Today marks the start of the next chapter for Gracehaven Villas. We began work today to clear the lot for our next building. Still located at 18, Stubbs Road, Providenciales, we are adding a third building on the lot.
This building will be a two-bedroom home with a larger pool than the previous builds and with two outdoor patio areas. Due to the amazing success of Gracehaven Getaway, whose architectural style is a big favourite with visitors, we are borrowing some of that clever design, The new building will share a similar living room space to the Getaway villa. The remainder of the building will feature a larger bedroom with ensuite plus a storage / laundry room and a second bedroom with its own patio area. It is located to the south side of Gracehaven Villa shown in the lots plans drawing below.
At Gracehaven Villas, we have a thriving vacation rental business and we are so grateful that our guests chose to visit our TCI properties to experience the stunning scenery and surrounding ocean waters
TCI owes so much of its beauty to the amazing coral barrier reef that created the islands and protects its tropical shores from the wider ocean conditions. The corals are responsible for the shallows of the Caicos Banks and their stunning turquoise waters, the exquisite white coral sand of our beaches and maintaining a myriad of healthy marine life. It is this array of wonderful sights that brings so many visitors to the Islands. These visitors are the core of any vacation rental business.
Yet these coral wonders are in a continuing battle for survival. Not just from rising ocean temperatures and the threat of pollution but also from encroaching diseases such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease which threatens their very survival.
Gracehaven Villas decided we want to do what we can to help. Following a successful year in 2022 we decided to donate $500 for the year by way of thanks and to help the continued work of the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund. Not only that, but we are also making a continued donation going forward by purchasing a TC Reef fund charity bracelet for every one of our guests who stay at our villas. The proceeds will go to supporting the work of the Reef Fund and help to protect the reef life.
Jeremy at Gracehaven Villas Ltd is also the founding country leader for the Turks and Caicos Airbnb Host community Facebook Group and is urging all TCI Airbnb hosts and vacation rental owners to follow suit and make a similar commitment to the work of maintaining a healthy ocean environment. We ask those who operate businesses that benefit from the Islands beauty and indeed all those who read this post to donate whatever they feel they can. Please make your donations and share this post to show your gratitude. Thank you.
Donations can be made online via the TC reef fund website. For other information please contact Alizee Zimmerman. – Contact Alizee on [email protected] to talk about how!
The Turks and Caicos Islands, with some of the best beaches in the world, exquisite turquoise seas, and sunny weather continue to grow as a vacation destination. The latest Turks and Caicos Tourism visitor statistics report show that the Islands continued to be busy in Quarter 1 of 2022, breaking records again. The Islands attracted 138,762 arrivals by air in the period which is 98% of the pre-pandemic visitor volume in 2019. The amount of tourist traffic increased each month in the first quarter with 34,057 January visitors, 44,596 in February, and 60,109 in March. The February figure was a whopping 248% year-on-year increase.
More and more people are discovering the attractions the Islands have to offer and how convenient it is to travel here, being just a short 90-minute flight from Miami.
Gracehaven Villas is pleased to tell you that from April 2022 onwards we now have kayaks available for our guests to use. We provide these as a complimentary free service for our guests.
Kayaking from the beach near the villas is a great activity. Typically the sea is calm on Grace Bay as it is protected by the coral reef from the Altantic waves. Although sometimes the waves can be too high to use the kayaks here, when the sea is calm you can even explore out towards the reef which is about 3/4 of a mile off the beach at the Windsong Resort, If you have a waterproof phone or a Go Pro camera you can take some great photos or videos in the clear TCI waters. You can be fortunate enough to see turtles, eagle rays, sting rays and a host of other marine life, all while enjoying the peaceful waters and tropical sunshine
We have two kayaks which are shared between the guests at both villas, so please be sure to check in advance with the villa concierge to see when they are available.
The moment many have been waiting has arrived! The Turks and Caicos government announced on Monday April 25th that visitors to the country will no longer have to take a COVID test to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands The need to present a negative result COVID test has been removed from the country’s entry requirements. Not only that but the mandatory medical travel insurance requirement has also been removed and the need to apply for a travel authorization approval through the TCI Assured web portal is also no longer not needed.
More good news for Canadians wanting to go on vacation
The Canadian travel restrictions have been relaxed again. After April 1st, 2022, travelers arriving in Canada who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a COVID test prior to arriving. This eases the burden on travelers on vacation. They can now save the expense and worry of taking a test to return home.
Although the need to test has been removed Canadian travelers are still required to complete the ArriveCan app information and may also be selected for a random test on arrival.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers aged 5 or older are still required to take a pre-arrival test.
Note that the definition of fully vaccinated is :
Had 2 doses of an accepted vaccine
Have received the second vaccine at least 14 days prior to arrival in Canada
Have no symptoms of COVID-19
Have completed the entry requirements and uploaded vaccine proof via ArriveCan
Have an ArriveCan receipt with either an I, V or A beside your name
The Canadian Government has announced a relaxation of the regulations and removal of the mandatory PCR test from February 28th, 2022. This change means tourists now have a lower cost for return tests.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands the PCR testing costs around $185 USD whereas the Rapid antigen tests, which are now allowed by Canada cost, from $35 – 50 USD. The Rapid Antigen test results can be available in just 10-15 minutes so this also reduces the stress of having to wait up to 24 hours or more for a PCR test result. Note that the new regulations specify that the rapid antigen test must be taken within 24 hours of the flight time. It must be authorized by the country it was purchased in and administered by a lab, a healthcare unit or a telehealth process.
