Vacation Rentals by Owner

Off the Beaten Path

Guest: Jean (Windsor, CT)
Date of Stay: 05/05/12 Review Submitted: 05/17/12

My husband and I had a wonderful time in Grand Turk. It was quiet and relaxing. However, if you are looking for luxury like would would find at a fancy resort, this is not the place for you. It had everything you would need to function and the views from the balcony were incredible. But since this was the first time we stayed somewhere other than an all inclusive resort, it took some getting used to the limited selection at the grocery store, etc. The beach in front of the house was not great for swimming. Too much seaweed and garbage but there was a nice beach on the other side of town. Overall Bryan was a gracious host and his accomodations were sufficient.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

A Little Piece of Heaven

Guest: Heather (West Virginia)
Date of Stay: 04/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/06/12

The host, the view, the entire experience was most awesome. I think this has to be one of the prettiest places I have ever been. The view from the deck is beautiful. We watched the sunrise each morning as the breeze blew so calmly. Bryan was very accommidating picking us up at the airport and showing us the must sees of the island. The beach house was very nice having all the convenience of home. Bryan, Mel and Brenda was terrific.....This is my second visit in less than 6 months. The first visit was with my husband for the best anniversary ever. I then brought my mom and children back so they too could enjoy the view and beauty of this island. The price is right and the memories are forever!!!! Thanks Bryan for sharing your little piece of heaven with us. IF you have any question that God is for real....just visit and you will know for sure.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Best Vacation of Our Lives

Guest: Ted and Debbie (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 12/28/11 Review Submitted: 01/10/12

We love the Caribbean, but have never experienced it like this. Brian's place is 50 or 100 feet above the sea and has a constant breeze. Normally we left all the windows (screened) and doors open. There are iron bars all around to make some guests feel more secure, but as far as we could tell, there is zero need to worry about any kind of crime whatsoever and/or wherever. We were never hot, but occasionally we had to close a few things when we got chilly. Certainly much better than the other way around. The beach house is very clean and nicely but simply furnished. Coffee maker, microwave, fridge, electric stove. The shower is roomy, but plan to rinse, turn water off, soap up, then rinse off again. Takes a little getting used to, but not a biggie. Water and electric are high-priced commodities on the island, so conserving a bit while staying perfectly clean worked for us. The patio overlooking the ocean is simply incredible with the panoramic view of the ocean and the often-flowering and/or lush vegetation between you and the ocean. One thing that is NOT between you and the ocean are houses or other people. But you might see some wild donkeys that have been granted their retirement and set freee from the now-defunct salt industry. Bryan's place has the only path to the ocean that we could see anywhere. And you could walk as far as you wanted without seeing anyone else. The lighthouse is about a 5 minute walk up the road. If you want to see the most amazing sight I have ever seen in the Caribbean, take a right out of the back gate of the lighthouse and take the 5 minute walk to the end. You will see every color of ocean on earth at one time.......and more. Brian's most excellent caretaker is Mal who lives on the bottom floor (with no indoor stairs or anything to the upper level). He is available 24/7 to help with whatever you need. He got us a discount on renting a gas-powered golf cart for a week. It was a fantastic way to get around and explore every nook and cranny of the island. The open-air freedom of the cart is much better than a car. Our favorite places were the Osprey Hotel and the Bohio Hotel. Both are right on the ocean so you can have a beer, lunch, or dinner while watching the waves roll in. The Bohio has a fantastic beach bar right on the ocean. For local fare, look up Barbie's restaraunt in town for a lunch of conch fritters, burgers, beer, or Jamaican patties. No more room...Go there, relax, be happy.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Most Relaxing Vacation EVER!

