Need a rental car at HCC Turks & Caicos?

[tripTX]

I'm taking my parents to the HCC Turks & Caicos property in a couple months. I've found the helpful posts on here about rental car companies to use there and have looked into a few of those.

I'm wondering if we need a car at all while we're there. Are there restaurants nearby that we can walk to if we'd like? A place for extra groceries during the week? We could always rent for a day to explore the island if we decide.

I'd appreciate any suggestions you guys have. I've got a car lined up already that I can hold on to if you think it's a necessity. Thanks --

 

[Steamboat Bill]

We used a car most everyday when we were there as we always like to explore a new vacation spot. There are shuttle and taxi options, but a car is nice to have. The T&C is not a scenic island (like Hawaii), but the beaches and water are very beautiful.

The main grocery store is about 5-8 miles away and only 2-3 restaurants are across the street, most are located within a 4 mile radius.

If the price is not a killer (it wasn't) I recommend a car for the entire week.

 

[tripTX]

Thanks Steamboat. Guess we should keep the car then. Liked the idea of walking everywhere, but had no idea what was around the HCC unit. This board has been great for sharing info.

I found a 4DR premium around $305 ($275 plus tax) for the week through Grace Bay Car Rentals. They said they'd pick us up at the airport and return us the following week. They'd take us to the condo where the car would be waiting. Much better price than some of the initial places I looked (over $500).

Thanks for the help. Heading off to the snow in Telluride tomorrow!

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Here is a good thread on T&C that has the BEST online map of the island that you can download.

http://www.destinationclubforums.com/f33/turks-caicos-suggestions-261.html

 

[tripTX]

Thanks for the link and map. That's what I love about joining HCC... always have a great trip coming up soon!

 

[vineyarder]

We used a car most everyday when we were there as we always like to explore a new vacation spot. There are shuttle and taxi options, but a car is nice to have. The T&C is not a scenic island (like Hawaii), but the beaches and water are very beautiful.

The main grocery store is about 5-8 miles away and only 2-3 restaurants are across the street, most are located within a 4 mile radius.

If the price is not a killer (it wasn't) I recommend a car for the entire week.

Interestingly, we had a different experience; we rented a car, and other than driving from the airport to the resort and back to the airport, we only used the car one other day out of an 8 night stay... We were staying at the PE Platinum home (Somerset at Grace Bay) rather than the HCC property, but I believe that they are pretty close. Usually we, like SB, like to explore quite a bit, but we found the beach so beautiful and the resort and home so relaxing that other than several excursions, we didn't have much desire to go off exploring. We found that every excursion we went on (diving, snorkeling, sunset cruise, etc.) they were happy to pick us up and drop us off at no charge, and we loved the poolside restaurant at the Regent Palms next door (plus BBQ'd quite a bit)... OTOH, the car was pretty reasonably priced, so it didn't bother us to have it sitting in the driveway in case we got the urge to explore... I guess overall my recommendation would be to rent a car the first time you go, then if you find you don't use it, don't bother the next time (since I'm sure that there will be a next time!)...

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I guess overall my recommendation would be to rent a car the first time you go, then if you find you don't use it, don't bother the next time (since I'm sure that there will be a next time!)...

I personally think the single HCC property in the Turks & Caicos is worth the price to join. In other words, this is a place that I can see people wanting to return each year. Interestingly, the Villa Renaissance is rated #2 by www.tripadvisor.com and The Regent Palms is #8.

The island itself is not too exciting, but the water/beach is one of the best locations in the world.

You MUST visit Da Conch Shack for lunch one day and you need a car to get there.

Other car trips were The Conch Farm tour, Chalk Sound, Sapodilla Bay, Coral Gardens reef and make sure to buy some "real" Cuban cigars.

 

[travelguy]

I found a 4DR premium around $305 ($275 plus tax) for the week through Grace Bay Car Rentals. They said they'd pick us up at the airport and return us the following week. They'd take us to the condo where the car would be waiting. Much better price than some of the initial places I looked (over $500).

Here is an excerpt from my not-quite-done review on the HCC TCI property:

"I'd recommend calling Todd at Grace Bay Car Rentals for a rental car. Todd is a former school principal from Canada who came to Turks & Caicos on vacation and decided to stay and start a car rental business. Their prices are substantially lower than the other “name brand” rental companies. They offer airport car pick-up or they will pick you up at the airport and take you to the car. Todd spent about 20 minutes with us making notes on a map of some of the better kept secrets of the island!"

Grace Bay Car Rentals office is also within walking distance of the HCC TCI unit, as is the island's best sushi joint. Now if they just had a Starbucks ....

 

[vivalour]

FYI: Just did this with my son for his grade five spelling --
it's "principal" -- a person is always your "pal".
Otherwise, your prose is impeccable, TG.

 

[travelguy]

FYI: Just did this with my son for his grade five spelling --
it's "principal" -- a person is always your "pal".
Otherwise, your prose is impeccable, TG.

Yikes! My head is always in finance so that may explain the error.

When are they going to make a spell checker that knows what I'm trying to say?!?