The Turks and Caicos are not only known for sun, sand, and sea but for service, hospitality and friendship beyond belief.  Don't arrive having great expectations of a lush, tropical paradise, because it isn't.  The landscape is basically flat and barren.  What is does have are the most friendly people (known as 'Belongers') you will meet anywhere.  And they are ever anxious to meet everyone who visits their island.  Visiting Grand Turk can be a very pleasant experience or a nightmare if you fail to take some basic precautions. Here are a few "Do's and Don'ts:

 

•      Be sure to learn what fire coral, sea urchins and other painful underwater creatures look like so you can avoid them.  Thimble jelly fish (and sometimes sea lice) are seasonal and hard to spot in the water.  They like to bite under your bathing suit leaving a small, red, itchy spots or a rash.  As soon as you can, wash the area with shampoo and warm salty water and apply some hydrocortisone cream.
•      Take water shoes with you.  While the beaches are nice and sandy, there are large rocks in the water.  You usually can navigate around them, but it is easy to stub or cut your toes.
•      Make sure to pack a spray can of “Off” as some areas are mosquito infested and just a few minutes of neglect can have disastrous results.  There are mosquitoes around the salt ponds, tidal flats and swampy areas... and even at the hotel pools.   
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•      Another good idea is to be very careful about taking ice or water from restaurants other than the Osprey or the Salt Raker who buy their ice from a government inspected provider.  It's actually safe for most people to drink the water but it is either desalinized seawater or rainwater collected from rooftops.  You probably would appreciate the taste and purity of bottled water more.  And use common sense when eating food.  Remember that refrigerators are run mostly by generators these days, and a lot of places don't have them.  Most all the food is imported from the U.S. but if the food as been sitting in a warm location for many hours it is probably not safe to eat.
•       Informal dress is accepted for most events, but beachwear should be confined to the beach. Don't wear swimsuits in areas other than the beach or pool. It's considered inappropriate and rude.
•      Don't waste freshwater or electricity—they're precious commodities these days as you might guess.
•      Don't break off live coral.  It not only damages the environment but it is illegal.   Observe the strict rules concerning what may and may not be taken from the sea when you're diving or fishing. Check with your dive master, charter captain or hotel to learn what's out-of-bounds.

•      If you have cell service in the USA please bring your phone with you because if you have International Roaming service with a cellular carrier that has a roaming agreement in the Caribbean then your phone will be able to make and receive calls while in the Turks and Caicos. If you do not have roaming then you will be able to make calls using the credit card platform.

 

 

•      There is no legislation in place to mandate handicap accessibility. Most resorts have landscaped grounds with solid pathways, but for the most part, the islands would be difficult to traverse if one is physically limited.

CRIME
Here's some very good news!  Crime is very low on TCI.  Out of the 25,000 citizens on TCI, less than 25 are in prison at any one time; a rate more than 10 times lower than theUSA.
     There is some petty crime, however, and most of the perpetrators are well-known to the locals.  And they are quick to take care of the problems that may arise.

 

HAVE A WONDERFUL VACATION IN TCI. 

      I hope that this web-tour of Grand Turk was able to provide you with a sneak peak of what you can expect to experience when you visit.   Hopefully, it will help you decide on an itinerary for your particular day ashore. I know the "Belongers" are anxiously waiting for your visit.