Life’s too short. I should book a vacation, I thought as I scrolled mindlessly on my laptop.  It was a late Friday night. Allie was at a bachelorette party, and I was about 2 hours into searching Google for different flights.  

Just then I got an email update from Scott’s Cheap Flights about a deal for Turks and Caicos.  If you’re not familiar with Scott’s Cheap Flights, you should definitely check it out. When I was in Italy, I met Nicole, who works for the company.  Below is a fantastic video she made on “How to Find Cheap Flights Using Google Flights”. I have had friends ask me if I can be their travel agent. With this search function you can be your own travel agent! 

After booking the flight, I checked the reviews on hotels.  Allie and I really enjoy eating at different restaurants so we usually don’t go the all inclusive route. The Royal West Indies was not an all inclusive but was the best available option for us.  It was also located on Grace Bay which is the best beach I have ever set foot on. With credits we had in Hotels.com we were able to get three nights for the cost of what one night usually costs during peak season.  

When I told my wife that we were going to Turks and Caicos Islands she asked me where it was.  These Island are located southeast of the Bahamas and are a British Overseas Territory. Locals speak English and the US Dollar is used for currency.  

Fast forward to early November and we are leaving the snowy midwest.  At the airport we made the wise decision of buying duty free alcohol. Everything in Turks and Caicos is pretty much imported and highly taxed, making it very expensive.  As our plane takes off from Chicago I am assured by a fellow passenger that I made the right choice in destination. The flight attendant even buys our drinks. About three and a half hours later we touchdown above the most turquoise waters.

Upon arrival there is difficulty getting the staircase down in the front of the plane.  Lucky for us we are on the back and the first ones off. Immigration and check in takes around 30 minutes.  One thing we didn’t do that I would recommend is renting a car to explore the island. A taxi just one way to the hotel $40.  That itself is nearly the cost of a rental car for a day. Just a reminder that since Turks and Caicos is part of the British Commonwealth cars drive on the left side of the road. 

After we arrive at our resort and check in, we practically sprint to the ocean.  The previous night in Wisconsin it was 17* Fahrenheit we were now swimming in water with an air temp of 87*.  A couple rum punches later at the bar, the first day was already over.  

The next day I was overtaken by the clean, pristine conditions of the beach on our morning walk.  That afternoon I booked a half day snorkel trip through our resort with Island Vibe Tours. For 100 dollars per person we would visit a reef and other sites including my personal favorite: Iguana Island.  The little boat was packed but had a positive vibe. The water was wavy, but the reef was clear. Allie saw a six foot reef shark swimming nearby making that the highlight of the trip for her. I enjoyed seeing a huge lobster up close and puffer fish.  

I enjoyed hearing from the crew the insight on some of the houses owned by billionaires along the way.  It was not until the mid 2000s that the tourism industry started to pick up. Many new homes are being built on inland lots that start at one million dollars.  As we make our way to Iguana Island, I gleefully smile as I see the endangered rock iguanas running like little dinosaurs on the beach. This island and beach is undeveloped and protected.  I was told the previous year it was even used as a site to shoot the Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar. I laughed out loud as I saw “influencers” changing outfits and even applying makeup for beach photos.  We swapped taking photos with others from our boat. 

As we returned back to the boat we were treated conch ceviche and an orange sunset.  We took turns jumping off the diving board and going down the slide from the top of the boat. The excursion finished with a 90s music dance party and lots of rum punch. It was one of those days where I couldn't be happier. 

Our last full day came quick, and it was restful. We used free rental bikes from the resort and head to Turks and Kebabs.  It was my favorite little restaurant on the island. Originally I was going to book another excursion to go bonefishing, but I was told no one was working until the busier season.  The Island Time philosophy is in full swing. Reading a book on a beach, I almost felt guilty for enjoying this so much. Before we knew it we were off to the airport. Turks and Caicos may feel like it’s only for the rich but it can be more affordable than you think.