Tranquility Travel BlogTurks & Caicos Property Management and Vacation Villa Rentals

So often, I am asked to suggest restaurants that should not be missed.  Finally, here’s my guide:

Lemon Cafe - The Village at Grace Bay - info@lemoncafe.tc - 9414059 - Mediterranean/Moroccan cuisine.

If you’re on island the first Saturday of any month, don’t miss their fab Arabian Nights party, with live belly-dancing, music and flame throwing!!

Coyaba - off Grace Bay Road - 946-5186 - Contemporary Caribbean Cuisine.

Caicos Cafe - Caicos Plaze, Grace Bay Road - 946-5278 - French/Caribbean Cuisine

CoCo Bistro - off Grace Bay Road - 946-5369 - a unique dining experience

Grace’s Cottage - Point Grace Resort - 946-5096 - Gourmet Caribbean Cuisine

Yoshi’s Japanese Restaurant - Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay - 941-3374 - Sushi+

Vix - Regent Street, The Regent Village, Grace Bay - Contemporary Caribbean

Da Conch Shack - Blue Hills - Conch in every shape and form and fresh local Specialities.

Don’t miss their Thursday night live music parties

Bagatelle Bistro - Wymara Resort, Lower Bight Road - 946-5746 - Mediterranean Neighborhood Bistro

Bay Bistro - On the beach, across the road from The Somerset Resort - 946-5396 - Contemporary Caribbean with a focus on seafood.

Sunday Brunch’s are a must do; Feast of the Full Moon Beach Party every full moon

O’Soliel - The Somerset, Grace Bay - 956-5900 - Globally influenced menu with attention to exotic Caribbean tastes

Weekly Friday night Happy Hours with live music by NaDa and Tuesdays on the beach to savor “Mad About Lobsters” (during lobster season only)

Smokey’s On The Beach - Blue Hills Road - great local food enjoyed right on the beach

Thai Orchid - The Regent Village - 946-4491 - Thai food from regular spices to smokin’ hot!!

Tiki Hut - Turtle C0ve  -941-5341 -  well known for their Colorado Angus steaks but especially for the Chicken or Ribs Night on Wednesday’s, King Crab night on Thursday’s, and Steak Night on Friday nights

Somewhere Cafe  & Lounge - directly on beach at Coral Gardens, Grace Bay - Tex Mex

Cuervo On The Rocks Margarita Monday’s  - $5 all day; Thursday nights enjoy live music by Nada  at 7 pm

And for you nibblers:

Vino Tiempo - Regent Street at The Regent Village, Grace Bay -  features 20 wines that change weekly, combined with tapas, snacks and desserts

Ladies night , Wednesday’s, 30% off champagne

Happy Dining!

Turks and Caicos is quickly being recognized as a top  honeymoon destination. With only one-fourth of the island inhabited, Turks and Caicos provides a dream honeymoon ambiance filled with natural beauty. Nature-loving newlyweds can enjoy more than 33 protected bird-watching areas and one of the longest coral reefs in the world ready for couples-SCUBA diving.

Tranquility, in conjunction with Flowers by EA,  offers wonderful beach wedding and honeymoon villas and wedding planning, so head to this Caribbean honeymoon destination before the masses catch on!

So contact us to plan your dream wedding and/or villa honeymoon!

Featuring two O’So perfect ways enjoy the summer nights with friends and family:

O’So Happy Hour: Every Friday 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Live music and drink specials at The Pearl Lounge and Zen Garden.

O’So Sunset: Caribbean Nights, every Tuesday on the Beach.

The islands are known for a style of music called ripsaw, a genre in which a handsaw is the primary instrument, often accompanied by guitar, accordion, drums and other percussion. Though the style has its roots going all the way back to the days of the slave trade, ripsaw music can still be heard all around Providenciales—and its influence can still be heard in some of the island’s most popular musical acts. One of the best loved modern musical pioneers is Lovey Forbes, who created a totally new genre, “combina,” that marries traditional ripsaw and contemporary foreign styles.Forbes and other local acts (also popular around the island are reggae, calypso and soca) can be heard in the annual Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival alongside international headliners—the 2006 Festival, July 31 through August 7, features Ludacris and Fantasia, among others. 

Two other performance venues are the Williams Auditorium, located on South Dock Rd. and home to events like The Cactus Slam Festival, and Brayton Hall off Leeward Highway, which often hosts events and shows sponsored by the Turks & Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation.

