Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Turks and Caicos

Remember those pictures of pristine white-sand beaches that you’d save as your desktop picture? Chances are it was snapped right here in the Turks and Caicos Islands! Comprising 40 primeval and untouched islands, this lesser-explore country in the Caribbean Sea is home to some of the most beguiling beaches in the world. Not to forget the crystal-clear waters that shine in all shades of blue – turquoise, cyan, azure, you name it. Now, this looks like just the place that LGBTQ travelers will love. The Turks and Caicos might not advertise themselves as gay-friendly per se, but you’ll find many gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos. Choices range from full-fledged seaside resorts to beachfront villas and charming inns, but the fact is that there are choices. What’s more, a majority of, if not all, the locals are very accepting of LGBTQ travelers,

All in all, the Turks and Caicos could be the perfect place for LGBTQ sweethearts to have the best time of their lives. All this, despite the islands not having Pride or any form of LGBTQ celebrations, gay bars or clubs, or even a gayborhood! However, there are many top things to do in Turks and Caicos, such as swimming in the gorgeous Grace Bay, checking out the Conch Bar Caves, or snorkeling in the Bight Reef. Basically, plan your holiday around the picture-perfect waters, and you’re sure to have an amazing time. To that end, here are the top 11 gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos.

Blue Haven Resort

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Best for adventures. We begin our list with one of the most picturesque gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos, Blue Haven Resort. Tucked in the northeastern part of Providenciales, the capital city, this water bum’s paradise lies right next to the marina, which is the perfect jumping-off point for fishing charters, scuba diving excursions, and water sports. So, LGBTQ travelers of the intrepid kind, this is the place for you. Even back at this 45-room resort, there’s so much to do that you probably won’t even leave its confines. To begin with, it offers complimentary access to two sister properties – Alexandra Resort and the adults-only Beach House, both on the famed Grace Beach. A complimentary resort shuttle will take you back and forth, leaving you with no dearth of things to do.

Back at this all-inclusive resort, a litany of activities and amenities are lined up, such as the bocce ball and volleyball courts. Laidback lovers will love the infinity-edge pool with sun loungers, cabanas, and the swim-up bar – and all the eye candy. Besides multiple on-site dining options, you have several staying options as well. Choose from one/to three-bedroom suites, penthouses, and oceanfront studios, all of which come with balconies and ocean views. Plus, the beach with hammocks, chaise loungers, and pristine waters is right out front.

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Sibonne Beach Hotel

Best small beach hotel. If you want to stay on Grace Bay Beach but not get lost in the huge resorts lining it, then Sibonne Beach Hotel is for you. Located just steps from the water’s edge, this gay hotel is one of Grace Bay’s first hotels. A simple lobby welcomes you, complete with friendly staff and a manager who is more than happy to assist. The pool at Sibonne, albeit small, offers unobstructed views of the ocean and is perfect for a cool dip. Moreover, the on-site restaurant offers all meals and is one of the premier dining options in Providenciales. That’s because it offers sweeping views of the entire Grace Bay. Whether you’re beginning your day with breakfast or enjoying a romantic dinner, there’s no better spot on all of the islands.

Albeit simple, rooms here are elegant and fall across five categories. Aside from the rooms being open onto the courtyard, the second-floor rooms with balconies with access to the restaurant, courtyard, and beach are excellent. However, the best of them are the two oceanfront rooms and the beach apartment, with direct beach access. Nevertheless, all rooms come with coffeemakers, mini-fridges, cable TVs, and ice buckets.

The Sands at Grace Bay

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Best value for money. One of the best gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos is The Sands at Grace Bay, which is perfect for a luxurious yet affordable beachside holiday. Set on the powder-white sands of Grace Bay beach, the resort offers a host of one/two/three-bedroom suites that are excellent value for larger groups of LGBTQ travelers to the island. Designed in plantation style, these rooms and suites feature modern kitchens, screened-in balconies, and dining areas. From the comfort of the private patio, you can enjoy a cup of morning coffee or a glass of wine in the evening. Complimentary prosecco in the rooms is a great touch!

