Point Grace - Turks and Caicos

Winner of the World Travel Awards Caribbean's Leading Boutique Hotel 2005, Point Grace pulls off a rare trick: luxuriously spacious accommodations and an intimate atmosphere. With only 32 rooms - or, rather, suites - it feels like you are staying in a private, upmarket, valet-serviced, apartment block. It is discreet, personal, expensive. As it also overlooks the most attractive end of what many regard as one of the world's top ten beaches - Grace Bay - Point Grace must surely ranks as one of Provo's finest hotels.

The suites start at 1080 square feet and grow to a spectacular 7200 square foot, four-bedroom penthouse. All come equipped with the same basics - granite surface kitchen, teak furnished dining area, Sony equipped living room, colonial style terrace, four-poster beds, marble floored ensuite bathrooms, and laundry room. Air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mosquito netting, cable TV, DVD and CD systems, safes and fully-equipped kitchen are standard. The smaller, one-bedroom suites are in the four lemon colored cottages which surround the pool while the rest of the accommodations are in one of two vast, four-story, white mansions facing directly on to the 12-mile long talcum powder beach of Grace Bay. (Elevators included.)

Furnishings are grandly eccentric - Turkish marble and clawfoot baths, tribal art and Frette linens, chrome fridges and Balinese silks. The penthouse has a Versace feel (indeed, Donatella was a recent guest), seats ten for dinner and comes with library, study, baby grand piano and massage room.

No room is further than a two minute stroll from the sea and most activity is centered on the beach or around the turquoise and gold pool. There is also a shaded bar at the pool's edge where complimentary drinks and canapés are served each evening. And don't miss the free afternoon sorbets served on the beach.

The Full Service Thalossotherapy Spa fronts onto the beach. Otherwise, on-site sporting facilities are limited - the nearest snorkeling, sailboarding and paragliding is fifteen minutes away. However, there is a free private shuttle to golf and tennis centers. If you intend exploring the island, car rental is essential. The hotel has its own underground parking garage.

Complimentary Continental Buffet breakfasts are served in the Terrace & the evening restaurant, Grace's Cottage, is the finest on the island. This is sophisticated Gourmet Caribbean food, stylishly presented in a pretty "gingerbread" cottage where you can choose to dine inside on the veranda or outside in one of several gazebos.

Although children are welcome - a babysitting service is available - the hotel is best suited to couples or families with older children. Most guests come here for quiet relaxation with many rarely leaving the premises except to try out some of the neighbourhood restaurants. And if you really can't bear to be out of touch with the office, there is a fully-equipped business center plus in-room fax machines available.

Point Grace certainly isn't cheap - around $400 low season for the smallest suite, before taxes and gratuities - but the finish and attention to detail is almost faultless. If you want to chill-out in luxurious surroundings beside one of the world?s best beaches, this is certainly worth adding to your list.