Como Parrot Cay

Caicos Islands, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
Book from GBP Book from £952 per night

Como Parrot Cay

Caicos Islands, Turks & Caicos, Caribbean

Play the superstar at this picture-perfect island resort with its celebrity clientele and excellent service

Play the superstar at this picture-perfect island resort with its celebrity clientele and excellent service

First things first: this place is expensive. In fact, it’s really expensive. But if you’re going to blow your budget out of the aquamarine water, this has to be the way to go. Powdery white sand, a champagne welcome and one of the world’s best spas - it looks like hotelier Christina Ong has created another cracker with Como Parrot Cay. No surprise then that the guests are a veritable Who’s Who of A-listers, Kate Moss, Donna Karan and Julia Roberts amongst them. So what do they flock here for? Answer: the peace, privacy and pamper factor. There’s very little to do except kick back and rejuvenate, which is why it’s also a honeymoon hotspot.

Minimalist in design, with Balinese teak furniture, immaculate white linens, terracotta floors and loads of windows, the interiors scream understated class. The service is said to be excellent, the organic food sublime. You can be totally private and your only real concerns will be SPF15 or SPF20? Lobster for dinner or 5-spiced sea bass? If you're going to splurge on a trip of a lifetime, then this is a serious candidate for your cash.

Highs

  • A gloriously beautiful natural setting, and the resort has been carefully designed to blend in
  • The Como cocktail of East meets West: Balinese furniture and Asian-inspired spa treatments mixed with all the mod cons and Dr Perricone treatments
  • Fabulous for families, with unobtrusive yet amazingly attentive nannies
  • Beautiful pared-down accommodation, ranging from spacious rooms to elaborate butlered villas and estates
  • Wonderfully secluded: the resort is set on a private island, is only accessible by boat, and is spread out over 1,000 acres

Lows

  • The little extras add up and the price of a bottle of beer or water is well above average, so if over-the-odds prices stress you out, stay away
  • The emphasis is on healthy food and some of the choices are quite eclectic
  • Bugs can be a problem, as with anywhere in the Caribbean
  • Some say the snorkelling is disappointing, but the diving is said to be fab so consider doing your PADI here

Best time to go

Like much of the Caribbean, the Turks & Caicos have become a year-round destination. December to April is the high season, and temperatures range from the mid-70s to the mid-80sF. June to November (especially August and October) is much hotter with temperatures ranging from the 80s to over 100F. Hurricane season is June to October, but there's no cause for panic: satellite forecasts give enough warning that precautions can be taken.

Our top tips

You’ll want minimal luggage for the transfers, and the Como Shambhala toiletries in the room are heavenly so don’t bother with any shampoos, shower gels or body lotions. Mozzie spray and a coil may be useful, and a few good books are a must. There’s a boutique shop for anything you forget.

Great for...

Beach
Family
Foodie
Romantic
Spa
  • Beach Resort
  • 60 rooms & 10 villas for 2-10
  • Restaurant and bar (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Heated Pool
  • Spa
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Daily Maid Service
  • Towels & Bedlinen
  • Concierge Service
  • Tennis Court
  • Bicycles Available
  • Laundry Service
Room:

Rooms

Scattered through the resort, and along the mile-long white-sand beach, are 60 or so rooms and suites, and a handful of beach houses and larger villas. A short buggy ride away there are also 10 estates - small clusters of villas set on a private beach.

Everything is styled in a contemporary, minimalist way: Balinese teak furniture, white cottons, and four-poster beds romantically draped with voile. French doors lead out to gardens, the beach or private balconies. The big bathrooms are lovely with double vanity units, robes, flip-flops, and Como Shambhala toiletries (heavenly). The overall feel is pared-down rather than opulent, in keeping with the natural surroundings.

