AFFORDABLE SUMMER PACKAGES MAKE TRAVEL

TO LUXURIOUS TURKS & CAICOS ACCESSIBLE

 American Express Vacations Offers Enticing Deals During Islands’ Music and Cultural Festival

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, BWI (June 27, 2007) – Experiencing the sun and sounds of the Turks & Caicos has never been easier than it is this summer during the Islands’ fourth annual Music and Cultural Festival, taking place July 30 to Aug. 6, 2007.  In celebration of the event, American Express Vacations and the Turks & Caicos’ oceanfront resorts are offering incredibly affordable packages that include world-class accommodations, airfare and tickets to the landmark festival.

“We took great care to ensure the Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival lineup appealed to a range of audiences,” said Ralph Higgs, director of tourism at the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board.  “American Express Vacations has done the same with its travel packages, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Islands along with performances from some of the biggest names in music.” 

The Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival boasts an impressive 2007 roster of A-list performers including international music stars and local talent.  Performers include five-time GRAMMY award winner John Legend, one of the industry’s most in demand studio session players; American superstar and multiple GRAMMY winner Michael Bolton; eloquent neo-soul artist and two-time GRAMMY award winner India.Arie; country music legend and CMA lifetime achievement award winner Kenny Rogers; and R&B American soul singer Freddie Jackson.

For visitors looking to enjoy the luxurious Turks & Caicos at an affordable rate, packages are available through American Express Vacations that include four night’s accommodations, hotel tax and service charges, roundtrip airport transfers and four-day festival passes (worth $275 per person) for travel Aug. 2 to Aug. 6, 2007.  The following packages, ranging in price from $595 to $1,509 per person, are offered at resorts located on Grace Bay Beach, voted the world’s best beach by the World Travel Awards.  Packages can be booked by calling 800-941-AMEX.

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Turks & Caicos Summer Packages – Page 2

• Comfort Suites Turks & Caicos package is offered at $595 plus an additional $50 beverage credit.

• The Sands at Grace Bay offers the discriminating traveler a degree of luxury and quiet privacy rarely encountered in a warm, relaxing atmosphere with an emphasis on superior amenities and service – all for only $745.

• The Royal West Indies is a first class beachfront suite resort, currently consisting of 60 botanical, ocean view and oceanfront studio, one- and two-bedroom suites.  The resort’s package is offered at $755.

• The luxurious Ocean Club Resorts, located on exquisite Grace Bay Beach, welcomes visitors at a cost of $893.  www.oceanclubresorts.com.

·        The Somerset, a boutique luxury resort located on Grace Bay Beach, is a recent inductee into the Condé Nast prestigious luxury hotel guide for 2007 and one of the select members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.  Packages are available at $985.  www.thesomerset.com.

·        The Regent Palms, a grand hotel beautifully situated on 12 acres of landscaped gardens on world-famous Grace Bay Beach, welcomes festival goers with an incredible deal on true luxury for $1,045. 

·        Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort and Spa is offering an Ultra All-Inclusive package that includes roundtrip airfare, hotel transfers, and all hotel taxes and service charges, as well as all meals, unlimited drinks and snacks, all land and water sports, and entertainment for $1,509.  www.beaches.com

Please visit www.musicfestival.tc/2007 for a complete schedule of events or call the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board at (649) 946-4970.  For press inquiries, please contact Jenn Myres at (619) 234-0345. 

About Turks & Caicos

The 40 islands of the Turks & Caicos, of which eight are inhabited, are renowned for their award-winning beaches, diving and array of world-class resorts.  Additional activities include tennis, golf and horseback riding.  The Islands feature a variety of spa and body treatment services and is home to the world’s only conch farm.  There are three daily 90-minute direct flights from Miami, a US Airways direct flight from Charlotte, daily direct flights from New York and weekly flights from Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Toronto.  For more information on travel, visit the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board Web site at www.turksandcaicostourism.com or call (800) 241-0824.