r/CaymanIslands

Wife and i used to travel a lot before kids. Last week we took our family of four kids and my inlaws to the island. For me, what made it a lot more memorable and fun was we had to rent a car. I must say i was nervous and worked myself up over the roundabouts. The first few days were a bit crazy but by the third day i got used to the driving. The only thing that kept tripping me is the turn signal is on the right side (i got a right handed steering wheel).

I can see why folks move to the island, highly developed infrastructure and the folks are very nice. It felt like we were back in the states minus the sticker shock. ;) I cant say the same for the airport where our arrival was chaotic and lots of folks were pissed off at the one lady who was barking at ppl for standing around. When we left, security gave us no instructions, they kept getting pissed at people for not removing hightop shoes or some folks like us putting two bags in one bin. Why not tell people as theyre waiting in line?

Seven Mile Beach was awesome. The one downsize we experienced was the day after a cruise ship arrived, public beach was filled with trash on the sand. Very sad to see, i wish people would just clean up after themselves. We also got to experienced stingray city with CayBoss who was able to accommodate us by going to shallow part where my kids had their space to interact with the stingrays.

If i had the money, i could definitely see myself retiring there but no way my wife would be able to deal with the weather. Too the residents of Cayman, you guys have a gem and im jealous you get to experience this everyday. To those on the fence, go visit. We have been to some of the other popular Carribean Islands but thus far, Cayman is our favorite.

hi everyone! my husband and i will be staying in grand cayman for 3 nights in mid-november as part of our honeymoon, and i think i’ve officially gone down the rabbit hole. 😅 i’ve read what feels like hundreds of reddit posts, watched countless tiktok videos, and browsed travel forums, but now i’m even more undecided.

here’s what we’re looking for:
beachfront property where we can walk right onto the beach
resort amenities like lounge chairs, towels, and a nice pool
easy access to snorkeling (either from the beach or nearby)
we’d like to visit the turtle center and do at least one snorkeling excursion (possibly stingray city too)
we won’t be renting a car, so we’d like to stay somewhere that’s walkable or has easy access to restaurants and excursions
we’d prefer an area that isn’t overwhelmingly touristy, but we also don’t want to be isolated
budget isn’t a huge concern, but we’d like to keep the hotel around $2,000 or less total for the 3-night stay

are we asking for the impossible? 😅
if you were planning a honeymoon with these priorities, where would you stay? would you recommend seven mile beach, the quieter southern end of seven mile beach, west bay, or somewhere else entirely? i’d love specific hotel or condo recommendations and any advice from people who’ve been there recently.
thanks in advance!

Hey all, visiting this week and staying in SMB. Looking for a good bar/restaurant to watch the US world cup match on Monday night that will have a lively crowd and plenty of tvs to watch. Let me know any recs! Thanks. ​

Hello all! First time in the Caymans and first time diving out of the U.S.

Not sure if it will be helpful, but I wanted to share my experiences

Logistics:
-Many dive shops will pick you up along 7-mile beach, and it’s usually a brief dive

-Diving in the morning was a lot better, as storms seemed to gather in the afternoon. However, each morning was clear (I visited in July)

-Surprisingly, it cost less for renting gear and a charter compared to the U.S. especially if you do a package

-I dove with Living The Dream Divers. I’m not sponsored or anything, but they were great with the scheduling process and pickups and such. Everyone working there was super friendly. I did schedule a month in advance or so, but it was easy because you only pay after you finish.

Actual Dives:
-Lots of stingrays, reef fish, and turtles! There are a ton of dive sites, so they usually select day-of (but they take requests for multi-day people!). Very cool structures and you only had to go off-shore around 5 minutes to get to the sites…there are major drop-offs

-They did ‘Princess diving’ in which you simply sit down and they put all your equipment on and such, and then take it all off and such. When you dive multiple times in a week and are quite tired, it’s actually so nice.

-The water was 86 F (perfect) and the visibility was incredible. You could see throughout the whole reef and, when on ledges, at least 100’ no exaggeration

-You could tell some of the coral was bleached, which is sad, but something that you have to accept as a diver which is everywhere

-A lot of people are multi-day, so I knew most of the other divers after Day 2 (and all the crew)

Overall, a really good experience that did not cost much and made the trip memorable. I really enjoyed Living the Dream Divers and wanted to share my thoughts for others!

One word of caution…most dive sites have the ability to go down 80-90’ if you want. I’m Advanced certified, so it’s fine, but if you are Open Water only just be sure to keep tab on depth

As a first timer, would you suggest taking the ferry to Kaibo? Or take a car to see more of the island? Starting point will be GT.

If you suggest a car, what stops should I take on the way? Best time to leave?

I know this is a long shot, but my husband and FIL got baseball hats from Divers Supply (508 West Bay Road
West Shore Center, George Town, Grand Cayman) years ago and they are their favorite hats. I just called the shop and they will not ship to USA.

If there is anyone who will be visiting in the next few months and would be willing to shop and get them to me in New Jersey USA I would be so grateful and would pay accordingly. My husband is turning 40 this year and he would be thrilled. Thanks!

Do they take usd cash on the island? We are headed there tomorrow

So uh, we rented from Marshals, sand everywhere because beach trips. Are they going to charge me a fee for cleaning? Where is there a vacuum?

Update: Ended up using Good Guys. Thanks everyone

Hey folks! So my partner and I are coming to Cayman and plan to visit Little and Brac! I wanted to ask: are the roads smooth enough on the sister islands to rollerblade? We have pads lol but don't want it to be too much of a bumpy ride !!

It’ll be my first time going with family and small kids.

Is the One GT Hotel in Georgetown worth booking or should I stick to SMB area? I’ll have a car, but I want to maximize my time there given that it’s a short trip.

Also, any suggestions of must eat, do, or see is much appreciated.

What are the experiences?

A group of 6 of us. 2 kids under 3. Trying to decide between Harbour Heights or Villas of Galleon.
I’m aware that HH has a pool but hear that VOG is a better location?

Any tips?? We will have a rental car.

Anyone else getting weird time-out messages when using your Proven card in and around the island?

We are a 55+ couple who love traveling to Aruba for the quiet, low-rise adult resorts, quiet and relaxing resort front beaches, and high-quality dining. We are spoiled by the hassle-free beach front loungers and free full breakfast of Bucuti and Tara and are looking for another similar destination. We heard the Grand Cayman has a similar vibe. Any suggestions on where to stay, when to visit, where to eat, etc? We would like to be on the beach and not have to pay or hassle for lounge chairs.

Our number ONE priority is an amazing beach with crystal
clear and very calm water.
We loved the beach at the Westin - but prices for January are insane!!

How is the beach at the Indigo? I know it is a bit of a walk - but is the water smooth as glass like at the Westin?

Close to restaurants? We don’t mind taxis.

We are over 40 and will not have kids with us.

Thank you!!

I’m overwhelmed! We are coming in two weeks for our first visit ever to GCI. We plan to stay in an Airbnb that has a beach view. Would love for that beach to be swimmable and snorkel friendly. We will be renting a car and exploring for half of each day but then beaching it the second half. We aren’t huge on crowds and don’t mind a drive. I’m also a little fearful of sargassum as we live in south Texas and are very familiar with it. If you have AIRBNB/VRBO recommendations, please share! Or just what part of the island would be best. Thanks a million!!

how do i apply for a us visa and how much was it? Is there a place you can recommend for me to do it or any easier way thanks :)