How Expensive Is a Turks & Caicos Vacation? Vacation Price Guide
One of the single most common questions that prospective visitors to the Turks and Caicos have is what their vacation costs will be. Here we’ll explore approximate costs of accommodations, dining, transportation, and groceries.
See also Budget Vacation Tips.
Is the Turks and Caicos Expensive?
Yes. The Turks and Caicos is expensive. However, it’s not excessively so when compared to other English-speaking countries in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean, such as Barbados, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands.
A great feature of the Turks and Caicos is that our beaches, coastlines, and national parks are free to access. In fact, of our list of 18 Best Attractions, the only site that has an entrance fee is Conch Bar Caves, which is necessary to support tour guides that prevent vandalism and disturbances to the bat species that reside in the cave.
Another consideration when planning a budget-minded vacation is when to visit. Like most tourism destinations, the Turks and Caicos has varying busy and slow times, with accommodation fees that reflect such fluctuations. Typically, the December-January festive season, and the spring break months tend to have higher prices than the late January and the September to early November Hurricane Season.
Below we explore some hypothetical stays and various types of accommodations, with estimates of their cost. Keep in mind that prices constantly change, and specials also may be available at times. Another consideration is taxes. Government-mandated accommodation tax of 12% is applied to stays, and restaurants and activities may incur tourism taxes and gratuities.
| Estimated Vacation Costs | |
| 4-day budget-minded getaway at a hotel for 2 adults, including a compact rental car for stay, dining out, and a half-day public boat cruise. Airfare is not included. | $2,000 |
| 1-week budget-minded stay at a villa for a family of 5, including rental minivan for stay, 1 half-day public boat cruise, horseback riding excursion, dining out once per day, and groceries. Airfare is not included. | $7,500 |
| 1-week stay for a couple at a luxury beachfront resort, including a rental Jeep Wrangler for stay, half-day private charter, day trip to North Caicos and Middle Caicos, horseback riding, dining out. Airfare is not included. | $9,000 |
| 1-week all-inclusive stay for a couple at a Beaches Turks and Caicos (normal rates, not holidays). Airfare is not included. | $10,000 |
| 1-week all-inclusive stay for a family of 4 at a Beaches Turks and Caicos (normal rates, not holidays). Airfare is not included. | $14,000 |
| 1-week stay at a beachfront luxury villa that can accommodate up to 10 guests, including a full-size rental SUV, and a full-day private charter, groceries, and dining out a couple of times. Airfare is not included. | $19,500 |
Wymara Resort
Wymara Resort, which is located on the beautiful Bight Beach on the western side of Grace Bay Beach, is a luxury resort with a great ambiance and is a good representation of a 5-star resort on Provo. Onsite are two restaurants, a spa, and a beautiful beach.
The studios and suites at Wymara feature contemporary styling, and there are three restaurants onsite: the elegant Stelle, the beachfront and casual Blue Water Bistro, and Indigo. Amenities include a fitness center, water sports equipment on the beach, and a beautiful pool.
The Bight Beach offers a slightly different perspective to Grace Bay, as it has some snorkeling reefs near shore and is a bit more sheltered. Lush seagrass beds grow a bit off the beach, which are home to turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, and starfish.
Beaches All-Inclusive
The expansive Beaches Turks and Caicos all-inclusive resort is one of the most popular resorts in the country, and definitely offers by far the greatest collection of restaurants and activities of any accommodation. Attractions include 20 restaurants, a water park, a great selection of water sports, and huge pools.
Beaches is made up of four “village” enclaves: Caribbean Village, Italian Village, Key West Village, and the French Village. Room options are quite varied, with everything from one-bedroom garden studios and suites, to beachfront villas with multiple bedrooms.
There’s often a bit of sticker shock when initially seeing the prices for Beaches, yet keep in mind that rates include unlimited dining and drinks, tipping isn’t encouraged (or accepted by staff), and there’s plenty to do. If guests don’t opt to do offsite excursions or charters, there typically isn’t much in the way of additional vacation expenses (not including airfare of course!). Below are a generalization of both high season and special rates.
All-Inclusive Alexandra Resort
Alexandra Resort is a very popular all-inclusive on Grace Bay, and an example of a beachfront all-inclusive that is not the expansive family-oriented Beaches Turks and Caicos or the adult-only Club Med Turkoise. The Turks and Caicos has several all-inclusive resorts, and there’s a large variance in the sizes of the accommodations, their atmospheres, and what is included with stays.
Alexandra Resort is part of the Turks and Caicos Collection, which allows for guests staying at any one of their Providenciales hotels to access and use the amenities of the other. The other hotel in the group is Blue Haven Resort at Leeward which offers differing settings to the Alexandra. Blue Haven Resort is also located near the wetland sanctuary of Mangrove Cay in the Princess Alexandra National Park, with its great paddleboarding.
Kokomo Botanical Resort
Kokomo Botanical Resort is a small inland micro resort that combines great rates with an excellent onsite restaurant, high levels of service, and a complimentary beach shuttle service to the Bight Beach, where there are amenities for their guests.
The resort consists of standalone villas which surround the central pool and restaurant, which offer a bit of privacy and are perfect for families. The restaurant, WE Grill + Wok, serves an international fusion cuisine that attempts to incorporate the freshest local and imported ingredients as possible.
See also Budget Hotels and Resorts.
