People hear Turks and Caicos and tend to think it’s an exclusive island for jetsetters. True, this Caribbean gem has seen its share of star sightings, including Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum, Kelly Ripa, Drake, Sofia Vergara and the Kardashians. Wondering if your family can vacation in Turks and Caicos without being a celebrity? The 86 condo-style units at Ocean Club ensure that you can. This budget-friendly hotel is set on one of the most beautiful stretches of Grace Bay, which regularly makes it onto the world’s “Best Beaches” lists. Forget the jacket and tie—instead think barefoot luxury. That’s the vibe at Ocean Club and its sister property, Ocean Club West, just a pleasant mile-long beach stroll (or complimentary shuttle ride) away. Guests at each hotel have full privileges at the other.

The hotel’s signature pastel pink umbrellas and beach chairs line the shore. Grab some of the complimentary sand toys from the lobby and you’re good to go! When you want to stretch your legs, take a stroll down the pristine beach for some of the world’s best shell collecting. Turks and Caicos is known for its many conch shells. On the busier parts of Grace Bay Beach, you won’t find them, but Ocean Club rests at the end of the hotel section on prime shell-collecting territory. A peaceful 15- to 20-minute walk down the beach will pay off with your pick from hundreds of large, perfectly formed conch shells. Sure beats bringing home a T-shirt or magnet as a souvenir!

Forty islands make up the British protectorate of Turks and Caicos, but only eight are inhabited. Although Ocean Club is on the busiest and most populated island of Providenciales, the island is still charmingly underdeveloped. Buildings can be no more than seven stories high, so you won’t find rows of high-rises lining the shore. An authentic island vibe is exactly what keeps guests coming back to the three-story Ocean Club. In fact, more than half of them are repeat customers, and when you sit at the bar, you’ll notice how many are on a first name basis with the staff they’ve known for years.

Guests here return for that no-fuss feeling, where you can have breakfast on your screened-in porch, grill your own food at one of the two barbecues around the pool, or have lunch, dinner or a drink during happy hour at the Cabana Bar while still wearing a bathing suit. There’s an attitude of “no shoes, no problem” everywhere you look at Ocean Club.

Since the resort's 86 suites are all privately owned condos, decor style varies. However, furnishings are approved by resort management before the suites are made available for rent to guests. So, you're guaranteed a certain level of luxury and comfort.

All suites, except for the studios, have a washer/dryer and soap. Every suite has a screened-in, furnished balcony or ground-floor veranda, air conditioning, coffeemaker, hairdryer, bath toiletries, and an iron and ironing board. All suites feature flat-screen  TVs in the living area and bedrooms, plus DVD players; DVDs can be rented in the lobby. Not all bathrooms have bathtubs. Complimentary boosters, highchairs, rollaway beds and cribs can be delivered to rooms, as well.

The resort buildings form a horse-shoe shape around the pool. Buildings A & B are oceanfront, with the sand right outside your screened-in porch if you're at ground level. Building C, D, E and F either overlook the landscaped pool or the back gardens. The patio level, poolview rooms are a great choice for families.

Studio and Studio Deluxe
The studio is 400 square feet with a king bed, and the Studio Deluxe is 600 square feet with two double beds. These rooms have a two-person maximum, but a complimentary crib can be added to either room category for an infant. Studios feature a kitchenette (refrigerator, microwave and hot plate burner delivered upon request).

Junior Suite
This unit is 900 square feet with a king bed and a pullout sofa, or a complimentary rollaway bed can be provided. This is a good choice for a family of three, and possibly an additional infant.

One-Bedroom Suite
This one is 1,200 square feet with a separate closable bedroom with a king-size bed, and a living room with a pullout sofa, or a rollaway bed will be provided. There's also a dining area and one and a half bathrooms with a bathtub. It sleeps up to four (five if one is an infant in a crib). It has a fully equipped kitchen.

Two-Bedroom Suite
The two-bedroom suite is 1,600 square feet, with a master bedroom with a king bed, a second bedroom with two twin beds, a living room with a pullout couch, dining area, and 2.5 baths, one with a bathtub. It also features a fully equipped kitchen, and sleeps a family of four to six.

Three-Bedroom Suite
Also featuring a fully equipped kitchen, this suite is a whopping 1,900 square feet, with a master bedroom with a king bed, a second bedroom with a king bed, and a third bedroom with two twin beds. It also includes a dining area, living room with pullout sofa and 3.5 bathrooms, fitting up to eight people. Some of the three-bedroom units are actually two-bedroom suites that connect to a studio. This is a great option for grandparents or extended family or friends traveling together.