There are a lot of free amenities at the resort, at the top of which sits the three swimming pools where you can swim and lounge at. If you’re a water baby, you can grab the complimentary snorkel gear, stand-up paddleboards, or kayaks and head out to the sea. Or, you could grab one of the complimentary bicycles and go on an exploration of the island. That said, make sure you’re back in time for the resort manager’s cocktail party if you’re here on a Tuesday. Finally, the resort is home to local favorite Hemingway’s Beachfront Restaurant and Bar, which serves some of the best cocktails and island-inspired meals.

Grace Bay Club

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Lying smack dab n the white-sand shores of Grace Bay Beach is Grace Bay Club, one of the best gay hotels in Turks and Caicos. The resort’s architecture will remind you of Florence with its garden fountains, shaded courtyards, and terracotta rooftops. What makes this hotel so popular is that it has three discrete sections – a family-friendly section (The Villas Suites), the adults-only section (The Hotel), and a super-exclusive resort-within-a-resort (The Estate). Despite catering to different crowds, the hotel boasts a slew of common amenities, such as personal concierge service and a spectacular oceanfront view. What’s more, it even has an oceanfront restaurant and bar that serves, among other things, incredible seafood. Three other dining options, an adults-only pool with unobstructed sea views, and the decadent Anani Spa make up the rest of the place.

When it comes to LGBTQ travelers staying here, we’d recommend you either go for The Estate or one of the homes in the Private Villa Collection. The former features sprawling, minimalistic ground-floor suites with plunge pools and swish bathrooms with freestanding tubs. The latter is a bunch of freestanding private beachfront residences, which come with complimentary breakfast, housekeeping, and free airport transfers.

Hotel The Palms Resort

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Most luxurious. High on luxury is the opulent Hotel The Palms Resort on Grace Bay, one of the most luxurious gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos. In fact, it’s consistently featured on lists of the best 100 hotels in the world! There’s a lot to love about this 72-suite luxury condo hotel, which lies right on the waterfront. For one, all stylish accommodations lie along three sides of the central pool. They range from junior suites with their own balconies to the extravagantly magnificent penthouse with an outdoor shower and several private balconies! Colonial-style furnishings meld white and wood, complete with splashes of mint green and periwinkle blue. Thus, they emanate the perfect old-world-meets-chic Caribbean style. Finally, they all come with plush bedrooms, full kitchens, and even deep-soaking tubs, making this a great romantic sojourn.

Of all its amenities, the central pool with sun pods, palm trees, and umbrellas is not just the best but also amongst the chicest in the Caribbean. In fact, you can lie at your perch and order snacks and cocktails from the swim-up bar and restaurant. After a swim, head to the hedonistic spa for a couple’s massage or body treatment, and enjoy a sauna or steam later on. Rounding up the amenities are endless water sports, two more restaurants, multiple shops, and a well-equipped fitness center.

Point Grace

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Tucked amongst rocky coves and lush greenery in Providenciales, Point Grace feels removed from the rest of the world. The gay-friendly resort has just 28 suites, so service here seems personal and impeccable, to say the least. Every vista is beautiful, right from the languorous freeform swimming pool with the pool bar to the breakfast terrace. Breakfast is one indulgent affair, as are all other meals at the two on-site restaurants that serve delicious seafood. The best of all is the divine spa, which also includes a European-style thalassotherapy spa. French doors in the treatment rooms can be opened so you can enjoy that whiff of fresh and salty sea breeze during your massage.

With just 28 suites, staying here is one intimate experience. The style is innately British-colonial, with shuttered windows, four-poster beds, marble floors, and dark mahogany woods. Every room is furnished with vintage accent pieces. However, don’t be fooled by the old-world decor, for all rooms come with swanky mod-cons, full kitchens, chic bathrooms, and spacious living rooms with superb views.

Ambergris Cay

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Secluded? Check. Private island? Check. Beachside? Triple-check! To call Ambergris Cay one of the finest gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos is an understatement. This private island, a 20-minute flight from Providenciales, features 10 villas on one of the Caribbean’s best beaches. In fact, one of the most favorite activities for guests here is lazing and collecting conch shells on the deserted sandbars. Wild and untamed, and slick at the same time, Ambergris Cay feels like a lavish and indulgent version of Robinson Crusoe’s home. Think iguanas basking on the sun terrace, even as butlers move busily about, bringing cocktails to your poolside perch! It’s akin to a Caribbean County Club.

