Future_mrs2010 (tucks) BEACHES T&C Review. LONG with pictures!

[*Meagan*]

Beaches Turks and Caicos Review- January 2010

Here we go! Sorry so long!

 

Airline/flights (A)- We flew from Salt lake to JFK on Delta. Flight was completely packed and frighin' HOT! I carried my dress on the plane but the flight attendants didn't say anything. SO neither did it. I decided to fold it in half and lay it in the over head bin until some little PITA kid through his suitcase right on top of it! I could have slapped him. Then I was taking it down and the flight attendant in the back noticed it, so she said "they didn't ask you if you wanted to hang that?" and I said, "No". So she said she would take care of it and that was it.

From JFK to turks American Airlines run a direct flight. The worst part of this was sleeping in American Airlines Terminal.. since the gates were closed and so was security.. we slept on the freezing cold tile floor and it sucked. But besides that I asked to hang my dress, there were no problems. Flight was practically empty. Whole rows to ourselves. We slept the entire flight there!

I wasnt worried about my dress on the way home. And we took the same route and same airlines. I just folding it and placed it up top.

I also carried my clay flowers in a duffle bag. And they made it there just fine!

 

Customs (A)- was easy as could be arriving and departing!

 

Shuttle Service to Beaches (A)- After we picked up our bags they asked if we were going to Beaches, we said Yes, we stood outside for 5 minutes and our van promptly picked us up! Our driver was "good looking marvin" and he was a trip! He gave each of us a name and a story and we had a good drive to Beaches. Which is only about 10 minutes from the airport.

 

Check in (B-) They dropped us off, we did NOT get drinks and cold towels like everyone else did that we saw through out the week. Not really sure why but that is ok. They brought us inside and asked which bags were ours, then told us our room number, and then changed it, and then changed it again, and then oh changed it again! We checked in and they asked for paperwork that I just had(luckily) no one ever told us to bring any check in paperwork. I just like to have everything on hand, so not sure what would have happened if we did not have it. Then they ask for you to put a credit card on your room for incidentals and purchases on property. It is cash free just like a cruise!

 

Our Room (A)- #366 After reading soo many reviews on TripAdvisor I was really really worried about our room. Well fear not, our room was the Grand Luxe Honeymoon King in the Caribbean Village and it was gorgeous. You do not spend a lot of time in the room. But the room was plenty big, with a huge california king bed, lots of pillows, and blankets, a tv, tile floors, a huge balcony with tables and chairs, a pull out sofa, and a large bathroom. Dont listen to everything you hear on tripadvisor.. my favorite review on there is "your obviously poor if you stay in the Caribbean Village!" HAHAHA. We could have stayed in the Italian Village but the group department manager had advised we stay close to the rest of our party. Half of our party was in the Caribbean Village and the other half was in the French Village. The french village is in the back of the resort and the area is very quiet but very nice as are the rooms!

We also had turn down service everyday, water refilled everyday in our fridge, maid service promptly, and cute towel and flower arrangements on our honeymoon nights! We also had honeymoon breakfast on Sunday after our wedding and it was really really great, they delivered everything and it was really nice!

 

The Resort (A)- The resort was GORGEOUS!! Very very very large and spread out! Lush gardens, very tropical, and it takes a day of getting used to. But once you learn your way around, it is very easy to navigate!

[*Meagan*]

The Pools:

Caribbean Village and Iguana Pools- (A+) this is where we spent most of our days! They were not packed, there was always available chairs and sunshine! The swim up bar, swim through waterfalls, dancing, music, food, and fun! And not too many kids, usually only the ones that were in our party!

French Village Pool- ( Was set in the back of the resort and seemed to have quite a few kids during the day but was nice for the most part. You could also aquacize (sp?) here in the morning!

Italian Village Pool- (C+) Was huge!! but there were sooooooooooooo many kids, that is all there were kids kids kids. So we did not spend any time here. I think people like it bc it is new. But all of the pools were gorgeous and a pool is a pool.

Waterpark- (A) Was really fun, we went one day for about an hour and went down the water slides countless times and the lazy river was really awesome and relaxing. They also have a waterpark for the little little kids and a surf simulator which looked like a blast!

 

Food- The food was very good. But I feel like I wasn't blown away. Like I never craved something again. Which usually I could say wow that was so good we need to go back before we go. But I never had that feeling.

