February 15, 2022, Ron and I drove to the Four Points at Sheraton Hotel by the airport to spend the night before our very early flight on Wednesday, February 16th to the Beaches Resort at Turks and Caicos Islands with Amanda, Chad, Peyton and Garrison. Our 3rd trip to this resort.
Prior to the trip, there were a lot more hoops to jump through due to Covid 19 protocols. We had to all test negative for Covid 19 on Monday - which we did. We had to have travel insurance and upload it to a Turks and Caicos Authorisation Form along with uploading proof of our Covid 19 vaccinations - requirement for everyone entering their island to be fully vaccinated - passports entered ahead of time - very complicated. Amanda did a lot of it for us, and I used every tech skill I ever had to get some of it done too. Well worth it!!!
We connected through Charlotte, NC. We had a short layover, so we ate a quick lunch at Chick-Fil-A - Peyton's choice - and then landed a Turks and Caicos around 2:30 p.m. Customs took longer because of all the Covid proof they had to see, but once we arrived at the resort, the fun began!!!!!
Everyone but Ron and me went swimming immediately. We took a few minutes to rest and unpack before we went to dinner at Mario's which was very close to our room in the Italian Village. Our rooms were beautiful with an ocean view and pool view too - more room in our rooms this time, and the kids each had a separate room to themselves with bunk beds, their own TV, own closet and sink area. Garrison and I played checkers a few times on the big wooden checkerboard in his room. We all played Crazy 8's a few times, and Garrison and I played poker, but we had less time this time to play games in the room - we were busy having fun.
We ate a buffet breakfast most mornings at Mario's which was a short walk from our room. It was delicious with omlets and eggs to order which Garrison loved, bacon/sausage, scrambled eggs, lots of fruit, hard boiled eggs, all kinds of pastries, bagels, oatmeal, cereals - every juice under the sun. Thursday was beach day. Amanda went early to reserve chairs for us. We built a sand castle. Garrison enjoyed finding shells. We all enjoyed the water and fun in the sun. We went to Barefoot by the Sea for lunch. They rented Hoby's and went out in the ocean and had some pool time. Amanda and Peyton went to the French Village for crepes and to Bobby Dee's. We went to Schooner's for an outdoor dinner - steak, snapper, etc.
Friday we had booked a catamaran ride which was a lot of fun. We stopped at an uninhabited island where the kids had pictures taken. They went snorkeling and went down the slide off the boat and jumped off the side when it was anchored. Friday afternoon we had pool time. Friday night we had dinner at Kimonos. It was a fun time - the chef flipped ride into Garrison's mouth and he caught it.
Saturday was golf for the guys and spa time for the gals. Amanda had a facial, Peyton had a massage and I had a heavenly pedicure with a leg massage and sugar scrub. Garrison got to go with the guys for golf this year and had a blast. Saturday night was date night for Amanda and Chad - they had dinner at Sky, an adults only restaurant. The kids and us went to Reflections in the Caribbean Village. When we got home, Garrison had terrible projective vomiting all over their bathroom and himself. We got him cleaned up and got the cleaners to come clean the room. We think he ate too fast and drank chocolate milk too fast. Afterwards, he felt fine. He had plugged up the toilet earlier that day.
Sunday, I went outside at 5 a.m. to reserve our chairs at the pool for a day by the pool. During the whole vacation, we all enjoyed delicious blended frozen drinks - the kids with no alcohol - starting at 10 a.m. each day and lasting all day!!!!! Garrison's favorite was a strawberry daiquiri with a chocolate syrup swirl. Peyton's was a Miami Vice - half strawberry daiquiri and half Pina colada. Mine were banana daiquiri's and Miami Vice's. Ron drank more rum and coke. Amanda and Chad drank varieties. We had lots of fun at the pool. The kids loved the swim up bar. We had a delicious outdoor lunch at The Cricketer's Club. Sunday night we had dinner at Bombay's for Indish food. It was interesting. We went to Bobby Dee's for ice cream afterward, but the line was too long.
We also had to be tested for Covid 19 on Monday morning for entry to the USA on Monday. We all tested negative thank goodness.
Our flight wasn't until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, so we had breakfast at Mario's then finished packing. I had reserved our chairs at the pool early that morning. We had pool time then lunch at Cricketer's Club before changing in the Departure Lounge and then being transported to the airport.
We flew to Miami where we were in this huge line for customs. Amanda realized we shouldn't be having to wait with our Global Entry cards, so after she found someone to ask, we found out we didn't' need to be in that 2 hour line and walked right on up to skip customs all together. What a blessing. We had a relaxing dinner at a restaurant on the way to our gate then flew home.
We were picked up by the hotel where we had left our car for park and ride. After checking in, our keys wouldn't work - long story, but we stood out in the hall for 30 minutes before we got into our room. Ice on the car that morning, but it was not slick to drive home. Laundry and stocking the refrigerator - back to normal life.
We had such a good time, that we booked a trip for the same time frame next year to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We are looking forward to another fun trip!!!! We are so blessed and so happy to be making memories with our family/
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