Point Grace Video

Turks & Caicos Islands Travel Video

Congratulations on your nomination for the 2008 Awards for Excellence. We have 326 fabulous properties that were chosen from, and as a selected nominee, you are really the best of the best! Winners will be announced shortly. All winners and nominees will be featured in the March 2008 edition of Condé Nast Traveler.

Tiffany Dowd
Condé Nast Johansens
The Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific.
Tel: 617.803.1608 * Fax: 603-643-2433 or 781-686-9453

The results of the World Travel Awards Caribbean and World Categories were announced at a star-studded ceremony on the island of Providenciales.

"Turks & Caicos …were delighted to host the event. The quality, beauty and tranquillity of the islands complimented the already auspicious ceremony."Michael Misick, Chief Minister of Turks & Caicos Islands

The global winners of the World Travel Awards were announced for 2007 from votes cast by 167,000 tourism professionals and agents who were asked to vote. Next year's voting register is likely to be even greater, due to the unprecedented levels of interest and expectation.

POINT GRACE VOTED CARIBBEAN’S LEADING BOUTIQUE HOTEL FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

Point Grace, a luxury boutique resort in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos has been recognized as the Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel by World Travel Awards. This prestigious award was presented to Point Grace at a ceremony held tonight in Providenciales. Point Grace is the winner of this award for the second consecutive year in a row. The voting campaign for this year reached a total of 176,000 travel professionals worldwide including 110,000 travel agents.

“We are so proud to accept this prestigious award by travel professionals again – what an honor!,” said Managing Director of Point Grace, Valerie Hudson. “We are continuously improving our service and standards at Point Grace and we are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts.”

Located on a serene stretch of white sandy beach, Point Grace offers a selection of ocean-front suites that directly overlook the beach or cottage suites with relaxing pool and garden views. All suites are exquisitely furnished and decorated. With magnificent views of the ocean and the peaceful sounds of the gentle Caribbean waves in the background- Point Grace offers the most elegant surroundings with an unparalleled level of service.

Point Grace is an all-suite luxury resort located on the island of Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands. This elegant boutique hotel offers a selection of beachfront suites and penthouses with magnificent ocean views, as well as romantic pool-side Cottage suites.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are virtually undiscovered. Providenciales is one of the 49 islands that comprise the British Crown Colony of Turks and Caicos. This caring islands community of 25,000 friendly locals and internationals is located halfway between Florida and Puerto Rico and only a ninety-minute non-stop jet flight from Miami. For more information on Point Grace please visit the website at www.pointgrace.com or call 1-866-924-7223 or 1-970-513-8007

USA – LUXURY MARKETING PARTNERS
Ms Tammy Petersen, Point Grace 847 841 7860
tammy@luxurymarketingpartners.com

POINT GRACE VOTED CARIBBEAN’S LEADING BOUTIQUE HOTEL AT THE 12 th ANNUAL WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Point Grace, a luxury boutique resort in Turks & Caicos has been recognized as the Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel at the 12th Annual World Travel Awards. This year’s voting campaign reached a total of 176,000 travel professionals worldwide including 110,000 travel agents.

The announcement was made at the World Travel Awards 12 th Annual Ceremony in London, Sunday, November 13 at the Royal Opera House.

“We are thrilled to be honored with this award by travel professionals – those that we consider to be our partners,” said Managing Director of Point Grace, Valerie Hudson. “Point Grace will continue to put forth the excellent standards and level of service that we have been recognized for in receiving this award.”

Point Grace is an all-suite luxury resort in the Turks & Caicos Islands located on a seven mile stretch of white sandy beaches. Point Grace offers a selection of beachfront and cottage suites, each one exquisitely furnished and decorated. Complete with spectacular views of the ocean, gourmet food and excellent service, Point Grace offers elegant surroundings in a Caribbean paradise.

Point Grace is an all-suite luxury resort located in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Virtually undiscovered, Providenciales is one of the 49 islands that comprise the British Crown Colony of Turks and Caicos. This caring islands community of 25,000 friendly locals and internationals is located halfway between Florida and Puerto Rico and only a ninety-minute non-stop jet flight from Miami.

