The cold, gloomy days of winter are almost upon us, and if you’re anything like us, you’re already scouring the internet for cheap flights to the sunny Caribbean before they get too expensive to book.
We’re not sure about you, but this year we’re looking for something a little different (read not Cancun or Punta Cana), where there is limited crowding, no bachelor/bachelorette parties, and we can be close to nature without the constant background noise of a bustling city.
If you feel the same, perhaps you should join us in Grand Turk Island instead, the top trending destination for U.S. vacationers right now, according to Skyscanner:
Stunning Beaches And Colonial Heritage
Turks and Caicos is a British-administered archipelago of over 40 coral islands in the Caribbean, all lying southeast of the Bahamas, famous for its many paradisiacal beaches, diving and snorkeling sites, and peaceful resort towns.
The largest island in the archipelago, covering an area of around 7 square miles, Grand Turk concentrates a number of the British Overseas Territory’s points of interest, starting with Cockburn Town, the compact, charming capital.
Famous for its colonial architecture, heritage museums––the National Museum shines some light on the islands’ rich History, from the Lucayan Indians to the British Empire to the present day––and laid-back restaurants, it is one of the Caribbean’s most underrated cultural hotspots.
Stroll the scenic palm-lined waterfront, explore Duke and Front Streets, lined with Bermudian-style houses, or gorge on fresh seafood at the historic Fishermen’s Wife restaurant: Grand Turk is worth visiting for Cockburn Town alone.
What To See And Do Around Grand Turk Island
However, all around the island, there are salt ponds, windmills, and plantations that have been converted into open-air museums and are now open for visitation. Most notably, the Cheshire Hall Plantation, where tourists can learn about the slavery period.
Other points of interest include the 19th-century Grand Turk Lighthouse, one of the best-preserved of its time on this side of the pond, the Conch Bar Caves, where you can admire unique stalactite formations and ancient native petroglyphs, and H.M. Prison, the ruins of a colonial prison.
For the water babies out there, the largest Margaritaville in the entire Caribbean is also located here, and there are countless beaches to choose from and the best part is, there’s none of that Cancun hustle and bustle here: most swimming sites are virtually crowd-free!
Crowd-Free White Sands
With the exception perhaps of Cruise Center Beach, which, as the name indicates, is located near the cruise port and hosts thousands of cruise guests every day, other secluded coves and bays around the island remain virtually unspoiled.
Think Governor’s Beach, a favorite among locals, where you can bury your feet in soft, pearly-white sands as calm waters caress the shoreline, Pillory Beach, great for snorkeling, Gibbs Cay, where you can swim alongside friendly stingrays, and Molasses Reef:
Combining both coastal views and History, the latter is home to the oldest wreck of a European ship to have been excavated in the Americas––the Molasses Reef Shipwreck––sunk off the coast of Grand Turk in the 16th century, which you can snorkel around for $75.25.
Yes, It’s More Expensive
––But It’s Not Like Americans Are Mad At It
This season, there are 5-star hotels in Grand Turk starting from $185-a-night (see Turks Head Inne), though nightly rates can go as high as $1,365 at The Palms Turks and Caicos––as there is a limited number of hotels on the island, and less competition, the range is more on pricier side.
According to Budget Your Trip, tourists spend on average $410 per night on hotels in the trendy British Overseas Territory, considerably more than the Mexican Caribbean or Dominican Republic average, but there is a reason why they’re flocking here instead…
…and at times, even breaking the bank while doing so:
Expensiveness aside, Grand Turk feels far more exclusive and pristine than the overdeveloped Hotel Zone in Cancun, or the resort-packed Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, and some would say shelling out the dough for a little bit of privacy––and some peace and quiet––is a good trade-off.
According to Skyscanner‘s latest report on Travel Trends 2025, Grand Turk is now the trendiest destination for U.S. travelers out there, with a jaw-dropping 528% increase in searches over the previous one-year period.
It seems like the lesser-known destinations are having a bit of a moment right now, as other tourism spots that are enjoying exponential growth include Quepos, a beach town in Costa Rica (up 462%), Northern Lights capital Tromsø, in Norway (129%) and culturally-charged Tucumán in Argentina (113%).
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.