Every suite is assigned a butler, who may be dispatched to set up private breakfasts, book spa treatments, or arrange sunset cocktails. The prime attraction is the bone-white sandy beach, the private pools in each suite, or the main pool right by the restaurant and poolside bar. The staff is happy to arrange “castaway picnics” to the surrounding sandbars or hikes to the island’s highest point. If you like the outdoors, play tennis n the property or grab a bike and explore the private island. At the day’s end, don’t forget to make a beeline to the spa, where a 30-minute per-person spa treatment is complimentary. Finally, the poolside restaurant serves delectable meals with stunning views of the ocean.

Neutral hues and contemporary decor dots the 10 rooms here, which come with golf carts, outdoor showers, wraparound terraces with alfresco seating, and heated pools. Spectacular sea views aside. the open-plan bathrooms are particularly cheeky, as are the blackout blinds and stocked minibars.

Seven Stars Resort & Spa

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The crown jewel of all luxury resorts in Turks and Caicos is Seven Stars Resort & Spa, which is one of the most opulent of Grace Bay resorts and perfect for discerning LGBTQ travelers. Set in three fan-shaped structures curved around a beachfront pool, this resort is perfect for a romantic getaway in the Caribbean. Rooms and suites are enormous, to say the least, and decked out in soft hues that inspire laidback relaxation. Marble baths and deep-soaking tubs add to the hedonistic ambiance, as do the huge plush beds, soft terry robes, Nespresso machines, and bespoke L’Occitane bath products. Did we mention sprawling patios with alfresco furniture and beach and ocean views?

The rest of the resort is equally impressive. Sprinkled with specially commissioned and unique abstract art, the resort boasts two restaurants that serve lip-smacking Caribbean-inspired fare for all meals. The pinnacle of decadence is the heated saltwater pool, which is the only one on the island! If you’re the intrepid kind, the beach is peppered with cabanas, and there’s also a slew of complimentary non-motorized water sports on offer. Or, you could borrow cycles and explore the island, attend a mixology class, or indulge in a complimentary morning yoga class – the possibilities are endless. Wrapping up the lavish offerings is the world-class spa, which offers myriad treatments.

COMO Parrot Cay

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Aside from being one of the best gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos, COMO Parrot Cay is also one of the remotest and most exclusive of the Caribbean’s resort islands. Sitting a half-an-hour boat ride away from Providenciales, this resort sits on the eponymous Parrot Cay and s the epitome of Caribbean elegance. This Haute, gay-friendly COMO hideaway sits on a seemingly deserted long stretch of sand, where you can sunbathe to your heart’s content. The property’s wellness offering is sure to impress even the most pampered of A-listers. After a trip to the beach, retreat to the spa for the signature Como Shambhala Retreat, which houses Japanese-style baths, massage rooms, and a yoga studio. Later, dig into delicious plant-based COMO Shambhala cuisine, which focuses on healthy fare. Four restaurants and a bar take care of all your food and drink-related whims and fancies.

That said, your day should begin at the infinity-edge pool, where laze around without a care about the world. If you’re the more adventurous kind, go kayaking, snorkeling, or biking around the island. Come back in time to enjoy a sundowner mojito at the bar, after which you can retreat to your luxury digs. Choose from rooms, suites, and Balinese-style villas. whose past guests include Donna Karan and Keith Richards. The beachfront villas are absolute sanctuaries and come with private plunge pools and butler services – the cherry on top of an indulgent Caribbean vacation.

The Shore Club

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LGBTQ travelers who love seclusion will love The Shore Club, which lies on the uncrowded Long Bay Beach, away from the bustle of Grace Bay. Even then, this secluded stunner is minutes from Providenciales’ town center. Featuring a classic design, the resort is made up in turquoise inspired by the sky and the ocean. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows practically bring the outdoors inside at this first and only resort on Long Bay beach.