For more information on Point Grace, please visit the website at www.pointgrace.com or call 649-946-5096.

Tammy Petersen, Point Grace, 847-841-7860 tammy@luxurymarketingpartners.com

New York, Jan 5005 – Condé Nast Johansens, the internationally acclaimed publisher of hotel guides, announced today that based on its hotel inspections in 2004, it will recommend Point Grace, Turks and Caicos Islands in its 2005 Guide to Recommended Hotels, Inns and Resorts – North America, Bermuda, Caribbean , Mexico, Pacific.

Lesley O’Malley-Keyes, Condé Nast Johansens Vice President and Publishing Director North America, added, “We are very pleased to be recommending Point Grace in our 2005 edition. It is truly a reflection of its impressive hospitality”.

Point Grace is nominated by World Travel Awards 2004 for the Caribbean's Leading Boutique Hotel. The other contenders for this prestigious award are Villa Nova Barbados, Parrot Cay Turks & Caicos, Cap Julica Anguilla, Graycliff Bahamas and Rockhouse Jamica. www.worldtravelawards.com/nominees/caribbean.asp

Other nominations by World Travel Awards are for Turks & Caicos Leading Hotel and Turks & Caicos Leading Spa Resort.

4th Annual Reader's choce awards - "Best of the Caribbean"
Best Small Hotel Category - 2nd place

AAA 4 Diamond Award

...We were booked to spend one night at Point Grace, a plush condominium resort in the middle of Grace Bay beach. With only 32 units in two buildings around a central pool, it is small and elegant, built and managed with Swiss precision and style. Yet as stupendous as our accommodations proved to be, a two-bedroom apartment with every imaginable convenience and an ocean facing verandah, they were overmatched by the scenery itself.

Because our time on Provo was to be short, we splashed happily in our little corner of the ocean for 45 minutes and then took a walk to one end of the beach, which incidentally is public, as are all the beaches in the Turks and Caicos.

Twelve miles of wide, unbroken white sand beach, flanked for its entire length by aquamarine waters and a reef a half-mile offshore, beyond which is deep Atlantic -- it's no surprise that Conde Nast Traveler magazine rated Grace Bay as the "Best Beach of All Tropical Islands in the World."

"Simplicity is the key to excellence," states the Managing Director of Point Grace, one of the country's most upscale hotel properties. The essential ingredients are all in place: Point Grace rises above a gentle curve of Providenciales' picturesque Grace Bay, with miles of alabaster beach to either side and the magnificent Atlantic Ocean at the doorstep. The property is a British Colonial inspiration, with every room carefully designed for beauty, comfort and convenience. But it is the service that melds these elements into an unforgettable Caribbean retreat. He explains, "Our goal is to pay meticulous attention to behind-the-scenes details to ensure that each guest's experience is elegant, beautiful and relaxing."

It all starts well before arrival. Beverly Williams, the hotel's personable reservations manager, queries guests on their favorite

Photo by Tropical Imaging

music, beverages and any special needs, so that suites can be prepared ahead of time. Visitors are met at the airport to be escorted to the resort; honeymooners arrive in a vintage Rolls Royce. A complimentary "destress" treatment at the spa can follow in-suite check-in, where chilled drinks await tired travelers. Each afternoon, pool- and beachgoers are served Caribbean ice shavings; early evening drinks and canapés are offered at Grace's Cottage, the hotel's elegant restaurant, and at turn-down, staff lights oil lamps at bedside.

Lodging choices range from an extraordinary penthouse to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, with only 32 rooms in all to the intimate property. Suites in the two, three-story oceanfront buildings feature picture-perfect views of the sea from large terraces, but Assistant Manager Pamela Ewing says that a number of guests choose the charming gingerbread cottage suites, which are surrounded by mature tropical landscaping and steps away from both the poolside terrace and beach.