Schooners- (A-) We ate here twice, once being wedding dinner and their seafood was really really good! Crab cakes were def the best food I had all week! And they set it up so we had our own section outside on the patio.

Marios- (C+)- Really over rated. We ate rehearsal dinner here and I was not impressed. We never went for breakfast but we heard basically all breakfast is the same.

Guissepes- (A) Rocked! We loved it, we ate here three times! And they had really great italian food with a "create your own pasta station" which is a huge hit!

Kimono's -(A) Awesome! You have to make reservations, this is the Hibachi restaurant and it was REALLY GOOD!!! Good performance too!

Arizona's- (B-) We ate lunch here almost daily and it was pretty good, buffet style for lunch and dinner was menu style. We never ate dinner there and we heard it was fantastic. They also had outdoor grill with cheeseburgers, hotdogs, jerked chicken and pork. French fries and amazing onion rings. Also every day they had a ice cream cart and they have a create your own smoothie station.

Bella Napoli Pizza-(A) Was very very good. Tons of pizzas to choose from and made right on the spot so it took about 20 mins. But everyday two of us would go over and order 6-8 pizzas for our party and just wait by the pool and enjoy! It was great!

Cricketeer's- (A) In the italian Village, we went here on Sunday for the football game and the salad was DELICIOUS!!! We liked it there!

Barefoot by the Beach- (A) For lunch was very good, had this strange dessert with green jello, almonds, ice cream and something else, sounded horrible, its a MUST HAVE! (B-) breakfast.. I wasn't thrilled with their breakfast menu.

Reflections-(A) We ate breakfast here A LOT, lunch once, and dinner twice. The food was really good. Im not a huge breakfast eater but they had a create your own omelette and breakfast burrito station and a smoothie station. Fresh fruits, pancakes, home fries, everything. One night for dinner buffet was seafood and it was delicious!!! Fresh seafood and really really good!

Bobby D's-(A-) Was nice because it was open 11am-6am. So all night they had a grill with tons of food, self serve frozen yogurt, cookies, popcorn, sundae station, soda drinks. Everything. So that was nice.

The only thing I think Beaches needs more of is snack like foods. I like snacks during the day rather than meals. Like some chips or cheese and crackers and you couldn't really find that.

 

Drinks (A)- Im not a drinker but Beaches literally has everything!!!!!!!!! Top shelf booze and a great island beer called Turks Head. They have tons of frozen drinks and they will make you anything you would like. And they are not light on the booze.. I actually think they overkill their drinks. Try the "No Pressure, No Problems"

 

The Beach (A+++)- Was out of this world and so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!! We also went kayaking, snorkeling, and we did the water bikes and it was all a really good time! The water was sooo gorgeous!

[*Meagan*]

THE WEDDING:

Wedding planner in Miami- (B-) Monica was very nice but a little pushy and from what I hear it is because they make commission off of what you book through them. At the beginning she does not get back to you immediately and Beaches can do up to 10 weddings a day so it is understandable. As your date gets closer she will contact you more. I emailed her a lot it was the easiest for me. She made me feel as if I didn't book something right then and there, atleast 60 days before the wedding, I wouldn't be able to get it, not true.

Wedding Coordinator @ Beaches- (A+++) Comaneci- Was AMAZING! They send a letter to your room when you arrive. So we arrived Monday morning and our meeting with Comaneci was on Tuesday at 930am. She meets you in the Italian Village lobby and escorts you to the Wedding office. We decided to stick with the beautiful beginnings package. She is not the only wedding coordinator, but there are only a few. We went through everything, we were able to add the videographer that I was not sure about, and basically I could have added the videographer 10 mins before if I really wanted to. We cake tasted and chose our flavors, chose our flowers, even though we brought our own. Gave her our music for first dances. She was really really great and sooooooooo kind!

Then we went to see the locations of where we could have the ceremony and the reception. We chose the gazebo, it is the most private of all the locations and it was perfect. Shady yet sunny, with the gorgeous ocean behind us and the sound of crashing waves. It was really really nice! Our cocktail hour/free reception was right next to the gazebo in another wooden gazebo area, which sat up higher and had couches and chairs .

We also set up with Comaneci our own rehearsal dinner and wedding reception dinner and then sunday brunch. So basically we stuck with the beautiful beginnings package and just ate at the restaurants for these occasions but she set them all up as reservations and it was really nice.

