Where to stay in this Caribbean hot spot for a laid-back island escape.

Courtesy of Airbnb

I still remember the first time I saw the water in Turks and Caicos—that almost unreal shade of turquoise that pictures never quite capture. Several trips later, it still gets me. I’ve spent most of my time in this archipelago on the island of Providenciales, staying along Grace Bay but exploring well beyond it, from snorkeling off Smith’s Reef to driving past the brilliant blue water of Chalk Sound. Grace Bay may get most of the attention, with its luxury resorts, restaurants, and seemingly endless stretch of sand, but part of the appeal of Turks and Caicos is how quickly things quiet down once you leave it behind.

For all its five-star resorts and enviable villas , Turks and Caicos can also be a wonderfully easy place to settle in and stay awhile at a vacation rental or Airbnb.…