Once a year, our closely-knit remote team of six eagerly anticipates our annual company retreat where we get to spend time together, relax, and of course, stay in a luxury resort that we get to tell you all about. This year, our Managing Director, Angela, announced to us that we would be going to COMO Parrot Cay in Turks & Caicos by delivering beautiful branded beach bags to our doorstep. We are so excited to share a detailed description of our stay here with you.
A Seamless Journey to Paradise
The journey there started at ATL airport. It was a pretty quick 2-hour, 11-minute Delta flight to Providenciales. We had VIP fast-track arrival, which meant being greeted by a SkyPass staff member who got us through customs quickly by skipping the line and escorting us to the COMO Parrot Cay check-in desk. COMO is the only resort with its own desk in the airport, so it was easy to find and after checking in, we were taken to two black SUVs that would drive us to a private lobby before getting on a boat to Parrot Cay. The lobby feels like a spa and is stocked with water, teas, champagne, and snacks that we took advantage of while waiting for our boat.
The resort is located on a private island and the only way to get there is via a 25-minute boat ride by a dedicated staff member. It’s worth noting that there are no helicopter landing pads on the island, so if you get seasick, although the waters are usually calm year-round, we recommend taking some medicine before you depart. After staring at the crystal clear waters on our ride to the resort, we were warmly greeted by a resort staff member who escorted us via a 10-minute golf cart ride to the front lobby. Parrot Cay is a private island and no one other than residents, resort guests, and staff are permitted here.
Personalized Butler Service and Private Villas Revealed
Angela intentionally kept our accommodations a secret so we were all very shocked to be greeted by our personal butlers, Mika and Yoga in the hotel lobby. We were welcomed with warm hand towels, followed by homemade banana bread, sourced straight from the island’s very own banana farm, and a cold ginger tea. After our delightful snacks, we hopped back into the golf cart with Yoga and Mika who took us to our private villas. Yes, that’s right! We were all very surprised to learn that we had a 3-bedroom villa, 2-bedroom villa, and oceanview suite all to ourselves, which comes with 24-hour butler service (one dedicated butler per villa). Above and beyond treatment began the second we walked in the door because Mika had prepared a feast of warm snacks for us, including sliders, french fries, spring rolls (including a gluten-free version for me), and filling salads.
Before arrival, we were asked to fill in a quick questionnaire about our favorite snack preferences, how we preferred our coffee or tea, any refreshments we’d like throughout the day, and anything else. This allows the staff to collect the requests from the main island and bring them to Parrot Cay before we even arrive. It’s imperative that you fill this out because once you’re there, there’s a longer turnaround time to get something because it has to be delivered by boat.
A Tasty End to Arrival Day
We spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking, drinking coffee, and getting ready for dinner at Lotus, located on the expansive deck overlooking the larger of the two infinity pools. Lotus offers contemporary Asian cuisine, with dumplings, bao, sushi, noodles and more. Since the resort is wellness-focused, there is a second menu option featuring gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. Given that we are on a private island, it is extremely impressive to note how many fresh and delicious dishes they offer. Rather than new wait staff, Mika and Yoga were our waiters, another above and beyond touch so that they learn our preferences as time goes on. Before I knew it, I was being handed espresso martinis by the pool before I even had to ask.
Exploring the Accommodations
After we were full and happy from our breakfast buffet of tropical fruit, fresh juices, and eggs at the Terrace Restaurant, day two began with site inspections with Jelena, the Events and Groups Coordinator, who personally guided us and taught us about each accommodation type. There are 61 keys total, comprising 41 rooms and suites and 20 private villas and residences.
Ocean Room
We first toured an Ocean Room. There are 14 Ocean Facing Rooms and each room sleeps 2 adults and includes a spacious living room with direct balcony access with ocean views and a large bathroom. This room is steps away from the lobby and Terrace restaurant and allows for convenient access to the hotel’s main activities. The King bed can easily be swapped for two Twin beds and the separate banquette can be converted into an extra single bed. The other room type in this category is the Garden Room, which swaps the ocean view for lush garden views facing inward toward the lobby.
Beachfront Suite
This Suite is newly remodeled and is one of four COMO Suites, each with direct beach access. These suites feel like private villas, although they are semi-attached to one another. They all feature a large living room with a private dining area, a bedroom with an en suite bathroom, a separate guest bathroom, and a spacious deck with a heated pool. Other amenities include a fully equipped kitchenette, freestanding bathtub, and walk-in closet, and sleeps up to three adults. We recommend this room category for a couple traveling together or with a younger child.
