Written by lovethecaribbean on 31 Jul, 2008
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Knowing how touristy the island can be, it was certainly less crowded than I expected (of course I liked that!). We did go in shoulder season, so I think we missed the rush. I knew that the island wasn’t going…Read More
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Knowing how touristy the island can be, it was certainly less crowded than I expected (of course I liked that!). We did go in shoulder season, so I think we missed the rush. I knew that the island wasn’t going to be very scenic compared to other islands I have visited, but I was still disappointed in the limited amount of photo ops I could find. I thought the beaches were beautiful though, and the underwater world was even better. We had some wonderful snorkeling experiences. I think we would visit again, but probably not anytime soon since there are so many other places we want to go.Close
I was really disappointed with the shopping here. I knew that it’s a cruise ship port—so it has the same stores that every cruise ship port has. I thought I would be able to find other places to shop besides the cruise ship area, but…Read More
I was really disappointed with the shopping here. I knew that it’s a cruise ship port—so it has the same stores that every cruise ship port has. I thought I would be able to find other places to shop besides the cruise ship area, but had no luck (except for the liquor stores!). I really like to buy things local to an island for gifts when I travel. Luckily I found a little silver shop tucked away in the cruise ship port that was just what I was looking for. We spent a couple hours looking for a place like this! It was called Silver Splash. Close
Written by JoeDiver on 14 Jul, 2006
Average to mediocre food, choked on boiled pork chops at lunch once. No variety whatsoever, cuisine quality varies from 2 to 5 on a scale of 10. 60's style rooms, clean sheets but the mattress caved in a puff of royal dust. Perfect for cheap Spring…Read More
Average to mediocre food, choked on boiled pork chops at lunch once. No variety whatsoever, cuisine quality varies from 2 to 5 on a scale of 10.
60's style rooms, clean sheets but the mattress caved in a puff of royal dust. Perfect for cheap Spring Breakers, or bearded bikers escaping from the law.
Phony management, great lip service, Colgate smiles, no results.
The place only survives because of the great diving off-shore, and duopoly position shared with the Brac Reef Resort just down the road.
If your idea of a tropical escape is booze and oversized tatooed mamas, go see for yourself. You might even make new friends. The only edge over Grand Cayman here is the diving -- and by a nose --
The more eclectic diver/traveller will no doubt enjoy the five star amenities, up to par dining, much finer beach (sand quality, cleanliness, space), comfortable/reliable boats, comparable underwater scene, anonymity, relative seclusion...
-- of some Grand Cayman properties, without the added cost, hassle, additional two hour transit wait for this terminally ill destination.
Don't be fooled by the "extra mile" paradigm. Just because it is harder to get to does not mean you will find heaven. Nothing more frustrating (or hilarious depending who you ask) than perishing in the fumes of an overheated diesel engine on a poorly maintained dive boat. Yeah, yeah, everybody move back, it's only gonna be a couple of hours...island time.
I resurfaced a tad earlier from one of my dives only to find the boat master giving himself a pedicure with the knife intended to slice the oranges during surface intervals. The only missing piece was the parrot on the shoulder.
Written by lawngnome on 10 Mar, 2005
I learned to walk on Poipu Beach in Kauai. We travel to Hawaii at least once every two years, and as much of a second home it's become to me, I have to rave about my addiction to Cayman: THE WATER! Okay, so that sounds…Read More
I learned to walk on Poipu Beach in Kauai. We travel to Hawaii at least once every two years, and as much of a second home it's become to me, I have to rave about my addiction to Cayman: THE WATER!
Okay, so that sounds almost... dumb. It's a beach! It's an island! Of course you'd love the water! And at the risk of sounding like an infomercial: But this just isn't ANY water!
The gorgeous, clichéd sparkling turquoise Caribbean waters are cliché for that perfect reason: they ARE perfect. On the very white sands of Seven Mile, you have a view of an ocean that looks like an endless pool, with some of the gentlest waves around. While I was there, I would glide into the water and just float for hours - instant water bed!
Sorry, I know, I'm lame. But this is just a liquid heaven. Warmth, glimmering beauty, friendly fish (my little brother had a fish that would NOT leave him alone - it circled him for hours. We called it Dory.), and oh, whatever your perfect vision of tropical ocean water is, you'll find it off Seven Mile Beach.
Georgetown, the quaint harbor city of the Cayman Islands, is slightly dirty, plenty tourist-y, and leaves you feeling like you've just been in a pirate-lauded port town (well, you have, technically!). It has so much charm, and yes, while the tourist part can seem, well, touristy, it doesn't take away from the place as much as others might.
Hell! You can go to Hell, too! Hell, Cayman Islands, unlike Georgetown, is the very DEFINITION of a tiny, touristy, almost pathetic place, but for posterity's sake, wouldn't you like to go to Hell? (They have bumper stickers!)
See Stingray City and the Turtle Farms as well (written about under "Activities") and ENJOY!
