Our Trip to the Cayman Islands Sept.23-30 2012


Our flight to Grand Cayman was with Westjet from Ottawa via Toronto on Sept. 23 with return on Sept. 30. All flights were good and on schedule with no problems.

Upon arrival we picked up our rental car at Thrifty just outside the airport. We rented a Toyota Yaris which was large enough to put four pieces of luggage in the trunk and proved very comfortable for the week. Thrifty seemed to have the best prices when we did our research so we decided to go with them. Since driving is on the left hand side here, we opted for a car with the steering wheel on the right. Driving was no problem as we have driven on the left in other destinations and the numerous roundabouts were easy to manoeuver.

We had reserved the week at Morritt’s Resort in the East District, about a 40 min. drive from the airport. The resort was very nice and located right on the ocean. We were given a room on the first floor with our balcony overlooking the pool and it was large and spacious and very clean and comfortable. We totally enjoyed staying in this area as it had a real “island feel” to it and was quiet and very relaxing. Morritt’s has two restaurants David’s , a more formal venue, and Mimi’s Dock, a casual area, and two bars which served our needs. The staff was very helpful and there were lots of beach chairs and palapas with bar service on the beach. Each day there were numerous activities planned so you could do as much or as little as you pleased. There was “all you can eat ice-cream” each day from 3-4 P.M. at Mimi’s Dock Bar for $5 CI per person, but we were never around at this time to try it. Others said it was great. There were several other restaurants only a short drive away so although it was a distance to Georgetown, we never felt too remote.

The purpose of our visit was to relax and enjoy the beaches so we had not planned any excursions this trip. We spent time enjoying Seven Mile Beach and Rum Point Beach which were our favorite. We chose the area in front of the Westin Hotel on Seven Mile Beach and enjoyed the beach service from the bar and restaurant there. We stopped one day at the public beach area at Seven Mile, but it was congested and filled with cruise ship passengers and was not as enjoyable as the more private areas.

We thoroughly enjoyed Rum Point! The ambience, the food and everything about it was great! Rum Point is the home of the delicious Mudslide drink so of course I had to try that. We had delicious fish and chips and tropical fruit for dessert at the restaurant there and it was very good. There was also a Red Sails Store there which had a great variety of clothing and souvenirs. I was able to purchase everything there for gifts to bring home so that made shopping very easy. Snorkelling was the best in the East End so hubby spent some time snorkelling at Rum Point and also off the beach at Morritt’s. The Glass Bottom Boat and also the Red Sails Boat both leave from the dock at Rum Point and another snorkelling boat and a private fishing charter boat both leave from Mimi’s Dock at the Morritt’s Resort. They seemed busy every day.

The Reef Resort was next door to Morritt’s and we spent Thursday evening there enjoying cocktails and listening to the music of the famous Barefootman. We spent some time talking to him and bought some of his cd’s to enjoy at home.
Friday and Saturday evening had Peter Bacon playing the piano in David’s Restaurant at Morritt’s which provided nice listening music. The food at David’s was very good and nicely presented and we ate there a few times. There was also a very nice Caribbean Night on the terrace at Morritt’s with BQ chicken and seafood with island music to start our week off on Monday evening. This was very well attended and the food was plentiful and delicious. The cost was about $15 per person and a very good deal as Cayman prices are very expensive.

We dined our last evening at Tukka which was only a short drive away. We were seated on the balcony overlooking the water. The moon was shining brightly on the water and the waves were gently breaking on the beach to provide a most romantic setting. I had lobster bisque and garlic shrimp platter with linguini and David had the 10.oz steak with mushroom risotto. We had cocktails and wine and were just too full to enjoy their delicious looking desserts. We enjoyed this restaurant very much and would recommend it to anyone visiting this area.

There was a Foster’s Food Market close to the resort and we shopped there mainly for breakfast foods which we prepared in our condo. The prices were more expensive than we pay at home and everything is priced in the $CI with an extra 25% added for US currency. All businesses take US currency, however all change is given in $CI which was most annoying. They also do not take any US coins so you are constantly ending up with an abundance of $CI!

