We really enjoyed our stay at RWI last year, so we returned for another visit in Jan. 2012. The facility continues to be beautifully maintained and its Grace Bay beach is as nice as any my wife and I have ever experienced. The fact that we were recognized by several employees from the previous year is a signal that the facility is well managed with low staff turnover. Another bonus is that the restaurant on site is much improved, offering very good quality food at a convenient location. We went with a garden view room this year to save some cash and were not disappointed, so don't think you have to have an ocean view unit to have nice accomodations.

We just returned from spending a week at the Royal West Indies Resort (28 Jan - 4 Feb 2012). We considered Trip Advisor comments and price in deciding where to stay in Providenciales. We had a great experience at RWI.

RWI is a very quiet resort, ideal for couples or small groups seeking peace and tranquility. This is not a major nightlife destination.

Upside:
Location...on a wonderful spot on Grace Bay Beach...great for swimming and walking.
Landscaping...most beautiful we saw while in Providenciales. And we took the time to visit a few other resorts.
Beach Staff...great guys, especially Vergillus and Russel. Well done, guys.
Hobie Cats available for 45 minutes at a time...more than sufficient for a fun run on the boat.
Bikes available for two hours...very sufficient for a run to the grocery store.
Front Desk Staff...very nice and provided help as necessary.
Rooms...very clean and beds are very comfortable!
Pools: Spotless and delightful!

Other comments:
Resort is a little older than some others. Kitchenettes in the rooms are a little tired. Bathrooms need a little TLC, too. Tile grout needs to be cleaned throughout. Some modest updating is needed to keep pace with the competition. The fridge is also showing its age.

Restaurant is good for breakfast and lunch, recommend you go elsewhere for dinner. It is not bad...but is not particularly memorable, either.

Restaurants: Caicos Cafe was superb...about a mile from the resort. Coco Bistro was terrific...about 1/4 mile from the resort. Both are very expensive, as are most restaurants. Have lunch at Somewhere at Crystal Cove...good Tex Mex. Went to Coyaba...very posh, very expensive, food ok, but not great, especially for the price.

There are two bakeries you should try for breakfast items...Caicos Bakery and Fresh Bakery and Deli. Both have great pastries, etc. Supermarket is about 1.5 miles from the resort. Go there and fill your fridge with some basics.

Other things to do...go on snorkeling half-day trip with Island Vibes. Very entertaining and well run. Enjoy some "Spank-me Juice." (Their name for the beverage, not ours!) Captain Teno and Mate JJ were terrific hosts and made our trip a great experience. Snorkel at Princess Alexandra National Park near Turtle Cove, too.

Rent a car for a day or two. You won't need it for more than that. There is only so much to do/see on Providenciales.

Will we return? You bet. RWI is a terrific place to stay and great value for money.

Stayed at the Royal West Indies for seven nights in January 2012. We agree with the mostly positive reviews on Tripadvisor. The place never seemed crowded even though it was filled. Our third floor one bedroom suite was very roomy for us and our three year old, and gave us a small slice of ocean view. We made great use of the full kitchen, eating most of our breakfasts and lunches using supplies bought at the nearby Graceway Gourment and the IGA "downtown".

Our son loved the toddler pool, and we had to pry him out of it to join us on the beautiful beach. We rented a car and explored the little-kid friendly Taylor and Sapodilla Bays (see description and directions elsewhere on the Provo board). Driving on the left side of the road was no problem but requires a little concentration. Traffic is light and there is a 40mph speed limit island-wide.

The front desk supplied a babysitter, and we dined at Coco Bistro, Las Brisas (get the snapper), and Caicos Cafe (surprisingly good Italian food made by real Italians), all recommended. You already know that restaurants and stores in Provo are expensive, right? 2-for-1 happy hours at the RWI bar was the best deal going.

The only problem we had was excessive noise coming from the adjacent Club Med property on a Tuesday night. There was loud music blaring until 1 am, seemingly coming from right over the fence from our room. Our son can sleep through anything, but it kept dad awake. Curiously, there was no noise on the other nights or just a dull throb of music coming from the far side of the Club Med property.

Overall, we recommend RWI.

Royal West Indies Resort was absolutely wonderful! Our room on the third floor of building 2 had a beautiful view of Grace Bay. The resort's grounds were lush and colorful and gardeners were constantly working to keep everything looking its best. All of the staff at RWI was friendly and attentive to your every need. (This includes the front desk staff in case you read the other negative reviews.) The room was always clean and housekeeping was courteous. Upon our arrival we found fresh flowers and champagne in the room for our anniversary. We never saw any ants or any other kind of bugs! There were always bikes available and one day I went for groceries as other travelers suggested. The basket held quite a few groceries. Even though the hotel was fully booked there was never a shortage of beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks or Hobies. Both pools were sparkling and well kept. The only reason for the poor rating for fitness center was because there was no actual fitness center. But there are plenty of ways to get exercise at the resort and nearby. We will definitely go back to RWI if we get the chance and maybe even invite some friends to share in this paradise we found.