The Facts For Your Turks & Caicos Vacation

Faced with the prospect of a growing Turks and Caicos travel industry, the Islands (TCI), is a small country located at the tail end of The Bahamian archipelago just outside the Caribbean.  TCI has chosen to protect its beauty and peaceful atmosphere as its main asset and a great place for your Turks and Caicos vacation.

Rather than forgetting this country's natural beauty and catering exclusively to tourists with huge Turks and caicos resorts and activities - and completely commercializing the islands - the Turks and Caicos protect their laid-back, Caribbean lifestyle. Indeed, these efforts have been successful, as sun-loving Turks and Caicos vacation guests continue to visit the Turks and caicos beaches.

Getting To Your Turks and Caicos Vacation

Most Turks and Caicos vacation guests will arrive at the Turks and Caicos Islands at Providenciales International Airport on Providenciales. Direct flights are usually available from the U.S. mainland and Canada, but some Turks and caicos travel guests connect through Montego Bay in Jamaica. The airport hosts major carriers, including, but not limited to, Air Jamaica, Air Transit, American Airlines, Bahamasair, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Interisland Airways, Lynx, Miami Air, North American, Signature Vacation, Sky King, and Sky Services.  Most Turks and Caicos vacation guests have no trouble getting to TCI easily. 

Turks and Caicos travel visitors find that taxis are government regulated and unmetered, with rates posted in the car. Cabs are always waiting at the airport, and fares run about $15(USD) to most Turks and Caicos hotels on Providenciales.

Entry Requirements

U.S. and Canadian citizens can enter the Turks and Caicos Islands with an original birth certificate (with raised seal) and a valid government-issued photo ID, but a valid passport is preferable for all Turks and Caicos vacation visitors. Citizens of all other nations, including those of the Caribbean, will need a current passport.

Geography

Turks and Caicos vacation guests find that these Islands are not technically part of the Caribbean. Located at the tail end of The Bahamian archipelago, these islands border the Caribbean Sea but are in the Atlantic Ocean. The group consists of many islands, but only eight of them are inhabited, the main islands being Providenciales (for tourism) and Grand Turk (where the capital city is located). Located directly north of Haiti and 575 miles southeast of Miami, these islands lie in waters rich with lobster and crayfish. Additionally, the Turks and Caicos beaches consist of 225 miles of gorgeous shoreline for bathing and swimming. Surrounded by 500 miles of coral reef and largely untouched by development and pollution, Turks and Caicos scuba diving is magnificent.

 

Health and Safety

People

Turks and Caicos vacation guests may find that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands speak English, but with a Caribbean lilt that may make it difficult for traditional English speakers to understand. Certain phrasing and expressions may seem odd at first, but context usually helps Turks and Caicos travel guests to understand meaning. Once you become accustomed to this dialect, it will feel like second nature.

The main eight islands are home to most of the English speakers. Native people who make up the remainder of the population are descendants of African slaves who were originally brought to the island to grow cotton. These people, nicknamed"Belongers," are kind-natured, friendly, and very religious.

The expatriate population is a community of people who have moved here from all over the world, including the Americas, the U.K., Scandinavia, and various Caribbean islands. This variety gives the islands an international flavor and culture."Ex-pats" move to the island for its relaxed attitude, which any Turks and Caicos vacation traveler will come to know and love.

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