All suites have central air conditioning, ceiling fans and in-room safes, with elevator service in the beachfront units. Interiors are distinguished by Indonesian hardwood and teak furniture embellished with brightly colored silk, cotton and linen fabrics. But once again, it is the extra attention to detail that makes a difference. King-size beds are adorned in soft Frette linens. Hand-painted Jerusalem tiles and mahogany woodwork grace the spacious bathrooms that feature hair dryers, luxuriant Frette terry robes, lightweight Indonesian cotton robes and a collection of quality bath amenities. Each suite has its own CD and DVD players, as well as cable TV. Every morning, guests can savor freshly brewed coffee in their well equipped kitchens and the New York Times Digest, delivered to their mailbox.

A stroll around Point Grace's peaceful grounds is a simply sensual experience, replete with lush flora aromas, caressing sea breezes and the sweet music of silence . . . enhanced with a touch of culture. Point Grace is the vision of a Swiss developer, whose collection of African tribal art and artifacts lends an exotic flair to the hotel's public spaces and suites, while refined copies of masterpieces by Van Gogh, Renoir, Gauguin and other renowned artists add a classic touch.

Point Grace's buildings and cottages encircle a central courtyard, leaving open an ocean vista in ever-changing shades of blue. Here are the freshwater pool, whirlpool and sunning terrace perfectly shaded by the broad leaves of mature palms. Staff plies icy drinks from the poolside bar and chilled towels to keep guests cool and comfortable.
Nearby, one of the cottages serves as a social center for guests. On its sun-dappled terrace, breakfast and lunch are served. Throughout the day, fruit and beverages can be found in the casual lounge, which also holds a library of books, board games, CDs and DVDs.

Just beyond the courtyard, the beach's pristine, powdery sands beckon sunbather, stroller and swimmer alike. There are plenty of beach lounges at the ready and an offshore barrier reef ensures that the surf "laps" rather than "pounds." Guests have complimentary use of kayaks, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats and beach attendants provide convenient beverage service.

The front desk staff stands ready to help guests experience the island beyond this luxurious enclave. Superb scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and parasailing excursions are available through select local operators. The hotel's own 27 foot motor launch, Lady Grace, handles day trips and private island drop-offs; picnic hampers can be ordered ahead of time. Point Grace guests enjoy membership at the Provo Golf & Country Club and the country's only casino is nearby. The team also assists guests with car and bicycle rentals, restaurant selection and reservations, trips to nearby islands and can arrange for the services of babysitters, maids and butlers, personal fitness trainers and private chefs.

Who are typical guests at this one-of-a-kind property? Surprisingly, it's not just the rich and famous. Pamela Ewing explains, "We host a mixture of the middle class, upper class and very wealthy. We have some people who have saved up for a special vacation and come here to be pampered. We cater to a lot of honeymooners . . . who we expect will return for their anniversaries." He adds, "We're also attracting savvy travelers who come during the off season to experience luxury properties when prices are lower. And, there are more families, for which our larger units work well. But we strive to keep a reasonable blend of guests at any given time."

Business travelers are also encouraged, with a business room complete with FAX machine and Internet access and full secretarial service available. Point Grace's three- and four-bedroom penthouse suites are particularly conducive to small retreats or meetings.

As befitting its oceanfront location, Point Grace's spa features a unique concept termed thalasso therapy, literally "treatment by the sea." Spa Manager Edmone Sibide explains the technique, "Thalasso therapy is the use of seawater and seaweed in a number of wellness therapies. We import a specialized line of products from the Thalgo laboratories in France that use only marine ingredients."

Fresh sea breezes and a marvelous view of the ocean are part of the thalasso beauty elements. Point Grace's spa is located in three, white-washed buildings set apart at the east of the property and just back from the beach dune. The treatment rooms are designed to allow doors and windows to be open to the ocean view and sea air while guests are being pampered, yet privacy is maintained. Each high-ceilinged suite is thoroughly outfitted with massage table, marble sinks and an open-roofed shower.

This simple, naturally beautiful environment blends well with Edmone's French-influenced philosophy of wellness therapy. She says, "I believe in a pure, natural approach without the need for artifice. Professionalism, the knowledge that comes through our hands and the best products are all that is needed."

