Turks & Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Islands are the ideal antidotes to your hectic lifestyle, with nearly deserted beaches fringed by shimmering azure water, colorful coral reefs, crispy conch fritters, and a sleepy, lighthearted atmosphere. While the island was impacted by the destructive hurricanes of 2017, much of the damage has been repaired and its beaches are still as beautiful as ever. Turks and Caicos maintain its reputation as a secluded and exclusive getaway. Regular visitors to these narrow swaths of alabaster sand will tell you that they wouldn't have it any other way.

This network of about 100 islands and cays is dominated by three personalities. There's glamorous Providenciales, or "Provo", which is home to a slew of opulent hotels. The historic and cultural nucleus (and cruise ship hub) is laid-back Grand Turk, best seen in the Turks & Caicos National Museum or along the shores of Cockburn Town, where Christopher Columbus first docked in the Western Hemisphere. Salt Cay, a tiny, flat island, is home to the best dives: from here, you can explore one of the world's largest reef systems.