Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer/President of Grace Bay Resorts – Forbes Travel Guide Story

Turks and Caicos Experience a tourism boom. The destination set a record year in 2024, welcoming nearly 2 million visitors, while the new hotel pops up on its beaches.

To find the best way to experience the island, we turned to insider Nikheel Advani, COO and head of Grace Bay Resorts, which includes the iconic Grace Bay Clubthe country’s first luxury hotel; South BankThis is a new property spanning 31 acres of waterfront that offers the island’s first marine swimming lagoon; and Rock Housea quiet oasis carved onto the cliff. Although Advani’s profession brought him to New York (He works with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company) and Singapore (he serves as Raffles Singapore HotelHis hotel manager), worked for Turkish and Caicos for 21 years.

We sat with Advani Summit exist Monacowhere he shared the attractions under the radar, his favorite hidden beaches and where to see the island’s famous glowing worms.

Why are Turks and Caicos special?

It starts with the destination. You have incredible people who are welcoming and friendly. Turkish islanders treat you like they do. You really feel special when you enter their home.

For this reason, it is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. If you look at 50 shades of blue, that’s so pretty. You have these powder white sand with almost no one on it.

There are 40 different islands. You can visit Caicos in the north and south by boat. North Caicos are somewhat lush because they have microclimate and microweather patterns. On Provo, this is the island where most of our resorts are located, which is very dry and arid. Then you already have South Caicos, the Diaoyu Islands. It’s not just a destination.

Which island is a hidden gem?

South Caicos is a hidden gem. That’s the Diaoyu Islands, so if you get up in the early morning, these boats will come in and there will be fresh lobsters. You can take it to a restaurant and someone will cook it for you. They use sustainable methods to fish. For example, in some seasons, you can’t get lobsters because that’s their mating season.

When I came to Turks and Caicos 21 years ago, I was surprised that first, they had these laws, and secondly, they took this very seriously.

There will always be a lobster party as you have to clean all your fridges at home and at the resort. From that time to the opening of the lobster season, there will be no lobster on your menu and you can even keep it in the refrigerator. Sustainability has been around for a long time.

What are the must-visit attractions for Turks and Caicos?

You have to be on the beach, right? Another thing is on the water. Take a boat to see all these islands. I think sister islands are gradually becoming part of everyone’s agenda when they are on Turks and Caicos because not everyone wants to just lie on a beautiful beach and enjoy a cocktail. Now, this is possible, but getting on board is incredible. Diving – The Turks and Caicos have the best dives in the world – but also just snorkeling. You will see turtles, dolphins – we have a very famous dolphin, Jojo. It’s special in the water.

What are the top events?

Horse riding, paratroopers, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, water skiing, kite surfing, ATV tours, love off-road travel, flying boarding and clear kayak trips through mangroves.

What is the best radar activity?

There is a small place in the local settlement Da Conch Shack. That is a must. You go there and they bring fresh conchs from the water.

Go to another island and have local experience. Nan Caicos is one of my favorites. They have this place called Mom’s bread, and they make special bread on the island. You will get some fresh seafood. They will fry it for you. Put it in the bread – that’s heaven.

Everything is through the relationship between Turkish and Caicos, so you have to know someone’s activities.

Since you’re talking about some great food out there, there are some other culinary highlights?

It has developed a lot over the past 20 years. When we got there, there weren’t many restaurants to recommend. Today, I can recommend 20 to 25 delicious food experiences, whether it is Cocoa Bistroit’s all under the palm trees. Incredible food. They also have a more casual dedication Cocoa. This is an airflow food truck with gourmet food and we get fresh like lobster, grouper, snapper.

What dish does everyone have to try in Turkish and Caicos?

Cracked conch. First, they tenderize by beating the conch, then cut into strips and fry them with oil. It’s crunchy, not greasy. It has an incredible texture. This is the Caribbean squid version. If done correctly, this is one of the most amazing things.

Where do you go to relax?

You can go to the beach, but for me, on one of our properties Rock Housethere is this pier. I like sitting at the end of the dock. You will see spotted eagle rays or sea turtles appearing. For me, it was the most relaxing thing because I was actually surrounded by water and I sat in the center.

What is the best way to experience Turkish and Caicos culture?

I was lucky enough to meet the Director of Culture (in the Ministry of Culture of the Turks and Caicos), David Bowen.

All he did was to review the hundreds of years of Turks and Caicos’ existence and collect all these special stories because it was all about storytelling. In the Caribbean, many stories are told in songs. So he has all these songs, he sings, they tell you history.

David Bowen joined our Grace Bay Resorts as Director of Culture after leaving the Ministry of Culture and now he tells these stories. If you are lucky, he will take you to these destinations or North Caicos on these destinations. This is very special.

Or do what the locals do – just hang out at the local bar where they play dominoes. This is one thing in the Caribbean and you will hear all the stories.

Grace Bay is known as the best beach in Turks and Caicos. But what is a good off-road track beach?

There is a place called Half Moon Bay. It is on a nearby island. Years ago, a hurricane connected two beaches, small reefs and large water reefs. Half Moon Bay connects the two. Nature has created one of the greatest beaches, only you and the beach. Very good.

Where are the places to snorkeleton and dive?

All places in Grace Bay are national parks. One of my favorites (snorkeling spots) is right in front of Grace Bay.

France CAY is one of the most incredible diving sites. Another thing about Grace Bay is that there are several types of dives you can do: First, there is an area in front, which is really good, but about half a mile from Grace Bay Beach, about 12 to 7,000 feet. It fell off. So, in Turks, you can do drift dives, you can dive regularly. You can also do wall dives, where you look for, and see all the corals built on the wall. This is spectacular.

Are there any historical sites or other cultural experiences to check?

Loyalists created many farms when they formed America. In the past, Turks were one of the largest salt and cotton productions (locations). In North Caicos, there is the green plantation of Wade, a historic site where you can check out how some of these old settlements were created.

Do you still have bioluminescent ocean luminescent worms?

Yes, you go on the night before sunset and you can see them in front of Grace Bay. This is very interesting. All the water is green. It’s really cool. The best time to see a worm is three to five days after the full moon.

Should travelers attend any festival?

You will be in November at the Caribbean Food Festival, Turkish and Caicos International Film Festival, the New Art Festival – which are the three major art festivals.

But you also host the Conch Festival, Maskanoo, Fish Fry, Big South Regatta, Middle Caicos MC Expo, North Caicos Rake and Scrape, Fisherman’s Day, Summer Jam and Grand Turk Beerfest.

What is the best way to spend a day with a Turk?

I will take a walk on the Long Beach in the morning and connect with the island. Walking on the beach and seeing the sun rise, there are some treatments.

Then have a local breakfast. If you do this on Saturday, take something called Boil Fish. frog It’s done well at Grace Bay. This is a stew. The fish are usually snapper or grouper, depending on what they are fresh, this is a very local start to the local area and you will meet a lot of locals.

Then go swimming or take a boat out in the afternoon. Have some lunch on the boat. I will come back and get a spa treatment. There are many great spas on the island.

I’ll be here Infiniti Barthe longest bar in the Caribbean. You will get a huge sight of the sun set. Then have a delicious dinner – there are many options. It would have been a perfect day for me.