Besides a variety of aromatheraputic massages, including Swedish, Shiatsu, Tai, sports and lymph drainage techniques, the spa offers body scrubs and algae wraps, marine facial treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing and cosmetic treatments. There are also one to five day packages designed to focus on specific results, whether rejuvenating, slimming or simply overall well being is your goal.
Services are open to all visitors and residents of the Turks & Caicos; phone for reservations in advance.

At Point Grace resort here, the general manager keeps his eyes trained on the skies. He's looking for the airplanes that make him "feel more positive" about winter season. As 90% of the resort's guests come from the U.S., air service levels are important. In the past, sufficient lift was a problem. Now, weekly service from American Airlines out of Boston, which started in June, and four weekly US Airways flights from Charlotte, N.C., set to start in November, should help bolster business, he said.

Packages for the 32-suite, four-villa resort can be booked through US Airways Vacations as well as Gogo Worldwide Vacations, Classic Custom Vacations, Island Destinations and Mark Travel. Forecasting occupancy remains a challenge, 30% to 40% of Point Grace's business continues to be booked within two weeks of arrival, a post-Sept. 11 trend affecting many destinations. Agents generate 22% of Point Grace's winter business. That number is slightly higher during the summer. Accommodations start at $395 per night for a one-bedroom cottage suite through Dec.17. From Dec. 18 to April 8, the rate jumps to $525. Rates include transfers, early evening drinks and snacks, a weekly cocktail party, selected water sports, a 30-minute spa treatment and use of the business center.

In other news, the property introduced seven-night spa and culinary packages. The Thalasso Spa program includes cottage suites accommodations; transfers; tennis; four one-hour lessons on Thalasso beauty treatments; six one-hour spa treatments; and three seminars on Caribbean nutrition. The plan costs $2,975 per person, double, and is offered Sept.14 to 21 and Dec.8 to 15.

The Exotic Culinary Journey plan involves day trips by boat and plane to Dellis Cay and Salt Cay. It also offers instructions and classes in Caribbean ingredients and spices. The package is open to guests of any cooking level and includes interisland travel, classes, a graduation dinner, a chef's jacket and a gift set of knives. Rates are $2,740 per person, double, for a limited culinary program and $3,075 for the full package. This plan is offered Oct. 13 to 20 and Dec.15 to 21. For information and reservations call (866) 92-GRACE.

This Palatial 4,600-square-foot, one-bedroom penthouse lives up to its name. Practically everything is oceanfront, from the living and drawing rooms to private terraces on the beach, roof, bedroom, and off the leather-swathed library. Its cheerful and dramatic Caribbean Colonial decor showcases fine craftsmanship with stunning rattan-lined cathedral ceilings, Italian granite, handcrafted antiques, and a muslin-tented bed with Frette linens. Other perks of perfection include a massage room and in-suite bathroom, powder room, bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, shower, dual vanities, and a professional kitchen.

Want to bring friends or family along? The 2,600-square-foot three-bedroom Cotton Cay suite connects via private elevator (add $1600 to $2,000 depending on the season). Rates run $4,000 to $4,800 nightly. Contact:  General Manager manager@pointgrace.com or  reservations@pointgrace.com

...Grace Bay is also where you will find the bulk of the island's water-sport facilities (everything from windsurfing and Hobie Cats to parasailing and catamaran trips into the sunset), and a short drive down the single main road brings you to another of the island's new claims to the big time - championship golf. The fairways of the Provo Golf Club are laid out across a landscape that looks more like a quarry that a links, but with daily doses of 240,000 gallons of desalinated water the owner, the Turks and Caicos Water Company, has turned the course into a scenic 6,641-yard, 72-par challenge, complete with oases of acacia and palmetto trees. The irony is that this nature-loving island, which as recently as the '60's had no roads, no cars, and no TV, now has some of the most luxurious, most acclaimed resorts in the Caribbean...

The newest, Point Grace, opened in March 2000. It's almost two resorts in one, with its 32 suites deployed among a pair of four-story, whitewashed wings right beside the beach and a semicircle of gingerbread trimmed, pastel-colored bungalows in the garden. The designers have excelled in the nice-touch department: gold-leaf tiles in the negative-lop pool (where the water level is flush with the surrounding deck), elegant latticed teak bins for wet towels, German beach cabanas that cost a cool $3,000 each, buffers around the blenders to ensure that no grinding or whirring will disturb your pool-side siestas.

