Beaches Turks and Caicos was just awarded the #1 hotel for families in the Caribbean for 2014 by Travel + Leisure, Best All-Inclusive by Caribbean Travel + Life and Best of all island beaches worldwide by readers of Condé Nast Traveler. Read on for why you should treat yourself to this paradise getaway, sooner rather than later.

All-Inclusive Family Fun

The resort caters to families looking to get away for a fun-filled holiday.  Beaches is comprised of four individual villages that are connected and host a wide array of pools, restaurants, activities, games, shops and more. They are split into the Italian, French, Caribbean and the newly opened Key West villages, and each has its own charm.  You have a choice of more than two dozen room categories ranging from suites to oceanside rooms; in a larger group you can have your own villa.

The wonderful thing about opting for the villa is the butler service that accompanies the accommodation. During our stay, we had two butlers cater to our every whim. Reservations were taking care of, beach and pool setup in the best location as well as a cellular phone to reach them for any requests. They were so generous that they had a surprise birthday treat awaiting me in our villa.

The Beach

Turks and Caicos, by far has the best beaches I have come across in the Caribbean. The beach is simply spectacular and pristine, with sand so soft you don’t mind being buried in it. The water so warm you could spend hours and not return to the shoreline. The color is a clear turquoise allowing you to see the bottom of the ocean floor even 20 feet out. The views are breathtaking. Enjoy the day with your family lying out, building sand castles or simply going for a stroll at sunset.

The Restaurants

If you are anything like me, you like food. Enough said. Beaches offers many options for any palate. The property has 19 restaurants, two of which are adult-only. The options are limitless: continental, Italian, French, Seafood, and even Hibachi (reservation required). The large spreads for breakfast and lunch will in fact, make certain you gain 10 pounds before you leave. The ‘drink of the day’ is always some colorful, punchy, fruity concoction with a real punch. The coffee shop, Café de Paris, allows you to fill boxes of pastries and sweets at your leisure.

The Activities

This resort is not short on activities. They have a waterpark that is incredibly fun for children as is confirmed by my two-year-old nephew. Never before have I seen a child so sad to leave and want to continue to go ‘shwimmin’. There is a lazy river as well and all the pools are shallow with no deep end. The attention they pay to the children with all the life-guards on staff is incredible. There are many cruises to choose from as well as snorkeling, windsurfing, surf lessons, kayaking, ‘hydrobikes’, whirlpools, scuba diving, paddle boarding and of course, swim-up bars. Another bonus for the kiddies are the Sesame Street characters walking around the resort and participating in the baking and other classes. There is also an Xbox play lounge, self-serve ice cream, staffed nursery and many waterslides. For the adults, you’ll find lawn chess, table tennis, croquet, tennis, basketball, spa facilities and a fitness center (should you feel guilty for stuffing your face with ‘all you can eat’).

All in all, this is one the most relaxing and fun-filled sun kissed vacations I have had to date. The best part was, I got to enjoy each and every minute of it with my family.

Photos courtesy of Beaches.com

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By Mademoiselle Wanderlust, a regular contributor to the Markets Media Life section.