Heading to Provo....Any Advice?

[nikyyo]

Hi, we will be leaving for Provo on December 6th-14th. We'll be staying at the Comfort Suites and diving with Caicos Adventures. We won't be renting a car and I realize That may reduce the things we can do but we are there primarily for the diving. The restaurants I have on my list are: Dolphins bar, 21 North, Barefoot Cafe, Calico Jacks, Caicos Cafe, Gecko Grill, ANd Coco Bistro. Should I drop any from the list? Add ANy? I was also wondering if anyone knew how far the walk to the beach is from Comfort Suites. ANy good happy hour recommendations? ANy and all advice is greatly appreciated.....Thanx.

[Capt. Bill1]

Go to the Turtle Cove Inn and check out the Aqua bar and the Terrace rest. Very, very good food and real nice bar. http://www.provo.net/aqua/

Good happy hour at The Sharkbite just down the road from Turtle Cove.
http://www.thesharkbite.com/

Right next to Sharkbite is a really, really good Italian rest. the name of which escapes me at the moment.

Danny Boy's Irish Pub can be fun.

For local color I'd hit Smokey's http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/Restaurant/

And there's a great couch salad and beer shack on the beach in the Blue Hills area. Can't recall the name. (Conchy Joe's perhaps) Just ask, everybody knows it.

And if you really wait to have a great night out and hit some local spots, head to Grace Bay resort, ask for Capt. Bill (no not this one) the bar tender at the outside bar and get in on his bar tour and sample some of his home made "Royal Juice" rum punch. In fact I have his cell # and if you Email me (labomba182@aol.com) I'll pass it along.

I highly recommend renting a car/jeep for a day or two. I get mine at Scooter Bob's.

[Tim Ingersoll]

Go to the Turtle Cove Inn and check out the Aqua bar and the Terrace rest. Very, very good food and real nice bar. http://www.provo.net/aqua/

Good happy hour at The Sharkbite just down the road from Turtle Cove.
http://www.thesharkbite.com/

Right next to Sharkbite is a really, really good Italian rest. the name of which escapes me at the moment.

Danny Boy's Irish Pub can be fun.

For local color I'd hit Smokey's http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/Restaurant/

And there's a great couch salad and beer shack on the beach in the Blue Hills area. Can't recall the name. (Conchy Joe's perhaps) Just ask, everybody knows it.

And if you really wait to have a great night out and hit some local spots, head to Grace Bay resort, ask for Capt. Bill (no not this one) the bar tender at the outside bar and get in on his bar tour and sample some of his home made "Royal Juice" rum punch. In fact I have his cell # and if you Email me (labomba182@aol.com) I'll pass it along.

I highly recommend renting a car/jeep for a day or two. I get mine at Scooter Bob's.

Welcome to Scubaboard Capt. Bill! The Italian place you are thinking of is Bacci. All of the restaurants you recommend are in or near Turtle Cove. Quite a hoof from the Comfort Suites! I agree that renting a car is the way to go, at least for a couple days.

Nikyyo I think you can cross Coco Bistro off your list. When I was down there this month it looked closed for good. I hope I am wrong because it was definitely a favorite. My family agreed that the food in Provo is as expensive, if not more expensive, than Manhattan. Get some groceries for some of the meals.

The beach is a five minute walk from the Comfort Suites. It is beautiful but is a public access and Comfort Suites has no amenities there and you will have to bring your own towel, water, etc. I hope you aren't bothered by loud music because the bar (Bamboo?) right next to Comfort Suites was blasting on Friday and Saturday til quite late. I'd bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.

Tell Fifi and crew I said hey!

[nikyyo]

Thanks for your responses. Maybe we will rent a car for the first couple of days, but do you think it's really worth it since we are diving every day? I would think that Fifi's boat gets back fairly late in the afternoon. I figured that after we get back to the room and shower and stuff we would just about have time for dinner and a few drinks. What are the average rental prices down there for a compact? Is there a place at the airport that either of you uses for rentals? I'll be sure to send Fifi your regards Tim, thanks again.

[Tim Ingersoll]

I think Hertz and Avis have booths at the airport. I usually use Provo Rent a Car. They will deliver and pick up a car to you at your resort. Driving is on the left. Rates are fairly steep by US standards ($40-60/day depending on what you want). Check them out at: http://www.provo.net/RentACar/ There is not a whole lot to see on the island. You can go out to Leeward and see the Conch Farm. You can also head out to Malcolm Roads if you have a four wheel drive or don't mind walking the last half-mile or so. It is a deserted beach with an old tiki hut movie set on it. Best beach on the island IMHO. If you are diving every day then I would probably cab it over to the IGA for groceries on the first afternoon. The dive boat generally gets you back between 2:30 and 3:300 p.m. Fifi will feed you a sandwich for lunch every day but you will need to provide for your own snacks and breakfasts. Of the restaurants you mention Caicos Cafe is the cream of the crop and right next to Fifi's dive shop. Last time I was down I there most of the time. Have fun!

[Capt. Bill1]

"Maybe we will rent a car for the first couple of days, but do you think it's really worth it since we are diving every day?"

If all you want to do is dive and see what's in and around your hotel, then no, renting a car is not worth it.

But if you'd like to see what the country you are visiting is about, check out some local eating/drinking spots and see some local art/culture then it may be worth it.

Choice is your's.

[Damselfish]

We dive every day, but in most places still find plenty of use for a car.