TIMES OF THE ISLANDS - FALL 2003. SHARING A SECRET: Harbour Club Villas Marina By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos by Marta Morton. I love secrets. Unfortunately, on a small island, there aren't many to be found. That's why I was pleasantly surprised when the Harbour Club Villas Marina were brought to my attention. Nestled on the south- central shore of Providenciales (below what locals call Jim Hill) on Venetian Road, Harbour Club just happened to be off my beaten path. Discovering this tranquil enclave is a secret that I simply can't keep to myself. Obviously not part of the Grace Bay Beach scene, a stay at Harbour Club brings to light a different version of utopic Caribbean living. Its six individual villas are built on land that straddles the peaceful expanse of Flamingo Lake and the Atlantic Ocean at Discovery Bay. This unique positioning invites outstanding views, refreshing breezes and a variety of recreational options. Staying in a private villa allows guests the freedom to enjoy themselves as they please -- and what is pleasing to many are bonefishing, scuba diving, kayaking and exploring. The on-site owners are Barry and Marta Morton, a personable Canadian couple who obviously enjoy their life in the Islands as much as their guests do. After spending 25 years running tourist gift shops in the chilly mountains of Banff, Alberta, they were more than ready for a change in climate. Marta spent much of her childhood in the Caribbean and had fond memories of sunny days and a slower pace of life. Barry made the initial foray to Providenciales in 1995 and, following several weeks of scouting, was especially impressed with a plot of land recommended by local realtor Bob Pratt, which was soon to become the couple's new home and livelihood. Bob sold them the adjacent property to his home where he was developing South Side Marina which made for a natural dock extension incorporating their canal frontage. Barry recalls, One of the most fortunate things to happen early-on was meeting Oliver Stubbs. Through his business, Oliver Oliver Drafting, he was able to prepare, submit and have our plans approved. Then he brought in his brother Keith, cousin Mike and other friends and family members to get the construction done in record time. Danny Delancy handled all the plumbing and electrical projects which got us up and running. This enabled Barry and Marta to work on some of the finishing touches and decorating, and they are proud to say that no two villas look exactly alike! They also laud Nicky Turner and Dudley Forbes at Island Landscaping, who turned what was literally a mound of bare limestone rock into the lush oasis of greenery that Harbour Club is today. Marta explains, We couldn't believe it could be done, but they filled holes in the rock with topsoil, planted young bushes and trees and instructed us to do lots of watering. The results were inspiring and these days, gardening has become one of the couple's passions. Harbour Club opened for the 1999/2000 Winter season and, ironically, it was one of the first guests who shared a secret of his own. Barry explains, Chris Coile, president of the Maryland Bonefishing Association, told us that the waters around our property -- Flamingo Lake, Turtle Lake and the ocean flats -- offered some of the best bonefishing in the world. Prior to that, I didn't even know what a bonefish was! And just like that, Harbour Club had found a niche in the market. Today, bonefishing enthusiasts rave about their experiences here and, when fishermen get together they passionately exchange tips on locations, fly-tying and casting techniques. Barry says, Many of our fishing guests will spend one or two days with a guide (who are all well-known among aficionados, who do their research ahead of time) and other days exploring the flats on their own. We're compiling comments from our guest books and websites to create our Bonefish Bible, which is a best seller here! Marta adds, It's especially alluring when, on calm days, guests can see bonefish tailing in Flamingo Lake from their villa windows. Recently, 21 bonefish were caught and released in a two hour period as we watched from our deck. It was amazing and our guests talked about it for days! Another group of visitors who have found a haven at Harbour Club are scuba divers. The property's south boundary is a dock along the Discovery Bay canal and four local dive operators -- Provo Turtle Divers, Flamingo Divers, Caicos Adventures and Beaches Resort -- keep dive boats at the marina for trips to West Caicos and French Cay. These destinations offer some of the most outstanding and pristine wall diving in the Turks Caicos Islands. Harbour Club's unique location offers avid divers quick and convenient access to the dive boats which is especially appreciated for their traditional