scalloped potatoes au gratin as some of the side options. Contact the Special Events Coordinator Tanya Williams to learn more about wedding packages and pricing. 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

Food and Drink
The Somerset has one main restaurant on property, The Pavillion, and there you'll find exquisite cuisine and attentive wait staff.  It is open for breakfast and dinner. The complimentary breakfast spread is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. When seated, each table receives a large plate of fruit and pastries and is instructed to fill their plates at the buffet when ready. The buffet consists of breakfast staples from french toast to bacon. We indulged in pancakes, bacon, chocolate croissants (since carbs definitely don't count on vacay) and fruit (because balance). There is also an a la carte menu with specialty egg options. We chose to forgo lunch, but if you are hungry at lunchtime, you can order a bite poolside from the LunaSea Pool Bar & Grill. There are classic options like pizza and sandwiches, and island specialties like conch fritters and fresh conch salad (it's like ceviche but with meat from a conch shell).

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

After a long day soaking up the sun, head back to The Pavillion to enjoy pre-dinner drinks at the longest pearl inlay bar in the world. For dinner, there are a variety of both land and sea options. Each night there is a menu of dinner specials according to a different theme (i.e. Tapas and Tacos, Italian Night, etc). I highly recommend their specialty Caicos Lobster Thermadore, picture tender chunks of lobster swimming in a creamy cheese sauce (yum!). 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

My favorite meal at The Somerset was definitely the spread and ambiance at the Beach BBQ. Every Tuesday night, The Somerset hosts a dinner party on the beach with a DJ and a fire show. Happy hour at the rum bar begins at 6 PM. Leave your shoes in the room and feel the freedom of your bare feet on the soft sand as you sip a margarita or rum punch. The buffet is served at 6:30 and features a menu of many Caribbean favorites. The fresh surf & turf is grilled right on the beach, and the lobster is one of the best I've ever had. In addition to surf & turf, they offer pasta dishes, grilled vegetables, dessert and more. After dinner, the island's resident "fire-man" puts on a dazzling display with flames that light up the night. 

Photo Credit: Mary Gillen

Once the show is over, there is still plenty of time to dance or stargaze with your sweetheart before the event shuts down at 10 PM. The cost of the experience is $49 per person or $64 per person with lobster (when in season). The beach BBQ is only offered on Tuesdays, but if you want to dine with your feet in the sand another night, private dinners on the beach are available for booking through the concierge. 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

To feel at home immediately upon arrival and take full advantage of your villa’s spacious kitchen, the resort offers pre-arrival grocery shopping to stock your pantry, refrigerator and wine cooler as desired. This option is great for guests with strict dietary needs. Prepare your own meals on your time schedule without having to worry about finding food that is compatible with your lifestyle. You can also schedule the In-room Chef Service, a private consultation is arranged to develop a menu specifically tailored to suit your needs. The in-room service can be anything from a romantic dinner to a cocktail party with passed hors-d'oeuvres and champagne. This service includes a chef and waiter who will set your table, serve you, and clean up afterward. 

Snorkeling
Sitting pool/beachside is obviously a fantastic way to spend your time at The Somerset, but If you are looking for a more adventure-packed day, book a snorkeling tour with Island Vibes. The islands of Turks and Caicos are surrounded by one of the largest coral reef systems in the world, providing world-class scuba diving and snorkeling. The tour picks you up on the beach outside the resort and takes you to the reef. On the way there, your guide will point out mansions of the rich and famous as you cruise by. The tour is perfect for everyone regardless of previous snorkeling experience. The visibility of the coral and multi-colored fish is so good that you barely need to stick your head underwater to get an eyeful. When you get out of the water, grab a cup of rum punch and snag a seat on the lounge chairs on the top of the boat.

The next stop is an uninhabited piece of land referred to as Iguana Island. There you'll have 40 minutes to frolic in the waves and take photos on the same beach as Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated models. Return to the boat for fresh conch salad and more rum. Before heading back to the resort, the boat will anchor and you can try to get that perfect boomerang sliding down the waterslide or diving off the diving board. We promise you will arrive back at the resort as happy as a conch. 

Photo Credit: Mary Gillen

Bike Riding 
The resort offers complimentary beach cruisers that you can take out for a ride into town for lunch or souvenirs. Pedal to the Potcake Place, less than one mile from The Somerset and play with puppies who need some puppy love. Potcake Place is home to animals in need of adoption and socialization. After making a small donation, guests can play with puppies for a few hours on the beach. Who knows, maybe you'll even find a fur baby to take home! 

Photo Credit: Potcake Place

Spa
Treat yourself to an island-inspired massage or facial in one of two treatment rooms, or request a romantic in-room couples massage in the comfort and privacy of your villa. For added relaxation, enjoy your massage outdoors on your private terrace with gentle sea breezes and soothing sounds of the ocean. For brides, the spa offers in-room hair and makeup services, so you and your bridal party can look picture perfect on the big day. 

Photo courtesy of The Somerset

From the beautiful beach to the luxurious accommodations, The Somerset is the perfect resort for your destination wedding or honeymoon. The Somerset's wide range of villa options from one to five bedrooms can easily accommodate your wedding guests and you can return year after year as your family grows from just us two to a whole brood. 

Photo Credit: Mary Gillen

Who's ready to set sail on the trip of a lifetime to Turks & Caicos?