The Turks and Caicos islands, located about 600 miles southeast of Miami, refer to two groups of British territory tropical islands: the smaller Turks islands and the larger Caicos islands. Situated on the most populated island, Providenciales, is the luxurious Seven Stars Resort on Grace Bay.
The Island
A true luxury destination, this island only holds 4.5+ star hotels. A tremendous benefit is that all of the hotels on the island create a network and work together. Seven Stars Resort will gladly recommend restaurants at other resorts, and the other resorts will do the same for Seven Stars Resort; they recognize that if you're vacationing for a week, you won't want to eat in the same three restaurants every day. The concierge is available to book reservations and arrange transportation, if needed.
There is so much to see on this magnificent island, from its crystal clear blue waters to its silky white sand. But before you jump in a rental car, be aware of the price of gas—$5.98 per gallon when we visited, and we were told the price had just gone down. A great alternative are the free bicycles provided by the resort on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you're planning on shopping, bring cash. The national currency is US dollars, and major credit cards are accepted. But some places have a minimum charge for credit or debit card purchases and will charge you an additional fee for using a card.
Looking for a unique souvenir? Bring home a dog! Potcakes, an island breed of dogs, are huge on the island—and you can even bring one home with you. They’re a mixed-breed native to Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. The name comes from the congealed rice and pea mixture that locals traditionally feed strays. The dogs are believed to be a mix of Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and English fox terriers. They’re described as mellow, loyal, and intelligent dogs. Because the island population of these loving dogs is so huge, a local rescue mission, Potcake Place, works to connect the dogs with families overseas, using volunteers visiting the island to transport the dogs to their new adoptive families. The adoptive family covers boarding fees for the plane and will meet you at the airport. Through Potcake Place, you can also bring a dog over to a no-kill shelter in the states. And tourists are invited to take the potcakes out for a few hours to socialize the dogs, though they are not permitted on Seven Stars Resort property.
The Resort
Situated on the beautiful Grace Bay, the resort overlooks the perfect turquoise water and powdery white sand. Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors in the rooms give you an unparalleled view of paradise.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with cool towels and delicious rum punch—a perfect way to kick off a week in the Caribbean.
There are three main buildings in the complex. The grounds are impeccably maintained – walking through the resort, you’ll always see someone trimming hedges or otherwise tending to the grounds.
The Rooms
The rooms at the Seven Stars Resort are absolutely stunning—and enormous! We stayed in an Ocean Front Premier Two-Bedroom Suite, which was 2,150 square feet. Marble flooring, crown molding, and an intelligent lighting design are just a few of the nice touches in these modern rooms. Our suite had 42(!) switches to control the brightness of every light in the room, helping you achieve the perfect ambiance for an evening in.
Each suite has its own kitchen, outfitted with GE stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, a Nespresso espresso maker, Krups coffee maker, Krups toaster, Krups blender, All Clad stainless steel cookware, Oxo knives, plus tons of glasses, plates, serving pieces, and more. You can easily cook your meals in the room if you prefer to dine on your amazing oceanfront balcony.
Leave the drapes open when you go to bed. There’s nothing better than waking up to the sight of the turquoise water out of your floor-to-ceiling windows!
The resort offers rooms to accommodate parties of all sizes, from junior suites to four-bedroom suites.
The suites are actually individually owned, and the owners can opt into the rental pool. But all rooms have the same furniture package, save for one that entered the rental pool late (but still has immaculate furniture).
Some rooms even come with a washer/dryer. Even better: there's no need to pack shampoo and conditioner—enjoy L’Occitane products in your room.
The bathroom features a whirlpool tub and a huge marble shower.
The Secret Rooms
Most one-bedroom suites feature one king bed, plus a sitting area with a pullout couch. But if you’re traveling with kids, ask about a suite with two twin beds instead of the couch. There are four of these rooms available on the property, and they’re typically given upon check-in to families or anyone who might be more comfortable in this room type.
Another secret room type is a two bedroom suite with two king beds; there’s only one of these in the whole resort. All other two-bedroom suites have one king bed and two twin beds. So if you’re traveling with another couple, inquire about this room!
Rooms on the first floor may not have the sweeping ocean views that you get from the higher floors, but the trade off is that you have a huge terrace. The resort recommends these rooms for families, since you have easy access to the pool and can even relax on your terrace while the kids are in the pool.
Next: Where to eat and relax ►
The Food
On property, there are three restaurants:
In the morning, enjoy a complementary Continental breakfast in Seven: fruit, muffins, pastries, cereal, yogurt, toast, juice and coffee are included. You can also order hot breakfast off the menu for an additional price. If you're getting married at the resort, you can add some hot dishes for your guests.
By night, Seven gives you a formal, upscale dining experience. Be sure to try the butter-broiled lobster—it's outstanding. For dessert, the banana bread pudding is an island favorite.
The Deck is a gorgeous open-air beachside restaurant. Dine by torchlight while listening to the rolling waves for a romantic evening.
Sand Dollar is perfect for a quick bite by the pool, serving up casual fare and delicious frozen drinks.
Room service is also available, allowing you to dine on your oversized balcony overlooking the water.
Tips are included. Expect to pay a 15% service charge on all meals, plus 11% tax. Additional gratuity is appreciated but not expected.
Proceed with caution: Food on the island is expensive. Because the climate is so dry, there are few natural crops on the island. That means nearly all food is imported, primarily from the US and UK. A simple cheeseburger will cost you $22. Two drinks by the pool will set you back $35. Across from the resort is a grocery store filled with all the comforts of home; fresh produce, meat, and dairy, packaged snacks, a bakery, and more. It's not cheap—a bottle of juice was over $7, and a loaf of bread was $6— but it beats eating out for every meal. You can have groceries delivered to your room before you even check in with the resort’s concierge. They’ll send you a list of available groceries, you’ll pick out what you want, and they’ll charge it to your room. Note: there’s a 20% fee for this service, so if you’re not planning on buying more groceries than you can carry, it may not be worth it.
You'll also want to stock up on bottled water at the grocery store. A case of 24 bottles will set you back $15; bottles are also available in your room or $5 a pop (plus a service charge).
The Pool
Seven Stars Resort features the island's only heated salt-water pool. Beach cabanas are available on a first-come basis, unlike many other resorts that charge a premium for use.
We loved that we never had to worry about finding a chair on the beach or around the pool. Staking a claim on a chair while you’re out all day is strongly discouraged; signs read that abandoned personal property will be removed after 60 minutes as a courtesy to other guests.
Enjoy complementary chilled water and towels for the beach/pool.
The Beach
Beach chairs are arranged in clusters of three: Two in the shade, one in the sun. We thought this was a nice touch—you can lounge in the sun or switch to the shade without constantly having to rearrange your chair.
Non-motorized water sports (kayaking, wind surfing, paddle boarding, and sailing) are included. Scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, ATV excursions, luxury boat cruises, mini golfing, water skiing, horseback riding, and much more can be arranged through the resort concierge.
The resort started out as an adults-only destination but later catered to the demand to allow children and families.
Whether you're traveling for a destination wedding, honeymoon, or family vacation, Seven Stars Resort offers a luxurious experience on this beautiful Caribbean island. From the friendly staff who take the time to learn your names to the unparalleled views of the sparkling water, this truly is a resort that has it all.