From what I understand- there was a rift in Coral Gardens management and the individual owners, and the old management is now Reef Residences, and still have a few units at Coral Gardens, and they are trying to hang on to that name. The new management at Coral Gardens is marketing as Condos at Coral Gardens in order to get their rooms out there. So, if you are staying at Condo's at Coral Gardens you should be just fine, you are on original beachfront property, with new management company. I stayed there in the summer. Their website is www.coralgardensongracebay.com

Reef Residences is built behind the original buildings and is not beachfront. The Coral Gardens website is now showing as Reef Residences.

My husband and I have stayed at Coral Gardens about 6 times. We just returned from TCI and did not stay at CG this last time (we stayed at The Palms). Part of the reason we didn't stay was because of the rift we had read about on-line and which the previous poster refers to. I still really like Coral Gardens and will stay there in the future.

If you can get a condo on the dates desired you should take it. You will not be disappointed. CG is great. Smaller than many of the larger "resort tyoe" places, but very friendly and with a great beach and the best snorkling right in front.

We toured the Reef Residences when were there in early Dec. and while they are very lovely to look at, i would not stay there. Guests literally have to walk through a construction site to get to the beach. They are not on the beach which is a major negative.

You should also be aware that the highly acclaimed restaurant, Coyaba has moved and is no longer at Coral Gardens. While it is disappointing that it isn't on-site, you can still visit all of the great restaurants that the island has to offer by taking taxis (Simba at the Turks and Caicos Club is a nice short walk on the beach).

I hope this helps.

Ok if someone can please clarify... I am really confused.

I have found two websites:

1.) www.coralgardensongracebay.com/

2.) coralgardens.com/the_resort/interactive_site…

On the #2 site above, it looks like they are right on the beach... is this not correct? #1 above does not really show much information. I have read about rooms in poor condition and rooms that a nice but not near the beach....

Can you tell me which place is on the beach, the location of the other place, and which place is new... and are they both just condos being rented? If all else fails I can contact the places, but I would rather get independent information.

There are two management companies and therefore two websites.

The rooms that are not on the beach are called "Courtyard" rooms at the Reef Residences (I should have clarified this in my post). These Courtyard rooms and this whole section of the resort is newly built. I don't believe that the website has been updated to show photos of these rooms but they do have floor plans. I hope that clarifies things...

From what I understand the rooms at Coral Gardens on Grace Bay have been upgraded, under the new management.

We'll be staying in an ocveanfront suite at CG/RR next week. I cant tell from any description whether we'll be in the 'new' section or the 'old' section, but I'm hoping that someone can put my mind at ease that the oceanfront suites actually open directly to the beach and we wont have to walk thru construction no matter if we are in RR or CG. Room is $525/night so it'll suck if it's not spittin distance to the water!

Wow,... That is really confusing!!!!!

But yes, it is as was said. The Reef Residences is the New Building sort of behind Coral Gardens. But as was said, I believe that they do still have condos in the original Buildings which are Ocean Front.

So you need to check if you are in the Courtyard or are in fact Ocean Front as opposed to Ocean View.

The Website for The Reef residences show the front of the three buildings of the Original Coral Gardens and not the new Reef Residence Courtyard Building so that is where the confusion is.

I have always liked the original Coral Gardens Condos. The Larger ocean front ones have the whole Oceanside of them as Sliding glass doors which you can open right the way around so you feel like you are outside on the beach. Very nice,.

Hate to be the bearer of potential bad news to Pote but when I talked to someone from Condos at Coral Gardens they said the condos are right on the water and the RR is behind CG. She specifically said (in a nice way where she wasn't putting down RR) that if you want to be closer to the water it would be at the condos....so we booked there.

I just booked it the other day...a garden suite (we didn't have a big budget) but it was only $159 a night (it's cause the 5th night is free). If you have any desire to switch (and can without paying penalties) I bet you could get an Oceanfront at CG if you're staying for 5 nights to get the 5th night free for about $300 a night.

Good luck!

Guess we'll see in 5 days jw! I'll take some pics and reply when we get back. We're not gonna spend 5 days there. Going over to N. Caicos for the last half of our trip and fishing with Jay at Bottle Creek

jw713- just make sure you realize that although the buildings are oceanfront, a Garden room is just that- garden view, But you are still right by beach...and that is an awesome price!