Family Beach House
Next, we viewed a Family Beach House. These three villas are ideal for families (in case it wasn’t obvious from its name), offering privacy and direct access to a mile-long white sand beach, fringed by lush vegetation. A light-filled living area flows into the master bedroom, featuring a king bed and an en suite bathroom. On the other side, there is a smaller guest bedroom with two twin beds, which can be converted into one king (it has access to the second bathroom) to sleep either two adults and two kids or four adults. All rooms open to the private sundeck, where a heated infinity pool and an outdoor garden shower offer a variety of ways to relax. There is a fully equipped kitchenette, including a microwave and a small fridge.
These villas include personalized COMO butler service. Your villa’s private butler will assist you throughout your stay, help plan activities for you and your children, provide meals, and take you via a resort golf cart anywhere you need to go.
Beach House
On our ride to the Beach House, Jelena told us it was the perfect honeymoon accommodation and we couldn’t wait to see why. The Beach House is a studio-style house that offers ultimate privacy and sits on the beach with direct access to the Caribbean Sea. It is also the most recently renovated room type, so you can expect a brand-new ambiance throughout the home.
A sunken living room leads to a private sundeck where couples can lounge by the pool, dine al fresco, or access the beach directly. Perhaps what is most notable about this is that it features a beautifully spacious bathroom with a standalone tub, indoor and outdoor showers, and an outdoor jacuzzi surrounded by trees and a tall fence for ultimate privacy. This beach house also sits toward the end of the beach for more privacy and is by far the most romantic accommodation at the resort. There are six Beach Houses and this villa completely took our breath away. Jelena was spot on in labeling this one of the best honeymoon villas (arguably in the world). This villa includes a personalized butler dedicated to you throughout your stay.
Two Bedroom Beach House
There are five two-bedroom beach houses, and we were lucky enough to tour the newest one! These beach houses sit among the sand dunes with uninterrupted views of the sea. They have two en suite bedrooms, a spacious living and dining area, a large outdoor deck, and a very large heated infinity pool. The two-bedroom beach houses are best for two friends traveling together or two couples. The home comes with a fully equipped kitchenette, an outdoor garden shower, expansive indoor and outdoor dining areas, and of course, come with a dedicated butler at no extra cost. Every part of this home is designed to face the Sea. Meg and Allie from Team O stayed in one of the other two-bedroom villas and spent their mornings drinking coffee with views of the light-blue Caribbean Sea right from their own beds before their enthusiastic and captivating butler, Yoga, served them breakfast.
Three Bedroom Beach House
The three-bedroom beach house is a one-of-a-kind (literally, there’s only one!) private villa. This stunning home is where Angela, Courtney, and I stayed and one can only walk into this home with pure awe. This villa is ideal for larger families or groups of friends in pursuit of privacy. It has a large dining and lounge area, a private sundeck with a very large heated infinity pool, and an expansive living room. The two front bedrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the Caribbean Sea and the third bedroom is tucked away to the front left of the villa. My favorite part of the home was the outdoor gazebo, where I spent my mornings drinking coffee. The villa includes a large butler pantry and kitchenette, which was filled with our favorite treats upon arrival thanks to Mika, our wonderful butler who helped us throughout our stay. The home sleeps up to six adults and comes with two King beds and two twin beds or three King beds based on your guest’s needs.
Rocky Point Villa
Jelena saved the best for last because for the grand finale, as if we weren’t already wowed by the other room types, we toured the Rocky Point Villa, one of the private residences on the island. The residences are privately owned and therefore have their own taste in decoration, although the overall structure of the homes is comparable to the resort villas. This beyond-stunning home features three bedrooms with en suite and guest bathrooms, an expansive dining area, a private heated pool, an outdoor sundeck with loungers, garden showers, COMO Butler services, direct ocean access, and accommodates up to six adults. The master bedroom is tucked away to the left of the pool in a separate standalone villa for an added element of privacy.
We’ve included the floor plan to capture just how massive this property is. This is the perfect home for a multi-generational family reunion or couples retreat. It’s important to note that there is an option to include a two-bedroom cottage at the back with its own private deck and seating (additional charges apply). Contact our team to learn more.
Relaxation and Wellness at COMO Shambhala Spa
We spent the afternoon indulging in the famous COMO Shambhala spa. Even though it’s only a 10-minute walk from the front lobby, it feels like being transported into the middle of the lush jungle. The spa has a calming spirit, with treatment pavilions overlooking the North Caicos Channel. It is a sanctuary, on the opposite side of the island to villas and suites, with a light-drenched yoga pavilion, Pilates studio, and Jacuzzi garden. Numerous daily wellness activities and holistic wellness therapies are available.
