New photos taken of our beach service and front lobby, more to come soon, stay tuned in to our blog for more updates!

“We stayed here from Dec 25, 2010 – Jan 5, 2011 and we will be going back next year! We will also be recommending this hotel to anyone we meet that is going to T&C.

This property is very clean, comfortable, the staff is great and friendly, the location is walking distance to everything…grocery store, all types of restaraunts, casino (they will pick up and drop off as well) and the beach is about a 30 second walk through another property across the street. The fact that this hotel is not on the beach is really not even an issue as most of the resorts that are located on the beach have just as much of a walk as VDM or longer to the beach! You are really going to get the same value at VDM as at any of the 4-5 star resorts on the beach for a much more economical cost.

Our room was on the main level and walked right out to the pool (that was barely used and felt like our very own private pool). The deck loungers and beds around the pool were the most comfortable I have ever been on and many times fell completely asleep for a few hours. The bed in the room was excellent as well and everything is decorated in a tasteful, updated way. There is a hot tub on the property as well which was always kept nice and hot.

Many people own units at VDM and stay for extended periods of time. When we go on vacation we expect our accomodations to be at the high standard we have at home or better and VDM definately provided that in every way. There doesn’t seem to be a better place to stay than here, you will not be disappointed.”

But for those who want to dine out, you’ll be pleased to know there are many restaurants within a short walking distance from your suite. We can help with suggestions and reservations for any restaurant on the islands.

Here are 5 of our favorites, all within a 5 minute walk:

Coyaba: Literally right around the corner and one of the long-standing landmarks of fine dining on TCI. Chef Paul Newman and his wife have been pleasing island diners for years with their creative dishes and cozy setting.

Anacaona: The signature restaurant at Grace Bay Club, directly across from our front entrance. One of the most romantic dining experiences in TCI. Enjoy cool breezes right on the beach, or a cocktail at their famous infinity bar.

Coco Bistro: Dine under the palms of this inviting little bistro, set amidst a garden of towering palm trees. Chef Stuart Grey has a creative knack for combining traditional and modern dishes, and the atmosphere is ideal for an intimate night out or a group dinner under the stars.

Caicos Cafe: Owned and operated by a classic French chef, this Provo favorite serves up fresh fish dishes with a European flair. Set on a comfortable outdoor deck. Excellent wine selection

Mango Reef: The restaurant at our neighbour, the Royal West Indies, features a diverse menu of European and Asia inspired dishes and friendly bar. Offering indoor and outdoor dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

One ‘bonus’ pick we recommend is Fresh. It’s open for breakfast and lunch til 5PM, and features awesome baked goodies, fresh coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and a wide selection of sandwiches, soups and salads.

—  Sandbore Channel (West Caicos). Always a feeding ground for the big stuff, and and part of an excellent West Caicos day trip

—  G-spot and 3) DD (French Cay): Well worth the 60 minute or so boat ride as a sheer vertical drop and amazing corals await. Frequent visitors include manta rays, sharks and other curious creatures

—  West Sand Spit (Out there): It’s a haul, but makes for a great day trip

—  Football Field (Pine Cay): Is that American football, or soccer? Doesn’t matter, a convenient spot just minutes from Leeward Marina but with an active reef and a very cool, natural stretch of sand that the local residents – grouper, lobsters, barracuda – might just use for kicking the ball around when there are no divers there.

—  Black Coral Forest / Amphitheatre (Northwest Point, Provo). Northwest Point is nice two tank day trip, with a number of spots along its wall. This is one of the best with an amazing natural coral environment that looks like it could have been man made. During your surface interval, see if you can spots and celebs at nearby Amanyara Resort.

—  Driveway/ Whiteface (West Caicos): Another prime example of the beauty of West Caicos’ breathtaking wall diving. Slide down the ‘driveway’ over the wall and into the blue abyss.

The Conch Festival is fun for the whole family

The Conch Festival is a uniquely Turks and Caicos event that celebrates our favorite mollusk, number one export, and a link to our islands’ fishing and maritime past. Held every year in the Blue Hills area of Providenciales (about a 15 minute drive from Villa del Mar) the Conch Festival features the island’s top chefs competing to see who can make the best conch based dishes. These guys get creative, too, whipping up all sorts of things you’d never think could include conch. Best of all, you get to be the judge, sampling all the dishes for a mere $25 and voting on your favorites. The Grand Prize winner gets a coveted trophy to display for a year in their restaurant.

For those of you not familiar with conch (pronounced:  conk), it’s the snail-like animal that lives in those pretty white  shells you find all over the beach and seabed in TCI. Our country is the leading producer of this great seafood product and it’s been a staple on people’s diets here since they first arrived. It’s a bit like calamari or squid, but tastes sweeter and can be eaten raw or cooked in any number of ways. It’s extremely healthy and tasty.  It is also said to be a natural aphrodisiac, which may help explain its popularity as well.

The Conch Festival is a family-friendly day of games, live music, contests, sailing – all on the picturesque shores of the Blue Hills community – a true authentic Caribbean village where the first inhabitants of our island settled.

This year the Conch Festival is on November 27, which is right after US Thanksgiving. Why not make a long weekend of it in the Turks and Caicos and enjoy a fun, authentically native island festival. Check here for more details.

The world's leading beach

The web site TripAdvisor is one of the most popular and authoritative travel web sites on the Internet. So when they reader speak, people listen.

Recently they announced the winners of the annual Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards and to no surprise to us (because we see it very day) our very own Grace Bay Beach was voted the World’s Best Beach & Sun Destination by Trip Advisor readers. That’s quite a feat. Considering some of the great stretches of sand available around the world!

But anyone who has spent time on Grace Bay Beach knows that is it’s truly a classic – fine white sandy, calm aqua blue waters and an un-crowded slow pace that makes it feel like time is standing still.

Villa del Mar offers full beach services on Grace Bay Beach, including towels, cold drinks and comfy beach chairs. Our attentive ‘beach guy” will cater to your every need so you can enjoy the World Leading Beach in relaxing comfort and luxury.

So come see for yourself why savvy travelers around the world have voted our beach the best of the best.

But for those who want to dine out, you’ll be pleased to know there are many restaurants within a short walking distance from your suite.  We can help with suggestions and reservations for any restaurant on the islands.

Dining under the palms at Coco Bistro

Here are 5 of our favorites, all within a 5 minute walk:

Coyaba. Literally right around the corner and one of the long-standing landmarks of fine dining on TCI. Chef Paul Newman and his wife have been pleasing island diners for years with their creative dishes and cozy setting.

Anacaona: The signature restaurant at Grace Bay Club, directly across from our front entrance.  One of the most romantic dining experiences in TCI. Enjoy cool breezes right on the beach, or a cocctail at their famous infinity bar.

Coco Bistro: Dine under the palms of this inviting little bistro, set amidst a garden of towering palm trees. Chef Stuart Grey has a creative knack for combining traditional and modern dishes, and the atmosphere is ideal for an intimate night out or a group dinner under the stars.

Caicos Cafe: Owned and operated by a classic French chef, this Provo favorite serves up fresh fish dishes with a European flair. Set on a comfortable outdoor deck. Excellent wine selection

Mango Reef: The restaurant at our neighbor, the Royal West Indies, features a diverse menu of European and Asia inspired dishes and friendly bar. Offering indoor and outdoor dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

One ‘bonus’ pick we recommend is Fresh. It’s open for breakfast and lunch til 5PM, and features awesome baked goodies, fresh coffee and breakfast sandwiches, and a wide selection of sandwiches, soups and salads.