Guest: Pirates of the Conch (Chattanooga, TN USA)
Date of Stay: 08/13/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

We have never experienced a more relaxing vacation in our lives. Non touristy place, fabulous beaches all over the island. We snorkeled every day, Mal, the house man, cleaned some Conch we got close to the house and told us how to cook them. WOW! Very congenial people assist you or give you space as you need it. We will most definately go back to this location. Accomodations are as described, we jokingly called it Camping on the Caribbean but it was again, so far the best vacation we have ever had. Better than Jamaica, Mexico, Costa Rica, Grand Caymen,Hawaii and definately better than Florida. Very rural setting. Plan on doubling your usual grocery money here. The Sand Bar and Bohio are two great eating choices and local favorites. If you are looking for a resort, go somewhere else. If you want to put the daily grind behind you and quickly move to "Island time", come here. The beach right by the house is not too cool, but with so many other choices that he shows you on the free island tour it more than compensates.We tried a different beach everyday and almost never saw anyone else. You will fall in love with Simon the dog if you are an animal lover, the donkeys, horses and cows freely roaming the island are hilarious. They will help you keep to the 20 - 40 mph speed limit on the Island. We used the bicycles as well. Go here with the mind set of you will be alone, you are safe and the locals are cool. If you get lost driving around don't worry, the island is 6 miles long and 2 miles wide at the most, just ask somebody.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Escape

Guest: Peter (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

Don't go to Bryan's Beach House if you love crowds, noise, and spending lots of money. And don't go there if you must have golf, tennis, parasailing, and other Nassau-like attractions. Do go if you seek a clean, quiet, modern condo with full kitchen, separate bedroom, veranda, satellite TV/music, and a virtually deserted beach, where you and family/friends can swim and snorkel with no chance of bumping into anyone. There is no AC, but there is absolutely no need for it. At about 71 degrees West Longitude, the only land east of the large veranda is West Africa, which you can't quite see. Consequently, there is a cooling Atlantic breeze 24/7. I often kept the ceiling fans in shut-off mode. The condo is about 3 miles from Cockburntown, where you find food shopping, some beach-front restaurants/bars, and dive shops. One could rent a car, but I used Bryan's somewhat elderly pickup to go to town for diving and shopping. He charged $25 a day for gas---which went from $5.65 to $5.80 while I was there. I never drove above 30-35 m.p.h., and made it to the dive shop every morning in about 10 minutes. (Watch out for wandering donkeys, horses, and cattle!) Bryan, a Turks and Caicos "belonger" (look it up), is a transplant from Wyoming and New York's Greenwich Village who delights in his role as host. He (or his handyman) will pick you up at the airport and take you food shopping. On the second day, he takes new guests on an island tour. If you have any questions or problems while there, his house is about 50 feet away. I hope to return. p.s. i stayed in the second floor apt., didn't see the first, but it was all built just two years ago. Resubmit Your Review

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Paradisical getaway without the commercial hub-bub

Guest: Natasha and Tony (Carmel, CA USA)
Date of Stay: 05/17/11 Review Submitted: 05/29/11

We stayed at Bryan's from 5/17 through the 22nd, 2011. It was peaceful and quiet. Perfect for us, getting away from it all. We cooked for ourselves, went to the beach just a 4 minute walk, rested and swam. We used Bryan's truck for a nominal fee, when we wanted to explore or shop for provisions. We loved the breeze and the deck, especially in the mornings. This is the quiet, non commercial end of the island, very safe and lovely. Bryan is a kind and sharing host. He is helpful and considerate, offering to give a tour when requested but also respecting the desire for privacy. There is a sweet, sweet dog on the premises who happily escorts you down to the beach. All in all an idyllic experience for us. Upon returning to Grand Turk we would choose to stay at Bryan's.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Privacy, Privacy, Privacy

Guest: Chris & Tiffany (Park City, UT)
Date of Stay: 04/27/11 Review Submitted: 05/21/11

