The Caribbean - Info for Grand Cayman (GCM)

Hi there,

Heading to GCM in a couple of weeks with the family (boys 10 and 12). Will have a car. Suggestions on snokelling spots/boat trips in addition to Stingray City and other activities on the island?

Many thanks

Cayman Islands Helicopters offers aerial tours that you give an unforgettable island perspective.

Be sure to visit Hell. Send a postcard complete with a postmark from Hell, a hellish way to bring a smile to friends back home.

Visit the Turtle Farm at Boatswain Beach your boys would love it.

Spend a day combing 7 Mile Beach

And if you can get away from the kids for a bit, I had a blast at Margaritaville.

What type of activities do you and the boys enjoy and where do you plan to stay while on island? Maybe you will get more responses if you provide this additional information.

Enjoy

Thanks Johannesj,

The boys will enjoy the beachcombing and the water the most, especially snokelling. Along the lines of the Turtle Farm we'll also check out any other natural history interpretation and hands-on activities.

We are staying at the Comfort Suites, but will have a car.

Any thoughts on where to get cruise schedules so we can plan some of the activities during non-peak times or are there ships in each day

Thanks again

Cheers

TomCayman on Flyertalk runs/owns a resort in the Caymans and has a blog and website with information on the Caymans.
http://thereef.blogspot.com/

Hell is hell, but it isn't particularly interesting otherwise.

I just got back from there in Dec 2006 and these are my suggestions:

1) No need to see Hell ... waste of time

2) Do the snorkeling at Stingray City 1/2 day tour.....more than enough....do this thru Captain Marvin's --- much cheaper than thru your hotel

3) Do not eat brkfast/lunch at the hotel....eat at a place called Eats's...it is reasonable and good....across from WESTIN

4) there are a lot of good restaurants...depends what you like...

5) Westin has the best beach and pool....but the hotel sucks and is way overrated for a westin....

6) Turtle farm is worh the money...try the turtle soup...is good...

7) Make sure you try the conch soup...excellent at any restaurant....

GCM is horribly expensive so plan on spending a lot of money.....but it is very beuatiful....

Thanks very much Anaggie for taking the time to reply.

We've been to Turks and Caicos a couple of times - any thoughts are how the costs there compare to GCM?

Cheers

Thanks very much Anaggie for taking the time to reply.

We've been to Turks and Caicos a couple of times - any thoughts are how the costs there compare to GCM?

Cheers

Never been...but you are already on the short side with the currency exchange....

even lunch at EATS cost me over $50 for me and my wife, but includes an appetizer/entre/dessert/coke....I am on vacation...I eat good !!!

Take a visit to a visit to Cayman's 65-acre Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park

The Mastic Trail is another tour that should excite you. It is a three-hour walk through Cayman woodland. You can choose to take a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour, using a pocket trail guide, I would opt for the self guided tour as you can move at your own pace plus it will give you and the boys some time alone.

While I agree that Hell isn’t that fantastic, I think that you have no reason not to visit. Must admit that when I visited I thought it was a waste of time but I sent off many cards to friends, family and a few of my company’s directors all postmarked from Hell:

“Spent Christmas in Hell and missed you so much, but I know that I will see you here soon. Wish you were here”

It made for some really good laughs when I got back home. I am sure there are people you and the boys would love to tell “go to Hell”, well here’s your chance.

Cayman isn’t one of my favourite islands but it can be a very fun place. Enjoy

Cayman isn’t one of my favourite islands but it can be a very fun place. Enjoy

Thanks johannesj,

For our next March Break trip if you have a couple of minutes what are your three favourite islands and briefly why?

Cheers

I'd like to know that too

And why isn't Cayman one of your favs?

Don't get me wrong, Cayman is lovely. When I stated that it was not one of my favourites I simply meant that I like others ahead of Cayman, did not intend to offend anyone.

I live in the Caribbean and the main attraction in a Caribbean destination should be that it feels authentic, you should feel the Caribbean. One of the ills of the boost of development to our Caribbean toruism product is that slowly but surely that authentic Caribbean feeling is being lost. Cayman is a lovely island but again, maybe it is because I am from the Caribbean, whenever I visit the Cayman Island I always feel like I am in another part of South Florida as opposed to the Caribbean... same thing happened to me in Nassau (don't want to opening up new discussions as to where Nassau ranks for me). Again I think I can also attribute my comments to my vacation activites - I love nature, forests, greenry, rivers, streams. I love ethnic cultures and rich history and based on these here are my favourite islands

St. Lucia
Belize - Though not an island it is considered a Caribbean destination
Barbados
Netherland Antilles (Saba, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius)
Anguilla
St. Kitts/Nevis

Don't have much time right now but I will provide some more explanation regarding why these are my favourites. Maybe you guys may want to start a new thread "Favourite Caribbean Destinations" and I will post my thoughts in there.

I'd like to know that too

And why isn't Cayman one of your favs?

I feel the same way. Unless you are diving or doing international monetary related deals, I'd head somewhere else. Just not very interesting. I've been there perhaps 8-10 times for business (mixed with waining pleasure).

Johannesq-Your presence on this board and Marriott (St. Kitts) has been immensely helpful. We look forward to continued dialogue and great information about the Caribbean from you. Many thanks!

I was personally happy to read Barbados on your fav list, we are going there in three more weeks! Very much agree with your points on culture etc, development, nature.

Note to OP-Grand Cayman does have the most amazing snorkeling and diving. I don't think that could be done in South Florida.

I second the proposal for Captain Marvin's Stingray City trip...we've been with him numerous times and it's always well done. Plus, you can hit EATS before/after the trip as it's almost in the same plaza as Captain Marvin's office.

Since you'll have a car, let me offer some dining recommendations -- for a well-rounded menu and fantastic desserts (especially the beignets), along with a wide-ranging wine list, try The Lighthouse (http://www.lighthouse.ky/). They do open for lunch so that might be an option as well. For a memorable five course dinner that will have you trusting the chef as to what you'll be eating, you need to visit Roland's Garden (http://www.chefroland.com/). I'm not sure that your sons would appreciate the experience, but take a look at the site and form your own opinion. Take your own wine and enjoy it...with great food and great wit thrown in as well.

Can anyone tell me if the Victoria House property on Grand Cayman is still open?