When asked to describe my fantasy island vacation, my response always includes space. Not the moon and the stars kind, but the sort that comes with deserted beaches, acres of scrub brush, an abundance of birds and critters that chirp and rustle in the leaves, plus great food, service, and lodging. After all, a vacation is no place for self-denial. I found my dream getaway at Ambergris Cay, a resort in South Caicos, part of the Turks and Caicos island chain.
Privacy is the new luxury, especially in a world still cautious about COVID-19. For me, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, jewels with sugar-soft beaches and turquoise waters, have always been healing places. But I wasn’t ready for crowded sands and restaurants shared with hundreds of other guests. Even if I were, my Shangri-La comes with a limited number of other explorers. I sought a natural environment with superb services.
Ambergris Cay, an all-inclusive property, reigns as the only resort on the 1,100-acre island. With about 10 villas in the rental pool, a handful of others occasionally occupied by owners plus 10 oceanfront suites, the maximum capacity with every pillow taken hovers around 100, and the number is lower most of the year.
