I found peace and quiet at a resort in Turks and Caicos

Carol Ann Davidson | Tribune News Service (TNS)

I hate noise, and I love quiet but it's hard to find

I wanted a relaxing vacation in March, so I chose to stay at The Somerset on Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, hoping to find some peace and calm

I saw pictures and videos of the resort online. It looked beautiful, but I wasn't sure if it would be quiet enough for me

It was my first time at The Somerset, and my third trip to T&C

The resort was built in 2006, so it's not the newest, but I found it to be more relaxed and cozy compared to other newer resorts. It felt like home to me. The Somerset was charming without being overly loud or busy, which is common in many resorts that mistake intense activity for good service

The charm of the resort comes from the Spanish Mediterranean style architecture with yellow stucco and red clay roofs. The buildings form a horseshoe shape, giving every unit a clear view of Grace Bay Beach, which is known for its long shoreline of silky white sand and is listed among Tripadvisor's Best Beaches for 2024

I arrived at the resort at night after a 90-minute flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so I didn't get to see the main feature of the property until the next morning. When I opened the floor-to-ceiling drapes in my suite, I was amazed by the stunning lap and infinity pools that seem to flow into the ocean. An employee was cleaning the pools while another was setting up the chaise lounges with white covers and towels

So, I put on my swimsuit and went for a swim. I had the pools all to myself, and after swimming for an hour, I had breakfast at Barbetta, the resort's own restaurant. The open-air breakfast room had a view of the park surrounded by smaller accommodations. The breakfast options were plenty, but the food quality could be better. However, the server Ingrid was delightful

The staff is important for a great vacation, and it seems that many employees have been at The Somerset since it opened, which is a good sign. They know how to provide good hospitality in an understated way and are naturally friendly

There’s a gym available, but I didn’t use it because I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the sun, sand, and water during my short stay. However, I did get a wonderful massage on my suite terrace. Yuli, a therapist from Bali, knew exactly how to relax my stressed muscles. While she worked her magic, I enjoyed the sounds of birds and the warm island breeze.

Each of the 53 rooms is decorated uniquely. My 1,500-square-foot suite was spacious, modern, and spotless. The kitchen had every cooking tool imaginable, Viking and Bosch appliances, and a separate wine refrigerator. The king-size bed was very comfortable in a large bedroom with a Juliet balcony on one side and a bathroom and closet on the other.

I was traveling alone, but I met many couples young and old, some with their children or grandchildren. The resort is well-known for its Caicos Kids Club for children ages 3 to 12. While parents have some free time, the kids can take part in supervised activities like arts and crafts, treasure hunts, and beach games.

For older kids like me, the ocean provides endless adventures. Although I was tempted to go parasailing, I chose to have more fun on one of the Hobie Cats provided by the resort. I couldn't help but let out a few cheers when I first got on the sailboat. It was an exciting and a little scary experience, especially when a big wave splashed over me. But I made it through and lived to tell the story.

To reward myself for being brave, I sat on a beach chaise lounge near the water and enjoyed a grilled shrimp salad along with a delicious coconut rum punch served by a waiter from The Somerset’s poolside restaurant. Watching the swimmers, kayakers, parasailers, sailboats, and sunbathers was entertainment enough.

After the effects of the drink wore off, I went for a long, leisurely walk on the sunny beach.

Grace Bay itself is about three miles long and seamlessly connects with two other beaches, so one could potentially walk for about 12 miles. I didn’t count my steps, but I saw various properties along the way — some very modern, others a bit rundown — and I appreciated that the area was not too crowded and the resorts were spread out, providing a sense of privacy. However, for me, The Somerset felt like home. So I went back for my last evening meal at Barbetta. I had grilled mahi mahi with asparagus and saffron-infused potatoes, followed by a creme brûlée.

While checking out on the last morning of my stay, a couple had just arrived. The woman asked me, “Is it quiet here?”

“Yes,” I said truthfully, “and peaceful.” She turned to her husband with a big smile and said, “That’s exactly what we need.”

A fitting end to my pursuit of paradise and a positive start to theirs. Maybe on my next trip I’ll try parasailing. Fingers crossed.

(For additional details, go to thesomerset.com.)

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