The Turks and Caicos is beautiful exotic destination filled with luxury resorts and gorgeous Caribbean beaches. All that comes with a price. In fact, Turks and Caicos probably only comes up on your radar when you hear of celebrities and high level executives of Fortune 500 companies vacationing, getting married, honeymooning, or having second (or third, or fourth) homes here.

This doesn’t mean that planning a Turks and Caicos vacation for you and your family means exorbitant prices. It is possible plan a Turks and Caicos trip on a budget. Here are some ways you can do that:

Go During Off-Peak Travel Times

Peak travel times for Turks and Caicos is usually from December to April. It’s high season and hotels and airfare usually hike up the prices around this time, so going during off-peak times can help you save hundreds.

Turks and Caicos Hotels and Resorts

Room rates of Turks and Caicos resort tend to drop right after Easter holiday and spring break. If you’re dead set on experiencing a luxe hotel, it’s always a good idea to check a five-star resort’s website to see if they’re offering any deals or promotions.

Otherwise, there are plenty of Turks and Caicos resorts on Providenciales that are further from Grace Bay Beach or on other parts of the island that can have more competitive pricing. And it’s not like Providenciales is huge. Even at the furthest point from Grace Bay Beach, it’s just a short bus ride or drive to the sandy paradise.

You can also check travel aggregate sites like Kayak, Hotels.com, or Expedia.com to get a ballpark of the prices available to you. Just be careful because not all aggregate sites listed prices reflect all charges, such as resort or tourism fees.

Don’t forget about Airbnb either. “Second homes” can help their owners earn cash when the homes aren’t in use, so many homeowners make their properties available to travellers. Airbnb has a strong presence in Turks and Caicos and it’s quite possible that you can find a private house, villa, or bungalow for your entire travelling party.

Important Note:

It is almost always more expensive to purchase a resort package that includes a room, meal plan, drinks, and activities than just getting a room. Many resorts will try to woo you with special offers like Collective drinks, but it will take a very strong constitution to make that worthwhile. Instead, just get the room and pay as you go.

Airfare to Turks and Caicos

The same strategy of searching for hotels applies to airfare. When you look for flights for the off-season, you’ll discover plenty of great deals.

Again, always take a look at the company’s website before examining prices on travel aggregate sites. For example, JetBlue is a low-cost carrier that frequently has promotions to Turks and Caicos.

Travel Packages

Keep an eye out for travel packages that includes airfare and hotels. While some can be expensive, others can be a real steal. You can find these on hotel or airline sites. Some good packages can even be found on sites you might not expect, like Costco.

If you do find one that seems interesting, always try to see if your own but similar package.

Important Note:

Read the fine print and know about any limitations or travel blackout dates.

Turks and Caicos Food

Naturally, Providenciales is a huge tourist attraction and you can expect many restauranteers to open fine dining establishments for the rich and famous. However, the Turks and Caicos also has a vibrant local culture, and that includes food.

Plan to eat at off-beachfront restaurants and try local Caribbean fare. For example, the local Jamaican expat community is known for enjoying the filling (and affordable) lunch of “patty and coco bread,” which can be had at Patty Place at a cost of $3.15 and $2.30.

If you’re staying at a place that has its own kitchen, try making your own food using the local ingredients.

Turks and Caicos Activities

There are a lot of cheap things to do in Turks and Caicos. Conch is the Turks and Caicos’ biggest export and the only commercial conch farm in the world can be found on Providenciales. Admission is less than $15 for an adult and less than $8 for a child.

Another cheap activity is to just enjoy the beach. Aside from sun block lotion, it costs nothing to enjoy the gorgeous beaches of the Turks and Caicos.

However, if you’re the type to save on other aspects of your vacation so you can enjoy the activities of the destination, then there are plenty of things to do in the Turks and Caicos—with the added benefit that they don’t even have to be very pricy.

Big Blue Collective has several activities designed to help you enjoy the Turks and Caicos on a budget. Activities like snorkeling, stand up paddleboarding, and kayaking are great activities for vacationers who want to be budget conscious.

Plan it Yourself and Avoid Travel Agents

One of the biggest strategies to make a getaway affordable is to avoid travel agents. When you work with travel agents, you are paying for convenience. Everything a travel agent can get you, you can get yourself. It just requires more time and effort when you research.
If you’re ready to plan your trip, talk to us and we’ll help you create a memorable, but affordable Turks and Caicos vacation.