My girlfriend and I just spent 2 fabulous weeks at Bryan's Beach House. It was everything we had expected it to be and more. Just like all the other reviewers say, Bryan is a great host. He picked us up at the airport and gave us a tour of the island and showed us where all the stores and shops for groceries and other goods are. Many places we would never have found otherwise. We spent most days at the house on the private beach never seeing another person. On adventurous days we rode the bicycles to town or Margaritaville where the cruise ships come in. If you are looking for glitz and glamour Grand Turk is not for you. Many evenings after grilling fresh fish or steaks we were entertained by the honks of the neighboring donkeys and feel they are part of the history of the island. Bryan let us use his truck and only asked that we put gas in it. I don't think you will ever find a better deal on lodging in the carribean. Bryan and Mel his house man were great resources for any questions we had. Everywhere we went we were treated like locals when they knew we were guests of Bryan's. Given the chance we would definately go back. Bryan made us feel like part of the family.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Sorry it took so long, but my memories serve me well.

Guest: Mendoza (Brooklyn, NYC)
Date of Stay: 04/08/11 Review Submitted: 03/09/12

I remember my girlfriend, Valerie as she sat on the balcony, looking out to the ocean and seeing whales breach for the first time in her life. The smile and excitement was worth the delayed flights , and the hot airport. It was worth everything because I couldn't ask for a better experience or a better home for us to be in. Yes,Bryan's Beach House was home. I woke up every morning to walk down the path to the beach. Walking all by myself in search for the treasures that the ocean offered me washed up on the abandoned beaches on this side of the island. Coming back in time to explore the manicured more popular beaches on the other side of the island. Catching the sunset on the flats where we could find conch and the elusive bonefish that laughed at us as we attempted to get acquainted. The at night hand lining dinner from the abundant waters from our beach at night with Mal and little Simon, my downstairs neighbors. I drove all around the island in Bryan's truck and slept nightly with the gorgeous trade winds constantly reminding me why there were no mosquitoes on this part of the island, and why an air condition seem ridiculous. The braying of the donkeys and the call of the birds that nested nearby keep me in the pages of book of mariners living on islands long ago. I have to say for my many experiences traveling and island hopping, I will always remember Bryan, his wonderful guest home, and Grand Turk with fond, fond memories. If you need a quiet, out of the way place that is surrounded by organic and not the forced beauty of your typical resort, come stay here. Come live like a local and wave at passers by, or come give a new friend a lift in the back of the truck. Do yourself a favor and forget where you come from and just get into where you are. Grand Turk, Bryan's home, your home under different stars, with the sweet winds, and the deserted eastern beaches. Slow down your inner clock at Bryan's Beach House, it'll help you live longer. Say hi to Bryan for me. Thanks.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Charming, friendly and a one of a kind experience!

Guest: SummerLove (Florence, NJ)
Date of Stay: 03/09/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11

Well after reading the previous review I was a little skeptical, but tickets were booked so we thought we'd take our chances, and boy are we glad we did! Perhaps this island isn't the right place for the stuck up and snobby, but for those looking for adventure and a unique experience, it's exactly the right place! Our host Bryan, couldn't be more helpful and pleasant. He took us on an island tour, showed us where to buy groceries, where to eat out, where to go for snorkel/dive trips, the best beaches to visit, etc. The house was clean and lovely with stunning views, we enjoyed breakfast on the ocean view balcony every morning as the sun came up. You can walk down to the beach, however, the walkway is always in constant repair because of all of the wild donkey's and horses who parade over it. The beach is on the east side of the island where all of the surf washes up and there is some seaweed, so while it's perfectly fine to walk or sit or go for a swim, it may not be the nicest beach on the island. It's about a 5-10 minute drive to the other side of the island where you can find your untainted beaches, Pillory Beach or Governers Beach. The downfall there is, you will run into lots of cruise ship toursits, where as on Bryan's beach you probably won't see another soul, which we loved! It's very close to the lighthouse, where you can easily walk to or bike ride and see great views of the etire island. There were two nice bikes with baskets available (upon request), which we used to explore the island. Overall we were VERY pleased, this was a one of a kind experience and we'd definately go back again!

