Ignacio Maza, executive vice president of the Signature Travel Network, recently returned to COMO Parrot Cay and is back with this report.
I have been a big fan of COMO Parrot Cay since my visit almost 20 years ago. In a world that gets louder, faster and more stressful, it’s comforting to know there are still special places that deliver complete relaxation in a peaceful atmosphere with superb service.
It takes some effort to get to COMO Parrot Cay, but I promise you, it’s well worth it. First, I flew to Providenciales (PLS), the main airport in Turks and Caicos. After clearing customs and immigration, a COMO Parrot Cay representative met me and directed me to my transfer, for the short drive to the resort’s private marina. From here, resort guests board one of COMO Parrot Cay’s motorboats for a scenic, 30-minute ride to the island. Once guests disembark at Parrot Cay’s pier, they are escorted to their guestroom or villa in a golf cart. The whole process is seamless. Because COMO Parrot Cay is on a private island, the atmosphere is calm and secluded. There are no cars. Guests and staff get around on foot, bicycle or on a golf cart. The island measures about a thousand acres, including fruit and herb gardens, as well as coconut and banana plantations.
What’s new? COMO Parrot Cay continues to reinvent itself and has undergone a series of recent renovations and enhancements. This includes reimagined guestrooms and villas, new Beach Houses with private pools, an adults-only swimming pool and Beach Club, a “Play by COMO” children’s space and a new fitness center, among many upgrades. Overall, the resort is looking better than ever.
COMO Parrot Cay (here and below) has 59 guestrooms and beachfront villas, offering guests plenty of space and privacy.
Where to stay? With only 59 guestrooms and beachfront villas, guests have plenty of space and privacy. You are spoiled for choice at COMO Parrot Cay, with a wide range of accommodation options. The starting categories are the Garden and Ocean Facing guestrooms, located in a series of bungalows next to the main resort building, where the reception is located. The guestrooms are quite spacious, about 620 square feet, including a generously sized terrace and a banquette that can accommodate a child. For guests looking for more room, book the Suites, offering 1,300 square feet of space, with one and a half bathrooms and a larger verandah. Guestrooms and Suites are just a five-minute walk from the main beach and resort pool.
If you prefer to have direct beach access, the resort offers a range of Beach Houses and Villas in one- to three-bedroom configurations, with up to 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space just steps from the ocean. Beach Houses and Villas include sundecks, outdoor showers, and private pools. All guest accommodations are bright and light. Décor is white-on-white, with teak furniture, sofas upholstered in light cotton, wood floors and simplicity throughout. You feel relaxed the minute you walk into your guestroom or beachfront home.
In addition to the COMO Parrot Cay guestroom and villa inventory, the resort offers a great collection of private beachfront estates, located just a short golf cart drive away from the main resort facilities. These special residences have two to five bedrooms with up to 7,000 square feet of space, are individually owned and decorated, each with its own unique personality. Every private estate has a different layout, including some with a master bedroom pavilion, a private cabana by the beach, two levels or other distinct feature.
A big plus when upgrading: all two-bedroom Beach Houses, Villas and private residences are staffed with a personal butler who makes magic happen, day and night.
Beyond the elegant and whitewashed guest accommodations, COMO Parrot Cay has many unique selling points. Above all is the beautiful, mile-long white-sand beach with crystal clear water that changes color throughout the day, as the tide comes in and out. A reef in the distance shields the resort from big waves and makes the ocean waters picture perfect.
Another major highlight, without a doubt, is the heartfelt service delivered by a team of Turks and Caicos Islanders and Indonesian professionals that make you feel at home from the moment you arrive on property.
Ignacio Maza writes that the resort delivers complete relaxation in a peaceful atmosphere with superb service.
The COMO Hotels and Resorts brand is known for its superb wellness facilities and programs, and COMO Parrot Cay does not disappoint. One of the best-loved features of the resort is its COMO Shambhala Retreat, an enormous wellness complex that has won awards, including “most tranquil Spa” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. The Spa is known for the quality of its therapists, most of them trained in Bali to very high standards. Choose from Asian-inspired holistic therapies or traditional treatments. After your therapy, enjoy the outdoor jacuzzi with views of the mangroves and lagoons in the distance, the perfect way to unwind. The resort also offers yoga, Pilates and meditation classes, which guests can sign up for. In addition, the resort also has a well-equipped fitness facility.
Dining is another forte of COMO Parrot Cay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served poolside, offering a blend of Caribbean, Mediterranean and Southeast Asian dishes. In addition, enjoy dinner at the Terrace Restaurant, with a Mediterranean menu with an Asian twist. At both restaurants, guests also have the option to order dishes from the COMO Shambhala wellness cuisine, featuring organic ingredients that are wholesome and healthful, giving you the best of both worlds. I loved the smoothies in the morning, grilled dishes at lunch and seafood specialties at dinner — all standouts. Whatever you do, don’t miss the homemade coconut sorbet, my absolute favorite dessert on property.
The Beach Club
COMO Parrot Cay offers a wide range of activities on and off property. While at the resort, enjoy complimentary watersports, including kayaks, sunfish sailboats and stand-up paddle boards. In addition, there are tennis courts on property, with the option to book a session with a staff member to brush up your game. Other options include eco-adventures such as kayaking through the mangroves. Runners have a dedicated plantation trail, and bikers are free to explore the island from one end to the other. Off property, enjoy snorkeling, diving, cultural explorations in North Caicos, bone or deep-sea fishing and more. The resort’s concierge can arrange private boat charters for a half or full day of adventures. The truth is, you could spend a week at COMO Parrot Cay and never run out of things to do. You can be as active as you want to be, or — do nothing at all.
The guestrooms have teak furniture and wood floors.
There are resorts you stay at and resorts that stay with you. For me, COMO Parrot Cay is very much in the latter category. Long after you leave, you’ll remember the heartfelt service and the serene and tranquil environment. This is also why loyal guests return year after year.
For help with your next reservation,contact Jessica Sarkin ([email protected]), director of sales and marketing for COMO Parrot Cay.