Villa Renaissance

Feeling more like a swanky Italian villa and less like a Caribbean hotel, Villa Renaissance makes a stately first impression. From its entrance, the hotel’s buttery yellow buildings with sky blue shutters and Spanish tile roofs come into view. The Mediterranean feel continues in the lobby, which features inlaid mosaic tile floors, an arched ceiling, and lots of crown molding. Guests run the gamut at Villa Renaissance, and include everyone from families with children, to middle-aged couples, to groups of retirees vacationing together. The general atmosphere is pretty quiet, so families with young kids who like to endlessly splash around in the pool may feel out of place. 

Villa Renaissance actually has one of the best locations in the Grace Bay area. The hotel is located directly on Grace Bay, and is within walking distance of tons of shops, bars, and restaurants. Renting a car is probably unnecessary for travelers who are just looking to hit the beach and try a few restaurants during their stay, as anything not within walking distance is easily accessible by cab (though be prepared for hefty fares). The only pitfall of Villa Renaissance’s location is that the section of beach it fronts is actually narrower than other parts of Grace Bay.  

Villa Renaissance’s one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units are individually owned, and therefore feature different furniture and decor. However, all units are luxuriously appointed with travertine floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. All apartments have full kitchens — completely stocked with pots, pans, and tableware — as well as one bathroom per bedroom, stacked washer/dryer units, and large outdoor patios or balconies. It should be noted, however, that not all units are oceanfront, nor do all have ocean views. 

The pool at Villa Renaissance is located between the lobby building and the main apartment building. This placement, which has a courtyard-like feel, is common in Providenciales, but many guests are disappointed to find that the pool is not oceanfront. The rectangular pool features a beautiful mosaic tile pattern in different shades of blue. There is a round, raised hot tub on the pool’s far end, as well as decorative fountains that the hotel turns on from time to time. The pool is surrounded by several lounge chairs and tall blue umbrellas. There is a small pool bar located in the lobby building where guests can get drinks, but don’t expect bartenders to be walking around replenishing empty cups or taking orders.  Beyond the pool, a pathway leads to the beach. As at many Grace Bay hotels, there is a small boardwalk with an outdoor shower, a shoe rack, and a set of stairs down to the sand. The hotel sets up lounge chairs and umbrellas for guests on the beach, but the area in front of the hotel is sloped and noticeably narrower than other parts of Grace Bay.Across from the lobby, on the other side of the guest parking lot (parking is free for guests!), a small building houses the spa and fitness center. The spa is owned by an outside company, and is not directly affiliated with the hotel, but guests can make treatment reservations with the hotel concierge. The fitness center is tiny, with a few cardio machines and free weights. For guests who might get a little claustrophobic in the tight space, the tennis court is directly across from the gym and is free for guests to use. There is a small “business center” adjacent to the lobby, which has a communal computer, books and board games for guests to borrow, and tons of pamphlets for local activities. This area doesn’t get much use, considering the hotel offers free Wi-Fi for all guests.