­One of the main problems that comes with being a New Yorker is that you expect New York levels of service – and style- everywhere you go, and this can often lead to disappointment. If you’re a New Yorker looking to escape this winter to someplace warm but also groovy, then consider the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, a Wymara resort.

The resort opened in spring 2009 and is a sister property to locations in New York and Miami.  True to its heritage, the Caribbean location brings a bit of much needed NYC/Miami style in the Caribbean -  minus the crowds and noise. Located on the main island of Providenciales, it’s a short ride from the airport (and a mere three hour direct flight from New York City).

The scale of the resort is nice and small, with whitewashed buildings clustered around an infinity pool. Arrive early and reserve one of the floating teak platforms with sun loungers in the pool, or try to get one of the day beds on the beach (but get there fast, like 7am). Speaking of the beach, the Gansevoort is located on one of the quietest stretches of Grace Bay. You can walk for ages in either direction of this 12 mile long beach, and the calm sea is ideal for swimming or just floating on a raft. The big draw though is snorkelling, and a short walk from the hotel is the magnificent coral reef in front of Coral Gardens hotel, part of Princess Alexandra National Park. The reef begins just a few feet from the shore, and snorkellers will spot rainbows of tropical fish, turtles and the occasional hawksbill ray.

Apart from the beach, the Gansevoort’s other main attraction is the Exhale Spa, which has locations in New York, Chicago and Boston. Exhale is known for its holistic approach to fitness and beauty. Those looking to burn calories can sign up for fitness classes, such as the Pilates-based CoreFusion, in the open air pavilion. If all you want to do is chill out and get pampered, the tiny but stylish spa offers a wide range of treatments. I opted for a fusion massage which practically put me to sleep.

When you want a break from the beach or sweating and stretching, the Gansevoort’s hotel rooms won’t disappoint. The 95 hotel rooms are more like condos or spacious apartments, and even have washing machines and dryers. Our room, a one bedroom, had a beautiful, fully equipped kitchen stocked with absolutely everything – and I mean everything. There was a KitchenAid blender, peelers, graters, kettle, toaster, salad bowls and top of the line Gaggenau oven and Bosch dishwasher. I doubt many guests will be cooking unless they have kids, but if they are, they won’t be disappointed at the IGA supermarket, just a five minute drive away. Hands down, it is the best supermarket I’ve seen in the Caribbean. I was expecting the usual selection of wilted vegetables and mechanically separated frozen chicken parts but was surprised by the huge selection. You’ll find Voss bottled water, Kim Crawford wines and for the expat Brits, plenty of Hob Nobs and even cult favourite Irn-Bru.

But back to the rooms. The Gansevoort’s décor thankfully bypasses all the Caribbean clichés and instead sticks to a simple palette of brown and white, so as not to detract from the stunning ocean views. The boxy white upholstered couch is offset by a simple brown sisal rug, while the wonderfully marshowmally bed has a dark wood platform frame and white linens. The bathroom is equally spacious, with a large walk in shower and requisite double sinks. There is also a large soaking tub located near the bed, which is filled from the ceiling (my one year old thought it was hilarious). Children are also well-looked after, with cribs, high chairs and babysitters easily available.

The central area of the hotel also houses Bagatelle, the in-house restaurant which serves all the meals (there is also an outpost in the meatpacking district of Manhattan). Breakfast is a continental buffet – although tasty it’s a bit oddly heavy on the carbs. There is a choice of bagels, toast, sticky muffins, along with fruit and cereal. Management says they’ll be tweaking the menu in order to keep it in line with the healthy ethos of Exhale spa. The lunch menu was more varied, and my favourite dish was the mahi mahi taco with mango salsa. For dinner, we sampled the seared conch and mushroom risotto, along with porterhouse steak and Cajun mahi mahi. For dessert, there is key lime pie with crème anglaise and hand churned ice cream (chocolate, vanilla and pistachio) along with profiteroles and tart tartin.

While the restaurant is stylish and chic, like the rest of the hotel, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and there is an element of fun. Late one night, we spotted a waiter balancing an open wine bottle on his head, much to the amusement of the diners, and he later handed out “honeymoon shots,” a mix of vodka and lychee juice to guests lounging around the pool. This kind of attitude perfectly sums up what the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos is all about – a funky boutique hotel blending New York style with Caribbean laid back attitude, which in my book is the perfect vacation combination.

Winter rates start at $575 but check the website for seasonal promotions and packages.

Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, A Wymara Resort
Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands, B.W.I.
Phone: (649) 941-7555

www.gansevoortturksandcaicos.com