Our very own Rachel Taylor has recently returned from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her first impressions of the atmosphere where "peaceful and tranquil". Here is her report of the holiday.

“After an 11 hour flight on the service to Providenciales, I was pleased that the transfer to Grace Bay was only 10 minutes. Peaceful and tranquil sum up my first impressions. After checking into my large garden room I headed for the al fresco restaurant which offered an excellent choice of seafood and includes the speciality dish of the island "Conch".

The following afternoon it was just a short boat transfer to Parrot Cay where I was immediately whisked off to my room by a golf cart! Although my room was classed as standard, it was anything but. It was spacious with a large 4 poster bed and a wonderful terrace overlooking the garden.

The beach at Parrot Cay was absolutely fantastic. I knew before I travelled to that Turks and Caicos that they were famous for their beached but they really were better than I expected.

Next stop was the Bahamas and the Pink Sands luxury resort. This fabulous hotel can be reached by a 25 minute flight from Nassau than a water taxi to Harbour Island, not really a big a hassle as it sounds!

Total calm and relaxation were again dominant impressions, plus of course the pink hues of the building and the stepping stones which lead to the spacious bar, offering a nice atmosphere and refined comfort with its large sofas. The stepping stones were more of a challenge on the way out after a couple of rum punches.

I should add that I though the food was fantastic with a great menu selection.

If a week or so of relaxing indulgence in stunning surroundings on some of the best beaches on the planet appeal to you then I strongly recommend this relatively undiscovered corner of the world. But hurry! it may not remain a secret for long!