...When I first came to this island, diners had a choice of curried conch or Creole-style grouper; now chefs from Austria, Morocco, France and Asia, and naturally, Britain have been quietly adding new dimensions to the dining experience on the island. The local lobster and snapper, the ever-present conch fritters and conch salad have been augmented by curries and kebabs, conch roulade, spring rolls, and sophisticated fare like roast spatch-cock with braised lentils and Cajun rack of lamb with sweet potato raisin gelatin. Just as well, since wining and dining beneath the stars is, apart from an occasional whirl in a casino, more or less the sole evening diversion on Provo.

One of the perks of Provo as a venue for totally mellow vacations is a complete absence of guilt when it comes to seeing the sights - there are none. The Turks and Caicos National Museum is on Grand Turk, a 25-minute flight away, and the nearest historic for of any standing is on Haiti. On Provo, sightseeing usually means a boat trip to adjoining cays to check out the iguanas and flamingos....

...Though just over 150,000 tourists visited the islands in the past 12 months, that's nearly 30% more than during the previous year, making the Turks and Caicos one of the region's fastest growing destinations. And the lion's share of visitors comes to Provo, lured now by the white gold of Grace Bay Beach.

Point Grace, where Allen-Ray Smith is water-sports manager, is one of the bay's most dazzling new properties - a condo/resort hotel where a two-bedroom oceanfront suite awash in marble and mahogany sell for a cool one-point-two and where guests are treated to complimentary sorbet, wine and canapés each evening before dinner. It's elegant, but the friendly local staff makes it far from snobbish and on this summer day the laughter of children rings around the resort.

Smith spent the morning teaching Michael and Mary Marinelli's three kids how to snorkel in the pool. Tomorrow he'll graduate them to a trip aboard the resort's boat, Lady Grace, and they'll get to see a shallow reef just offshore in Princess Alexandra Marine Park, where all the sea life is protected and where the water is the same crystal blue as the pool. They may even see JoJo, Provo's famous wild dolphin that inexplicably prefers people to pods. For now, the kids are content to practice their belly-flopping technique while their parents relax under the pool bar's circular pergola.

"Even the luxury hotels on this island are great for families," says Mary. "Most of them are condos that have kitchens, washers and dryers and lots of space. And the beach..."

"Yes, the beach...,"sighs Kathy Walker, the pretty half of another first-time-to-the-island couple who are so impressed that they, too, sound like brochures for the ministry of tourism. "We were looking for a great beach and a perfect mix of seclusion and amenities," says Walker. "And that's exactly what we've found." This island that just 30 years ago was little more than a good spot for conch and home to 300 people, now boasts an 18-hole championship golf course, a mouthwatering selection of restaurants, a lavish supermarket where visitors can get a lesson in import duties (check out the $9 bag of Oreos), a movie theater, casino and even a nightclub.

Like the Marinellis, Kathy and her companion, Scott Boulette, chose Provo because they'd heard it was the up-and-coming destination. They've been a Point Grace a few days and eagerly introduce me to all the staff. Most important, they insist, is Colin from Salt Cay, who is a bartender at the pool bar and serves up what Scott swears is the world's best Pina Colada. It's hard to resist investigating an endorsement like that, so I test-drive one, discovering that Colin's secret is filling the straw with Kahlua as well as floating a shot of the same on top of the icy blend.

On our return flight to New York, we vowed we'd be back. And we have been, several times, the latest visit this past summer, when we were wined, dined and pampered by the staff at Point Grace, a first-class boutique resort situated on Grace Bay, a 12-mile stretch of pristine white sand on Provo's north shore, voted the Best Beach in the World by the London Times.

For those of you who think a five-star vacation isn't possible at the beach, you obviously haven't been to Point Grace. Both Conde Naste Traveler, in its 2001 Hot List and Gourmet magazine, in its end-of-the-year 2000 Hotels issue, rated Point Grace among the world's best new hotels. We couldn't agree more.