Owner response:We've tried successfully to create a nice, private beach and condo situation here, and are always asking for suggestions or needs from the clients. We're plesed to furnish bicycles or my pickup truck, asking only that the pay for the gas, which, of course, is expensive here. We have good repeat business, and our guest book is full of nice compliments and kudos, without a single negative mention.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Relaxing Beach Holiday

Guest: Marian (Langley, BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/08/11 Review Submitted: 04/17/11

My husband and I stayed for 3 weeks in March and didn't want to go home - we enjoyed everything. Bryan picked us up at the airport then took us on an informative trip around the island, pointing out beaches and restaurants as well as relaying interesting local history. We valued being able to ask all kinds of questions that only a person with a long history on Grand Turk would be able to answer. He is the perfect host - there if you need him, but left on your own, if desired. We found the house fit our needs and is exactly as shown in the pictures; it had beautiful views and a great balcony (and no bugs of any kind). The beach was perfect for long walks on soft white sand, often we didn't see another person. It isn't a resort, so we didn't expect the beach to be swept of seagrass for us. We borrowed bikes when we felt energetic or used his truck when we didn't. It was much cheaper than renting a car, especially if you only needed to go to town for groceries or an afternoon at a beach on the lee side, which is nicer for swimming. We enjoyed scuba diving, whale watching and also a trip to Gibb's Cay to see the stingrays. The island itself has a nice 'away from everything' feel - best for people who like to read, walk on the beach, eat local food in beautiful suroundings, and enjoy the turquoise water. It is very 'untouristy' which we appreciated -we would love to go back.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway.

Bryan's Beach House was great - January 22 - Feb 5, 2011

Guest: Smiles (Naramata, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/16/11

The other reviewer's cup was half empty! We were there for 2 weeks and loved it. Bryan's Beach House pictures are exactly as it is. The accomodations are simple, clean and basic, and as the previous reviewer says, you get what you pay for. If you expect luxury for $100 night, I say good luck with that! Bryan is a fabulous host, extremely knowlegeable about the island and pretty much about anything else! We highly recommend you have Bryan take you on a tour of the island when you arrive to show you where all the shops are, as most stores do not have signage, so unless you are a local you will never find the meat market! Bryan is well known on the island, and every local we met thinks highly of him! Yes, the beach has seaweed on it, and other plastics that wash up on the windward side of the island. It took nothing to rake up the seaweed to create a nice sunbathing spot for ourselves. You rarely see another soul on the beach, very private. You can walk the beach for hours, and maybe you will see the occasional local fisherman or someone walking. The palette walkway is in disrepair, and hopefully Bryan is getting that fixed up, which we suggested. Air conditioning was not necessary, if you keep the windows open to allow the breeze through. The noise of the wind put us to sleep each night! We never even used the fans. Bryan's truck has seen better days, but the price was right to use it and it never broke down! Much cheaper than renting a vehicle and you definitely need transportation, as too far and too hot to walk from town with groceries! The basement apartment is occupied with his houseman when it is not rented. There were no issues with privacy, etc. The island has beautiful beaches free of seaweed on the south and west side, which we took advantage of lots. There are many nice restaurants, although we only went out for lunch twice as we really like cooking in. Fishing is great too! We would highly recommend Bryan's Beach House to those who want a peaceful, relaxing, low key vacation. We loved it so much, we are going back for 3 weeks in 2012!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, pet owners, sightseeing.

real island living

Guest: Bella (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 12/11/10 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

