reprinted with permission of Travel Weekly Magazine
Author: Adrienne Onofri, Issue: Nov 5, 2001

Point Grace Resort
a luxury hideaway at Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands 

Gracefully appointed: Turks and Caicos' new Point Grace resort is a marvel of design and decor

Many hotels exaggerate with the word suite, using it for an extra-large guest room or one that has a sitting area. But at Point Grace, an elegant new resort in the Turks and Caicos, the label "suite" is an understatement. Point Grace's guest units are called suites even though they're actually apartments.

Opened in March 2000, Point Grace was lauded by both Gourmet and Conde Nast Traveler as one of the world's hot new hotels. The boutique resort sits on Grace Bay, a 12-mile beach on the north coast of the Turks and Caicos' most popular island, Providenciales. Point Grace is a marvel of design and interior decor; the resort's owners and developers planned scrupulously and spent lavishly on the property.

British Colonial is the style that inspired Point Grace's architecture, but Indonesian is the pre-eminent cultural influence indoors. Interior decor also comprises African art and artifacts, reproductions of famous paintings and 200-year-old wall hangings from India. Floors in the villa suites are made of Turkish marble, and bathrooms feature hand-painted tiles and mahogany vanities. Every master bedroom has a four-poster, canopied bed with sheer curtains.

Target Clientele: This property is especially suited for well-heeled travelers who are looking for quiet and relaxation and who don't like to share their hotel with a lot of other guests. Clients who enjoy gourmet dining, golf, watersports or boat rides will also find the resort to their liking, as will honeymooners.

Accommodations: Point Grace has eight one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom suites in its two four-story oceanfront villas. There are another nine one-bedroom suites in the poolside cottages with partial ocean views. The cottage suites-i 1,080 square feet in size-are laid out more like typical hotel suites (a sliding door separates the bedroom and living room) than the apartment-like suites in the villas, but they all have a kitchen. The villa suites range from 1,300 to 4,600 square feet. All guest units are air conditioned and have a terrace and mailbox, where The New York Times fax is delivered every morning. Suites are supplied with a hair dryer, an iron and ironing board, French toiletries and two types of bathrobes-terry cloth and lightweight Indonesian cotton. The spacious bathrooms feature a separate tub and shower.

The full-size kitchens contain a dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, stove, countertop appliances (including a coffeemaker and toaster), and a supply of dishes, glasses, pans, cooking utensils, flatware, complimentary coffee and tea, and pay-per-eat snacks. There are a washer and dryer in every suite (detergent is provided), and every living room is equipped with a DVD player and stereo with a CD player.

While all suites are exquisitely appointed, Point Grace's penthouse-a $2.5 million showplace named Nonsuch-is the most extraordinary. Among its features are five balconies; a thatched-roof queen-size daybed on one of the terraces; rattan-lined cathedral ceilings; custom-made Mandalay lamps (floor lamps with fans); tabletop book stands; a library with a leather sofa, wet bar and an adjacent study; a massage room; maid's quarters; decorative furniture crafted from wooden canoes; and banquette seating in the dressing room. A one bedroom flat on the uppermost floor, the penthouse goes for $4,800 a night in peak season; it can be combined with the three-bedroom suite below (linked by a private elevator) for a total of 7,200 square feet for $6,800 a night. 

Public Areas: The resort's centerpiece is a vast free-form pool with both a whirlpool and bar adjacent. In the lobby, located in a poolside cottage, guests can borrow CDs, DVDs, books and board games; read newspapers and magazines; check e-mail or surf the Internet; and help themselves to complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, espresso or cappuccino at anytime. Fresh fruit is usually available as well.

Dining: A continental breakfast buffet--featuring cereal, yogurt, fruit and baked goods--is included for all guests. They may order eggs, pancakes or French toast for an additional cost. Breakfast and lunch are served on the patio outside the lobby. The open-air dinner restaurant, Grace's Cottage, is poised to become one of the Caribbean's premier gourmet eateries under the direction of the charismatic young chef Craig Jones, formerly of the Royal St. Lucian and Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. Wine and canapes are available gratis in the bar at Grace's Cottage in early evening.

Service: The niceties begin with the complimentary tropical drinks and chilled towels given to guests as they check in, and they continue with evening turndown, free homemade sorbets served every afternoon on the beach and poolside, and the overall geniality and efficiency of the staff. Point Grace provides a wide range of services on request, from picnic lunches for day trips to massages and manicures to in-suite private chefs. Every guest staying at least five nights receives either a beach sarong or shorts as a complimentary gift.

Could Be Improved: The area rugs in the bedroom and living room, made of the hard fiber sisal, can be uncomfortable on bare feet.

Rates & Packages: Until Dec. 18, cottage suites cost $345 a night. One-, two- and three-bedroom suites range from $425 to $845 per night. For the upcoming winter season, prices run from $525 to $1,765. Rates cover two people per bedroom (i.e., the rate for a two-bedroom suite is good for four people).

Strongest Selling Points: Point Grace represents a pinnacle of luxury among Caribbean resorts. Guests truly feel at home in their suite, since it is designed and furnished like an apartment. The artistry that went into developing and decorating the hotel is unique, and Grace Bay is a superb beach.

Packages available until Dec. 18 include such bonuses as dinners in Grace's Cottage, spa treatments, a day pass to the Beaches resort and a boat ride to a secluded beach for a picnic. Rates per suite are $2,155 for the five-night "Romantic Retreat" or four-night "Golfers Twosome," $999 for the three-night "Quick Getaway" and $4,435 for the seven-night "Family Foursome." Airport transfers are provided with all packages. Rates are as of 2001.

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