Luxury beachfront condo resort with indoor/outdoor spa. Facing the powdery white sands of Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales Island, this sophisticated resort features a destination spa with standalone treatment. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Turks_and_Caicos/thepalms/hotel/1911/1/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:53:05 EST What to expect: Opened in early 2005, this condominium resort faces Grace Bay Beach, where powdery white sands meet azure waters. Guestrooms and suites are located in white buildings accented with white coral stone and arrayed around the serpentine infinity pool. Location: A 12-acre lushly landscaped Estate at the center of world-renowned Grace Bay Beach. The property is ideally situated for access to Providenciales Airport (15 minutes), an 18-hole golf course (5 minutes), marina (10 minutes) and several shopping areas. Amenity highlights: Offering Asian, Indian, and Caribbean therapies, the spa offers treatment rooms in individual coral-stone buildings surrounded by a reflecting pool and couples rooms facing garden spa tubs. The 190-foot-long infinity pool includes a spa tub “island” and a swimup bar with tables and underwater banquettes. Teak lounge chairs and circular sunning beds—all with terry-cloth-covered cushions—flank the pool. Use of snorkeling gear, Hobie Cat sailboats, and kayaks is complimentary. Pool and Pool Bar: A highlight of the resort lying at the center of the guest residence buildings, the $1.8M serpentine infinity pool is without peer. Each area of the pool, surrounding pool decks and bar provide a unique ambiance. Wooden decking, complimentary Wi-Fi around the pool, sun pods, a hot tub “island” in the center of the pool, and a hidden sundeck brushing the beach are but a few of the unique features. Service is attentive and includes terry-covered chaise lounges, a selection of aromatherapy mists and tropical sorbets for refreshment in the afternoon. Guestrooms and suites offer pillowtop mattresses, 450-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, down comforters, flat-screen TVs, and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Highlights include a bathing-ritual room with a vibrating tub, garden tents with "sweat" boxes for Jamaican-style herbal-steam treatments, and an open-air relaxation area with cushioned teak lounges. The spa also offers a workout room with complimentary yoga and Pilates classes, a fitness center, saunas, steam rooms, and outdoor showers. The Parallel 23 restaurant features an exhibition kitchen, an expansive terrace, and sophisticated fare such as Butter-Poached Prawns, Citrus-Cured Duck Confit, and Six-Onion Risotto. Guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast daily in their rooms or at the restaurant. This resort offers 166 guestrooms and suites in five-story white buildings accented by white coral stone. Bedding includes pillowtop mattresses, 450-thread-count Egyptian-cotton linens, white down comforters, and multiple pillows, with choice of feather or foam. Flat-screen televisions offer U.S. cable channels. Cool, pale decor features white-wood ceilings, white crown molding, beige-marble floors, and white-marble bathroom vanities. Other amenities include refrigerators with minibar items, and complimentary high-speed Internet access. The resort provides complimentary roundtrip airport transportation. Guests can arrange pick-up by calling the number on the reservation confirmation received after booking via this Web site. Number of Guest Rooms 72 two and three-bedroom suites. Each can be subdivided into one-bedroom suites and a luxury guest room if desired. Guest Residences: Five separate buildings clad in Barbadian Coral Stone house 72 two and three-bedroom suites. Each full suite has over 1,500 sq.ft. of luxurious living space, marble floors and a minimum of 225 sq.ft. of outdoor travertine terrace, most with oceanviews. Additional bedrooms are designed to function as luxury guest rooms with over 600 sq.ft. of living space and private outdoor terrace. Regardless of one's choice of accommodation, Grace Bay Beach lies steps away. The classic estates of the Caribbean and Oliver Messel inspired the overall architecture and design of the resort best exemplified within the guest residences. Hand-cut coral stone facades and flickering hand-lit gas exterior lighting fixtures set a tone of timeless luxury and sense of place. Inside one's residence, marble floors, milled crown moldings and wainscoting create spaciousness while mahogany furniture, custom-made expressly for the resort, lends an air of period elegance. The interior and exterior spaciousness allows for a full-menu of spa services to be performed within one's residence, if so desired. Eight extraordinary penthouse residences are available for the truly discerning guest. Each features vaulted ceilings, keyed elevator access, study with high-speed cable internet access, two expansive travertine terraces including a pergola, an interior “water room” with waterfall shower, and an adjacent SunSuite featuring an outdoor shower, garden and Jacuzzi. Daily Butler service is included. Guest Residence Amenities: The elegantly appointed guest residences and luxury guest rooms feature a hand-tufted king bedding configuration. Bed linens and toweling are custom made 488 count Egyptian cotton. Each residence is supplied with a mini-bar, safe and high-speed cable internet. Each Master Bath suite features a hydro-massage bathtub and separate marble shower. Maid service is provided daily with turndown service, which also includes complimentary Fiji water. Upon check-in guests can request the use of an iPod mini for use during their stay. Fifty seven channels of cable television, a DVD/CD player along with a selection of films and compact discs, allow for ample entertainment possibilities. Penthouse suites have flat panel LCD televisions. Suites, one bedroom or larger, are equipped with a full kitchen including Viking appliances throughout, and are ideal for long-term guests or those desiring the services of a private chef. Daily butler service is available at an additional charge. Off the beach, a multi-million dollar serpentine infinity edge pool delights swimmers and sunbathers with its sunpods - circular, cushioned lounges covered in colorful pillows for deluxe comfort. There is also a tennis court lit for night play, plus the spectacular Provo Golf Club's eighteen hole championship course and driving range is only five minutes away. Snorkeling and Scuba excursions can be arranged and depart from the nearby marina. Guests also have a variety of surfside activity choices including kayaks, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats. The Conch Kritters Club (Kids Club): A new addition to The Palms, specifically designed to entertain our younger guests, the new kids club is available during the winter and spring 2005/2006 season, as well as, during school holidays. Participants can engage in one of our exciting adventure tours or enjoy facilities at the club house, while their parents relax by the pool or at the spa. The program is available daily, offering half-day, full day or evening scheduled activities with a ratio of one to five kids per counselor for children ages four to 12 years old. Dining The resort's signature dining experience at Parallel23 features Tropical Fusion cuisine in a setting of casual elegance. The menu features flavors and textures from the tropical world prepared using organic and local ingredients in a state-of-the-art display kitchen with wood-burning oven, wok station and tandoori oven. An extensive wine list featuring boutique wines from around the world, as well as, vertical and tasting flights, complements the experience. An expansive outdoor terrace faces The Mansion's gardens for al fresco dining. Additionally, an extraordinary outdoor private dining room is available for private functions. During the summer season, Parallel23 is open for breakfast and dinner. In the winter season, the signature restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Continental breakfast, which is included in the room rate, is available at Parallel23 or through room service. In addition, the resort's culinary offerings are available to our guests en-suite through our private dining service. The Bar The resort's elegant bar features the finest liquors, wines and cocktails from around the world. More like the salon of a private home, the bar has both indoor and outdoor seating and is the perfect location for pre-dinner cocktails, meeting others or a late-evening vintage rum and fine cigar. Type: Condo No. of Rooms: 166 Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Turks_and_Caicos/thepalms/hotel/1911/1/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:53:05 EST