There was also a liquor store in the same mall area and we purchased Cay Brew there, the local island beer. Overall the liquor prices are very high in Grand Cayman and it is recommended you purchase liquor at the Duty Free shops on your way to the island. A six pack of Cay Brew was about $12 US so it was less expensive than other available beers.
Overall drinks everywhere in bars and restaurants are expensive with beer and wine about $7-9CI a glass and mixed and tropical drinks ranging from $7.50-13 CI with 25% added for US currency.

We like to have breakfast in and then we go off to the beach or to explore for the rest of the day. Lunch is usually eaten on the beach or at a restaurant along the way and then we usually dine out in the evening and enjoy some entertainment that is offered or after dinner return to the resort for cocktails.

We visited Camana Bay which is a very upscale area of Georgetown and had afternoon tea at the Black Trumpet which served delicious scones and pastries. There were also several restaurants and many shops here where you could purchase lots of expensive items from around the world. This is definitely a place to visit while on the island!

Our much anticipated visit was our day in HELL. It was very hot as it should be, but much prettier as well! The post office there is world famous and it had lots of people there mailing their post cards to get the HELL postmark. We did that too and hopefully this will be our only visit to a place bearing that name! It was fun and definitely worth a visit.

The weather was much better than anticipated since our visit was during the height of the hurricane season. Most days were sunny with cloudy intervals and VERY HOT and HUMID. We did have one day of showers throughout the day and the day we left there were showers in the morning, but it had cleared and was sunny again by the time we reached the airport. We were very fortunate to have experienced such favorable weather!

We enjoyed our vacation in Grand Cayman and spent time exploring it and seeing everything of interest to us. Previously we had only spent a day there visiting via cruise ship. It was definitely the most expensive island we have visited thus far, very flat and probably not as pretty as some of the others. However, it is very safe and the crime is almost non-existent there. Their laws are very strict and are powerfully enforced which is a good thing. The unemployment rate is very low and almost everyone has a job and a place to live. The homes are all well-kept and all public and private areas are clean and garbage free. There are no illegal residents there and gaining residency is not an easy task. It is perhaps one of the wealthiest islands and this is obvious as you travel around.

We have travelled to several islands and must admit that our favorite is still St. Maarten/St. Martin. There is just something there that keeps drawing us back and we didn’t find that same magnet in Grand Cayman. It is definitely an island well worth visiting, a great place to relax, and one most people will certainly enjoy.

Thanks for the trip report! Any pictures??

Thanks for the trip report! I have to agree with you on Cayman being very expensive. We thought more expensive than St. Barts. We had 2 glasses of wine at the bar at Hemingways, $30+15% gratuity +25% for US dollars, now that was one expensive glass of wine. Rum Point was our favorite beach, you didn't play with the sting rays? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Nice recap and glad you had an enjoyable visit. Did you get to see Stinky the Dolphin?

Fortunately, no encounters with Stinky the dolphin! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to be so late in posting some trip pictures, but I hope to do that very soon.

We are well traveled through the caribbean but never been to the Caymans. It was once on our list of places to visit but I doubt we'll get there so thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun trip.

Aren't you the travelers - a week on the Caymans in September and then a month in SXM in November! Thanks for the reminder to look at this forum. Sounds like a very nicely relaxing week. Reading this didn't tire me out as your SXM trip reports do! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Gee, I was thinking of trying GC, but maybe can't afford it! I guess SXM is still the better option as far as affordability goes!

Nice report. It IS one of the most beautiful islands in the Carib. I loved Rhum Point area. I also visited the turtle farm while visiting Hell.

Thanks
SXM??? Wendell

Very nice, Elizabeth. Kim and Ken took their family there for a post Christmas trip a year or so ago and absolutely loved it, too. Thank you for sharing and I will be looking forward to your photos. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Guess I should have looked head. The pictures were lovely. Again, TY for sharing.