ROOMS AND SUITES

Set in the lush gardens, all are spacious and light. Garden Rooms on the ground floor have a private sundeck which leads directly onto the lawns. Ocean Facing Rooms on the floor above have balconies and sea views. The COMO Suites have 2 bathrooms, a living area and a large dining table. Their balconies have outdoor daybeds, and look out over the gardens.

BEACH HOUSES

If you’d prefer to be right on the beach, book a Beach House or Villa. The 1-Bedroom Beach Houses are semi-detached and set 20m from the water’s edge. Inside is a master bedroom, a bathroom, a living/dining area, and a conservatory with loungers. Outside is a private sundeck with a heated plunge pool. The 1-Bedroom Beach Villas are similar, but are standalone properties set in lush vegetation to ensure privacy. They also have an outdoor shower. If you need more sleeping space, there are also a couple of similar houses and villas with 2 bedrooms (both four posters) with either a kitchenette (Two-Bedroom Beach House) or full kitchen (Two-Bedroom Beach Villa). COMO Villas and Island Villas (3 bedrooms) each have a fully-equipped kitchen, an outside dining pavilion and a full swimming pool. For added luxury, all stays in a Two-Bedroom Beach House or larger get COMO Butler service, too!

ESTATES

The estates can be rented individually or together for the ultimate in hedonistic hideaways - anything from a family to a clan of 22 - with a semi-private beach and butler service to boot. Set closer to the ocean, the villas are more spacious and have all the mod-cons you’d expect; some even have romantic ‘tiki’ huts. Bedrooms have ocean views and there are loads of private seating areas. Each villa also has a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, an outdoor dining area, a private swimming pool and direct access to the beach.

Features include:

  • Bathrobes
  • Hairdryer
  • Minibar
  • Safe box
  • WiFi

Eating

As in all Como properties, healthy eating is all part of the rejuvenation process and guests are encouraged to eat raw food as much as possible to optimise nutritional value. Meals are organic and locally sourced; raw fruits and veggies and fresh fish are a must, but meat is also available. Exotic fresh juices abound; naturally dried seaweeds and sprouted seeds are used in the spa salads. Best of all, meals are often cooked with Balinese or South East Asian spices so everything has a wonderfully exotic flavour.

There are 2 restaurants on site: Lotus serves light meals and Caribbean-inspired dishes for lunch (jerk kurobuta pork, sauteed mussels with chilli and cinzano, Mahi Mahi burgers), while in the evening it becomes a contemporary Asian restaurant specialising in Thai and Japanese recipes (wok fried Cornish hen with coriander and ginger tea, soy chicken with shitake and orange). Terrace serves more modern, Mediterranean food. It’s worth knowing that some of the food is eclectic: think pheasant or raw fish, prepared with such delicacies as black fungus. However, the restaurants have a fabulous reputation so it’s worth trying new things, and there’s also an extensive room service menu with more traditional options (salads, burgers, sandwiches). If you’re staying in one of the villas with a private chef, your every wish really is their command.

Breakfasts are included in the room rate and are a veritable feast: think Bircher muesli or porridge with coconut milk and almonds, enormous croissants, pancakes with rambutan blossom honey, and piles of exotic fresh fruit. Dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Barbecue
  • Breakfast
  • In-house cook
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurant
  • Room service
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

