Debbie Le and family talk about Beaches Turks & Caicos Caribbean Resort

Family Traveller speak to Debbie Le (@debbielegrainger) about her recent trip to Beaches Turks & Caicos, the luxury all-inclusive Caribbean resort designed for families.  She tells us all about  travelling there as a family and her impressions of the award winning resort. If you’re considering a Caribbean holiday with your kids, hear what Debbie has to say.

Grace Bay Beach, Beaches Turks & Caicos

How did you find travelling to Turks & Caicos with kids?

Admittedly, I was a little concerned about getting on a long-haul flight with my kids. They had only ever been on a long plane journey when they were younger. Roman was a toddler so he had to be entertained quite a bit, but Rosie had a bassinet and thankfully slept most of the way. This time, I was worried about how we would keep them both entertained for the whole flight as Roman is now nine and Rosie is seven. To our surprise, the journey was seamless and stress-free, and the kids did not get bored.

We flew with British Airways and the kids were delighted with the onboard entertainment. They watched some of the kids’ films, listened to the music channels and played some of the games. At home we wouldn’t usually allow them this much screen time, but we had the attitude that it was a holiday for all of us, including the kids! We let them do what they wanted within reason, to allow them to get out of the routine and have fun. Occasionally, we would get up and go for a little walk too, for some exercise.

When we arrived in Turks & Caicos, the airport was quite basic and small, but the welcome was very warm. It was super easy to find the transfer to the resort too – we followed the Beaches Resorts branded boards and a minibus was waiting to take us. The journey was nice and quick, just 15-minutes from the airport to the hotel.

What were your first impressions of Beaches Turks & Caicos?

“Oh, my goodness!”. We arrived, and it just had the ‘wow’ factor. We felt like we had truly landed in paradise. The resort was really clean and spacious, with white and turquoise décor, giving us holiday vibes straight away. The hospitality is something I could not fault. What felt like the entire team at the resort greeted us with priceless smiles, welcome drinks and cold towels. The attention they gave to the children was so lovely.

We dumped our bags in our room – we stayed in a Key West Oceanview Two Storey, Two Bedroom Butler Suite – which was absolutely stunning. Straight after that, we went to the beach and watched the sunset, still in our travel clothes. It was such a special experience to share as a family. I honestly just couldn’t believe we were there and that something so beautiful could exist in the world. It was truly breathtaking.

What activities did you all enjoy?

Each day, we loved to lounge in a cabana by the Italian Village pool. Our Butler arranged this for us. It does come at an additional charge, but we found it so worth it. We liked having a base to leave all our stuff, chill out together and have some time in the shade. The butlers also bring you food and drinks to the cabana whenever you want it so you don’t have to queue at the bar or leave your sun loungers to go for lunch.

The pool was very lively and there was great entertainment. We loved to go on the daily snorkelling and boat trips from resort which are complimentary like all of the water and land sports at Beaches Turks & Caicos. This includes the Pirates Island waterpark which is great fun for the kids. There are slides for all ages as well as a lazy river, Surf Simulator and more.  This is such a brilliant offering. At Beaches Resorts they really mean it when they say all-inclusive. During our stay we also paid to go on an excursion with Island Routes, Beaches Resorts’ excursion Company. We went on the Family Catamaran & Snorkelling cruise that goes to Iguana Island which was fantastic. I would really recommend it.

My daughter Rosie and I also enjoyed a treatment at the resort’s Red Lane Spa (this does cost extra). I had an incredible full body massage and Rosie had a haircut which was a huge transformation from long to shoulder length but we loved it! The daily Sesame Street character parade around the resort was super fun. While we were there it was Halloween and the resort went above and beyond. Everyone dressed up, including us, as I had packed our costumes in our suitcases, and the kids had the best time.

Debbie and family, swim-up bar, Beaches Turks & Caicos

What was the food and drink like at Beaches Turks & Caicos?

There was an abundance of choice, with 21 dining options at the resort. The food suited everyone. Both us and the kids loved all the food on offer. There was basically food on tap, no matter what time it was. Some of our favourites were Bayside for a buffet breakfast in the morning, Kimonos which is an interactive teppanyaki style restaurant, and Jerk Shack for real jerk chicken at lunchtime, which was my personal favourite. I also really enjoyed that our Butler team left snacks in our room every morning.

What were the staff like?

The staff and their hospitality were incredible. I could not say a bad word about them. The people who worked at the resort were so happy and they gave everyone so much attention. They were truly happy and grateful to be working and their personalities shined throughout. It was so refreshing and warming to see people love their jobs so much. Beaches Resorts really prides itself on exceptional customer service, nothing is too much trouble.

What are your highlights from the trip?

One of the biggest highlights from the trip was my birthday and getting to celebrate in paradise with my family. On the morning, we all went to the beach and while we were there a double rainbow appeared. It was unreal, none of us had ever seen one before! Being somewhere so magnificent and lush with my family was the best birthday present ever, but they also gifted me a beautiful necklace on the beach.

When we went to our cabana by the pool, the resort staff had decorated it amazingly and they made such a fuss of me. There was a big ‘happy birthday’ sign and lots of balloons. We went to Kimonos for dinner which was delicious and fun for the kids. They brought a cake out and sang happy birthday to me which was so kind. We met some really lovely friends on resort that we’ve kept in touch with and we had drinks together on my birthday. It was the best day ever!

Do you have any tips or recommendations for others looking to go?

It may seem obvious but, keep piling the sunscreen on. I would recommend putting a rash guard on the kids when they go in the sea because the sun really hits you. It reflects off the water as it’s so clear. Also, I would say to pack plenty of snacks when travelling as the kids might not enjoy the food on the plane. It is also worth packing a really good quality travel pillow for the children so that they can sleep on the flight.

Would you return to or recommend Beaches Turks & Caicos to a friend?

100%, there is no doubt about it. We would definitely go back and stay at Beaches Turks & Caicos again. We have already been recommending the resort to our friends and family as we had such a good time. Because the resort was so amazing and everything was so well organised, with exceptional hospitality, we are looking at the other two resorts in Jamaica – Beaches Negril and Beaches Ocho Rios – for our next family holiday.

If you’re interested in planning your own trip to visit Beaches Turks & Caicos, visit the Beaches Resorts website to find out more and discover some of the best offers