Language
English is the official language in the Turks & Caicos.

Location
The Turks & Caicos Islands are an archipelago of forty islands and cays 575 miles southeast of Miami, one hundred miles north of the Dominican Republic and thirty miles southeast of the Bahamas. Ninety minutes flying time from Miami, the TCI cover a land area of 193 square miles. Each island is surrounded by a continuous coral reef.

Time Zone
We are five hours behind Greenwich Main Time. Eastern Standard Time October to April; Daylight Savings Time is from April to October.

Climate
The country enjoys year-round sunshine with a prevailing easterly breeze from the Atlantic trade winds. The average temperature in the summer is 83 degrees F (28 degrees C) and 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in the winter months. The seasons are usually dry, receiving an average of only twenty to forty inches of rain per year. The average humidity is 35%. During the summer months the sun rises at approximately 6am and sets at 7:30pm. In winter, sunrise is at 6:30 am and sunset is at 5pm. The hottest months are July to October. Water temperature is in the low 80's all year long.

Crime
The Turks and Caicos has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, crime rates in the Caribbean.

Food
There are many different restaurants to choose from on the island depending on your taste, and also many supermarkets which offer just about anything you can buy in North America.

Currency
The United States Dollar is our legal tender. American Express, Visa, MasterCard and other major credit cards are widely accepted. Traveler's checks are accepted in most establishments and currency is easily changed at banks.

Taxes & Tipping
No major taxes exist in the islands. The Government recently introduced a 10% tax on all renters in Turks and Caicos, whether the rental is a hotel or a villa. However, many hotels add an additional 15% gratuity tax, unknown until check-out time. Our villa does not charge this tax. Some restaurants will automatically add a gratuity charge on your dining bill, usually 10 to 15%.

Electricity
One Hundred and Ten volts, 60 cycles-suitable for North American electronic appliances.

Driving
Driving is on the left. Visitors will need a valid drivers license from their country of residence. There are no traffic lights as of yet; just a few stop signs. Most rental cars come with automatic transmission.

Houses of Worship
The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to many religions. Services are offered at many churches of different denominations and temples. Check the Real TCI Yellow Pages for listings.