  • Relax - it sounds obvious, but this is what Parrot Cay is all about. There’s not much to do and that’s the point. So grab a good book, stretch out on your sunlounger and watch the days fly (afternoon naps are encouraged)
  • Splurge at the Asian-inspired spa, which offers a vast range of exotic indulgences. The most popular, the Javanese Royal Lular Bath, is a 2-hour beautifying bliss-out, normally reserved for Javanese princesses awaiting their wedding day! You can also treat yourself to a range of massages (deep-tissue, Thai, Indian, Shiatsu), have your energy rebalanced, or try something more exotic like the ‘Shirodhara’, where a stream of warm oil is poured onto your forehead
  • Take a leisurely stroll along the beautiful white-sand beach, loop back through the exotic gardens, then cool off in the infinity pool
  • Keep your eyes peeled for exciting wildlife. Turks and Caicos is home to over 100 species of bird, 35 of butterfly and lots of lizards, sharks, dolphins and turtles!
  • Sign up for a Retreat Week, held throughout the year, with visiting experts (usually masters in yoga or pilates) holding courses and seminars. There are yoga and pilates studios if you’re here at other times and just want to practise, or you can join in the daily classes
  • Make the most of the grounds: there are 2 tennis courts or you can try windsurfing, kayaking or sailing, paddle boarding or tubing, or sign up for a day’s deep-sea fishing (all extra cost)
  • Go diving and snorkelling: the Turks & Caicos are rated in the top 10 dive sites in the world, and there's an excellent dive school on Providenciales whose instructors will collect you from the resort, guide dives and teach PADI courses
  • Island-hop: nearby Iguana and Sand Dollar Island are famed for their empty powder-white beaches and pristine shallow waters, and if you look carefully you might find a naturally formed sand dollar; quite a souvenir. The hotel can arrange for you to venture further afield, too

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Well being
  • Windsurfing
  • Yoga

Kids

COMO Parrot Cay caters superlatively for families too. On arrival, kids are given crayons, colouring books, cuddly toys, buckets and spades, and this high level of treatment continues, with personalised service in the restaurant and activities during the day.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

We'd recommend the 2 and 3 bed villas over all. Children under 12 stay free in their parents' room. If you're bringing more than 1 child note that only 1 child is accepted for bookings in Garden View or Ocean Facing Rooms.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Babysitting:

Babysitting is available for a small fee. The Balinese and Bhutanese nannies can help out during the day, allowing you to make use of the spa, perhaps, as well as by night.

Baby equipment:

  • Cots

  • Selection of age-appropriate toys on arrival

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Creche/Kid's Club:

There are organised children's programmes all year long at Play by COMO. They include family yoga, kite-making and flying, shell painting, cookie and cupcake classes, tie-dying and pirate-themed scavenger hunts.

Children's meals:

There is a kids' menu, but the chef is also happy to whip up bespoke meals, or adjust adult meals to suit. The Lotus bar serves mocktails, and the kids menu includes the likes of chicken fingers and chips, spare ribs and coconut ice cream. There is food available all day and a daily free afternoon tea.

Kids Activities on site:

  • Miles of white sand beach
  • Pool tables, Playstations and ping pong
  • Infinity pool with a gently shelving bottom, ideal for kids
  • Tennis courts
  • Play by COMO programme of personalised family experiences

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Island hopping
  • Mountain biking trips around the island (small fee for bike hire)
  • Complimentary watersports centre with kayaks, paddle boards, diving and windsurfing

Families Should Know:

It's not the easiest place to get to - an hour from Miami by plane, then a car and boat ride - so if you're coming from Europe, your kids need to be prepared for a long journey. There are balconies and drops around the complex but nothing to lose sleep over; pools aren't fenced.

Distances:

  • Airport: 15 minutes by car, then 30 minutes by boat
  • Hospital: 1.5 hours (Miami)
  • Doctor: The hotel can arrange a doctor to visit if necessary
Kid Friendly:

Location

Como Parrot Cay is set in the Turks & Caicos in the northern Caribbean, on a 1,000-acre private island. It’s reached via Providenciales Airport (on Providenciales island), then a 30-minute boat ride.

By Air:
Providenciales International Airport (37km) is the main airport for this region.

From the Airport
Someone from the hotel will meet you at the airport. The transfer involves a 15-minute drive to the Leeward Marina followed by a 30-minute sea journey to Parrot Cay.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.

Airports:

  • Providenciales 37.0 km PLS

Other:

  • Beach 0.1 km
  • Shops 37.0 km
  • Restaurant 37.0 km

Rates for Como Parrot Cay

Arriving on: