Upon learning the exciting news of my pregnancy, my thoughts immediately turned to planning a babymoon. Given my tiring teaching schedule, I had a clear idea of what I wanted for this vacation – a tranquil and sunny beach destination.
After some research (and finding a great direct flight from New York), we decided on Turks and Caicos for our babymoon. Turks and Caicos is a fantastic destination for a babymoon. Unlike some other destinations where there are a lot of action-packed activities that might not be safe for pregnancy (but would for sure give me FOMO if I couldn’t do them), the main highlight of Turks and Caicos is its clear waters and pristine beaches. These were two things that I felt very confident I could enjoy while pregnant!
Below are my top tips for planning a Turks and Caicos babymoon.
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Where to Stay
The hotels in Turks and Caicos are pretty expensive and book up early. Be sure to book as far in advance as possible! Below are a few hotel recommendations depending on your budget:
Mid-budget: The Royal West Indies
This is where we stayed for our babymoon! We loved this hotel for its prime location on Grace Bay Beach and its fantastic pools. The rooms were a little bit outdated, but overall very comfortable. We enjoyed this hotel and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a somewhat affordable beach-front hotel in Turks and Caicos. Check it out here.
High-end: The Palms
One of the best hotels on Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos is The Palms. This luxurious resort offers elegant and spacious suites and penthouses, all with stunning ocean views and upscale amenities. The resort also offers several dining options, ranging from casual beachfront dining to fine dining. Check it out here.
Budget: Sibonne Beach Hotel
This charming hotel is located on Grace Bay Beach and offers comfortable rooms with simple, yet stylish decor. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s private beach access, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant. Check it out here.
What to Pack
In addition to your typical warm weather packing list, there are a few additional items that you might want to pack specifically for your Turks and Caicos babymoon:
- Pregnancy-safe sunscreen
- Pregnancy-safe bug spray (although I barely used this during my stay in January)
- Bump-friendly dresses
- Bump-friendly swimsuits
- Your prenatal vitamins
- A pregnancy pillow (not the gigantic one of course). I brought the small wedge part of my BabyBub pillow
- Compression socks to wear on the airplane
- Comfortable shoes for walking like these slip-on shoes from Kizik or these sandals from DSW.
- A travel exercise mat: If you have made exercise/stretching part of your regular routine to help keep away the aches and pains of pregnancy, then be sure to pack a travel exercise mat in case you want to continue this routine during your babymoon.
Where to Eat
Dining at restaurants in Turks and Caicos is super expensive, so I recommend stocking up on some grocery staples when you arrive so that you don’t have to eat out for every meal. Graceway is the largest grocery store in the area and has all the essentials that you need (including a ton of vegan specialty items, which I was super excited about). They even had non-alcoholic wine!
Be warned though- the prices at grocery stores are also very expensive (for example- a box of Cheerios was almost $10), so be selective about what you buy. However, it is still cheaper than dining out. We enjoyed being able to make simple breakfasts in the room, as well as having some healthy (and non-healthy) snacks on hand throughout the day. Also be sure to stock up on plenty of water bottles!
When you do choose to dine out, there are a ton of great restaurants to choose from. Our favorite spot for a nice dinner was Infiniti Restaurant. This place had SUCH a vibe- it reminded me of the restaurants in Tulum. Additionally, they had a separate vegan menu available. Be sure to make reservations in advance- tables for walk-ins are generally not available. Visiting this restaurant was a nice treat during our Turks and Caicos babymoon!
For casual meals in town, check out Skull Rock Cantina (a Mexican restaurant located centrally in the shopping area), and Big Al’s Island Grill.
For fast food, be sure to try The Patty Place for Jamaican patties (they even have two vegan options), Crest and Berry for acai bowls, Lemon 2 Go for creative breakfast and lunch options in a vibey setting, and Tribe Cafe (WOW- their sandwiches on freshly baked bread are AMAZING).
If you want to try authentic island cuisine, Omar’s Beach Hut is a must-visit. Their vegetable curry was AMAZING- unlike any other curry flavor that I have tried before. Their restaurant also has seating in the water and a large list of mocktails. Another popular option for authentic island cuisine is Mr. Groupers.