Rehearsal dinner was at Mario's and it was all set when we walked in. We were in a private section and we had our own wait staff, champagne toast the whole nine and it was all included! Food was ok, just ok.

 

Wedding dinner was at Schooners and it was also all set up when we walked over and again secluded with a PHENOMENAL WAIT STAFF! They didn't let a drink go half full. Before they had another right there next to it! And again it was included for the same thing you get when you pay the $75 a person.

The WEDDING ITSELF (A++++++++++++) was awesome!!! Everything went sooo smoothly and perfect!!!! It was awesome!!! Comaneci picked me and my girls up in my room 10 mins before the ceremony and walked us down and kept us hidden from everyone. Even though my DH had already seen me for pictures with Tropical Imaging before hand (review to follow) AMAZING! The videographer started taping as us girls were waiting. The ceremony was really quick but soo absolutely perfect and I didnt feel stressed about anything all day. The pastor was really nice and everything was perfect. I can not say that enough. We have not seen the video yet. But they were there the whole time so I know it will be perfect. And everyone suggested it and that is why we did it. Im glad we did too because the day flew by. After the ceremony, we signed our papers and we headed over to the other gazebo for cocktails and some appetizers! We had our first dances, toasts, cut our cake and mingled for a bit. We decided to have the cake served for dessert after dinner at schooners and it worked out great! After our "free reception" which was not rushed or pushed along at all. We headed over to Schooners for our wedding reception dinner and we were treated like kings and queens. It was awesome and everyone was very nice guests included! Food was fantastic!

 

My bridal party asked if they could jump in the pool with all of their clothes on at the end of the night.. I said sure.. They didnt stop talking about it the rest of the day

 

 

Beaches Photographers- (B-) Pictures are always always always a huge deal for me and being our wedding day, its a huge event that you will remember forever. The 6 pictures I bought from Beaches were $140. And they were very nice. We did not purchase a package from them, they were very pricey and I just knew they could not live up to the expectations that I had in my mind and in my heart for what I wanted our pictures to look like.

[*Meagan*]

So we hired Tropical Imaging (A+++++++++) to take our pictures. They are right on the island of Provo and about 10 mins from Beaches if that. Anyways since Beaches is very stern on their no outside photog rule. Tropical Imaging took us off property the day of our wedding and also took us off property for our TTD shoot. I also did a boudoir shoot with Ileana who was our photog for all three shoots. Im going to do an entire review just for her (and preston)!

 

 

Hair and Makeup-(A++++++) I also got done from an outside vendor. Her name is Shenique Higgs. From sheque perfection. Sheque

She is also on the island of Provo and will travel. Her makeup skills are out of this world and she did exactly what I wanted... perfectly! She did a great job with my hair also. Again I had only heard not so great things about Red Lane Spa hair and makeup artists so I could not put myself in their hands on my big day. Shenique is expensive but TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!! I could not be happier! I felt flawless, thanks to her!!

 

Red Lane Spa- (B+) We went for a couples massage on our second day there and the massage was very very nice and relaxing, they do need to add a small scalp massage to their body massage..and I just think they need to offer more amenities while you are using their spa. and it needs to be quieter and more relaxing.

 

 

Honeymoon Candlelit dinner (A+) The food was provided by Sapodilla's and it was REALLY GREAT! Our server Omar who was also our server for our wedding picked us up from our room 10 mins before our reservation and the walked us down to the beach and seated us. Omar was really nice and attentive and great to work with! The set up was very nice and everything was delicious!!!

 

 

Destination weddings are the way to go! So perfect and we are soo happy we did it! Beaches Turks and Caicos was really beautiful!!! And we booked an anniversary trip back to Sandals Antigua next year!!!!

 

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!!!

[~*Kathy*~]

Great in-depth review Tucks, I'm sure this is going to help future T&C brides a ton! Glad you had an amazing wedding and vacation!

[*Linds*]

Great review tucks! Of course all your pics are amazing and you are a beauty! Congrats!

[Cassie]

Great review Tucks, congrats again!

[Cindy*]

Sounds like you had an amazing time. Thanks for the review.

[autjo]

Thanks for such a great review Meag! I know this will totally help future T&C brides. Congrats again!

[KarenM]

Great review!!! Congratulations - it all looked gorgeous!