Vacation Villa Rentals Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
About Turks & Caicos
Location:
The Turks and Caicos Islands are located only 575 miles southeast of Miami and 90 miles north of the island of Hispaniola. The islands are situated between 21 degrees and 22 degrees latitude and between 71 degrees and 72 degrees longitude.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a small archipelago of eight major islands and many uninhabited cays. The islands are surrounded by some 230 miles of virgin coral reef. This combined with miles and miles of unobstructed, unpopulated white sandy beach, makes the Turks and Caicos Islands one of the most sought after Caribbean destinations on the market today. Divers were first to discover the islands as the long barrier reef which protects the Islands is home to a multitude of wildlife and magnificent coral formations. The breath-taking wall dives make the islands a very popular dive destination.
The most developed of the Turks and Caicos’ eight inhabited islands, Providenciales (Provo) is just 23 miles (37km) long by 4 miles (6.5km) wide.
Getting Here:
At this time, all major international carriers arrive and depart from Providenciales International Airport. American Airlines (800-433-7300) flies twice daily in and out of Miami and additional weekly flights from New York and Boston during high season. It also has a weekly flight out of Dallas every Saturday. US Airways flies daily to Providenciales from Charlotte, North Carolina with one flight on Saturday from Philadelphia. JetBlue offers daily service from New York/JFK and one flight from Boston on Saturday. Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta daily and New York/JFK on Saturday. United Airlines flies from Newark on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and every Saturday from Houston. West Jet flies from Toronto on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from Montreal on Friday. Air Canada offers flights from Toronto and Montreal on Saturday and Sunday. British Airways flies every Sunday from London/Heathrow via Nassau, Bahamas.
Flight time is approximately one hour and twenty minutes from Miami to Providenciales. For those of you wishing to travel outside Providenciales to the other islands, connections are easily made with a variety of local carriers.
Ground Transportation:
There are several car rental companies available, a 12% government tax is levied on all rental contracts. In order to rent a car in the Turks and Caicos Islands you must be at least twenty one years of age and must hold a valid driver's license. We drive on the left side of the road with traffic flow controlled by round-abouts at major junctions. Scooter, ATV and Bicycle rentals are also available.
Currency:
The unit of currency in the Turks and Caicos Islands is the U.S. dollar. All major credit cards are widely accepted.
Groceries:
There are two major grocery stores on the island of Providenciales, IGA Supermarket with three locations and Quality Grocery with two locations. There are also numerous small convenience stores. These stores carry a wide variety of goods and you will find most items available on island.
Medical Services:
Providenciales has one hospital operated by InterHealth Canada named Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. It is a modern well equipped facility. There are also four private medical clinics on island. The clinics house medical services to include a women’s health clinic, an optometrist, a dental /orthodontist clinic and a pharmacy.
Language:
English is the language of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Time Zone:
Eastern Standard Time/Daylight Savings Time observed.
Climate:
High temperatures vary from 95° (F) in the summer to 80° (F), 27° (C) in the winter. The almost constant island breezes keep the heat at bay and make the island temperature feel cooler than thermometer readings. September and October are the hottest months of the year.
Providenciales International Airport
Marriage Licenses:
Getting married in the Turks and Caicos Islands is becoming a popular trend (not to mention the numerous possibilities for romantic and secluded honeymoon locations). In order to get married in the Turks and Caicos Islands you must be in residence for at least twenty four hours before the ceremony takes place. A marriage license costs $50.00 and may be obtained from the Chief Secretary's office in Providenciales or Grand Turk. You can arrange to be married in a civil ceremony by a marriage officer appointed by the Government or, if you prefer to be married in a church, you can contact any of the churches on the island. Almost every denomination is represented. Ceremonies can be performed in a variety of romantic settings including aboard a sail boat.
