Turks & Caicos Sections Getting There Where To Stay Activities Visitor Tips Scuba Diving Getting Married Weather Maps Information Request Turks & Caicos CTW Main	Visitor Information and Tips Getting Around There are no public buses on any of the islands, so taxis are the best all-around transport option. Taxis are readily available in the Turks and Caicos. All fares are priced according to the distance traveled. It is always best to verify the cost to a particular destination before the taxi takes off. You can also hire taxis as guides for a day of sightseeing. Most hotels offer complimentary airport transfers (check with the hotel first). Cars and motorcycles can be rented on Provo and Grand Turk; elsewhere, car rental options are virtually nil. A government tax of $10 is levied on each car rental, and $5 on scooter rentals. Driving is on the left. Bicycles can be rented at many hotels and concessions but are limited to unwieldy one-speeders. They're fine for tooling around but a hard slog on longer trips. A valid driver’s license from your place of residence is required when renting a vehicle. Getting between the islands is easiest by plane. All the islands except West and East Caicos are served by air from Grand Turk and Provo. Sky King, InterIsland Airways and Turks & Caicos Airways fly between the islands on a quasi-scheduled basis. A sole ferry, the Caicos Express, operates sporadically between Provo and Sandy Point on North Caicos. It stops en route by request at Pine Cay, Parrot Cay and Middle Caicos. Sand Dollar Tours has a private boat service between Salt Cay and Grand Turk. Clothing Shorts are worn in town as well as on the beach, but bathing suits should be restricted to beach and pool areas. During the day, it is advisable to wear sun hats and sunscreen. In the evenings, light sweaters and jackets can occasionally be worn, and those wishing to visit some of the island's more elegant eating establishments may want to bring along more formal attire. Nudity is illegal throughout the islands but some hotels do allow it. Electricity Electricity follows the U.S. standard: 120/240 Volts/60 Cycles. Water The water is safe to drink, but it tastes different. Phone Service The Islands enjoy direct worldwide telephone access. Available telecommunications devices include fax machine, telexes, cellular phones, and Internet connections. Public phones operate by phone cards. Country code is 649. Network is through Cable and Wireless. Pay phones, calling cards, facsimile, Internet, cell phones for rent at various locations. If you have cell service in the USA please bring your phone with you because if you have International Roaming service with a cellular carrier that has a roaming agreement in the Caribbean then your phone will be able to make a receive calls while in the Turks and Caicos. If you do not have roaming then you will be able to make calls using the credit card platform. Time Zone Turks and Caicos is on EST and Daylight Savings Time is observed from April to October. Weather Bring your sunscreen. The Turks and Caicos average 350 days of sunshine per year. The tropical climate and cool island breezes are comfortable year round. Temperatures range from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temperatures rarely dip below 74 degrees. It’s like taking a bath. There is an annual rainfall of 21 inches on Grand Turk and South Caicos, but as you go further west the average rainfall could increase to 40 inches. In an average year the Turks and Caicos has 350 days of sunshine. Hurricane season can vary but usually runs from June to October. Tipping 15 percent gratuity is standard for wait staff, drivers and housekeeping personnel. Medical Assistance There is a hospital on Grand Turk, and an emergency care facility on Provo. Tourism Offices Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Tourist Board P.O. Box 128 Front Street Grand Turk Turks & Caicos Islands B.W.I. Telephone: +1 649-946-2321 Telephone: 1-800-241-0824 toll-free in North America Fax: +1 649-946-2733 Email: tci.tourism@tciway.tc Providenciales Turks & Caicos Tourist Board Stubbs Diamond Plaza P.O. Box 868 Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands Telephone: +1 649-946-4970 Fax: +1 649-941-5494 Canada Turks and Caicos Tourist Board R.R.# 2 Bancroft, Ontario, K0L 1C0 Telephone: +1 (613) 332-6472 Telephone: (866) 413-8875 toll-free in Canada Fax: +1 (613) 332-6473 U.K. TCI Information Office Mitre House 66 Abbey Road Bush Hill Park Enfield, Middlesex EN1 2QE Telephone: +44 181 350 1000 Fax: +44 181 350 1011 USA Turks & Caicos Tourist Board 2715 East Oakland Park Blvd, Suite 101 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306 Telephone: +1 (954) 568-6588 Telephone: (800) 241-0824 toll-free in USA Fax: +1 (954) 568-6586 Email: tcitrsm@bellsouth.net Turks & Caicos At A Glance - Language: English (official) Government: Overseas territory of the UK Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) Size: 430 sq km, 389 km of coastline Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti Climate: The average temperature ranges between 85 and 90 degrees (29-32 degrees celsius) from June to October, sometimes reaching the mid 90's (35 degrees celsius), especially in the late summer months. From November to May the average temperature is 80 to 84 degrees (27-29 degrees celsius). Electricity: Electricity follows the U.S. standard: 120/240 Volts/60 Cycles. Currency: US dollar (USD) Driving: Drive on left Rentals: A valid driver’s license from your place of residence is required when renting a vehicle
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