Our two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath oceanfront suite (one of 32 exquisitely decorated suites boasting Indonesian four-poster beds, Turkish marble floors and Italian granite kitchens, all with balconies overlooking the Atlantic), was listed at $1.5 million and, at more than 2,000 square feet, was about twice as spacious as our two bedroom apartment on the Upper-East Side.

From its large, palm-shaded pool to its easy access to world-class golf, scuba, snorkeling, boating and bone fishing, Point Grace shines. But nothing this boutique resort offers sparkles quite so brightly as its restaurants and services.

Each day, from sunrise to sunset, we were showered with culinary delights at every turn: in the morning, a complimentary breakfast buffet; at midday, lunch at the poolside Hutchings' restaurant, where we sampled the tantalizing tempura soft-shell crab and the mahi mahi croquette; in the late afternoon, exotic sorbets on the beach; at night, complimentary pre-dinner wine and canapés at the bar at Grace's Cottage, Point Grace's 62-seat Caribbean-Asian restaurant, followed by dinner, which is worthy of the most posh European hotel.

Craig James, Grace's Cottage executive chef (originally from Wales, via St. Lucia), prepared sauces for us using a memorable mixture of mango, coconut, sweet yam and kaffir lime. His delectable pan-fried salmon, roasted snapper and other creations are served on settings of Villeroy & Boch china, flanked by Sambonet silver and Italian stemware, on a table of Egyptian cotton.

When the stress of the day got to be too much -- we realized we were running low on suntan oil -- the spa manager sent a masseuse to our room. When we need to send a fax and check our e-mail, we strolled down to a smartly appointed business center off the resort's main lobby. And when a thundershower cut short a walk along Grace Bay, we simply stopped by Point Brace's bountiful library of books, CDs and DVDs, selected a few items free of charge and headed back to our suite for some solitary time.

The bottom line? If you're looking for a relaxing island getaway, with some of the best snorkeling, diving and marine life on the planet -- from the shallow corals between Grace Bay and the chain's barrier reef -- to its undersea mountains and dramatic vertical walls -- island life doesn't get any better than Turks and Caicos. And on Provo, it doesn't get any better than Point Grace.

Set in gardens and dunes on Grace Bay, in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, the stone work of elegant Point Grace casts a faint pink-white glow. In front within view of the terraces of the oceanfront suites, 12 miles of sandy beach fan out in either direction along an impossibly clear turquoise sea.

Inspired by British Colonial and Planter's estate homes, Point Grace with its balustrades and wide sweeping stairways reflected in the garden pool, is simply stunning. The resort has 32 spacious suites housed in two four-story beachfront building along with a few cottages which face the pool area. Accommodations range from a 1,080 sq.ft. one-bedroom cottage to two- and three-bedroom suites and the penthouse. Much of the hardwood and hand-carved teak furniture as well as silk, cotton and linen fabrics, has been imported from Bali, Java and other exotic places. Special features include Turkish marble floors and hand-carved mahogany doors along with much original art work and antiques such as 200-year-old wall hangings from India, Indonesian wedding chests and leather-bound books.

In addition to air-conditioning, ceiling fans, direct dial telephones--things you'd expect--these villas come with cable TV with DVD and CD players, safes, kitchen with granite counters and Sub-Zero refrigerator, washers and dryers, two bathrobes per person ( a thick Frette terry cloth and a light Indonesian cotton ) and king-sized beds with are lavishly dressed in Fretted linens. When Point Grace was created, there were definitely no cutting corners.

Then there are the little niceties. Like when you arrive back in your room after dinner and find your bed turned down, an oil lamp glowing softly on the bureau or opening your fridge to find it stocked with juices, water and soft drinks. Or the excellent selection of CDs and books in the bookcase. And oh yes. There are secretarial services, in-room fax machines, baby-sitting, additional maid and butler services, private in-room chefs, and personal fitness trainers.

