It’s hard to imagine a more postcard-perfect stretch of beach than the one in front of Venetian Resort Turks & Caicos on Grace Bay in the Caribbean. It’s got powdery white sand, waves gently lapping the shore, and clear water so turquoise blue that it looks doctored with an Instagram filter.
When a resort has a location like this, on one of the widest beach spots on the bay, they don’t need a lot of diversions. Trick out the suites with full kitchens, screen in the huge balconies to keep the bugs out, and put in a swimming pool. Give guests directions to the grocery story and point out the built-in barbecue grills. Then let them enjoy the view, with every single unit having a panoramic vista.
There are lit tennis courts and a basketball hoop on site though, as well as cruiser bikes that you’re free to take out for a spin. The Venetian Resort is a “condo hotel,” meaning you get all the comforts of a fancy home and then some, but it’s not a resort with a 5-to-1 staff ratio and four restaurants to choose from. The units are owned by people who put them into a rental pool managed by the reservations agents. Nothing was done halfway in these spacious suites, however. Take a quick tour of the one-bedroom one here:
There’s a small mountain’s worth of marble in each unit, comprising all of the indoor flooring. And there’s a lot of flooring here: the one-bedroom ones are as big as many homes at 1,800 square feet, while the top three-bedroom penthouse ones have 3,189 square feet. Then you get extensive granite counter tops and high-end appliances in the kitchen, which comes equipped with a blender, toaster, microwave, and coffee maker. There are plenty of pots and utensils for whipping up a feast and lots of glassware for an impromptu party.
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a Car Rental
- Search for Great Tours HERE
A huge flat-screen TV in the living room is joined by another in each bedroom, plus the complimentary Wi-Fi is strong and fast. Other amenities include a full washer and dryer in a separate room, crisp A/C, robes, and a double-vanity bath that has a large soaking tub. Units of one, two, and three bedrooms are all tastefully furnished with quality linens and comfortable mattresses. There’s plenty of room for everyone to lounge, with both indoor and outdoor dining areas and more than enough lounge chairs and sofas to accommodate twice as many people as are occupying the suite. This is a place meant for entertaining.
The Venetian functions like a hotel where it really matters though: housekeeping. There’s nightly turndown service and the maids keep the units spotless by doing a full cleaning daily as well. There’s a concierge service on demand and each guest gets a local cell phone to call in and request help when needed.
Down at the beach, lounge chairs and umbrellas are set up and there are complimentary accessories for fun, like boogie boards, beach toys, and lounging rafts. A cooler contains bottled water for guests. You can walk or run for miles on this beach in each direction. There’s a dock nearby for going on tours, or if you connect with Island Vibes, they might drop you off right on your beach after you go snorkeling and eat some conch ceviche.
Guests here share a full fitness center with similar Tuscany Resort next door. Another building down from that is Ocean Club Resort, which has three restaurants on site. Two of them face the beach and it’s only a few minutes’ walk down the sand. Near there on the road side of things is the entrance to the island’s golf course. There’s another restaurant located there in the clubhouse.
This is a true luxury property on an island that already caters to high-end travelers. Rates start at $875 per night if no promotions are applied. Book The Venetian Resort on Grace Bay direct with the hotel or check prices online at Hotels.com. If you want someone to arrange everything for a dream Caribbean vacation here, get in touch with Val and the local experts at Turks & Caicos Reservations.
Review, photos, and video by editor Tim Leffel, who was hosted at The Venetian while researching a feature article for a magazine. All opinions are his own.