There’s a lot for guests to do here, and we do mean a lot. Choose from four divine pools to lounge at; we’d recommend the infinity-edge adults-only pool. The family has a swim-up bar, the fitness center has a lap pool, and the main one, the resort’s focal point, has cabanas and basket swings. After a lounge at the pool, head for an unwinding session at the Dune Spa, where a body scrub or treatment is just the thing you need. Four restaurants serve delectable pizzas and Peruvian-Japanese fare. Finally, the rates here even allow you to access non-motorized water sports equipment, and with the beach out front, water babies are sure to have a great time.

All suites, which range from garden-view junior suites to multi-room and ocean-view penthouse ones, are elegant and decadent in equal measure. Sporting elegant coastal motifs of beige, blue, and white, all come with lavish spa bathrooms and private verandas that offer million-dollar views.

Wymara Resort and Villas

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Sitting atop the list of the best gay friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos is Wymara Resort and Villas, which also happens to be one of the Best Hotels in Turks and Caicos. Nothing at this lavish resort is half-hearted, which is evident the minute you step into the lobby. A gargantuan, and we mean truly gargantuan, 7,000 square-feet-huge infinity pool forms this place’s centerpiece. Order Caribbean cocktails and snacks from the lounge-like poolside restaurant before heading to the spa for a pampering or body treatment. When hunger strikes, choose one of the signature restaurants that serve cuisine with a Caribbean twist. But do make sure that you stop at Wymara’s beachfront Pink Bar, which is very popular with the LGBTQ set. The rose-themed bar offers classic cocktails with a twist, making it the best place to meet new people over delicious drinks.

In fact, that’s why gay travelers love Wymara so much. In the words of the general manager at the hotel, they want their guests to feel that they can be themselves. Wymara is famed for treating LGBTQ couples just like other straight couples, ensuring that they feel comfortable no matter what. 

That said, the rooms here are a delight, with even entry-level ones boasting sweeping ocean views from wooden balconies. All 91 rooms, suites, and villas are amongst the swankiest on Providenciales and feature wooden textures, soft color palettes, lavish bathrooms, and state-of-the-art kitchens in the suites. If you want to splurge, go for the huge villas with private pools, overwater swim platforms, and direct access to the reef-protected waters.

Our Verdict!

While all Turks and Caicos gay-friendly hotels are amazing, some are just a notch above the rest. We bring them together in this specialized list:

• Best value for money: The Sands at Grace Bay
• Best small beach hotel: Sibonne Beach Hotel
• Most luxurious: Hotel The Palms Resort
• Best for adventures: Blue Haven Resort 

Just So You Know:

• Despite no gay bars, clubs, or Pride, Turks and Caicos are gay-friendly enough. Aside from many LGBTQ weddings, many gay-themed cruise ships have also been allowed to port here. In fact, same-sex sexual activity has been legal here since 2001, and sexual orientation-based discrimination is banned.
• The LGBTQ community at large also finds Turks and Caicos welcoming, partly due to the number of ex-pats who’ve made their homes here. So, while Turks and Caicos might not be completely and exactly gay-friendly, it isn’t not gay-friendly either. Except for the devoutly religious types, LGBTQ travelers shouldn’t have any issues if they’re hanging out in touristy areas and resorts, though. As a general rule, avoid public displays of affection when traveling in the country.

Get Some Culture in Turks and Caicos:

• Grace Bay: Private Sunset Cruise: Turks and Caicos might not have nightlife, but its sunsets are an altogether different story. End your day with this romantic private cruise in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Grace Bay. You might even spot some bottlenose dolphins as you cruise the islands of the North Atlantic Ocean with your family and friends.

Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Turks and Caicos:

There are no gay bars in Turks and Caicos. In fact, the islands don’t have nightlife, even. However, the establishments are gay-friendly enough, and that’s what we’ve listed here.

• Rendezvous Bar: All the fun happens at this Haitian cocktail bar with wonderful views. Aside from your favorite cocktails and drinks, it even has a terrace and a pool.
• Somewhere Café and Lounge: Located right on the beach in the Bight, this casual dining restaurant is great for digging into delicious seafood with wonderful views. What’s more, it even has a shower for washing the sand off your feet before dining.

Best Gay Saunas in Turks and Caicos:

Unfortunately, the Turks and Caicos Islands don’t have a gay sauna. However, we’re hoping that the scene changes in the future!