JUST BEACHY: Sure, you’ve probably heard of the Turks & Caicos Islands, but like many Caribbean destinations, you’re not really sure where they are. Well, here’s a geography lesson: they’re just below the Bahamian chain, about 600 miles southeast of Miami. While not the most-visited Caribbean destination—and, if we’re getting technical, you should probably know Turks & Caicos is actually in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea—most likely it soon will be at the top of everyone’s beach getaway list. The Regent Palms is banking on it. With 164 rooms and suites that can be configured with one, two, or three bedrooms, the accommodations suit honeymooning couples or large families, and each room, replete with marble floors, high ceilings, custom-made mahogany furnishings, and state-of-the-art kitchen and bathroom amenities, is as spick-and-span clean as it was the day it was built. Better still: even when the property is 100 percent occupied, it doesn’t feel crowded. There is always a chaise at the infinity pool, which is the test of a truly luxurious resort. And the beach is quiet and pristine—perfect for brisk morning walks and sunset strolls.
DINE TIME: While you could certainly enjoy a multicourse—and full-calorie—meal at Parallel23 filled with such dishes as roasted baby beet and goat cheese salad with basil and cherry tomatoes, Caicos lobster risotto infused with white truffle oil, and spiced duck breast with wild mushroom ragout and sweet potato and goat cheese ravioli, the Regent Palms kitchen turns out some smashing spa cuisine, which can be customized to your tastes. Ask for a light lunch delivered to the spa, such as melt-in-your-mouth poached halibut and light-as-air asparagus-spinach flan with sun-dried tomato, or plan a casual beach-side barbecue along the boardwalk with freshly grilled lobster tails scented with vanilla, roasted potato and cauliflower salad with carrot-yogurt dressing, and sugar-free confections for dessert. It’ll make you rethink your next cheeseburger.
ROYAL RELAXATION: Spread over 26,000 square feet, the magnificent Regent Spa is a resort unto itself. Free-standing treatment rooms line a serene, shallow pool that is elegantly lit by lanterns at night. Guest await their therapists on comfy, terry cloth-clad chaises overlooking this water feature—the most memorable “waiting room” of any spa I’ve seen. Among the signature treatments are the Mother of Pearl Body Exfoliation, in which the skin is revitalized using a special blend of hand-crushed queen conch shells, and the Regent Palms Signature Red Carpet Facial featuring Sonya Dakar botanical and aromatherapy products. My sweet therapist took a hard look at my face and told me the truth: clogged pores and dehydration. So, with her magical mix of potions, she went to work, all the while gently massaging my head. This 90-minute treatment also included a custom green tea peel to correct my, ahem, blemishes. My only task was to keep the sunscreen lathered on—which is absolutely nonnegotiable if you’re spending more time in the sun. Expect some tightness and dryness in the days following your facial, but once your renewed and rosy visage appears, you’ll forget all about any discomfort—especially when the compliments keep coming.
How To Get There
American Airlines offers a nonstop flight from DFW to Providenciales once a week; otherwise you’ll connect through Miami International Airport. The hotel can arrange airport transfer.
Where To Stay
The Regent Palms Turks & Caicos
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
649-946-8666
800-545-5000 toll free
www.regenthotels.com