Breakfast and lunch is served on the terrace or patio gardens just off the main reception area and there is an espresso machine where you can help yourself to a variety of coffees at any time of the day. Dinner is in Grace's Cottage where a new chef is already creating quite a stir on the island with his creative and tasty cuisine. I'm not sure which I liked best: the carpaccio of Tuna with poached scallops, dry vermouth and a leek fondue or the hot chocolate soufflé with homemade chocolate ice cream.

...The food service they did offer was exceptional-cocktail-hour buffet of premium pates, crudités, and cheeses and balsamic marinated mushrooms and artichokes, prosciutto and melon; a breakfast buffet of freshly baked muffins and croissants, Lavazza espresso, and freshly squeezed orange juice; ample put well-prepared lunch selections such as spaghetti with roasted tomato sauce, ham and black olives, and one of the best steamed Caribbean lobsters I've had, perfectly tender and enlivened with a tropical fruit slaw. On the basis of this lobster, I would have opted for a cook-in meal; if another guest hadn't reserved the chef first....Chefs can also be hired to cater meals at one of the three separate houses ... on a secluded area of Grace Bay beach.

What sets Point Grace apart are the exquisite furnishings and the extraordinary attention to detail. Finishing are the highest quality and include large mahogany entry doors to the suites, Turkish marble floors and unusual rust-colored marble vanity tops in the bathroom, and Italian granite countertops in the kitchen... Meals are served poolside or on the veranda of Grace's Cottage. The hotel provides a shuttle to restaurants in the Grace Bay area. With some notice, private chefs are available to prepare meals in your suite or villa.... Adjacent to the main lounge is a small business center with computer facilities for e-mail and Internet access; a television; and the beginnings of a small library of books, CDs, DVDs and board games. Secretarial services are available. The New York Times fax is delivered every morning to your suite or villa along with breakfast... Point Grace offers water-sports equipment and bicycles (with helmets) for adults and children, and provides complimentary transportation to the Provo Golf and Tennis Club, about 1 mile away. Sunfish, snorkeling gear, kayaks, and windsurfers are available to guests. Point Grace's Fun Playhouse in the Sand offers children four years and older a small, unsupervised playground. Baby-sitting is available.

A deluxe new Caribbean hotel, Point Grace, recently opened on a 12-mile white-sand beach along Grace Bay on Providenciales. The beach is a home to upscale resorts on the north shore of the island, also known as Provo, the most developed of the Turks and Caicos, an archipelago rich in coral reefs.

Point Grace... with a total of 32 units with one-, two and three-bedroom suites. There are also four cottages, with a total of 10 suites, and two villas, built in gardens and each with a pool. Adjoining the reception area will be a business center, a TV lounge and a library with books, CDs and DVDs. The area sits beside a pool, where casual lunches will be served. The suites are outfitted with kitchens, featuring Italian granite counter tops, Turkish-marble bathroom vanities, Indonesian teak furniture, silk and cotton fabrics, king-size beds, Frette linens and robes, and silk-screened Indonesian sarongs. Each afternoon, fresh fruit sorbet will be served on the beach; housekeepers will turn down linens at night and light bedside oil lamps (scented if preferred).

High-season double rates start at $395 in a cottage suite, plus 19 percent for tax and service; it drops to $275 on April 25. The use of water sports equipment and shuttle to restaurants are included.
Tribune Wire Service

A deluxe new Caribbean hotel, Point Grace, is opening on a 12-mile white sand beach along Grace Bay on Providenciales. The beach is home to an assortment of upscale resorts on the north shore of the island, also known as Provo, the most developed of the Turks and Caicos, an archipelago rich in coral reefs.

According to the local lore, Grace Bay is named for a woman who spent her honeymoon on Provo more than a century ago. A house similar to her honeymoon cottage will be Point Grace's reception area, where Continental breakfast will be served, along with hot and iced cappuccino, espresso and tea throughout the day and wine and hors d'oeuvres in the evening, all free. Adjoining the reception area will be a business center, a TV lounge and a library with books, CD's and DVD's. The cottage sits beside a pool where casual lunches will be served.

High-season double rates start at $395 in a cottage suite plus 20 percent for tax and service; it drops to $275 on April 25. The use of water sports equipment and a shuttle to restaurants are included.
Frances Frank Marcus