Tolbert Travels

Jitney tip: If a car honks at you while you are walking … stick up your thumb and they will pull over. Signed, 22yr olds who couldn’t rent a car

In June 2018, Kristoff & I flew to Turk and Caicos and enjoyed island life for 10 nights/11 days. We were too young to rent a car, so upon arriving at the airport we began walking to the grocery store pulling our luggage behind us. A nice man picked us up in his car and didn’t let us pay him, as he dropped us off at the grocery store. We left our luggage at the front of the store and shopped for the week. Then the store manager called 2 guys to drive us to our AirBnb. I think we paid them $40 (yes, we got played).

The first place we stayed did not have air conditioning and was owned by a kind vegan who fostered puppies. The closest beach to this Airbnb was not swimmable though so that was unfortunate. The beach that was swimmable was quite the walk, though we did it and survived three aggressive dogs on our walk back. This was the moment we both thought we were toast, as we were outnumbered. That morning before walking to Malcolm’s Road Beach, I had read about a terribly sad and tragic incident in their local newspaper (click here) written 6 years before. We learned from our Airbnb host after making it back alive that the dogs we encountered are not feral, but just aggressive and territorial. It was quite a five-minute, heart-pounding experience!

After a week at this first Airbnb, we walked out the front door to head back to the grocery store before checking into our second place. We both wondered how this was going to work, as we had a few hours to kill before check-in at the next place. With no car, we were pulling our luggage down the 2 lane “highway.” Below is a picture I snapped on this morning in the neighborhood before we reached the “highway.” Notice how prepared we were with footwear choices haha.

We didn’t walk in the heat for more than a minute, when a dark SUV pulled over to the side of the road. A couple got out, loaded our stuff into their trunk, and welcomed us into their car with their three children in the back. We were shocked and so grateful. They told us that something told them to take the long way home from church. We knew the Lord had sent them and were so thankful for His provision. This is easily my favorite thing about travel …. I rely more on Jesus & trust others easier.

The kind family dropped us off at the grocery store, and we left a $10 with the boy in the back seat. About 30 minutes later, we are enjoyed the AC that the grocery store is providing as we shopped as slowly as possible, knowing we have a few hours to waste before check-in. All of a sudden, walking down the aisle is the woman who picked us up earlier. She hands me the $10 back and says, “Do you know what we are going to do? Let me tell you. We are going to drop our children off at our house, so there is room for your groceries. We will be back to take you to your next place.” And by golly …. that’s exactly what happened.

She and her husband returned an hour or so later. They dropped us off in actual paradise and, upon leaving, asked us when we were scheduled to leave. They came back and picked us up and took us to the airport on our last day!! On the way to the airport, they showed us some places we had not seen, and we made a few stops. One stop that I’ll always remember is the ocean baptism that we got to witness. Picture Kristoff and me standing on a beautiful beach surrounded by about 20-25 people wearing all white. I’m holding a baby in my arms and swaying in the breeze. (Yes, I was in heaven.) The couple who were sent straight from God? They were baptizing a woman in their church in the ocean! Everyone was dressed in white … except us, who did not get the memo. Their church members were welcoming and super kind, considering we were complete strangers who were crashing a Sunday morning baptism. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. We felt the Lord’s provision so deeply and intimately.

Turks & Caicos was a beautiful island that I can’t wait to return to since we are now old enough to rent a car haha. We would stay at the second Airbnb we rented again as a swimmable (practically private) beach was a few mins. walk away and perfect for sunsets. We also enjoyed the pool and waterfall feature at the home, plus the hosts, Gabriel & Judy, were so kind! It is a dream of ours to return to this island paradise.

Airbnb Accommodation in Leeward Settlement that we LOVED: Click here to view the listing! Gabriel and Judy were incredible hosts.