Best Luxury Hotels in Providenciales

Opened in 1993, Grace Bay Club is Turks and Caicos’ original luxury benchmark. With essentially three different resorts offering three distinct accommodation styles, this 82-room beachfront property continues to raise the bar with lots of popular dining options, a 5,000-square foot spa, an impressive kids' club, and three pristine infinity-edge pools.

The Gansevoort is without a doubt the sexiest resort on Grace Bay, and its stunning pool and breeze-filled lobby wow guests from the moment they set foot on the property. Equally enticing are the resort’s gourmet restaurant, poolside and beachside service, sleek rooms, and Exhale Spa, but pricey add-ons for virtually everything can make guests feel nickel-and-dimed.

A sophisticated, modern resort with stunning views, the 53-room Somerset is a cut above most Providenciales properties. The food is overpriced (though excellent) and the property lacks tennis courts, but its two beautiful pools, elegant grounds, top-notch rooms, and pristine beachfront allow it to rival some of the island’s more well-known luxury options like Grace Bay Cluband the Gansevoort.

Location is key at this 52-room luxury condo resort, which is situated directly on Grace Bay and less than a minute's walk from the island’s best shopping and dining sites. Quiet, sophisticated, and pristine, the four-plus-acre property features a jaw-dropping pool, large fitness center, and poolside bar -- but the spacious condo-style suites -- though upscale -- vary in quality of decor, and the lack of an on-site restaurant or spa might deter some travelers.

A beachfront condo resort tucked away on the western edge of Grace Bay, the 46-room West Bay Club offers excellent value for a luxury property. High-end rooms ranging from studios to four-bedrooms are airy and stylish, and all but the studios feature large balconies. The relaxing infinity-edge pool, modern gym and small poolside bar and grill add to the hotel's sophisticated yet low-key sensibility.

If you are looking for a luxury hotel with access to one of the Caribbean's most beautiful beaches, a lively (yet relaxing) pool area, award-winning spa, and a nice selection of on-site activities -- without the zoo-like atmosphere found at some larger resorts -- the 72-condo Palms may be just what the vacation doctor ordered. Located in the Grace Bay area, this is a residential property offers large, sophisticated suites and penthouses with kitchens and luxurious bathrooms. Families will likely appreciate the suites' size (up to three bedrooms) as well as activities such as water sports. The swim-up pool bar, multiple shops, and popular Parallel 23 restaurant attract couples and groups, too.

With six pools, a sprawling water park, a shopping center, a spa complex, and more restaurants than you can shake a breadstick at, the family-friendly Beaches is clearly the Turks and Caicos resort with the most features. But many of the rooms could use an update and the romance factor is virtually non-existent. Still, an all-inclusive resort with this many amenities is enticing -- unless it's peace and quiet you’re after.

This luxury boutique is heavy on style and refinement, with British Colonial design and 28 huge multi-room suites (they start at 1,080 square feet) featuring kitchens, terraces, and high-end bathrooms. Property highlights include a lovely, tranquil pool, personal beachfront service, a small but spectacular spa, and one of the Providenciales’ most romantic dinner spots. However, its remote location on the point of the beautiful, 12-mile Grace Bay beach -- while peaceful and quiet -- makes it necessary for guests to rely on expensive taxis or car rentals to explore the island.