Luxury homes rise on West Caicos, site of Molasses Reef, a new Ritz-Carlton project being promoted as “the ultimate escape.” The 125-room hotel, along with privately owned villas and cottages, is under construction. Prices range from $2.2 million to $6 million each. Granted, high-end tourism is the name of the game on TCI, but you can enjoy these islands on a budget. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)