Beach Villa Paprika

Beach Villa Paprika is a three-storey house in classical Caribbean style, set right on Grace Bay Beach, with Smith’s Reef a few steps offshore, straight out from the villa. Five suites of equal size, seven king beds, a saltwater pool and three oceanfront decks with wooden boardwalks in between.

Twelve guests sleep in the five suites, and since none is smaller than the others, nobody draws the short straw. We’d suggest it to three generations travelling together or to a family with young children, who get a shallow children’s pool and a play kitchen on the top floor. Of the beachfront Turks and Caicos villas we quote, it’s the snorkellers’ pick.

THE HOUSE

Covered and set by the pool, the outdoor dining table seats twelve to fourteen, the indoor one ten, and the gourmet kitchen is fully equipped. Six flat-screen smart TVs, indoor and outdoor speakers, high-speed internet inside and out, a printer for boarding passes, three washing machines and four dryers. Eight separate air-conditioning systems mean you cool only the rooms in use.

THE BEDROOMS

Dolce Vita, on the ground floor, has a king, the largest bathroom, French doors out to the pool and a patio with a partial ocean view. Up on the second floor, Speranza has a king, a wood-beamed ceiling and a covered balcony facing the ocean; Belleza has two kings and a large covered balcony with a chaise and a dining table; Serenitá has a king, a writing desk and its own covered balcony. Bella Vista, on the third floor, holds two kings and a sun-and-shade balcony, the house’s room for sunsets and stargazing. All five are en-suite, with double vanities and hair dryers.

THE BEACH AND THE POOL

On the three decks you get shade umbrellas, chaises, tables and chairs, and the boardwalks between them leave quiet corners for reading. Early in the morning, dolphins and rays sometimes pass. Smith’s Reef holds hundreds of fish species, and snorkel gear is at the house. Bring water shoes, though: a narrow band of rock near the shore can be slippery when wet. On the coral stone terrace, among flowers and coconut palms, the saltwater pool runs about 35 feet and is 6 feet 4 inches deep, with loungers, a shade gazebo and no lifeguard. Add a shallow children’s pool, a BBQ grill and an outdoor shower.

THE SERVICE

A week’s stay includes one midweek clean, and no daily staff are listed. A villa chef or a caterer can be hired, and for small children the crib, travel cot, high chair and two rollaway twin beds are set up free if you ask.

THE RULES

Rates exclude the 12% government tax. Air conditioning runs on its own meter, with $400 a week included from November to April and $200 a week from May to October; part of that allowance can go to heating the pool, which is optional. Overage is charged at market rate plus 12% tax. Rates assume two people per bedroom, babies and infants included, and stays generally run Saturday to Saturday. Smoking, pets and events aren’t allowed. Check-in after 4 pm, check-out before 10 am.

THE LOCATION

On foot, Shark Bite and Baci are a quarter of a mile away, Simone’s and Jammin’ Gelato a third, and Magnolia or Mango Reef on the marina half a mile; some close in September. Turtle Cove Marina is an easy walk, and plenty of excursion boats leave from close by. By car the airport is twelve minutes and the nearest supermarket four, and town is three miles off. Families of twelve weighing up houses on this beach can compare them in our guide to large group villas on Grace Bay.

To check dates or request a quote for Beach Villa Paprika, write to [email protected].