Beach
Powder soft sand and the clearest, calmest turquoise blue water you can imagine—that's what it's all about. This hotel sits on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The shore is lined with the hotel's signature pink umbrellas and loungers. A water sports center rents a variety of equipment, including snorkeling gear, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The lobby loans out complimentary sand toys to families.

Pools
Pick your pool—there are two to choose from. One is a relaxing free-form pool that meanders through lush landscaping. The other is next to the Cabana Bar/Restaurant, close to the ocean. Your kids can be enjoying the pool, and you can still see them from the bar or while you're having an al fresco meal. Each pool has a barbecue area next to it. One of the barbecues is located in a delightful gazebo with a counter for serving food and adjoining table and chairs. Pools and barbecues are open 7 a.m. to dusk.

Tennis
There's a nice lighted tennis court surrounded by lush gardens, with complimentary rackets available at the front desk.

Golf
The world-renowned Provo Golf Club is directly across the street and hotel guests get a discounted rate.

Bicycles
There's a well-stocked selection of adult and kids' bicycles that are in good condition; they are complimentary.

Dive Shop
There's an onsite dive shop where kids as young as 10 can become PADI-certified. After doing classroom work and practicing in the hotel pool, adults and kids could be diving in some of the world's most beautiful reefs within the week. This can be a great way for teens and tweens to be entertained.

Lending Library
The lobby has a nice library of paperback books left behind by guests, including quite a few children's books.

Board Games
There's also a complimentary board game lending library. The front desk has some 25 different games, including Operation, Monopoly, Candyland, and backgammon, as well as decks of cards.

Cabana Bar & Grill
No shoes, no shirt? No problem here. This beachfront bar/restaurant, steps from the ocean and pool, embodies the casual vibe that brings guests back year after year. There's a daily happy hour and by the second day, your waiter and bartender will likely know your name. A kids' menu is available, offering burgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers.

Opus Wine Bar
Should you decide you want to put on more than a T-shirt and shorts, the resort also has a high-end restaurant with the island's largest wine cellar. For that more formal experience, the resort's upscale Opus gets well-deserved rave reviews for its surf and turf dishes. Get ready for the freshest seafood ever! Turks and Caicos is the Caribbean's conch capital and you'll see plenty of it on the menu, along with other fresh catches. There's live music on Thursday nights—think romantic jazz, not steel drums or a reggae band. Opus is best for families with older kids.

Solana
Situated on Grace Bay Beach and opened in 2017, Solana is a multi-concept restaurant—guests have three different dining experiences to choose from here! Guests can visit the Grill Deck for everything from fresh lobster to burgers; The Solana Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar for an interactive dining experience; and the Bar & Lounge for craft cocktails and light bites. Solana is open between 7:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.

Barbecues
Next to each pool is a barbecue grill with comfortable chairs and tables. It's a fun way for families to enjoy meals on a budget.

• All About the Extras
  Wi-Fi
  Ocean Club has free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests also have access to a 24-hour business center in the lobby with computers, printers and fax machine.
• Exercise Facilities
  A small fitness center has cardio equipment, as well as weights.
• Spa
  There is one treatment room inside the fitness center. Massages and other treatments can be arranged through an outside vendor, Spa Tropique.
• Coffee
  Complimentary coffee is served in the lobby daily.
• Babysitting
  There's no kids' club, but the front desk can help arrange a babysitter (likely someone from the staff), if given advance notice

The Best Time to Visit Turks and Caicos
Thanksgiving through April is high season in Turks and Caicos. June 1 through end of November is considered hurricane season. Ocean Club offers its lowest rates during the summer and fall. In addition to lower rates, the hotel often offers discounts during summer and fall.

Getting There
There are direct flights to Providenciales International Airport from many U.S. cities, including Miami, Chicago and New York. Ocean Club is about a 20-minute drive from Providenciales International Airport. A taxi to/from the airport should cost around $20 per person for a shared ride.

Getting Around
There's a free shuttle between Ocean Club and its sister property, Ocean Club West. Ocean Club West is across the street from a cute outdoor shopping center that includes a fun Caribbean restaurant, Crack Pot Kitchen; an ice cream and snack shop, Giggles; and a dive shop that sells bathing suits and other water sports attire and equipment. A large, modern grocery store with a great deli, bakery and produce selection is only one block further. You can easily buy your meals and stock your fridge for the week from this grocery store and then take the free shuttle back to your hotel.

If you want to rent a car, there's a free parking lot at Ocean Club.

For Parents 
Visit Solana for a candlelit dinner in the sand, just feet from the gentle waves.