This review is long overdue. We stayed from mid Dec - Jan. By far, Bryan has the best property on the island. The view from the patio is stunning! Views such as this are usually costly, but Bryan's house is so reasonbly priced. Bryan's house is on "The Ridge" with beach access that gives you complete privacy. If you like shelling, the shells on Bryan's beach are georgeous and abundant because they are not picked over by tourist. The accomodations are simple, charming and you will have everything you need. The rooms are spacious, including the bathroom where you will have plenty of room to place your luggage, hang your clothes, etc.. There is no need for A/C because there is a constant cool breeze that blows through the house. You may hear an occasional braying donkey during the night, but in our oppinion, the wild horses, donkeys and cows only added to the charm of the island. There was nothing we wanted or needed that Bryan did not provide. He really does aim to please his guests. He is a great host who is well known and loved throughout the island. Some suggestions - make a poing of taking a trip to Salt Cay if you can where Bryan used to run a guest house and dive business. Gibbs Cay is also a nice visit. Eat at Bohio and Sandbar, but I would avoid Osprey. The food was decent there, but the service was terrible. Also bring anything you are brand loyal to, as this is a small island and selection is limited. This little island is a true paradise and provide the most unique vacation experience of our lives. We miss it and can't wait to visit Bryan again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Lovely place for relaxation

Guest: HappyLady (Arlington, VA)
Date of Stay: 12/10/10 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

My husband and I went to Grand Turk for our 20th wedding anniversary, and were looking for a place to relax and do some diving. We had friends who visited the island before who highly reccommended it. Our accomadations were very nice, clean, and simple. Kitchen was great for cooking and saved us money on eating out. Beautiful views of the private beach below and walking distance to North Creek were you can do lots of exploring. Bryan was nice enough to get us some groceries before hand and stocked our refridgerator, including some fresh red snapper! We spent most of our time on the beach reading books or scuba diving, which was fantastic! We even got to swim with the whales!! Our daughter came to visit for our last week there and stayed in the downstairs apartment, which was also a nice clean room and had everything she needed. The prices were good compared to the hotels downtown and it was a lot more private. It is an island in the tropics so there were some bugs, but I received the same report from our friends who stayed in the most expensive hotel on the island, so I don't think you can escape them anywhere, but do pack your bug spray! All in all we loved it, and if we make it to another 20 years we'll be back again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

a unique experience

Guest: stella (Halifax, NS, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/15/10 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

I watched as "Bryan's Beach House" became a reality - a phoenix rising from the ashes so to speak. The owners of this wonderful place lost everything to Hurricane Ike a few years ago. With pride and determination they set to work and created this spectacular beach house - built upon the site of their ruined home - and calling it simply - "Bryan's Beach House ". The view from the balcony is breath taking, the accommodations so much more than the pictures can show - decorated with comfort in mind, but such style! Bryan is a host beyond description - friendly and helpful beyond compare - a tour of the island as we were driven from the airport - with such useful information. The island is somewhat of a "diamond in the rough" - where the unsuspecting might be left to flounder in frustration. However, with Bryan's assistance we were shown the best shopping places and popular attractions. The island of Grand Turk is certainly not a polished resort - but a rare gem none the less - full of adventure for those who seek it, a place of wonder for those seeking inspiration, the privacy necessary for soul searching - something for everyone! Bryan's Beach House is a trip well worth taking - everything you see in the pictures, and so much more!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A lovely private hideaway

Guest: Divergirl (London, UK)
Date of Stay: 02/27/10 Review Submitted: 03/22/11

My husband and I had a wonderful time at Bryan's Beach House. The property is clean, light, and spacious. We were very comfortable. It is on the windward side of the island, so there was always a lovely cool breeze. Bryan was very helpful, picked us up at the airport, showed us where to buy groceries, and recommended local restaurants. The best part of the house is the deck, which has a lovely view over the water. We even saw a big pod of humpback whales swim by one morning as we were having breakfast. Also great for birdwatching - lots of osprey & pelican fly-bys. As it's the windward side of the island, there is some seaweed & other bits that wash ashore on the beach. But it felt very safe, & private, and we often saw turtles in the surf on early morning beach walks. We once saw a small group of flamingoes down there too. Grand Turk is best for the adventuresome. If you come seeking luxury, you will probably be disappointed. But, the diving is great and we didn't have a single mediocre meal anywhere we went. There are some very nice (but simple) historic hotels 'downtown.' We chose this place as we were on a budget, and I think it's a great option for a longer stay. It was nice to have our own kitchen. One night we barbecued lionfish on the grill, caught & cleaned for us for free courtesy of the local divemasters - delicious! Bryan has bikes, it's about a 4-5 mile trip 'downtown.' For the less athletic, probably would be easier to rent your own car, or a golf cart.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

