The Somerset on Grace Bay

The Somerset on Grace Bay is a really nice place, particularly for families, but it has a problem. Before I get into that, though, I want to say that you can travel the world without finding a nicer set of people than the Somerset staff. The problem is that the upkeep standard for the individually owned condominiums(*) in the complex is too low, with the result being that some of the units, such as our unit #204, are tired and poorly maintained, and serious design flaws from the original construction may not have been fixed. In our unit, a faucet has corroded through, which I saw every time I walked into the bathroom. A picture is off the wall, and the screw left stuck in the wall. Why? Plastic such as in a toilet seat is broken. And more. Design-wise, the master bathroom somehow got itself designed with only one sink, and a combination tub/shower. That's not five-star, and it's not four-star. The bathroom is adjacent to a closet, with a space-wasting foyer giving access to both from the master bedroom. I'm no architect, but it's pretty obvious that a very little attention from a builder would give them two sinks and a separate shower, with no loss of closet space. I have to rate a hotel at the level of its worst room, because that's the one that an unknowing new guest like me is going to get. Three point two five stars. Oh, and call me non-brave, but if I go to a five-star place in the islands in February looking to get away from winter, I want a heated pool, which Somerset does not have although TripAdvisor mistakenly says it does. (*) Somerset on Grace Bay is not a hotel, but a kind of residence club, with individually owned units rented out by the manager. TripAdvisor should refine its description of the place.

Two of us attended the Thursday night beach bbq. Price after tax and service charge was $82. The food was good with a good variety. Desserts were meh! DJ had a nice singing voice but his choice of songs was typical and dated. He stayed in his DJ booth but later came out but sometimes oddly put back to audience. He then had a long and tedious male dance concert. Then the fire dancer came out. Worst example of fire dancer I’ve seen. How many times can you play fireball?? And then brought same male audience members back to help. Asked for check for 2 margaritas to get out of there AnD almost $50! Don’t recommend this overpriced beach bbq! Simply the worst!

We returned to our “happy place” with another couple and had a week of perfect weather, amazing sunsets, beautiful beach walks and many dips in the warm ocean and inviting pool. The unit we stayed in - Residence 5 was a townhouse that had 2 bedrooms and an extra bunk room. Three full baths. It would be perfect for families and kids. There is a large lawn in front of the unit and the pool and beach are a minute away through a beautiful archway. The unit was contemporary, nicely decorated and the kitchen had every utensil you could want. We ate at a number of restaurants and also cooked a few nights. The gourmet grocery store is a 15 minute walk or 5 minutes on the resort bicycles. The staff is friendly and helpful. The beach has sailboats, paddle Boards and kayaks. We spent a lot of time having fun in the Bay. We will return and highly recommend The Somerset and Residence 5.

We enjoyed an amazing winter getaway at this beautiful resort! The temperature in January was perfect! A steady breeze filled our sails and the water in the bay felt wonderful - comfortably warm yet refreshing. The resort grounds and pools were in top condition. We would highly recommend this place!

It all begins with Stevonya in reservations reaching out to assist us with our stay. It could not have been more perfect. A one- bedroom ocean view is what we decided on and were surprised with a Penthouse suite. This is our 3rd trip to The Somerset (7th) to the island and it just keeps getting better. From start to finish the staff offers the little touches that keeps us coming back. They greet you by name and ask about your stay. Leraud, Jahansen, and Jan at the front desk make check-in and check-out memorable. Ingrid, and Jenny get your day started at breakfast. Katrina kept our amazing suite spotless and our refrigerator stocked with water. The beach and pool staff were all readily available , helpful, and friendly. AJ went above and beyond. He even took us out on a short sailing adventure. The water, the sand, and the views are spectacular, but it’s the people that make The Somerset special! I recommend the Manager’s Cocktail reception and the Tuesday night BBQ. Both experiences were fun and a great way to kickoff our vacation. We love that they have bicycles available to travel to town, (pick up a few provincials, shop, or grab a bite to eat.). There are so many great restaurants in the area to walk to or take the bikes. The food at the pool was very good as well. I cannot say enough about what a perfect place The Somerset is to take your family to or relax as a couple. It checks all the boxes. When you are looking for a 5 star, luxury experience you will no doubt find it here. I will count the days until we can return!🏖🏖

Tuesday night beach BBQ was terrible. $100/person and the food wasn't great. They said the fire guy would be there at 8:00 but we waited until 8:30 and he wasn't there yet so we left. We were with our college kids and agreed everyone should skip this.

In October, I treated my husband to a vacation in Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay, for his birthday. On the recommendation of a friend, I chose the Somerset Resort on Grace Bay for our six-night stay. The Somerset Resort was indeed a five-star experience that exceeded all expectations. The resort is a smaller luxury boutique resort with the full amenities you would expect at a mega and overcrowded resort. The service was impeccable, helpful, and polite. The units have all been recently updated with all the modern conveniences. The decor in our unit was elegant, stunning, and timeless. The pool is gorgeous, with the most comfortable lounge chairs. The staff is attentive, supplying all the poolside and beach accoutements you wish for. The hardest decision we had to make was sitting by the pool or on the beach. Words can not properly describe the beauty of the water and sand in Turks and Caicos. Turquoise water and snow-white sand are all you can see for miles, and fortunately, the Somerset is on the best stretch of beachfront that Grace Bay offers, perfect for long walks and snorkeling. I would recommend renting a car so you can explore this incredible island. Turks and Caicos is safe, with many beautiful places to see, restaurants to experience, and people to meet. I can't wait to return to Turks and Caicos and the Somerset Resort.

We have been visiting our friends at the Somerset for over 15 years. Perfect for a family and those not interested in the huge populations of people. The staff here genuinely cares about you. The grounds are terrific - good restaurant in the Barbetta and pool service is top notch. The beach is the best! Kids camp rocks too! Ms Sharon has some magic! From when you arrive and Winston and Jansen greet you to Ms Sharon entertaining the kids, Laxly , Colin, Bernard, AJ, Andres down at the beach and pool take great, genuine care of you Nadine, Ingrid, Chad & Jode with food and drink service and all of the housekeeping (never get a lot of credit - but make the trip amazing)! My daughter has grown up with theses incredible people. Everyone is the best - it’s the reason we feel like this is home away from home! Love the Somerset!!

We stayed at Welwyn 3 for a week and had a wonderful time. The accommodations were perfect for our party of six. The unit was nicely appointed and most comfortable. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time on the large wrap around deck complete with a hot tub. Both sparkling pools had comfortable loungers. The beach is gorgeous with warm, sparkling ocean waters. All of the employees were very pleasant and very accommodating - Nadine and “Bigs” went out of their way to make sure everyone was enjoying! We look forward to returning!