Beaches Day 2: The People

     I thought quite a bit about what to tell you about today's adventures at Beaches Turks and Caicos before deciding on this evening's blog post. It could have be an easy account of what we did today from our early morning beach visit to the many hours spent at the water park or an account of where we  ate on the premises but the thing that rang clear were the people here at the resort.

     Having visited Beaches both here in Turks and Caicos and in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, I have now encountered many staff members. They weren't all extremely pleasant or noteworthy but on the whole the people who work here are fantastic.

     What strikes me most about the staff here is that the people who are worthy of mention are not necessarily who you would imagine. My brief encounters with the day camp staff here today left a lot to be desired and management of the hotel completely ignored a reasonably query I had last night. Still, its the many other people that in fact have such an impact on your stay here.

Charlie wanted a little girl to dance with her who said no.
This woman watched it happened and then went to ask Charlie if she would be her dance partner. 

     Throughout three different stays in Beaches resorts I have yet to encounter a disgruntle cleaning lady. Today was no different. Although our room was a mess and I needed a lot of extra linen, the woman who helped us was a ray of sunshine. We arrived just as she was finishing cleaning the room and she made sure our every wish was complete. When we returned to the room, the kids things were in very tidy piles with their beds ready and made for each of them. She really had no reason to be extra nice to them but she had a great conversation with each of them and really made them feel at home.

    Another equally impressive moment occurred this morning when Charlie, who is 3, picked a flower to give to me. A gardener called her over immediately and I thought he would discipline her for picking the flower off the bush as I often do. Instead, he took her hand and led her to a section of the garden which had at least 5 different types of flowers. He patiently waited as she picked her favourite and then assembled the bouquet for her and wished her a great day.

Charlie and her freshly assembled bouquet

    Later in the day when the kids were exhausted we decided to take a ride on the train that tours the resort. I feared a major meltdown from both kids was about to ensue but the conductor of the tiny train made sure that they had the time of their  lives. She spoke to each of them as they got on the train and throughout the ride never forgot their names. As we were pulling into a stop, Will began dancing to one of his favourite songs and she immediately noticed, stopped the train and asked him if he would like to start a dance party. She then let every child out of the train and led them in an incredible dance routine making sure even the youngest guests knew the moves.

Dance party with the train conductor, Onica

     Although these situations deserved a write-up, there are so many more moments here that make you realise that you and your children are welcome and cared about here. Each time I think of the Beaches Ochos Rios, I can't help but miss the incredible lifeguards there that made our vacation what it was. From engaging the kids in activities and conversations to helping them get over their fears of water slides, I still wish I could properly thank the young men who take care of us at this time last year.

One of our favourite lifeguards at Beaches Ochos Rios 

     Across the company, the wait staff and bartenders we have encountered have also been fantastic. I've never been made to feel like my food substitutions were annoying or that my children had made too big of a mess and have always found a helping hand when I needed someone to help me watch one child while the other needed something. This is especially remarkable seeing you are not allowed to tip them.

    If you are considering a Beaches vacation, I can tell you that years from now you may not remember their names but you will remember the people who made your children smile.