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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: lovetoscuba]
#19832
05/20/2013 03:57 PM
05/20/2013 03:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 294 Stillwater, Minnesota
BobA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 294
Stillwater, Minnesota
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I spent a week in Cayman in March with 3 others. Trip report is on TTOL. This was our 2nd trip to GC. We had 8 of us on 1st trip and used 2 rental cars because we were up by Rum Point.
The 4 of us this trip were on 7Mile a mile so up from GT.
We took buses constantly. Trip from GT Villas was $2-3 U.S. and also about the same to Turtle Farm. I think the driver explained the price as being $2 Cayman and I just gave $3 everytime.
Buses worked VERY WELL, but learn to spot buses (colored circle with a number on front of minibus/minivan), vs. taxis (taxi sign in window or on roof of minibus/minivan).
A taxi for 2-4 people to GT might cost $20+ easily, but a bus might be about $12, or less.
It is easy to hale taxis or buses, just walk on the side of the road that has traffic going in the direction you wish to go, or stand on the side of the road with traffic going in the direction you wish to go. A bus will simply hook a couple of short bursts, and you simply raise your arm up, and bus will pull over by you or in front of you. Just make sure you are signaling a bus to stop, not a taxi.
Co-travlers didn't always pick up on the slight difference which resulted in a non-too slight increase in trip costs.
Buses are fun, taxis are more direct. Buses sometimes go on alternate routes to drop off locals, don't be alarmed; its all apart of the experience.
We had some panic when everyone boarded the bus, and the driver did a U-turn and headed the opposite direction. He was simply heading back inland to drop some locals off, and was soon back on the road in the right direction.
The decision between bus vs. taxi, will be on convenience, how much of a rush and cost. Depending upon how many trips you plan daily a car may be cheaper in the end. We took buses practically everyday, and a taxi more out of mistake than desire.
You can also walk to many destinations depending upon where you are on 7Mile.
Good luck.
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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: lovetoscuba]
#19834
06/03/2013 12:15 PM
06/03/2013 12:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 294 Stillwater, Minnesota
BobA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 294
Stillwater, Minnesota
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We rented (Feb 2012) two compact cars for $740 for a week, Sat-Sat.
The cars were through McCurley, who parked 1 at the house for us, had another at the airport at curbside for us and were in a van at airport to transport luggage and half the people to house, while the other half went grocery shopping on way from airport to house.
We were able to leave the cars at the house and McCurley came in a van to repeat the process for return flight.
They were quite couteous and accomodating.
Daily rate this year (Mar 2013) never got confirmed as the day we wanted a car from the closest rental on 7 Mile (just a few blocks away), were out of affordable cars. I think daily rate was well above $50-70. We went with the buses instead.
When using the buses, it is good to have $1's of $5's ready for payment when getting off the bus.
Don't expect new shiny buses, they are minivans and used. There are newer ones around but we typically wound up waving over an experienced minivan. A couple times we wound up waving over a taxi by mistake, which is 2-3 times the bus price.
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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: BobA]
#19835
06/03/2013 12:39 PM
06/03/2013 12:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,683 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,683
Central Florida!
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Bob--did that price for the car rental include insurance? Just curious, as we have never rented a car in Cayman and in other places, insurance can get quite pricy. Whether it is Cayman or wherever, daily rentals are normally more. Your weekly price for 2 cars worked out to be $52.86 per day, so I would agree that a daily rental--if one could get it--would be probably $70 or so, at least.
Carol Hill
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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: lovetoscuba]
#19838
06/16/2013 04:54 PM
06/16/2013 04:54 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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lovetoscuba said: One more question, where is the best place to exchange dollars to CI currency? Or the best time? upon landing in airport or etc... No need to exchange USD for KYD, USD are accepted everywhere at a fixed cash exchange rate ($.80 USD to $1.00 KYD). You just get change back in KYD. There isn't even a money exchange at the airport. If for some reason you do want KYD an ATM (there is one at the airport) or bank are the best options.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: Testudo]
#19839
06/20/2013 03:38 PM
06/20/2013 03:38 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 19
lovetoscuba
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 19
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Are you saying that the rate of exchange is fixed at $0.80 USD to $1 CI anywhere you go on the island? Thanks.
Last edited by lovetoscuba; 06/20/2013 03:41 PM.
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Re: Returning to Cayman after almost 20 yrs.
[Re: lovetoscuba]
#19841
06/20/2013 10:05 PM
06/20/2013 10:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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lovetoscuba said: Are you saying that the rate of exchange is fixed at $0.80 USD to $1 CI anywhere you go on the island? Thanks. Correct. The exchange rate is fixed, it does not float. Only if you wire US funds to your KYD bank account will you will get a slightly different rate.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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