Turks and Caicos is the Caribbean bolthole on our radar this year

I am a firm believer that you can tell the soul of a place straight off the plane at the airport. Focus in on a few small details and it’s all there: how the air smells, how engaged airport personnel appear (with you, not their phones), the path from plane to exit, be it longwinded and staged under fluorescent light or a bit makeshift through rogue immigration next to stray cats in the terminal.

When it came time to step out onto Providenciales, the main air strip in the cluster of islands that make up the Turks and Caicos, I knew instantly I was in for bliss. A salty warm breeze woke me from a drowsy state off the long haul as the setting sun illuminated a carpet of piercing green mangroves that met the pavement of the landing area. There was a sweetness in the air from the sweating greenery and everything moved slower – and demanded that we take its pace as shoulders dropped and steps grew shorter.

From here, a scene-setting speedboat ride brought us onto the private island retreat of Como Parrot Cay – close to North Caicos, one of the largest islands – jetting past perfect deserted beaches. Como’s Singaporean owner Christina Ong was one of the first to bring luxury onto the Turks and Caicos in 1998. Now under the careful watch of her daughter, Melissa, it remains a success story, having gone through rounds of restorations and modifications for the changes of modern life.

Terrace restaurant at Como Parrot Cay

Today it gleams with freshly painted interiors full of light, which at all times make the most of the views of the sea’s punctuating turquoise hue. Accommodation comes in different forms, from rooms of varying sizes with balconies to standalone villas scattered throughout the island, hidden in privacy to cater to guests from Julia Roberts to Barbara Streisand and Penelope Cruz. The food at Lotus is Indo-inspired, with kicks of sambal and plays on sweet and sour typical of Asian cuisine. It’s laid out on a raised wooden deck along the beach and next to the main pool. There’s also an Italian-Mediterranean restaurant called Terrace which is less casual and tucked further inland but still overlooking those impossibly beautiful views.

Como Parrot Cay is a self-contained paradise where you feel perfectly happy to be out of touch with the world. For families, couples or solo travellers, it’s a place to feel at ease in every sense of the word. Much of this is due to the private island setting, which makes you literally feel worlds away from life’s demands or stresses, but the majority is due to the well-ironed runnings of the hotel, from smooth service to incredible food and Shambal retreats (also inspired by Indonesia). Wellness is a strength of the Como brand across all its hotels and Parrot Cay is no exception.