Though Cockburn Town may be the political capital of Turks & Caicos, Providenciales is definitely the nightlife capital of the islands. The nightlife, like most everything on the island, is geared towards tourists and with resorts already on the island and more springing up every year, there’s plenty going on after dark and after a long day at the beach.

With so much competition between resorts on the island, the largest hotels are always looking for ways to gain an edge-and often that means great bars and hot live music right on the resort grounds. You can enjoy drinks on the beach and listen to some of the best talent Providenciales has to offer at The Palms , Beaches and a number of others.  Of course if you’re looking for a wild party, you can spring for a dinner/disco pass at Club Med for all you can drink and eat.

Right in the heart of Grace Bay are a number of great bars.  Live music and Karaoke is usually going on at one or another each night. Next door to the Saltmills, Danny Buoys is the local Irish Pub with great English fare - try the Shephard’s Pie!  Bambooz in the Saltmills is the most “Americanized” bar with chic colorful decor, two pool tables, and a hip beat - great for specialty island drinks and interesting foods.  Calico Jack’s is a great outdoor island bar known for their specialty pizzas upstairs in the Ports of Call.  Tiki Hut has $12.95 Chicken/Rib night Wednesday’s at the marina.

From TripAdvisor.com

I often receive requests for information regarding wedding requirements, particularly since Villa Del Sol came on line. Here they are!

Planning your wedding in paradise?  The following are the legal requirements for obtaining a marriage license in the Turks & Caicos Islands:

• 1. Passports with stamp showing date of entry in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
• 2. Original Birth Certificates
• 3. Both Parties must be in the Turks and Caicos Islands at the time of the application
• 4. For couples wanting to be married in the Turks and Caicos Islands, they must reside in the Turks & Caicos Islands for a period of 24 hours prior to an application being made to the Registrar in Grand Turk. The ceremony can take place with 48 to 72 hours after the application has been granted
• 5. For Americans, proof of Marital Status must be provided. That is, if single, a sworn affidavit is required. If divorced, either an Original or notarized copy of the Divorce Decree, sealed by the Court, is required. In the case of a widow/widower, the previous spouse’s Death Certificate is required. In the case of Change of Name by Deed Poll or Adoption, proof of same is required
• 6. If either party is unmarried, and is a citizen or resident of a country other than the USA, a Declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in that country, and must accompany the application for the Marriage License.
• 7. If from other than an English speaking country, all documents must be translated and notarized, accompanied by originals, likewise notarized as above.
• 8. Irrespective of country, if under the age of 21, consent, in the form of on affidavit stamped by a Notary Public, from one or both parents or guardian must be presented.
• 9. The marrying couple must not be within the prohibited degree of relationships to each other.
• 10. A letter stating occupations, marital status and age at the time of application, home address and father’s full name, must be attached to the application.
• 11. If a church wedding is desired, proof of membership and standing in home church may be required.
• 12. The party’s must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• 13. No blood test is necessary.
• 14. The fee for the license is $100.00 + admin fees, the total generally being between $200-300.00

Marriage Licenses are issued at the Office of the Registrar in Providenciales. The office is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 9.30 am to 4.30pm.

Please be reminded that Passports or any documentation written in a foreign language must be translated and notarized in advance of arrival.

And for YOUR Turks & Caicos wedding destination?  Visit Tranquility’s dream wedding page.

During your Turks and Caicos vacation, do not miss the Arabian Nights Party at LEMON Cafe in Grace Bay Village on the first Saturday of each month.  Enjoy live belly dancing and performances during your meal, then prepare to dance the night away!! 

Phone number: 941-4059 

Open Monday through Saturday, lunch and dinner. Reservations suggested.  Dress: casual chic

For marine enthusiasts, visit The JoJo Dolphin, Whale and Wildlife Project.  You can also view this wonderful video of JoJo and Dean or the see Dean swimming with the whales!

“Each month, a bizarre yet romantic display takes place in the shallow waters of the Caicos Banks.  That is, fifteen minutes after sunset, from the 3rd to the 5th day of the full moon, glowworms engage in their illuminating mating rituals.  Triggered by the light of the moon, these tiny marine invertebrates are inspired to be fruitful and multiply.  As the females releases her eggs and the male fertilizes them, a brilliant luminescent green flash lights up the waters around them. At the height of the mating ritual, the water is literally speckled with green fairy lights.” (Discover Magazine, Turks and Caicos). The event is beautiful to watch and children are captivated by it.  If you would like to witness this magical event, contact Dave at  SunTours or email suntours@tciway.tc.