early morning departures! Other popular pastimes include kayaking in the peaceful waters of Flamingo and Turtle Lakes, through the canals or in the ocean itself, a trip that can combine fishing and snorkeling off nearby Bay Cay. There's also plenty of room for relaxing around the club's private pool and sunning patio, complete with covered gazebo and a barbecue grill for guests' use. Each spacious villa -- at 650 sq. ft. much larger than a hotel room -- feels comfortably like home and reflects a relaxed Caribbean lifestyle. The open-plan living area includes a rattan sofa and queen sofa bed, with a separate window-lined dining alcove overlooking the lake. The kitchen is fully equipped and includes a versatile countertop bar. Although numerous ceiling fans, louvered screen windows and steady breezes keep the villas quite cool, the bedroom does include air conditioning to ensure a good night's sleep. Tropical decor includes terra cotta tiles, colorful fabric and artwork of typical plants, birds and Old World maps. Hand-cut native stone patios, walls and walkways connect the cottages, with lush landscaping ensuring privacy. The Mortons say that guests typically come and go during the day, often eating breakfast and lunch at home and enjoying dinners at local restaurants. While some choose to rent cars, it's not a necessity. 'We're happy to do what we can to accommodate our guests. We'll run them up to the supermarket, drop them off at Turtle Cove for snorkeling and the north side beach and even take them to Ports of Call for shopping. Often, they'll spend the day 'doing their thing' and take a taxi back. This attitude reflects Marta and Barry's similarity to old-fashioned innkeepers, who treat guests as family. In fact, Harbour Club welcomes many return visitors, the Mortons say. Many came the first time for a special occasion -- honeymoon, anniversary, birthday or reunion -- and just keep coming back. This is one of the few places we know of where guests hug us when they say good-bye and keep in touch all year round. Harbour Club is not a secret to all local residents. Its atmosphere of peaceful beauty has inspired it to serve as the site for several retreats, including Oliver Ferguson's annual vacation bible school and Tri-Island Yoga's weekend get-away. The Mortons say that future plans could include adding outdoor patios to the front of each cottage, converting the villas into single-owner condominiums and in the future, building additional units and a restaurant. But, they add, all of that just might hinder the personal feeling of tranquility that they enjoy every day. And that is one secret to happiness they are more than willing to share. For more information about Harbour Club Villas Marina, phone or fax (649) 941-5748, e-mail http://www.harbourclubvillas.com/ http://www.bonefishing.tc/. © COPYRIGHT 1999-2003,TIMES OF THE ISLANDS, TURKS CAICOS ISLANDS, http://www.timespub.tc/. Web Hosting and Design by Cable Wireless, Turks Caicos Islands

Villa rentals and self catering accommodation the best in vacation rentals. Best value 4 star quality vacation rentals! Enjoy Turks and Caicos villa rentals on two waterfronts at Harbour Club Villas and Marina offering six, one bedroom vacation cottages four times larger than a hotel room. Enjoy the peaceful days and starry nights away from the hustle and bustle of resort crowds. Simply the best self catering accommodation in villa rentals available on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Each Harbour Club Villa has: Air-conditioned bedroom. Ceiling fans throughout our vacation rentals. Restful queen-sized bed. Bathroom with spacious walk-in shower. 1 comfortable queen sleeper sofa. Fully equipped kitchen. High, open beamed ceilings. WiFi internet access. Lockable safes in our vacation rentals. Counter bar with stools. 4-star quality rating. Private stone patios. Uninterrupted lake views. Our self catering accommodation has a spacious open-plan living area furnished with your comfort in mind. Your home away from home in vacation rentals on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Rent one villa or rent them all! Harbour Club Villa rentals for those family group occasions. The kitchen is fully equipped with stove, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, cutlery, dishes, glasses. Something missingjust ask and we will accommodate). We provide our guests with beach chairs, coolers and beach towels. Villas have hairdryers too and please ask if you need an iron and ironing board. Our pool and patio offers a comfortable retreat, a place to read a book or a rest in the sun. Our shaded tiki hut is the place for an ice cold beer, a bite to eat or a barbecue where an outdoor grill is available. And if you must stay in touchwe have WiFi internet access available. Villas have their own private stone patios for that morning coffee overlooking the lake. Harbour Club...Your best choice for Turks and Caicos villa rentals! The Harbour Club Villas Marina ~ P.O. Box 77 Venetian Way Providenciales ~ Turks and Caicos Islands ~ British West Indies Toll Free: (1) 866-456-0210 ~ Tel/Fax: (1) 649-941-5748 ~ E-mail:

Providenciales Photo Gallery. PROVO'S SOUTHERN SHORES quiet beauty and spectacular scenery surround us at Harbour Club Villas and Marina. Wooden gates lead the eye to the ocean with its different hues of turquoise and blue. Yea Mon! There are some big bones out there! Chris has fished all over the world and on one of his visits to Provo caught this big bonefish! Secluded beaches can be found on the private island of. Crab at Malcolm Roads beach. As a storm gathered momentum out at sea, the combination of sunlight and clouds intensified all the colours, the turquoise of the ocean, the deep green-blue of the entrance channel to Harbour Club's Marina and the green of the. Marine Biology School 's roof. Refreshing dip in the shallow waters of the south side. Check out more of Mike's underwater photos and diving information at. Leave only footprints behind at Bonefish Point is the island's only native dive operator and he'll tailor a dive or snorkel experience for you. School girls pose for the camera at. Mirror calm water and two good friends on the beach. View of Five Little Cays. sailing trips with Jay and the gang, and the best rum punch on Provo! Marta's web ladyshe does the best websites in the islands http://adventurescape.biz. Grace Bay beach wedding. Yes! Our water is this clear. Stop for some shopping or taste some conch at the colourful kiosks at Blue Hills on the beach. Little girl with conch. Our godson, Olique, tastes fresh coconut milk from one of our many coconut palms. She'll take you under the water on a guided snuba tour of the reef. Check out more fishing on. Say hello to Candi at. Private stone patio with table an chairs overlook the lake. A great place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee! Marina with Harbour Club sign. Poolside at the villas surrounded by lush vegetation, flowers and palm trees. Relax in the sunshine, read a book and take a refreshing dip in our pool. Dining area with seating for four. Villa bedroom with queen sized bed. Comfortable living room area. Congratulations to Tina and Sheldon who were married on Grace Bay beach. Get married in the Turks and Caicos. Tucked away, a hidden cove makes an idyllic spot for a getaway. This could be you sipping on a Presidente. A sunny day, a wide open flat, crystal clear water and an incoming tide..perfect for wading in search of the wiley bonefish. flats of the Caicos Banks are found on the south side. Conchin' has been a way of life here. Shades of blue along one of the most spectacular stretches of Provo's beaches. Preparing conch at Da Conch Shack out in Blue Hills. Our guests love those conch fritters and fresh from the sea. Beautiful Leeward beachheavenly! Mike snorkeled with the rays this October. Mike's photo of an Eagle Ray. Phantom, the green iguana. It's a dog's lifefriends on the beach. Starfish in the sand while snorkeling. Our little god son Olique is such a joy and always smiling. Proud Dad, Oliver Stubbs, was the key person in designing and building Harbour Club Villas. Oliver and Oliver Drafting. Another perfect day on the beach at Sapodilla. A wedding day to remember. Summer storm coming in at Leeward. Anna walking along Grace Bay. Dive boats on the horizon during a calm, clear day out at the North West Point anchors on the beach at. Pelican walking along the dock in. Help preserve the historic district of Salt Cay including wind mills and existing salt ponds such as those in this photo. Stop by and see the Caicos Sloops, have an ice cream or drink. Turks Head cactus with brightly coloured seeds. A taste of island timecoffee freshly roasted right on Provo by. Vicky Turner. Looking for unique wedding favours? Call her at 941 5091. Dive boats in Harbour Club's marina. Dive boats at sunset in the private marina at Harbour Club. Spectacular view from Harbour Club's hilltop looking towards Discovery Bay. The masts of boats in our marina can also be seen. Flower filled planters line the hand cut stone walkways. All our villas have lakeside views. Fishing for bones in the lake infront of Harbour Club Villas. Harbour Club sign with entrance to pool and gazebo in the background

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Rent-a-car service
 Central situation
 Credit cards accepted
 Disabled guests are welcome
 Facsimile services
 Kitchen
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Clock/radio
 Fridge
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Swimming pool
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 TV sets in rooms