How to Get Around
- Taxis: This is primarily how we traveled around during our Turks and Caicos babymoon (there are no Ubers on the island). Despite the extremely elevated prices for other items in Turks and Caicos, taxis were somewhat reasonable because the prices are centrally regulated (and by somewhat reasonable- I mean that they were similar to NYC prices- a ten minute ride was about $20)
- Bicycle: If you are staying in a hotel, they are likely to offer bicycles. This is a great way to travel to nearby spots in Turks and Caicos if you feel comfortable riding bikes and if your doctor approves it. If not, this is a great option for your husband or partner to make grocery/snack runs for you!
- Walking: Depending on your hotel location, Turks and Caicos is also very walkable. We were able to walk to a few different restaurants from our hotel.
- Car Rental: We chose not to rent a car because we figured we would spend most of our time hanging out at our hotel beach and pool. However, many people who visit Turks and Caicos do rent cars. Keep in mind that vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road in Turks and Caicos.
What to Do
What you do in Turks and Caicos while pregnant will of course depend on how you are feeling and what your doctor recommends. I really needed some rest and relaxation, so we spent most of our time at the pool and beach. However, if you are looking for some more action, below are some activities that you might be interested in enjoying during your Turks and Caicos babymoon (after first getting the approval of your doctor).
- Relax by the beach or pool: The beaches in Turks and Caicos are absolutely stunning. Grace Bay Beach is often rated one of the best beaches in the world, and I can see why.
- Go snorkeling: You can snorkel at any of the beaches in Turks and Caicos. If you want to see a lot of wildlife and maybe some turtles, two popular snorkeling spots are Bight Reef (also called Coral Gardens Reef) and Smith Reef. We went to Bight Reef. There were lounge chairs available to rent for the day ($50 for two chairs and an umbrella). There is also a great restaurant located there called Somewhere Cafe and Lounge.
- Get a prenatal massage: This was one of my favorite babymoon activities in Turks and Caicos. I opted for a 90 minute massage at Spa Tropique. Be sure to call ahead and schedule your massage with their prenatal massage specialist. This was my first massage while pregnant and it felt FANTASTIC.
- Enjoy live music: There are several restaurants that have live music on specific nights of the week. Some options include Pelican Bay, Danny Buoys, Somewhere Cafe and Lounge, and Flamingo Cafe.
- Go shopping: The main shopping area in Turks and Caicos is Regent Village. There are plenty of souvenir shops and cafes in the area. Be warned though, everything in Turks and Caicos is really expensive (for example, a basic sleeveless souvenir shirt was $40). However, we did spring for a cute Turks and Caicos onesie for when the baby arrives!
- Yoga: There are a few yoga studios in Turks and Caicos. While I did not find any classes specific for prenatal, they are able to recommend instructors for private prenatal yoga sessions if this is something you are interested in.
- Enjoy an excursion or tour: There are plenty of fun tours on Viator to choose from. I did a Clear Kayak Mangrove Tour with Clear Bottom Adventures. Be sure to check with your doctor in advance to see if this would be a safe activity for you. This activity was fine for me, but I am a very experienced kayaker and felt confident in my ability to balance while on the kayak and getting on/off. This was a great way to see some Turks and Caicos fish and wildlife up close (we saw so many turtles!). Additionally, my husband did a boat and snorkeling tour (I did not join him, because I wasn’t sure if the boat would be too bumpy for pregnancy, and also because I am not a huge snorkeler. Check with your doctor and the tour company to determine if an excursion like this would be a safe option for you). My husband really enjoyed his tour!
Additional Tips
- Turks and Caicos follows daylight savings time. We visited in January and the sunset was very early- around 5:30 PM. Be sure to wake up early to enjoy the daylight hours! You might also want to make your dinner reservations early. We ate dinner most nights around 5:30 or 6:00, and were in bed by 8:30 so that we could wake up early with the sun.
- There are no Ubers on the island. Hotels and restaurants can call taxis for you, and most taxi drivers will give you their business cards for the next time that you need a ride.
Are you considering a Turks and Caicos babymoon? Any questions about our trip? Leave a comment below!
Looking for more babymoon inspiration? Be sure to check out my recent blog post about Pittsfield, MA, where I enjoyed a mini babymoon weekend!
