Grace Bay Beach Ocean Villas

Pulling up to Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas’ white walls and turquoise gates feels more like arriving at a private estate than a hotel. A gravel road leads to a single building, and signs point guests towards their respective villa — Orchid to the right, Hibiscus straight ahead, Ocean Scape across the street. There’s no lobby or reception desk here; instead guests are instructed to drive straight to their villa, where an attendant will greet them. As exclusive as this sort of check-in process sounds, it isn’t always so fluid, and the lack of lobby or communal meeting place can make things a tad confusing. Plus, if a guest’s room isn’t ready upon arrival, there’s nowhere to wait around or store luggage.  The general atmosphere around Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas is genuinely serene, and sometimes, almost eerily quiet. Since there are few on-site amenities, guests tend to spend their days off property. The age range here tends to skew a bit older — retired couples, fiftysomethings on a girls’ getaway, and even elderly folks with walkers in tow. Young children are welcome, but there’s nothing for them to do here. 

If you’re looking for directions to Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas, it’s likely that few people in Providenciales will be able to help. The property isn’t on any island map, and its location in a residential area is fairly secluded. The number one thing travelers need to know is that the property is located in Turtle Cove — mention this and suddenly, seemingly everyone will be able to point you in the right direction. Named for the nearby marina, Turtle Cove is a quiet area of Providenciales at the western tip of Grace Bay. Attractions within walking distance include the Yacht Club, a few bars and restaurants, and a coffee shop, but guests will have to drive to Grace Bay’s main downtown strip. It should be noted that Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas isn’t located entirely on the beach. The property is actually split in two by Coconut Road, which means four of the villas are beachfront and four are not. The non-beachfront villas are still within a two-minute walk of the beach, but they do not offer ocean views. The beachfront side of the property is located directly in front of Smith’s Reef, a popular spot for snorkeling. The beach itself, however, is narrow and sloped.  

Rooms at Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas range in size from one-room studios to large two-bedroom apartments. Each of the villas is individually named, and it is important that guests remember their villa’s moniker upon arrival, so they know where to park and where to “check in.” Decor is casual and beachy — think tile floors, sections of white wood-beam ceilings, rattan furniture, and woven rugs. While not exactly modern or stylish, villas here feel more like family beach homes than contemporary apartments. TVs cases are stuffed with DVDs, books line the corner shelves, and heaps of pillows line the well-used leather sofas. All rooms have some sort of large balcony or patio with outdoor lounge chairs or umbrella-covered tables.  Layout and amenities vary from room to room, so guests should check the property’s website for individual specifications. 

Atlantic Ocean Beach Villas doesn’t have any big ticket amenities like a restaurant, gym, or spa, but it does have a small pool, communal grills, and a few freebies. The pool is located on the non-oceanfront side of the property, and generally doesn’t get much use. Its long, skinny, rectangular shape makes it better for quick dips than any kind of actual swimming, and this seems to be precisely what guests use it for. The pool is surrounded by a few lounge chairs, and a covered patio with a large outdoor table. A few steps from the pool is a communal grilling area, where guests can often be spotted cooking up a local catch for dinner. Other amenities include free use of the on-site laundry room, free bikes, and free snorkel gear. Parking and Wi-Fi are also free, but there’s only one allotted parking spot per villa and the Wi-Fi tends to be slow and spotty.