Written by jcfaith on 26 Dec, 2005
Our favorite place on Grand Cayman Island proved to be Rum Point Club. There is a very nice swimming beach and lots of recliners for sunning and relaxing. The food was very good and reasonable, compared to most of the Island. My meal, catch of…Read More
Our favorite place on Grand Cayman Island proved to be Rum Point Club. There is a very nice swimming beach and lots of recliners for sunning and relaxing. The food was very good and reasonable, compared to most of the Island. My meal, catch of the day, was Mahi-Mahi cooked with hot spices and coconut. It was served with red beans, rice, and coleslaw for $10. My wife had a huge pile of chicken strips and fries for $9.The Redsail's 65-foot catamaran sails out to Stingray City three times a day, for $50 each. This is a bargain. The boat is very nice and the crew were very helpful. Petting and feeding the stingrays was a different experience, which proved to be unforgettable. The second stop was a coral reef, for a half hour of snorkeling with lots of fish and even some moray eels. The snorkeling gear was included in the cost. The only restriction to using the Rum Point Club's private property was that you had to buy your refreshments there and couldn't bring any with you.Close
Written by MsClee on 14 Jul, 2004
About pasta-the majority of restaurants that advertise serve mainly pasta dishes. Main grocery stores: Kirks- on the outskirts of Georgetown and the airport. Has pretty much everything you need including a salad and prepared food bar. Fosters- the shopping center behind the Outback on West Bay. Has…Read More
About pasta-the majority of restaurants that advertise serve mainly pasta dishes.
Main grocery stores:
Kirks- on the outskirts of Georgetown and the airport. Has pretty much everything you need including a salad and prepared food bar.
Fosters- the shopping center behind the Outback on West Bay. Has the biggest selection and the best prices for grocery items, especially rum cake (CI$11.95).
Hurleys- on the east side of Georgetown; smaller and more expensive than Kirks and Fosters.
Side note: if you decide to purchase rum, the duty-free shop at the airport has the best prices for rum.
Written by fnwall on 04 Jul, 2003
I love to snorkel, but because the beaches in Cayman are so rocky, it was hard to find easy spots to get into the water to snorkel. We found the best spot to snorkel was downtown at Eden Rock. This site had steps down into…Read More
I love to snorkel, but because the beaches in Cayman are so rocky, it was hard to find easy spots to get into the water to snorkel. We found the best spot to snorkel was downtown at Eden Rock. This site had steps down into the water and had the best snorkeling around. You were just a short swim away from Eden’s Rock and Devil’s Grotto. There is a reef close to shore and because of the way the coral is shaped, lots of tunnels, caves and grottos making this area abundant with sea life. It was also fun to swim so close to the cruise ships. If you are a diver, this is one of the best places to go.
We took a 60-foot catamaran out of Rum Point to Sting Ray City. Sting Ray City is located in the middle of the bay on a sand bar that you can stand up on. The sting rays were everywhere and we got to swim with the sting rays -- a very cool experience. However, the boat trip was short, about two hours. It was supposed to include two snorkel trips, which it did, but each was only about 20 minutes each. By the time the 60+ people got off the boat, it was time to get back on. For $65 a person, with no food or water, it felt like a rip off. Sting Ray City is one place not to be missed, but next time I would take a smaller boat out of West Bay.
Written by EvanW on 21 Feb, 2004
We just got back from our week at Morritt's Tortuga Club and wanted to share the information for those of you considering this resort. We had a great time and would definitely recommend it. Bear in mind that this resort is on the far end…Read More
We just got back from our week at Morritt's Tortuga Club and wanted to share the information for those of you considering this resort. We had a great time and would definitely recommend it. Bear in mind that this resort is on the far end of the island, away from the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile beach. If you're looking for fast food restaurants, tourist shopping, and crowded beaches, this is NOT the place for you. Instead, you'll experience quiet, beautiful beaches, amazing water for scuba or snorkeling, a few good restaurants (one onsite, the rest in driving distance) and just an overall great place.
The Tortuga Club resort is right next store to the newer Grand Resort, but both places share pools and other facilities. We stayed at the older resort, but it wasn't too apparent. We lucked out with an ocean view room on the second floor. Lots of activities for both parents and kids including a kid's club with babysitting two evenings. Rooms are average but were enjoyable.
Everything on this island is expensive, so be ready for the shock. Even the grocery stores are expensive since they import everything to the island. Little Hurley's is close and can provide you with most necessities.
Definitely rent a car if you plan to go anywhere on the island. Sting Ray City for scuba or snorkeling is fun, as was the Turtle Farm and shopping on Seven Mile beach. Mostly we enjoyed the pools and beach and just had a great week.
Written by Coach S. on 04 Mar, 2003
We went on a half day trip to Stingray City and the Coral Gardens. It was a snorkling trip that we highly recommend. We now wish we would have taken the full-day trip. We booked through Tortuga Divers located at the Morritt's Tortuga Club and…Read More
We went on a half day trip to Stingray City and the Coral Gardens. It was a snorkling trip that we highly recommend. We now wish we would have taken the full-day trip. We booked through Tortuga Divers located at the Morritt's Tortuga Club and Red Sail Charters.
We sailed in a small group (18) with a crew of three on a catamaran. It departed from the Kaibo Yacht Club near Rum Point on the north side of the island, about 45 minutes from George Town and 15 minutes from Morritt's.
At Stingray City we swan with the rays, feeding, holding and touching them. What an experience!!! The Coral Gardens nearby was even better. We swam over coral formations in about 12 feet of water. The number and kinds of fish were amazing.
If you ever go to Grand Cayman, this is a MUST-DO trip.
Written by lotsatoysny on 15 May, 2007
This is the local dive shop in the hotel. Big Sister was ours for the week. The crew was top-notch. Nitrox was a bit pricey per tank. Diving was great. There were lots of fish and turtles. No wonder its Cayman's logo.…Read More
This is the local dive shop in the hotel. Big Sister was ours for the week. The crew was top-notch. Nitrox was a bit pricey per tank. Diving was great. There were lots of fish and turtles. No wonder its Cayman's logo.Close