Looking for suggestions for Providenciales

[jd950]

Will be diving the Turks & Caicos with Explorer Ventures later this year and I was thinking of going to Providenciales a couple days early to do some non-diving activities (and avoid the overnight flight I would otherwise need to take). Is this worth doing and if so, any recommendations for lodging, meals and non-diving things to do for a day and a half?

Sorry about the spelling error...

 

[Malpaso]

Dive with Dive Provo
Stay at Ocean Club West
Go to the Thursday Fish Fry
Eat at Bugaloos, the Tiki Hut, the Flamingo, Hemigway's, the Conch Shack or Sharkbites
Fish with Grand Slam
Drink at Jimmy's Dive Bar

 

[NYCNaiad]

Adored Coco Bistro for dinner!

 

[KathyV]

Will be diving the Turks & Caicos with Explorer Ventures later this year and I was thinking of going to Providenciales a couple days early to do some non-diving activities (and avoid the overnight flight I would otherwise need to take). Is this worth doing and if so, any recommendations for lodging, meals and non-diving things to do for a day and a half? Sorry about the spelling error...

We really enjoy spending some time topside on Provo. Our favorite places to eat are Opus, Sharkbite, and the Conch Shack.

Grace Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, the water is astonishingly lovely. So if you can stay on Grace Bay that would be ideal. If you are only going to be there a couple of days you won't need an apartment or condo, but if you will be there any longer you should look for a place with a kitchen because T&Cs are very expensive and eating out 3 times a day gets costly. The unit of currency is the $USD but it doesn't buy much!

If you are looking for a place to stay that is more moderately priced then check out the Ports of Call, it is not on the water but it's nice and easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, and bars.

Alcoholic beverages are also expensive so you might want to pick up a bottle at the duty-free shore in your home airport before leaving the country, but the local Bambarra Rum is very good and a bargain.

You should rent a car at least for a day to explore the island. Provo has modern hotels and restaurant and facilities but it is less developed than some locations and it is fun to get "off the beaten path"!

 

[diversteve]

You actually get quite a bit of time to see Provo even if you just fly in for the week. Our flight arrived around noon and they met us at the airport - took the bags to the boat and dropped us at Salt Mills plaza for lunch - we had about 4-5 hrs. to look around the area b4 being picked up by the same van coming from the airport with the later flight group. After checking in on the boat some of us went back to the IGA for alcohol/snacks.

I'm not big on beaches but agree - Grace Bay is stunning.

Also the boat returns on Friday around noon - even if you do the dawn dive. So you have all afternoon in town plus the evening - we looked around for another 6 hrs. b4 meeting the other divers/crew for dinner. After dinner I went club-hopping, caught a free ride to the casino - ask a bartender to call them - and later they took me all the way back to the boat for free - it moors on the south side and most everything else is north. Although we did make a stop at Breezes first to drop off a couple.

 

[KeithG]

Adored Coco Bistro for dinner!

Agreed - but make sure you reserve ahead of time, they often fill up.

Try Shays for breakfast.

 

[KathyV]

It's true that you will have some time to look around Provo at the beginning and end of the cruise, but I'm a fan of giving yourself a little buffer time before jumping into heavy dive.days. I'm not a big beach person either but Grace Bay is world class and worth a visit IMO.

 

[jd950]

Thank you all for your help with this. I have booked the flight and will use the info. Will book Coco Bistro in advance and try a couple of the other places as time permits. We will probably rent a car take part of a day to drive around and check things out a bit and about a half day for the beach. I am not much a beach person, but a half day or so would be fine.

Again...thank you for your help.

 

[jd950]

Well, Coco Bistro might not work. We were planning on pretty much taking shorts and tee shirts and sandals for the liveaboard and Coco Bistro looks like someplace I would feel uncomfortable without dressing a little nicer. If it works out to take some pants and a nicer shirt and some appropriate footwear then we will go, but otherwise I think maybe it will have to wait until the next time we are there. Dive gear, dive camera and other stuff don't leave a lot of packing room for "smart casual" clothes and space will be a t a premium on the boat, I think. It does look nice, though.