I recently traveled to Turks and Caicos for a friend’s destination wedding and it was a blast! It was my first time visiting the islands but I feel like recently it has become more popular given it’s close proximity to those of us on the east coast, no time zone change (more on this later) and several easy direct flight options.
In the post we’ll talk about the flight experience (roundtrip direct JetBlue from JFK to PLS), my two-night stay at the Wymara Resort, and my general experience traveling since the federal mask mandate was lifted on April 18th.
Getting there…
There are several direct flight options from the New York area to Providenciales but I was able to find a preferred morning time slot that would get me into Turks before noon (and to the beach to catch some rays!). I was originally scheduled to fly from Newark to PLS because this flight was only $98 and the JFK flight was over $500. Fortunately though, I received an email from JetBlue that the Newark flight was cancelled and I was automatically moved to the JFK flight for no change in fare!
As I previously reported, entry requirements for visitors into Turks and Caicos were significantly reduced on May 1st and now all you need to prove was your COVID vaccination. At the boarding gate, the JetBlue gate agent made an announcement that you would need a printed boarding pass and to have your vaccine card checked before boarding. I had my physical card on me just in case, but I was pleased when they accepted proof from my digital vaccine card in my iphone “wallet”.
Once onboard, the flight could not have been more pleasant. I paid $74 to upgrade to an emergency exit row seat which is considered an “even more space” seat that also give you priority boarding in Group A. I was welcomed onboard by a flight attendant named Heather who couldn’t have been nicer. She smiled and welcomed every single passenger who walked by and had fun with children and promised to bring them an extra snack in flight. I think people were generally pleased to be heading to a warmer, beach climate, but Heather added to the positive vibe and I was very impressed. She was clearly going above and beyond in her duties.
JetBlue does a great job with service on board, offering free nonalcoholic drinks and snacks. I am a big fan of the popcorners and always ask for a second bag. I also like the fact they serve Dunkin Donuts coffee. Beer, wine, and snack boxes were offered for a fee. I was fortunate to be sitting next to Aimee, whom I met as we boarded, and as a Mosaic customer (JetBlue’s elite frequent flyer program), is entitled to free drinks for herself and her travel party. Aimee was so nice to include me in her group and we all enjoyed a margarita to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
The reminder of the flight was less eventful. I kept myself busy watching The White Lotus which I obviously enjoyed as a travel and hotel fan. My friend told me I reminded him of the Murray Bartlett character which we can get into another time…
Upon Arrival at PLS…
Shortly after 11:15am we touched down at PLS and parked just outside the terminal. PLS does not have jetbridges so everyone deplanes from a set of stairs (or ramps). The front door and rear door open so people can file out rather quickly. I did not check any luggage so I was quick to line up at customs and had a brief 2-3 minute wait before I was cleared through.
Quick note here: I was anxious about the wait at customs and so ahead of time, I checked what other flights may be arriving at PLS around the same time as me. Fortunately, my flight was one of the first international flights to arrive in the morning and if on time, I should have no problem getting through customs. This turned out to be true and saved me $75 by not having to buy a Fast Track pass through customs. Fast Track is described as “a VIP concierge service, where an agent will greet you upon entrance at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and guide you through expedited immigration and customs processing lanes, and assist with luggage, allowing you to reduce wait times when arriving in the Turks and Caicos.” My good wedding friend, however, was coming in later in the afternoon from FLL and was grateful for the Fast Track as the lines were much longer.
So, I’m now through Customs and Immigration and step outside to get that first wave of fresh salty beach air! I had reached out to the hotel ahead of time to ask about transportation options and they suggested a shared taxi. Sure enough, just outside the doors was the taxi stand where they asked my final destination and showed me where to line up. After a few short minutes of waiting a 15-passenger minivan pulled up and seated us from the front to back according to where our hotel was located on the island. I was lucky in that the Wymara must have been the first stop and I got to ride shotgun! Our driver was very welcoming and nice and made sure to point out the “landmarks” along the journey.
Time Change… But Not Really…
The Turks and Caicos Islands are in the Eastern Time Zone. Full stop. But for some reason your phone may change when you land causing all sorts of confusion. I had to take my phone off its automatic setting and change it back to EDT for the remainder of the trip. I guess you could keep it an hour later and it would bring you back to those days of “Camp Time” when you were growing up. But, I digress…
The Wymara Resort
In full disclosure, I did not choose to stay at the Wymara, rather it was the host location for the wedding and so I was happy to stay with my friends and celebrate.
When you arrive to the Wymara, you immediately feel like you are staying at a five star resort. The reception desk is outside with open air views to the luxury pool and even further down you can see the beach. I was greeted with a warm smile, a welcome fruit drink, and a hot towel. As I was checking in early, my room was not yet ready so they asked for my cell phone and said they would text me. I was offered a changing room and to store my luggage, which I happily accepted so I could get to the beach as fast as possible.
While I never received a text, my roommate arrived around 2:00 pm and was told our room was ready. Our original reservation was for an Ocean View Studio King, so I was delighted when we were “upgraded” to an Oceanfront Grand Studio with two queen beds.
