Sunny hotspots for the family: Seven Stars Resort, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

I was recently invited to check out the Seven Stars Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. This was not my first visit to Turks and Caicos. I am a huge fan of the island so I jumped at the chance to review this refurbished property. All I can say, is there are resorts and then there is the Seven Stars Resort.

What I loved

• The setting. It’s simply gorgeous. Small enough to feel homey and large enough to have all the amenities a family could want, including a wonderful (and new) daycare facility, Shooting Stars Kids Camp, and a heated salt water pool (the only one on the island), great restaurants like the new Deck. Sand Dollar is a poolside restaurant serving casual lunch fare, and Seven is ideal for breakfast or a more intimate and upscale dinner experience.
• The spa. It’s one of the best with a full list of treatments like the Island Dream, which consists of a full body massage with a mini facial ending with a hot towel compress to the feet.
• The locale. Grace Bay Beach is one of the nicest beaches in the Caribbean. The long stretch of sand is glorious and Seven Stars is situated on 22 acres of manicured grounds at the centre of Grace Bay. Nice!
• The rooms. Ah, the rooms. Or shall I say suites. They are spacious and gorgeous with full kitchens (stocked with all the tools/gadgets and appliances one needs to cook at home). Nearby is Graceway Gourmet Supermarket (I walked there a few times) to grab a snack or do a full meal. The larger suites also have spacious dining and living rooms with private balconies and ocean views. The resort offers junior, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options so it makes sharing a suite with another family easy.

What it is not

It is not an all-inclusive and it is not inexpensive. This upscale resort is not for the all-inclusive, sit-at-the-swim-up-bar and drink and eat until the wee hours vacation. Seven Stars is elegant. I felt like a celebrity and the mood was relaxed. If you want busy poolside games, line-ups to make dinner reservations and having to get up at 6 a.m. to grab a lounger by the pool, this is not the place. The word tranquility comes to mind. But make no mistake, there is lots for everyone to do, it’s just a quieter, gentler way of doing it. I visited the Shooting Star Kids Camp and it was serene, offering excellent amenities for the kids making them happy campers.

Check out their specials as they sometimes offer great deals (as in book three nights and get the fourth for free). You will never want to go home!

For more info: sevenstarsgracebay.com

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, November 2012.