The Meridian Club is an all inclusive resort on a private island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. While the place has obviously been renovated and upgraded over the years it still somehow retains a dated feeling of being built during the 1970s.

Arrival is by boat or plane – we took the latter – and is impressive either way. The concierge meets you at the plane and a courtesy golf cart takes you and your luggage the 200 yards from the airport to the club house. The staff are friendly and willing to quickly make anything possible for you, from food to activities to room services. The club house includes the restaurant, bar, pool with bar, and a concierge service. Wireless internet is available along with a PC for guests to use. It is assumed that guests are at the Meridian Club for a retreat hence there is no telephone in the rooms or cell phone access, but the hotel telephone can be used by asking the concierge.

The layout is perfect as a hideaway with each accommodation having direct access to the beach, passing a private table and chairs along the way. Rooms are well decorated and attended to, the staff coming in twice during the day, the second to prepare the place for bed as you eat dinner. That said, the accommodations have again a dated feel, they do not have air conditioning and the shutters in ours did not move freely. We stayed in the Sanddollar Cottage – a perfect honeymoon retreat:-)

The sand is golden, the water aquamarine and the sky pure blue when we stayed, a real Caribbean gem. The water is clear and a gently sloping beach means that in places it stays shallow for hundreds of yards offshore. The mostly sandy bottom gives slim pickings when snorkeling (try the Aquarium instead!) but we found several sanddollars when paddling off Sanddollar Point. The biggest joy is that with so few rooms and so many miles of beach it is easy to find a private couple of hundred of yards to yourselves.

The club will arrange activities on request including trips to local islands, use of the golf carts to explore the island, and daily snorkeling outings. There are a couple of two person kayaks to take out, one located at the clubhouse and the other at the Aquarium, and a couple of Hobbie cat catamarans to take out on the high seas. The Aquarium is a natural inlet created when two islands joined following a hurricane a few years ago and is a Mecca for all underwater creatures. It is an incredible place to watch from the reef overhangs, go for a kayak or take to the water for snorkeling – it is a must when on the island.

The food is an oddity. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are at set times with a dinner bell rung to indicate they are being served. Breakfast and lunch are typically buffets and the dinner is chosen during the day from the menu. Guests normally converge on the upstairs bar prior to dinner for drinks and conversation which we felt very quaint. While the food is good it is nothing outstanding and alcohol is not included in the price. We found the set times for eating very restrictive, particularly as we came to get away but found ourselves clock watching here. Picnic lunches are free and definitely recommended to escape the lunchtime bell.

We enjoyed the place but will not be returning; it attracts an older generation than us.

Have you ever dreamed of getting away from it all and escaping to a deserted island? The Meridian Club on Pine Cay may be your answer. (It was for me!) It is a throw back in time and the perfect place to unwind. It may not be deserted but you'll find a pristine 2 mile beach with no one on it! The waters are cystal clear and the ambiance is like being at someones home. The rooms are directly on the beach; the dining atmosphere is very relaxed and you will fall in love with the staff. A snorkel boat takes you out daily to the reef--and all equipment is provided. I was there 5 days after the full moon--and went out on a Glow Worm Cocktail Cruise--worms that live in the mudflats mate at this time and it is an amazing sight--and rare as it happens in only 5 places in the world! How cool is that??

There are so few places left in the world that have been left unspoiled--I am glad the homeowners of this 825 acre island are allowing others to share their paradise. I'll certainly be back! My only regret--I had to leave.

just a quick note so that there are some reviews of this terrific place available. we were looking for a place nearby enough to get an easy but well-needed get-away. i had been wanting to go to the t&c islands for some time, but provo was just not wowing us. i would rather stay home then do the big chain hotel thing.

i found the meridian club on the 'net, and just got that feeling this was the place for us. the rooms, staff, island and food were all fantastic. i could not describe the blue colors all around in shades i had never seen before.

the rooms are large, clean, and well-appointed. each has a screened porch that walks out onto the beach. boyfriend LOVED the indoor/outdoor shower! the grounds are lovely and manicured, yet natural. i thought the staff was the perfect mix of attentive and invisible. often we felt as if we were the only people there, but if we wanted anything, a smile appeared to help us.

we spent our days snorkeling, realxing, sunning, fishing (i caught a little shark!!), holding hands, golf-carting, kayaking, you get the idea. there isn't any nightlife to speak of, which suited me just fine. after a yummy multi-course dinner, we would walk alone on the beach, star gaze (OMG, there were a billion stars!!), or chat with other guests or the happy barkeep.

i think this was a terrific place for couples. someday, we would love to return. i posted a few pics so you can get the feel of the place. we just loved it there.

Our adult family group of 7 just returned from a one week's stay at Eugenia, a 4 bedroom 4 bath private home on Pine Cay. We took all meals at the Meridian Club dining room. Although described to us by the rental agent as "rustic", the Eugenia was very comfortable and the layout gave 3 couples and a single plenty of privacy and a great gathering space for all. Although farther from the beach than anticipated, we could easily take our golf cart down a nearby path nearly to the edge of the beach. We were entertained by the resident iguana and by the daily feedings of ghekkos by the mother kestrel to her baby on our roof. This was a wonderful and casual place to stay and we all hope to return.
Meridian Club staff is outstanding - genuine and friendly. Food cooked by local cooks was truly superb each and every meal. The men in our group enjoyed fishing but were slightly disappointed that there were not more boats available for bonefishing excursions. They did enjoy fishing from shore and at one point the staff dropped them off for wading on their own. Shelling and snorkeling trips were easily arranged at no extra charge. Although we had read about problems with bugs on previous Trip Advisor comments, we encountered relatively few bugs.
Meridian Club was a great find!