Close your eyes and think back to the last time you took a real unplugged vacation. I'm talking about at least a week of doing nothing more strenuous than strolling a beautiful white-sand beach, or maybe just relaxing in a comfy chaise with a cool drink and a good book nearby. Been awhile? Well then, as I recently discovered, the Turks & Caicos could be just the spot for you.

It had been awhile since we'd visited this string of islands—eight main ones plus dozens of tiny blips—that spills down from the southeastern tip of the Bahamas. The Turks and Caicos have always been a member favorite, and a popular place for vacation home rentals and purchases (there are no income, capital gains, or property taxes). I'd personally never been, but I was intrigued. I wondered what I might compare this cluster of islands to. The Caymans? Anguilla? Then a good friend of mine passed along some been-there, done-that advice. "The Turks & Caicos provide a lot of eye candy, believe me, and the water is electric blue—awesome in photos, but nothing compares to seeing it in person." So I took the bait, and decided I had to experience it for myself.