Turks & Caicos

The Turks & Caicos Islands are the ideal antidote to your hectic lifestyle, offering nearly deserted beaches, blindingly white sand, vibrant coral reefs, crunchy conch fritters, and a relaxed, carefree atmosphere. That is one of the best cheap Caribbean vacations. Although the island was affected by the devastating hurricanes of 2017, most of the damage has been fixed, and its beaches are still breathtaking. Turks & Caicos is proud of its standing as a hidden and private vacation destination. Regular visitors to these narrow stretches of alabaster sand will confirm that they would not have it any other way.

The three main personalities of this network of about 100 islands and cays are as follows. There is glitzy Providenciales, or "Provo," which is home to a plethora of opulent hotels. The Turks & Caicos National Museum or the beachfront of Cockburn Town, where Christopher Columbus made his first port of call in the Western Hemisphere, are the ideal places to explore Grand Turk's historic and cultural center (as well as the cruise liner hub). The best dives may be found at tiny, flat Salt Cay, where you can travel to one of the world's largest reef systems.

Turks and Caicos are best visited between April and May when costs are lower and there are fewer tourists around. The islands have excellent weather all year round, with average highs in the 80s, although there is a rainy season and a hurricane threat from June to November. According to statistics, the calm on the island is most likely to be disturbed between mid-August and September by hurricanes. Turks & Caicos has a similar peak travel season to other Caribbean locations, which runs from December to March. fodors.com, stay Budget-friendly lodging options include the inns and guesthouses on Grand Turk and Salt Cay as opposed to the boutique resorts on Providenciales, Pine, or Parrot Cays. Reserve early if you do plan to travel during the busy season. Making your reservations a year in advance can result in significant hotel cost reductions.

Location: in the southeast of Mayaguana in the Bahamas island chain and north of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

Ranking:

• #1 in Best Caribbean Beaches
• #1 in Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean
• #2 in Best Caribbean Honeymoons
• #2 in Best Destination Wedding Spots in the Caribbean
• #4 in Best Winter Vacations
• #8 in Best Cheap Caribbean Vacations