A mid-range option with some of the lowest beachfront rates in pricey Turks & Caicos, The Sands at Grace Bay is a great value for both families and couples. The accommodations are fairly dated, there’s no swim-up bar, dining variety is lacking (just one on-site restaurant), and the fitness center and spa facilities are small and unimpressive; but the property offers an outstanding white-sand beach (Grace Bay Beach is one of the best in the Caribbean; this factor has a strong positive effect on the Overall Beach Resort Rating, helping to upgrade it from the B range to the A range), three lagoon-style swimming pools with lazy river/canal features plus a waterfall and jacuzzi, a small on-site spa, a quiet atmosphere, and condo-style units with a good amount of space. The excellent on-site restaurant, Hemingway’s, serves seafood, steak, and Caribbean fare in an elegant open-air setting (this feature also helps the Overall Beach Resort Rating and TripValue). A few off-site restaurants and shops are available nearby as well. Rooms range from studios to three-bedroom suites; most come with kitchens, dining and living room areas, washer/dryers, and screened-in balconies. Not all studios have balconies and laundry facilities (only the beachfront ones do). Activities include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, Hobie Cat sailing, tennis, basketball, and free bikes for rent. Excursions such as snorkel and conch cruises, horseback riding, and glow worm sunset boat rides (which occur once a month around the time of the full moon) can also be arranged.
On-site COVID-19 testing is not available, but guests can arrange for departure COVID-19 antigen tests at The Palms Turks and Caicos, a sister resort, for $25 USD.