Sometimes a resort comes along that makes other properties nervous. Wymara Resort + Villas is that resort. Perched on the western end of Grace Bay Beach like it owns the place (which, let’s be honest, it kind of does), Wymara brings a level of sophistication to Turks & Caicos that makes you wonder what took so long.
This isn’t Caribbean kitsch with a luxury price tag. Wymara is what happens when someone with impeccable taste and deep pockets decides to show everyone else how it’s done. Think Miami Beach meets Mykonos, but with better beaches and fewer influencers. The result? A resort that feels both cutting-edge contemporary and timelessly elegant – no easy feat on an island where “island time” usually means “maybe tomorrow.”
Location: The Sweet Spot of Grace Bay
Wymara claimed a prime stretch of Grace Bay’s western end, far enough from the main drag to feel exclusive but close enough that you’re not marooned. The beach here does that thing where it curves just so, creating perfect sunset angles and natural privacy from neighboring properties. It’s the Goldilocks of beach locations – not too busy, not too remote, just right.
The property itself is relatively compact by Grace Bay standards, but that’s by design. Instead of sprawling across acres, Wymara goes vertical with a seven-story main building that ensures almost every room gets those million-dollar views. It’s urban planning meets island life, and somehow it works.
Accommodations: Modern Luxury Without the Museum Feel
The 91 studios and suites at Wymara prove that contemporary design doesn’t have to feel cold. Yes, there’s lots of white and clean lines, but there’s warmth in the details – natural wood accents, textured fabrics, local art that actually looks like someone chose it rather than bulk-ordered it.
Studios start at 475 square feet, which sounds small until you realize how cleverly the space is used. Floor-to-ceiling windows that actually open (revolutionary!), kitchenettes that could handle real cooking, and bathrooms that belong in a design magazine. The signature Wymara Suites jump to 1,300 square feet with full kitchens and living rooms that make you question your life choices back home.
But here’s where Wymara flexes: the penthouses. Four and five-bedroom sky villas that redefine what a beach vacation can be. We’re talking 7,000+ square feet, private rooftop terraces with pools, outdoor kitchens that would make Bobby Flay jealous, and views that should be illegal. These aren’t hotel rooms; they’re temporary life upgrades.
The Villa Experience: Your Own Private Resort
As if the main resort wasn’t enough, Wymara also offers a collection of beachfront villas that take privacy to another level. These four and five-bedroom compounds come with their own pools, full staff, and enough space to forget other people exist. The design aesthetic carries over – clean, contemporary, comfortable – but with the added bonus of not sharing walls with anyone.
Villa guests get all the resort amenities plus dedicated concierge service that borders on mind-reading. Want the chef from the main restaurant to cook privately at your villa? Done. Need the spa therapist to set up on your pool deck? Consider it arranged. It’s hotel service with home privacy, and it’s dangerously addictive.
Dining: Flavor Without the Fuss
Wymara’s approach to food is refreshingly unfussy – great ingredients, skillful preparation, beautiful presentation, no molecular gastronomy gymnastics required.
Zest
The main restaurant takes Caribbean ingredients and gives them a contemporary spin without losing their soul. The menu changes seasonally, but expect dishes like local lobster with miso butter, ceviche that actually tastes like the ocean, and steaks that justify the import costs. Breakfast here is an event – the coconut French toast has its own fan club.
Indigo
The beachfront restaurant and bar is where Wymara shows its fun side. By day, it’s casual beach dining with feet in the sand. By night, it transforms into something more sultry, with DJ sets, craft cocktails, and a vibe that says “vacation mode: activated.” The sushi program here is surprisingly good – the spicy tuna on crispy rice has achieved legendary status.
Pink Bar
Speaking of legends, the Pink Bar has become Wymara’s signature Instagram spot, and for once, something that photographs well also delivers in person. The sunset views are ridiculous, the cocktail list reads like a love letter to rum, and the bar snacks are good enough to make a meal of. Pro tip: the pink-hued light at sunset makes everyone look good. Everyone.
The Beach Club: See and Be Seen
Wymara’s beach setup feels more Saint-Tropez than typical Caribbean. Stylish daybeds, umbrellas that look like art installations, and service that appears the moment you think about wanting something. The beach here is classic Grace Bay perfection – soft sand, clear water, gentle slope – but with an energy that’s more vibrant than the sleepier stretches.
Water sports are complimentary and comprehensive, from paddleboards to Hobie Cats. But honestly, most guests seem content to alternate between beach, pool, and Pink Bar. The infinity pool is small but perfectly formed, with an edge that seems to pour into the ocean. It’s made for posing, and everyone knows it.
The Spa: Exhale and Excel
The Exhale Spa at Wymara brings a New York sensibility to island wellness. This isn’t about mystical chakra alignment; it’s about results-driven treatments that actually work. The Core Fusion classes have a cult following, the facials use products that dermatologists actually recommend, and the massage therapists understand anatomy, not just aromatherapy.
The spa’s beach cabanas offer treatments with ocean views and breezes, though the indoor treatment rooms are equally appealing with their cool, calm atmosphere. Book the Warrior Sculpt class if you want to earn your piña coladas, or the restorative yoga if yesterday’s piña coladas are making themselves known.
Service: Polished Without Being Stuffy
Wymara’s service strikes a difficult balance – professional enough for demanding guests but relaxed enough for a beach vacation. Staff members are young, international, and seem genuinely happy to be there. They’ve mastered the art of being available without hovering, friendly without being overly familiar.
The concierge team deserves special mention. These folks have the island wired – restaurant reservations, boat charters, golf times, whatever you need. But they also understand when you just want to be left alone with your book and your beach chair. It’s intuitive service at its best.
The Clientele: Young(ish) and Restless
Wymara attracts a specific crowd – successful millennials and Gen Xers who want luxury without stuffiness. Think tech executives, finance folks, creative directors – people who work hard and vacation harder. The vibe is more energetic than at traditional Grace Bay properties, with a social scene that actually exists after 9 PM.
That said, it’s not a party resort. The energy is sophisticated rather than sloppy, and families are welcome (though they tend toward the well-traveled, well-behaved variety). If you’re looking for senior-citizen serenity, this might not be your spot. If you want beautiful people doing beautiful things in a beautiful place, welcome home.
What’s Missing (and What’s Not)
Wymara doesn’t have a golf course, a kids’ club, or a sprawling pool complex. The gym is well-equipped but compact. There’s no casino, no nightclub, no 24-hour room service. What it does have is focus – this is a beach resort that knows it’s a beach resort and executes that vision flawlessly.
The property is adult-friendly without being adults-only, sophisticated without being snobbish, designed without being sterile. It’s proof that you can bring urban sensibility to island life without losing what makes islands special in the first place.
The Bottom Line: Modern Paradise Found
Wymara Resort + Villas has carved out a unique niche in Grace Bay’s luxury landscape. It’s where you stay when you want the best of both worlds – cutting-edge design and classic Caribbean beauty, scene and serenity, service and independence.
Rates reflect the positioning – expect to pay $800-$1,500 per night for suites, with penthouses and villas in the “if you have to ask” category. But for that price, you’re getting more than just a nice room on a nice beach. You’re getting a complete experience that feels current, curated, and impossibly chic.
Is it the best resort in Turks & Caicos? That depends on what you’re after. But if you want to feel like you’re starring in your own travel magazine spread while actually enjoying your vacation, Wymara delivers. Just don’t blame me when every other beach resort suddenly feels a little… basic.