Villa del Mar
The central Grace Bay region is home to both beachfront and inland hotels, and as may be expected, the inland accommodations usually have much lower rates than those on the beach. The inland hotels are typically less than a five-minute walk from the beach, so they tend to be quite busy.
Villa del Mar is a contemporary condo resort and is within a short walk of Grace Bay Beach and many restaurants. It’s a convenient place to stay for those who want to be in Grace Bay, yet don’t want to pay for a beachfront room. As is the case with nearby hotels such as Ports of Call Resort, Island Club, Inn at Grace Bay, and The Oasis at Grace Bay, it may not be necessary to rent a car for the entirety of your stay due to the many restaurants and shops within walking distance.
Hakuna Matata Villa
Hakuna Matata is an example of an inland and mid-sized vacation villa that offers a modern atmosphere and sleeps 7 people. Such a rental can be a great budget-minded option for a large family or couples traveling together, as the effective per-person nightly rate can be less than $60, yet the accommodations are comfortable, clean, and contemporary.
For an inland villa, a rental car is almost always a necessity. However, All of the islands in the Turks and Caicos are quite small, so the beaches, restaurants, dining, and typically only a couple of minutes drive away.
Most vacation villas are found in one of a few residential neighborhoods, including Leeward, Long Bay, the Bight, and Turtle Cove. It’s best to know a little about your area before booking, as nearby beaches and tranquility vary.
Serenity House
Serenity House is a good choice for a large beachfront villa that typically rents for a little less than one of the new luxury properties. The house is spacious and has six bedrooms and sleeps twelve. The villa boasts a top-tier beachfront location that features the rare combination of both perfect sand and water as well as nearby snorkeling reefs.
Large beachfront and waterfront vacation rentals can be a really good option for large family getaways. Many such villas typically offer plenty of space, a pool, and kayaks and paddleboards. The full kitchens make it easy to prepare meals, which can also save quite a bit over dining out.
Villa Shambhala
Villa Shambhala is an elegant 5-bedroom mansion beachfront on incredible Long Bay Beach, and is a good representation of the mid and upper-luxury property rental segment. This villa features a great complement of amenities, including a pool, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and lounging spaces, umbrellas, beach chairs, kayaks, paddleboards, and gated entry.
Villa Shambhala is located on an incredible stretch of secluded beach. Long Bay has is a bit different from Grace Bay, with finer white sand and shallow ocean depths and the area is exceptional for kiteboarding.
Restaurants & Dining
The Turks and Caicos has a great restaurant scene, especially for fine dining. Prices are high, yet there’s less of a disparity between plate prices in the Turks and Caicos and major US cities than there is for groceries and other expenses.
Some of the well-known beachfront restaurants on Providenciales can be quite expensive compared to their lesser-known competitors, and in many cases, you’re simply paying for the ambiance. See Best Budget Restaurants for cheaper places to eat. Here are some example prices of what we believe are good local representations of common dishes.
Groceries
Food and grocery prices are high in the Turks and Caicos, especially for perishables and imported alcohol. Graceway IGA is the largest supermarket in the country, and typically has a great selection of products, produce, and meat. Graceway Gourmet is located in the Grace Bay region and is smaller, yet still maintains a good inventory, and also offers a salad bar and a great menu of prepared foods.
Several discount and wholesale grocery stores can be found in the Downtown area of Providenciales, including Sunny Foods and Quality Supermarket. Prices tend to be lower at these stores, yet much of the stock is dry goods.
Boat Charters & Excursions
A boat excursion to our amazing uninhabited cays, beaches, and reefs is one of the best things to do in the Turks and Caicos. There are many options, from shared cruises, to private charters on a wide array of vessels.
Shared half-day combination snorkel/beach visit trips start at about $90 per adult and $45 per child. Typically, snacks and drinks, and the use of snorkel gear is included.
The Turks and Caicos also has some great private charter options, and the additional cost can be worth it in many cases. Private charters allow you to spend the day how you’d like, and often go the extra distance to visit the best places in the Turks and Caicos. Half-day excursions on a smaller center console boat start at about $650, and tours on more spacious vessels such as power catamarans and Axopar powerboats are $800-1000. Larger yachts with enclosed cabin space and air conditioning begin at about $3000-4000 per half day.
North & Middle Caicos Day Trip
A great way to spend a day in the Turks and Caicos is to take a day trip to the tranquil and sparsely-populated islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos. Commonly referred to as the Garden Islands, these two islands are connected by a causeway.
Some amazing places to visit include Mudjin Harbour, Conch Bar Caves, Bambarra Beach, Wade’s Green Plantation, and the exquisite Crossing Place Trail.
It’s quite easy to plan your day adventure. Simply check the North Caicos ferry schedule and port location (Heaving Down Rock on Providenciales and Sandy Point Marina or Bellefield Landing on North Caicos) so you’ll know where and when to go, reserve your rental car, and do a little online research on the beaches and attractions so you’ll know what you will want to see.
Car Rental & Transport
For most guests visiting the Turks and Caicos, having a rental car for the duration of your stay is the best option for transport. Economy-class cars start at under $40 per day. It often makes sense to pick up your rental upon arrival at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS), which saves a costly taxi trip.
Compact cars aren’t the only rental option. There are minivans, SUVs, large sedans, and even upgraded Jeep Wranglers, which can be a lot of fun!