When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Providenciales?
Weather in the Turks and Caicos Islands is hot year-round. If you fly outside of the peak season (December to April), you can often find cheap flights to Providenciales in the summer and autumn. However, there is an increased risk of hurricanes, particularly in August and September. May and July tend to be some of the cheapest months to book flights to Providenciales.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Providenciales?
For cheap flights to Providenciales, search for flights in the low season. If you wish to avoid the risk of hurricanes disrupting your travels, look for budget flights to Providenciales during the high season by booking your trip at least five months in advance. Be flexible with your travel dates to secure the best deals and be on the lookout for last-minute flights.
Flying to Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is the only international airport on the Turks and Caicos Islands. For international tourists, the airport is the main access point for the country’s other islands as well as the island of Providenciales, which is just 98 square kilometres in size. It is about a ten-minute journey to the main resorts of Grace Bay.
The most regular return flights to Providenciales leave from London Gatwick with British Airways and fly via the Caribbean island of Antigua. The airline also offers Providenciales flights from London Heathrow via Miami International Airport in the United States (US). However, you can still get flights to PLS from other major United Kingdom (UK) airports, such as Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh if you fly via the US. Stops in America may include New York, Boston, Chicago or Atlanta. Some – but not all – may require passengers to change airlines.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
There is only one terminal at PLS, so navigating the airport is quite straightforward. There is just one baggage carousel in the arrivals hall. Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport as well as many souvenir and jewellery shops, duty-free stores and a restaurant. There is no currency exchange at the airport, so it’s a good idea to bring cash with you for onward travel.
Getting to the City from Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
There is no official public transport on Providenciales, so passengers are limited to taxis, hotel shuttles or car hires for travel around the island. Taxis – usually a minivan – are available outside the baggage claim area. They have set fares to a myriad of destinations, but they charge extra per passenger, so it is highly recommended that you confirm the total cost – not just the per passenger cost – before setting off. To keep overall costs down as taxis can get expensive, visitors should hire a car to get around the island. Some accommodations will offer free airport pick-ups.
Why Visit Providenciales?
Brilliant, turquoise waters, white, sandy beaches that stretch for miles and a dazzling coral reef thriving just beneath the waves. Known as Provo to the locals, it is the most populated and most developed island in Turks and Caicos. Grace Bay is by far the most popular beach, where you will find an array of luxury resorts lining the five-kilometre long bay.
If you need a break from relaxing on the beach, diving and snorkelling are popular activities around the island. You will be able to spot young sharks, turtles, starfish and stingrays if you venture out to the island’s sheltered wetlands or the Chalk Sound National Park, where you can hire yourself a stand-up paddle board or kayak to explore the area. Bird lovers should visit the Northwest Point, a protected and isolated area of the island, where you have a good chance of spotting ospreys and brown pelicans. If you’re lucky, you may even see a few flamingos or great blue herons as well.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
You do not need a visa if you have a valid UK passport. You will normally be allowed to stay for 90 days. If you intend to work on any of the islands, however, you need to obtain a permit first. Your passport should also be valid for at least six months after the date of entry into the Turks and Caicos Islands. The islands use the US dollar as their currency. Since it is hard to exchange money on the islands, bring enough cash with you for the entirety of your stay if you can. ATMs are available on Providenciales.