We were all treated to a COMO Shambhala 75-minute massage, which started with a sea salt foot scrub. The treatment rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the channel and surrounded by tall trees and lush gardens. As if the massage wasn’t relaxing enough, me and Allie decided to sit in the communal jacuzzi located at the bottom of the building in the middle of the lush greenery surrounding us. I finished my spa day with 15 minutes in the steam room and made my way straight to the adults-only infinity pool for poolside lunch. Once again, we were greeted by Yoga and Mika who served us poolside drinks and dining. We ordered the margarita pizza, kale salad, fish tacos, and fresh guacamole.
Team Time and Leisure Activities
Personally, lounging by the pool with my team was my favorite part of the retreat. We got uninterrupted hours of catching up, laying in the sun, and maybe sipping on a margarita or two. The day ended with dinner at the Terrace restaurant, which transformed from a breakfast buffet by day to an Italian restaurant by night. The highlight of the meal was the chef making table-side Cacio e Pepe by hand spinning the noodles through a wheel of cheese.
The next day was filled with team meetings, team photos, capturing photos of the resort so that we could share them with you, and relaxing together by the pool. The Beach Club sits between the family pool and adults-only pool and offers plenty of lounge space and serves as a barrier between the family area and adults area.
The last dinner was a breathtaking setup by COMO Parrot Cay on the deck of our 3-bedroom villa. Fresh flowers decorated the table and we were given a fixed 5-course meal. It’s hard to decide what was best, but we were served fresh salads, a selection of meat and seafood, the best ceviche I’ve ever had, gluten-free and vegan banana bread, and possibly the best chocolate gelato we’ve ever had.
Other Notable Activities
COMO Parrot Cay is a great option for a family-friendly resort, however, there may be a lack of activities for tweens and teens. The Kids Club onsite is Play by COMO, which is open daily between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm. The kid’s pavilion caters to ages age 4-12 (2+ if accompanied by a parent or guardian) and activities vary weekly.
Other activities include a spacious fitness studio, plenty of non-motorized water activities to choose from, and complimentary bikes for all guests, which is one of the easiest ways to explore the island. We highly suggest kayaking in the mangroves, taking a sunset boat cruise, and a guided farm tour to learn how the island is entirely self-sufficient thanks to reverse osmosis and the use of three generators.
Pro Tip: In our opinion, the perfect length of stay here is 4-5 nights.
Unforgettable Service
What truly set COMO Parrot Cay apart was the impeccable service. Yoga and Mika, our dedicated butlers, epitomized excellence—attentive yet discreet, going above and beyond to make our stay extraordinary. Mika was even the wonderful photographer of our new team photo.
Saying Goodbye to Paradise
Leaving COMO Parrot Cay was a poignant moment. As we bid farewell to Yoga and Mika, who escorted us to our boat, their warm waves lingered in our memories. The return journey was as seamless as our arrival, marked by a VIP Fast Track host and a final visit to the VIP lounge before boarding our flight back to Atlanta.
Turks & Caicos
Beyond being known for its exclusive collection of five-star resorts, Turks & Caicos serves as a hub for underwater adventures. For diving enthusiasts, Turks & Caicos presents a unique opportunity to explore over 1,000 shipwrecks. Adventurers can also go whale watching, snorkeling, and fishing to get a closer look at the abundance of wildlife in this small slice of the Caribbean.
The island’s unique weather patterns contribute to its allure, with an average of only 43 days of rain per year, compared to the Caribbean average of 149 days. Turks & Caicos is beautiful year-round, with consistently warm weather hovering around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The risk of hurricane activity is highest between June and November, however, it is typically safe to travel year-round. Conveniently accessible with nonstop flights from Miami and Atlanta, Turks & Caicos is a quick escape from the States.
COMO Parrot Cay is closed annually for September, allowing the staff a well-deserved break and the resort the opportunity for renovations without disrupting the guest experience.
We Loved it, Now it’s Your Turn!
We have personally visited and vetted our top 3 accommodation recommendations in Turks & Caicos. These include Amanyara, Wymara Resort & Villas, and of course, COMO Parrot Cay. We previously wrote about COMO Parrot Cay before this visit which you can read here.
For a more personalized touch on your upcoming stay, you can work with our Hotel Plus team to assist with any reservations, activity scheduling, concierge assistance, and more.
As a Virtuoso partner, you can book your stay using our complimentary booking tool to receive exclusive perks including:
- Upgrade on arrival (STA)
- Daily Breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
- $100 USD hotel credit
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out (STA)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
If you want to view all of our recommendations in the Caribbean, you can refer to our Preferred Hotels Map for a peek at the rest of our top hotel recommendations and amenities. You can also read our Caribbean Spotlight for a summary of the best islands based on your travel preferences. If you have any questions about how to become a client or book your stay with us for those added perks, email us at [email protected] or submit a Travel Request Form. We look forward to helping you plan your stay!
