Ocean Club West: The Place for R+R on Turks and Caicos

This trip was hosted. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Beauty is the word that comes to mind when I remember my visit to Ocean Club West. A beautiful condo. Food that is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat. A location on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos.

Thanks to all of that beauty, I felt my shoulders relax the minute I set foot on the property. Read on for the details of what I loved, liked and thought could be improved at Ocean Club West in the Turks and Caicos.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Pack these 10 things for your tropical vacation!

Pros of Ocean Club West

• Prime Location: It’s located close to town on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
• A Variety of Accommodation Options: From studios to 3-bedroom condos, many with fully-equipped kitchens and in-unit washer/dryers.
• Family-Friendly: Large units easily accommodate families and the waters off the beach are shallow and calm.
• Access to Turks and Caicos Culture: Thanks to the resort’s proximity to town, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and shopping a short walk or cab ride away.
• Plenty of Loungers: It’s easy to find chairs and umbrellas by the freshwater pool and on the beach.
• Complimentary Activities: Bikes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, board games, tennis and pickleball are available.
• Official currency: It’s the US dollar, so there’s no need for Americans to change money. 
• No Need for a Power Adapter: The resort has standard 110-volt US outlets, so your devices can charge easily.
• Strong Wifi: I even got decent service on the beach, which may not be a positive if you’re trying to get away from work! 

Cons of Ocean Club West

• Limited Dining Options: There’s just one restaurant onsite.
• Not All-Inclusive: The dining and drinks can be pricey. 
• Limited Shuttle Service: The resort’s free transportation only shuttles guests between the two Ocean Club resorts. I would have liked it to also make runs into town and to the Thursday Night Fish Fry.

Who is the Right Traveler for Ocean Club West?

Thanks to its spacious, upscale accommodations, this is the place I’m recommending to my college roommates for our annual reunion. In addition to a great spot for girlfriend getaways, this resort would work well for families with older kids, thanks to the multiple-bedroom condos that ensure everyone can have their own space.

A sister resort, Ocean Club East, is a pleasant half-mile walk down the beach. That resort, located across the street from a golf course, is better suited to families with younger kids, golfers and people seeking a more laid-back vibe. 

Until recently, Ocean Club Resorts offered a “Stay at One, Play at Both” program that allowed guests to use the amenities at either property. Although that has ended, the complimentary shuttle van still operates to take guests from one resort to the other for dining.

Overview

Ocean Club West is an all-suites resort. Each condo is individually owned, so no two are decorated the same. The beautiful beach and the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean are just steps away. Or you can choose to swim in the pool. There’s a small massage room inside the fitness center where I got one of the best massages of my life.

The resort is meticulously maintained and the grounds are well manicured. The resort closes for a month each fall for updating and refreshing. 

My 3-Bedroom Condo

When I stopped at the front desk to ask a question and mentioned where I was staying, her response was immediate: “Oh, that’s my favorite unit!”

And with good reason. The light, beachy decor, the gourmet kitchen, the large bedrooms and the fact that the condo could sleep 8 or more very comfortably was so inviting that I would have been happy never to leave. The three bedrooms included two masters with king beds and a large third bedroom with two double beds and two bunk beds. 

A large screened-in porch spanned the full length of the condo. It was my go-to spot for my daily morning yoga practice (which was quite a curiosity for the cats who live on the property) and the place I went each evening to relax at the end of the day. 

Although I was traveling solo, I could easily envision that porch as the gathering spot for a family or a group of friends sharing a bottle of wine.

The kitchen was fully stocked. Although I believe that being on vacation means never having to say I cooked, I understand that some people think cooking on vacation is fun. If you happen to be one of those people, this kitchen will be a big draw.

I was more enamored with the in-unit washer/dryer, which I consider an important amenity on a beach vacation. You need some way to wash out all of that sand and sea salt!

Dining

There’s just one option at Ocean Club West: Solana. It serves a variety of Japanese sushi and sashimi as well as Caribbean-inspired dishes. I highly recommend the blackened fish sandwich. The atmosphere is laid-back, the beach view is priceless and the service is friendly if a little slow.

If you tire of eating at Solana, you can walk or take a cab into town or head to Ocean Club East via the shuttle or a leisurely walk down the beach. The sister property has two restaurants: Cabana Bar and Grille on the beach, and Opus, the fine dining restaurant with gorgeous garden views. 

I tried all three restaurants and found something to like at each – conch salad at Cabana Bar and Grille, fish at Solana and lobster at Opus. And, of course, I washed it all down with a fruity tropical drink, the only right thing to order on a tropical beach vacation IMHO. 

Or you can simply walk to the IGA Graceway Gourmet grocery and cook in your suite or on one of the grills located near the pool.

Is Ocean Club West Safe? 

I always felt safe there so safe that I slept with the door to the screened-in patio open so I could feel the warm tropical breezes. However, I did check to ensure the patio doors were closed and locked. 

Even on the beach, which is public space open to everyone, I felt safe enough to leave my belongings on my lounger while I went for a dip in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

A few times locals walked by hawking sunglasses, jewelry or other wares. But they moved on when guests said no.

What if There’s a Hurricane?

The resort has a “72 hour prior to arrival” cancellation policy for most reservations during the hurricane season, which starts in June and ends in November. That allows guests to cancel without penalty if a hurricane threatens.

Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

While no one would blame you if you choose to stay on the property and while away your days on the beach, there are some fun and unique things to do in Providenciales (or, Provo, as the locals call it) that are well worth tearing yourself away from the sand.

• Thursday Night Fish Fry: Take a cab to this weekly celebration of island culture that draws an equal number of locals and tourists. We had deep fried snapper fish fingers and beans and rice in a portion that was large enough to share and still have some left over. We washed it down with a Gully Wash, a drink made from coconut water, condensed milk and gin. Then we wandered among the booths of locals selling touristy trinkets at touristy prices while we waited for the main event: a Junaknoo parade. 
• Guided Rum Tasting: Book this at Ocean Club West. Even if you have done rum tastings before, you likely have never done one like this. Each rum was paired with a light bite – conch salad, coconut shrimp and jerk chicken. Our knowledgeable servers, Georgie and Willie, were a font of island rum facts and we got a cheat sheet to take home.
• High Wave Tours: This excursion partner offers a wide variety of water adventures. We were booked on a snorkeling tour – a must-do on this island that is surrounded by reefs – but the weather gods did not cooperate and it was canceled at the last minute.
• Turks and Caicos Reef Fund: This nonprofit works to save the coral reefs off the shore of the islands. It’s open for free to educate visitors about the precarious state of these living creatures. Our guide, Gracie Perry-Garnette, is passionate about her work. If I visit the island with kids, this would be a required stop. 

Getting There

The resort is about a 15-minute drive from Providenciales International Airport (PLS), which is the main gateway to the Turks and Caicos Islands. You can rent a car or take a taxi (expect to pay a per-person taxi fee) to the resort. 

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you decide to rent a car, note that you’ll be driving on the left side of the road, which I consider far too stressful and a good way to ruin a laid-back vacation vibe. I recommend foregoing the rental car and taking a taxi when you want to venture away from the resort!