Dining
Dining at the resort is certainly convenient, and they have multiple options. Zest is the beachfront restaurant that also provides cabana and lounge chair service throughout the day and night. I had lunch here the first day with some of my wedding guest friends and while the food was fine, I wouldn’t rave about $28 fish tacos. The menu was varied and had lots of fresh seafood options and can be viewed here in full.
There is a full bar just across the walkway that has additional high-top seating and a comfortable sofa area with a gas firepit that was turned on in the evenings.
Inigo is the main restaurant in the hotel, open for breakfast and dinner. The breakfast is technically provided for all hotel guests but I can’t help but mention there is a $90 resort fee per day (labeled as a service charge) that is tacked on to every stay that more than covers what you would spend at breakfast. I will say, however, that I was impressed with the breakfast offerings and thoroughly enjoyed my omelets cooked to order each morning. The staff were very attentive and friendly made for a delightful experience. I’d be remiss if I did not mention the fact that the coffee service was available for us early risers around 6:00 am. There are espresso machines in each room which are great, but in the morning I like to slowly sip a cup of freshly brewed coffee and I was able to do so down at the beach before most people woke up.
We had a “light” dinner on our first night here that consisted of a round of espresso martinis (because hey, you’re on vacation!), bbq octopus, chicken dumplings, and salmon that we shared. Everything was very delicious and if I was staying longer on the island, I wouldn’t hesitate to return to Indigo.
Our last meal service before the wedding was poolside. There are small flags attached to each lounge chair and to place an order, you just raise the flag and someone will come over and take your order. I had the pumpkin salad with chicken (and of course a side of sweet potato fries) and they were very tasty, albeit expensive for what I am used to stateside.
Overall, the food quality and service were excellent. I admit, I had a bit of “sticker shock” when I looked at the prices but I had to remind myself that I’m at a five-star beach resort.
Amenities
The hotel boasts several additional amenities including a spa, a fitness center, and a yoga studio, including fitness classes on a rotating schedule. I admit I did not partake as I wanted to run along the beach and explore a bit outside of the resort.
While not a typical amenity during normal times, I was impressed that the resort offered complimentary COVID tests for those of us returning to the United States. They were scheduled at the Yoga Studio at 5:00 pm on a first come, first served basis and the results were available for pick up at the front desk at 8:00 pm. I think I learned of my negative results half way through “Shout!” on the dance floor, so I was even more excited.
Pros:
- Beautiful location on a gorgeous beach that seemed to be more secluded than some of the other resorts.
- Very friendly and attentive service
- Complimentary COVID test
Cons:
- I don’t like resort fees in general but $90 per day seems excessive to me.
- I could have used a few more hooks in the bathroom to hang wet swim suits and towels.
Returning Home…
Sadly, it was time to return home to the United States after a few quick days in the sunshine and celebrating a beautiful wedding! My flight was scheduled to depart PLS at 12:31 pm and as an excited traveler, I like to get to the airport on the early side. And more often than not, it works out in my favor!
I checked out of my room around 9:15 am and the front desk was able to call for a taxi that arrived just a few minutes later (it was actually sitting in the parking lot behind the hotel). The drive to the airport was only about 10 minutes so I arrive to the airport with plenty of time for my flight. Unfortunately, there was a Boston flight scheduled ahead of me and I was not able to check in on my phone. Each passenger has to sign an attestation for entry back in the United States and they had to check this at the airport. For whatever reason this process was going very slow and it took about forty-five minutes for the airline employees to clear about 20 people in front of me. It can get pretty warm at the check in counter and one woman was even about to faint.
Please note: there is no Clear or Pre-Check at PLS so if you think you can just breeze through, you may want to plan for extra time.
Things got much better once I had my boarding pass and was through security and customs… or so I thought at first. There are two levels in the waiting area while all of the gates are located on the first level. The second level has a restaurant and a cool outdoor section for us av geeks where you can watch all of the planes take off and land. There’s even an outdoor bar if you didn’t get enough to drink at the beach and wanted to continue your vacation until the very last minute. I was still about an hour early for my flight and I would say at the time there were maybe 30 people upstairs scattered about. Fast forward to boarding time around 12:30 pm (we were a bit delayed due to a late arriving aircraft), both levels were standing room only and bursting at the seams. I was grateful for my A boarding group because I had purchased another “even more space seat” for the return and I sneaked my way through and was able to escape the madness.
My advice is to get to the airport earlier than you think if you would like a reasonable experience. Otherwise, it will be standing room only and you risk being late for your boarding.
In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. I would encourage you to look for deals on airfare and try to avoid the busy winter season when resorts can charge their highest rates. It seems like late Fall and Spring would bean ideal time of year to visit.
I wouldn’t hesitate to stay at the Wymara Resort again, but it could be fun to try a different part of the island. If you’re looking for a place to relax and don’t want to leave the resort for a few days, I would highly recommend it.
Please be sure to leave a comment below on my first post!