“Welcome to Winnipeg!” the WestJet flight attendant announced as our plane landed amid flowing palm trees on a November afternoon. There was a brief moment of silence before the passengers erupted into laughter. It was a cruel joke, but one we didn’t mind being on the receiving end of. We had, after all, just landed on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and for many Canadians seeking refuge from our notorious winters Winnipeg was now light years away.
Gansevoort Beach Lounge
Sure, there is a lot to enjoy about winter: holiday parties; fresh snowfall; new soup recipes. But for a certain segment of the Canadian population (myself included), it becomes increasingly hard to look on the bright side of winter when you’re faced with perennially cloudy skies. And so, when I was recently given the chance to escape for a few days to the luxurious Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, I thought…actually, it took no thought at all.
From its renowned Bagatelle Bistro to its highly-acclaimed Exhale Mind & Body Spa, the Gansevoort T&C has injected a dose of urban chic into an otherwise tranquil Caribbean island. After making a name for itself in NYC’s Meatpacking district, Manhattan and Miami, the Gansevoort T&C opened about three years ago on Providenciales Island (or “Provo”). The resort’s geometric structure and minimalist white-on-white design features a 7,000 square-foot infinity pool surrounded by lush, terry-covered lounging chairs, swaying palm trees and uber-cool bossa-jazz tunes. Float to the edge of the pool, and you are just steps away from the powdery white sands of Grace Bay Beach and the Turks’ trademark turquoise waters. Along this sandy stretch of real estate – voted by Conde Nast as one of the Top 10 beaches in the world – there are even larger lounging beds facing the ocean. With plenty of staff to take your drink orders, fluff your pillows and sweep excess seaweed away, the hardest decision of your day may be deciding when to flip over.
If you get tired of all of this lying around (an oxymoron if there ever was one) the hotel can arrange excursions on both land and water. Parasailing, snorkeling and scuba diving are all available, as are horseback riding and visits to the world’s only conch farm, where you can observe these unusual marine snails up close. Onsite, Exhale (which has locations in many cities across the U.S.) offers its popular Core-Fusion™ classes which are made up of a variety of core-strengthening exercises such as extended plank positions, exercises on the ballet barre and various yoga poses. The classes, held in the outdoor Mind-Body Pavilion, are open to persons of all fitness levels, but seem to be comprised mainly of ladies who don’t lunch. Indeed, the expression the “bar is set high”, should be taken literally and figuratively here. But of course, no pain, no gain, and once the hour-long class is finished, you can relish in one of the Spa’s signature massages, or better yet, devour a scrumptious meal at Bagatelle.
Pool at Gansevoort Turks & Caicos
Bagatelle offers high-end cuisine in a low-key, pool-side setting. From 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. daily, a large breakfast buffet is served (included in the price of the overnight rate). The laid-back island outpost Bar & Grill serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. (the menu includes a succulent seared tuna salad and mahi mahi sliders). By night, Bagatelle is darkly-lit and romantic, and the dinner menu features a variety of seafood dishes such as a nicely-textured grilled grouper with bok choy and a cauliflower, tomato, grape and almond salad as well as a rich bouillabaisse risotto including clams, shrimp and mussels along with a side of grilled asparagus and green beans.
Of course, if you feel like venturing offsite, there are a number of other fine dining establishments to try. Magnolia Restaurant & Wine Bar, Coco Bistro and Lemon Café are three that you will hear repeatedly recommended. As for less expensive fare, there is Da Conch Shack and Fresh Bakery and Bistro. And while Provo is not noted for its nightlife, there are a variety of cultural festivals to take in year-round and shopping at boutiques like Philosophy, Art Provo and Mama’s Gift Shop (some stores are closed on Sundays).
When it is finally time to turn down the (Frette) sheets that await you in your luxurious suite, you will have everything you need for a relaxing night’s sleep. The hotel’s rooms are adorned with a kitchenette, a spacious spa tub featuring an electric black-out shade as well as a top-of-the-line flat-screen television and DVD player. But instead of watching TV or listening to tunes on the BOSE iPod docking station, you may want to simply opt for an open window and the sound of the waves crashing against the sand. Remember, it will be a while before you hear that sound again.
Photo images provided and travel subsidized by the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos
