Osprey Beach Hotel

The Osprey is a coral-colored stucco building surrounded by palms and lush foliage. A blue awning leads from the street to the hotel’s interior courtyard, where its small pool and gorgeous covered lounge area overlook the beach. To the left of the pool is a tiny front office, to the right is the hotel’s Bird Cage Bar. This is the Osprey’s main hub of activity, though hub is definitely too strong a word for what goes on here. Throughout the day, guests lounge beneath the covered terrace and kids occasionally splash around in the pool. The Osprey is popular with all kinds of travelers. During our visit we saw families with children, couples of all ages, and even large friend groups and extended families. Not much goes on at the hotel, or on Grand Turk in general, so travelers looking for lots of stuff to do should stick to Providenciales.  

The Osprey is a beachfront property on Grand Turk, a sleepy island in the Turks and Caicos archipelago best known for its excellent diving conditions. Grand Turk is home to the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cockburn Town, as well as the islands’ only cruise ship terminal. Grand Turk is known for its quiet, laid-back atmosphere and untouched beauty. Visitors will see donkeys roaming the streets and wild horses galloping along the beach. And the island’s only kind of traffic jam is near the church on a Sunday morning. Those who aren’t interested in diving might find themselves a bit bored here. Unlike Providenciales, Grand Turk isn’t built up with shops, restaurants, and large condo complexes (a pro or a con, depending on the traveler). 

There are several room types at the Osprey -- the main distinction between them is whether or not they have a kitchen. Some rooms have full kitchens with electric stovetops and large refrigerators. Some have kitchenettes with mini-fridges and microwaves, and some don’t have any kind of kitchen at all. Besides the kitchen distinction, room decor is fairly standard throughout. There isn’t too much adornment -- don’t expect frivolous throw pillows or towel animals -- but there is an understated elegance in rooms’ simplicity. Rooms have traditional furnishings, like mahogany four-poster beds, wicker armchairs, and antique writing desks. Beds are dressed in simple white quilts and framed local beach prints hang on the walls. Besides the kitchens and kitchenettes, TVs are really the only amenity, and some rooms have tube-style TVs. Wi-Fi only works around the pool, and rooms lack modern conveniences like USB ports or docking stations. Bathrooms are on the small side. Some have shower/tub combos and pedestal sinks, while others have more newly renovated glass-enclosed shower stalls. Impressively, all rooms at the Osprey have oceanfront balconies or patios. Most of the balconies are large enough to fit two Adirondack chairs, and in some cases, large enough for a table and chair set. Unfortunately some of the balconies’ views are obstructed by palm trees. But hey, if anything’s going to get in the way of your ocean view, it might as well be swaying palms…right? 

Most of the Osprey’s amenities are centered around the hotel’s main courtyard. This is where guests will find the pool, a gorgeous beachfront lounge area, a small bar, and the hotel’s free Wi-Fi. The courtyard is a wonderful spot that embodies the Osprey’s traditional Caribbean feel. Cream colored walls and white columns are offset by a canary yellow exterior wall and a large royal blue awning. Modern wicker furniture is arranged in neat rows beneath the awning, where guests sit down for breakfast in the morning and gather for sundowner cocktails in the afternoon. Throughout the day kids splash around in the pool as their parents connect to the internet. While the courtyard is certainly the hotel’s hub, it rarely feels busy or overcrowded.  Beyond the courtyard, the Osprey’s stunning beach spreads in both directions. It’s hard to imagine bluer waters or more powdery white sand, but a large concrete sea wall in the center of the beach mars the its perfect appearance. The Osprey doesn’t do much for guests on the beach. There are a couple of lounge chairs and umbrellas, but don’t expect drink service or water sports rentals. Across the street from the Osprey’s main buildings are the hotel’s restaurant and small spa. The restaurant, aptly named The Atrium, sits within a leafy courtyard. The Atrium serves lunch and dinner, but dinner can get hectic, especially on buffet nights. During our visit, on an especially crowded barbecue night, we watched hotel staff members turn away any prospective diners who weren’t hotel guests. The crowds aren’t due to the restaurant’s fantastic food, rather, they’re indicative of the island’s meager dining options. In addition to The Atrium, the Osprey’s small spa is also located in the across-the-street-annex. The spa is operated by an outside vendor, and offers a few treatment options, like massages, facials, and body wraps, in its small treatment space.