Choosing a honeymoon destination can be daunting. With countless countries and high-end resorts tugging at your heartstrings, how do you begin finding a place that fulfills both you and your mate’s honeymoon checklist? He wants adrenaline-pumping action; you prefer to lounge poolside taking in a view.
Once we stepped off the plane at Providenciales International Airport (PLS), the humidity from the thick ocean air immediately hit our skin. We could practically smell the fruity drinks as we headed for baggage claim. But it wasn’t time to imbibe quite yet. We hopped in a taxi from the airport and enjoyed the scenery during the 15-minute ride to The Palms’ open-air lobby. Once we arrived, the only fingers we lifted were our pinkies as we sipped the hotel’s cucumber welcome drink.
A mega-resort or hulking hotel tower this is not. The 72-room, 12-acre estate is expansive, yet feels private. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites are situated more like townhomes than hotel rooms and are spread between five buildings surrounding the resort’s serpentine-shaped pool.
We spent the first half of our stay in relaxation mode. We secured a prime spot on a cushy lounge bed at the edge of the resort pool and took advantage of the staff’s willingness to keep our mojitos and Turks Head brews replenished. The pool’s casual Caribbean restaurant, Plunge, offers island fare such as conch fritters and jerk chicken for lunch and dinner. Other dining spots on the grounds include Parallel23, the resort’s high-end al fresco spot that serves up Caribbean-fusion dishes for dinner, and The Garden, a beautiful patio eatery serving a complimentary breakfast, that’s just perfect for starting your day.
As we continued our quest to do nothing, we retreated to the resort’s spa. The size and landscape is impressive: The relaxation haven sits on more than an acre and includes 25,000 square feet of white-tented, cabana-style treatment rooms; lush gardens; spa suites for couples experiences; and locker rooms. We decompressed poolside, sipping tea and munching on fresh fruit before enjoying massages in a private suite built for two.
Suffice it to say, after our treatments, we were rested, relaxed, and ready to take on the island. The resort’s complimentary non-motorized sporting gear includes paddleboards and snorkeling equipment; the concierge can help you book additional activities including Vespa rentals, sport fishing, scuba diving, and horseback rides.
We opted for a half-day snorkel and conch cruise with Caicos Dream Tours, and it was a highlight of our stay. After picking us up on the hotel’s beach, the friendly guides filled our cups with rum punch and shared historical facts about the islands as we glided along the bright blue ocean of Grace Bay. Turks and Caicos is home to the world’s third largest reef system, which provides an impressive display of coral, fish, and ocean life. After a lengthy snorkel experience and a daring dive by the guides for conchs, the boat docked at a sand bar called Half Moon Bay. There, we dined on freshly made conch ceviche and made friends with the island’s iguana population.
Even with all of the options the island presents, we didn’t forget to make time for the ultimate honeymoon must do: We dipped our toes in the clear blue ocean, walked hand-in-hand along the sandy beaches, and looked out as far as we could see.