don't waste your money

Guest: crystalwulf (MD)
Date of Stay: 02/15/10 Review Submitted: 03/26/10

Since the time I stayed, the owner has changed some of his verbage in the listing. The "nice" pickup is not nice. It is an old beat up unreliable junker. the tail gate is taped together, has dents everywhere, tail lite broken. It is dirty and smells. Very small ford pickup that will only seat 2 people, unless you want to be sitting on one another's laps. ( where are the photos of this) Oh, yes you will fill the tank @ 4.65/gallon, unless you are the fortunate ones to be renting right after someone else just filled the tank, and probably only use 4 gallons. The amenities are minimal. The surrounding grounds are unkempt. The walk way down to the beach is in ill need of repair, uneven broken down pallets. Not ideal for elderly or young children. the beach is dirty, full of debris and unraked. Unless you want to lay in smelly seaweed, not recommended for sunbathing or swimming. the west side of the island is much better for swimming and sunbathing. Oh yeah and no mention of the stone throw away corrals of braying donkeys and traffic from the cruise center tourists. This side of the island is very windy. If your a light sleeper, don't plan on sleeping. There is no air conditioning so everything you own will be damp. The ceiling fan in the living room does not work. the ceiling fan in upstairs bedroom....noisy. Oh yes, lets mention the ants and cockroaches. And the no one unknown to you in your party will not be staying in the downstairs..lie. we were surprised to find a guest not known to us living there. Bikes..what bikes? I would not recommend this rental property. You would not need a rental if you stayed on the west side of the island closer to so called town. Good restaraunts to visit...sea garden, bohio and sand bar. osprey was poor service and hospitality. you may think this is a deal to stay, hmmm. spend a little more and stay elsewhere. remember you get what you pay for...in this case it is true.

Owner response:I run an outstanding single condo in Grand Turk, which has met with great success since I built and opened it, two years ago. This season, the word has spread, and we have been totally-booked from December through June, with many repeat clients from the year before. My guest book is packed with highly complimentary reviews from satisfied guests.. While these 2 were here, they seemed like happy campers, and never made a complaint to me, or made a request that went unanswered. They never asked for bikes, although we had brand new ones available for them.I gave them my pickup truck to use, for free, and they were only to pay for the gas (a reasonable offer, given the expense of gas or car rentals here). In September of '08 the truck went through Hurricane Ike, and like all of Grand Turk, took a bit of a cosmetic beating, which in no way affected the operation of the truck, it's doors, windows, engine, or anything important. Regarding the condition of the grounds, which are totally normal for a beach property with regular beach grasses, bushes, and shrubbery. This not a golf course! I have a palette board-walk to the beach, which we try constantly to maintain, but who's boards often get broken by the wild donkeys, cattle, and horses Most visitors say that they find the animals charming and fun. As we are on the windward side of the island, some seaweed does blow in, as well as the odd-flotsam from the Eastern Caribbean, and cruise ships. We clean it up as often as we can, but you would need a full-time beach clean-up crew to keep it immaculate, like the expensive, big 450-room hotels in Provo have. Because I couldn't possibly afford this -- with 1 condo -- my reasonable prices balance this. What those guys, charge a night, I charge a week! We do have a constant sea breeze, which most people love, as opposed to electric air conditioning, and get many compliments for not having! And there is certainly no dampness. And we rarely have any bugs ... the breezes keep away the mosquitoes. But you can't please everyone! These 2 were my turn, I guess! Read my other reviews

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