This was the bedroom in our “Concierge Level” suite in the Key West Village. It’s understated, but the mattress and pillows were excellent.
It's hard to describe the rooms at Beaches Turks & Caicos in a general way because there are so many options. The resort has four themed villages with different architectural styles. One of those villages (Key West) was actually a neighboring resort that Beaches acquired. There are dozens of room layouts ranging from studios to multi-floor private homes. Something that is true about one room might not be true about another room, so when reading about someone's experience in a room (including ours), take it with a grain of salt.
Luxury vs. Concierge vs. Butler
Across the villages at Beaches Turks & Caicos, accommodations are divided into three “levels.”
Luxury Level - (French Village and Caribbean Village only) - Despite the somewhat confusing name, this is effectively “entry level,” where guests can find the lowest priced rooms. Our first stay at Beaches was in a luxury room in the French Village.
Concierge Level - (Available in all villages) - A step up from "Luxury,” these mid-tier accommodations have a stocked in-room bar, larger bathrooms, robes, sitting areas, and ornate beds. Our family has twice stayed in a Concierge Level suite, though in our experience, the quality and layout of the room itself was inconsistent, despite being in the same village.
Butler Level - (Not available in the French Village) - This is the top-tier at Beaches and is priced accordingly. Suites at this level include oversized baths, luxurious bedding, a more robust in-room bar, the option for a private pool, and as the name suggests, a personal butler.
Our Rooms at Beaches
In our three trips to Beaches, we've stayed in a “luxury” studio once, and a one-bedroom “concierge” suite twice. One of those concierge suites was great, whereas our other two rooms were simply good.
It’s worth noting that all three of our accommodations at Beaches were better than our room at Dreams Punta Cana, a similarly-priced resort. It’s also worth noting that our family spends most of our vacation outdoors, so we may overlook room details that are important to other families (for example, we never used the television or Wi-Fi during any of our stays).
Here are some general thoughts about the rooms we stayed in:
The Good
Bedding - The pillows, mattresses and comforters are excellent in the Key West Village. Our bed in the French Village was comfortable, but not as luxurious.
Housekeeping and Bar Service - Every housekeeper we've meet has been kind and great with children. The room staff seems to adjust their schedule to the guest, helping to avoid the feeling of being "kicked out of our room." Rooms are stocked with bottled water each day (though we’ve drunk the tap water without consequence). Concierge-style rooms have an in-room minibar that is stocked daily with liquor, beers, juices, water, sodas, wine and sparkling wine. This is convenient, especially for those who want to relax with a drink on a patio or balcony. There are plenty of towels in the bathroom and they are changed as often as one likes.
Supplies - The in-room coffee makers and refrigerators work well. Bathrooms are stocked with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and bar soap from Beaches' Red Lane Spa. These bath products are high quality and also include a shower cap and sewing kit, which is a nice touch.
Natural Light - Each room we've stayed in had bright windows along with strong blackout curtains to keep the room dark, if desired. We've been lucky enough to have a porch or patio during each of our stays and we enjoyed having a daytime cocktail outside.
The Bad
Fixtures and Ergonomics - Some mirrors are hung too high; some lamps are hung so low that a tall person might bump his or her head. We've had a creaky bed-frame during one stay and we’ve heard someone else's bed during another. The doors don't always open quietly or smoothly and some doors or drawers might knock into something if the furniture moves even slightly. This isn't because the rooms are small (they're a good size), but because the furniture doesn't always play nice with the angles of the room. These small inconveniences are not something that one might typically find in a true luxury hotel.
Air Conditioning - During our most recent stay, the bedroom in our suite was several degrees warmer than the living room. To get the bedroom cool, the living room became downright cold. We found the thermostat to be a sometimes-frustrating balancing act.
Hot Water - The water in our shower sputtered and turned very hot (or cold) at times. This was in room #6534 in the Key West Village. That said, we once stayed in a nearby room and the shower was fine. Maybe this was just bad luck.
Verdict
Beaches has hundreds of rooms and the quality varies between them. A basic room was acceptable for our family, but we make a point of staying in our room as little as possible. There are many accommodations (beyond what we can afford) that look downright beautiful.
The Villages
There are four distinct "villages" in Beaches Turks & Caicos resort, but regardless of where one’s room is, guests have full access to every part of the resort. Here are a few notes about each village that may help you choose where you want your home base to be. You can click on the name of any village to learn more about it.
This is the oldest village on the resort. Rooms are either in large condominium-style complexes or smaller bungalows. The bungalow rooms (which Beaches sometimes calls the "Seaside Village") don't have much privacy because they're on the ground floor in areas with lots of foot traffic. On the plus side, these “Seaside” bungalows were recently renovated and now have a fresh, modern decor.
The Caribbean Village is close to the beach, but most of the rooms don't have ocean views. Caribbean rooms are usually cheaper than rooms in other villages, but that isn't always true. Our family found a less expensive room in the French Village. The Caribbean Village may be a good choice for families with active kids, thanks to pool sports, basketball courts, and easy beach access.
See photos of the rooms in the Caribbean Village on Beaches.com >>
The French Village is the furthest from the beach, so there are no ocean views. The rooms in the French Village offer more privacy than the Caribbean or Italian Villages because there is less foot traffic, but there is some noise pollution because the main entertainment stage is in this village. Many rooms on the ground floor have walk-out patios. The French Village is a great choice for families who plan to spend a lot of time in the waterpark. We stayed in this village during our first trip to Beaches because it had the cheapest rooms and we’d stay there again if we ever feel “priced out” of the Key West Village.
See photos of the rooms in the French Village on Beaches.com >>
The Italian Village is beautifully constructed and the buildings are named after famous places in Italy (e.g. Positano, Milano, Amalfi, Capri, etc.). The Italian Village Pool is one of the main attractions on the resort and it draws a big crowd during the day. It's a gorgeous pool and many rooms overlook it. Some of the rooms in the upper levels have a clear view of the ocean, and subsequently, the sunset. The Italian Village is super kid-friendly and there are rooms available with bunk beds and Xboxes. As much as our family likes to look at the Italian Village, we’ve opted to stay elsewhere, partially for financial reasons, but also because we prefer the private, understated character of other villages.
See photos of the rooms in the Italian Village on Beaches.com >>
The Key West Village is quietly luxurious. There are condominium-style complexes, row houses, and beachfront homes with private pools and outdoor beds. One can spend a fortune on a room here, but a shrewd guest can find a concierge-style room for around 75% less money than the most expensive rooms within the village. Foot traffic is light in this part of the resort and the restaurants in the Key West Village are located just close-and-far enough from most rooms. Our family loves the privacy and subtle luxuries in this village and we'd recommend it for families with a young child, but we can see why large families or active children would prefer the Italian or Caribbean Villages.
See photos of the rooms in the Key West Village on Beaches.com >>
