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Crowning glory
Kerri Tucker gets the royal treatment when she checks in to a
plantation palace in the Turks and Caicos |
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While the Turks and Caicos may not be ruled by a king,
on April 2, 2006, the Palms Turks and Caicos hotel was
aligned with Regent Hotels Worldwide, Inc (a leading luxury
hospitality group) and became the Regent Palms. And there
are more than enough reasons for the coronation.
Providenciales itself, the capital island of the Turks and
Caicos, feels like a Caribbean kingdom, with a moat of
turquoise waters and ivory sands, with majestic palm trees
as sentries. In reality, the Regent Palms hotel has a much
more grown-up sensibility. The architecture was inspired
by the classic estates of the Caribbean and Oliver Messel to
result in a sophisticated plantation palace.
The driveway is lined with palm trees and guests arrive
to pristine white coral columns. The marble-tiled lobby
is framed by more of the columns, and opens out on to a
sprawling, manicured courtyard with an overflowing fountain
as the centrepiece. Just beyond the grounds is the main
house, referred to as the mansion, with architecture that
calls to mind the plantation association. It is resplendent
with coral walls, french doors, wrought-iron light fixtures
and dark mahogany furniture. |
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A short stroll through the garden and we were seated on the
patio adjacent to Paralell23, the fine-dining restaurant. We
relaxed in overstuffed white chairs, under a soaring iron
pagoda, open to a velvet sky dotted with diamonds. Glasses
of wine in hand, we toasted the evening, and ordered pizza – no better late-night snack. Unless, of course, you’re at the
Regent Palms. The ordinary snack became something quite
venerable, with the pizza covered in gourmet spicy chicken
and tender asparagus, and served in its very own Regent
Palms-labelled pizza box.
With appetites satiated, we were eager to see our rooms.
The hotel consists of 72 luxury rooms and suites and eight
extraordinary penthouse suites. The appointments in the
room stay within the same royal ambience, but without
losing the inimitable Caribbean influence. Custom-made
mahogany furnishings, including the four-poster bed, are
handsome and rich against clean white walls and ceilings,
iced with intricate moldings and wainscoting. The marble floors are cool and clean, and you can almost glide towards
the bed and sink into the hand-tufted mattresses with that
kind of butter soft comfort that makes you feel like a queen.
The penthouse suites are truly grand, and offer the ultimate
in privacy, with keyed elevator access. As the doors of the
elevators part and you step into the vaulted ceiling foyer,
there seems to be no end to the expanse of shocking cerulean
that stretches past the balcony. |
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Every time I come to Turks and Caicos I am astounded by
the ethereal colour of the water. With hand-cut coral stone
facades and flickering hand-lit gas lights on the terraces,
the ambience is one of classical elegance and luxury. The
penthouse has every possible amenity that you need for a
majestic experience - study with high-speed cable Internet
access, flat panel LCD televisions, two expansive travertine
terraces including a pergola, an interior “water room”
with waterfall shower, and an adjacent Sun Suite featuring
an outdoor shower, garden and jacuzzi. The kitchen is
equipped with Viking appliances, making longterm stay,
or even a private chef, not just an extravagant desire but a
real possibility.
The resort is situated on world-famous Grace Bay beach, a
stretch of powder fine sand, kissed by iridescent turquoise
waves. All water sports and activities are, of course, available,
but you may choose to just relax at the pool. Which
again, is an emphatic understatement, as the pool experience
at the Regent Palms is anything but ordinary. |
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The unique restaurant Plunge is not so much pool side as
pool inside, with the option of a banquette where you can
enjoy all the specials without leaving the water. Almost
overwhelmed by the possibilities, I found a hidden sun deck
and laid back with my novel and my lap top (free WiFi all
around!) and had just found myself dozing off when I was
gently awakened by a waiter offering refreshments – a fresh
fruit kebab, sorbet cup, oh, and wouldn’t I like a cooling
eucalyptus towel to soothe my moist forehead.
By this time, I was starting to imagine a crown upon my
head, but it definitely wasn’t too heavy to bear yet. So when
I was offered a visit to the spa that had been described as
the “the spiritual heart of the Palms,’’ I certainly was not
going to turn down a heart-to-heart with royalty. The spa
is spread over an acre site and all treatment rooms are stand
alone, and surrounded by water, giving the experience an
exclusive air, and each has a special water feature by day,
and fire feature by night. There are also tented cabanas, if
your inner highness so chooses. The treatments themselves
are a testament to the individuality of the Palms, with
new and exciting experiences to try, such as the Mother of Pearl Body Exfoliation which uses a precious blend of handcrushed
local queen conch shells to gently revitalize and
soften; Little Drops of Caribbean Rain whereby hundreds
of tiny drops of essential oils are applied along the spine to
awaken every nerve ending; and Moonlight and Stars which
enables two guests to enjoy a massage in the privacy of their
own patio to the sound of the lapping ocean, beneath the
twinkling of the stars. |
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Every aspect of the Regent Palms Hotel serves to separate it
from the rest, and place it on a throne, and this is achieved
by constant attention to detail, imagination, and impeccable
service of an aristocratic level. As I jogged down the
beach at sunset that evening, watching the breathtaking
Turks and Caicos waters turn a pearlescent silver, I reflected
on my experience, being treated as queen for a day, and
pondered the delicious thought that even though today was
over, I still had the rest of my stay at the resort to enjoy being
queen of the castle. |
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