I really can't say enough wonderful things about this hotel. The service we received here was better than what we've received at Waldorf Astoria, and that's not hyperbole! This really shouldn't be a Hampton, because it is a far superior hotel than the Hampton Inns we have here in the U.S. The hotel is owned by the same owner as the Kimpton Seafire and the Ritz, and it shows!
We stayed using points (5 nights for 280K points - 4 X 70k plus 5th night free), but this hotel represents a great value even if paying with cash - if you plan ahead you can get rooms for less than $250/night. For those familiar with Grand Cayman, you know that is a very affordable price in comparison to other hotels. This place offers the best "bang for the buck" in Grand Cayman.
The great experience started even before we got there. I had previously requested a rollaway bed for my daughter and called two days before arrival to double check on that. I was informed that the regular King room wasn't great for a rollaway bed and because I was Diamond, they would upgrade me to a Studio. Excellent!
Upon arrival we were welcomed warmly, thanked for being Diamond again, and we had a welcome sign made out of flowers and leaves on our bed for our Anniversary
The rooms are all newly renovated, so they were in great shape. The studio had a small "kitchen" area with a sink and a fridge, which was very useful, as we also received an amenity of some snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Not sure if that was for Diamond or if everyone gets it.
There was also a personalized card in the room, once again thanking me for being Diamond, and informing us that because of our Diamond status we would be getting turndown service every evening. That's right, turndown service....at a Hampton.... am I dreaming? Complete with chocolate on the pillows and a fresh bottle of water for each person every night!
The pool area is small but very nice, and even though the hotel was full we never had problem finding a chair. As others have noted the beach is much smaller than it used to be, but there is a little bit of sand, and there were about 8-10 beach chairs for hotel guests. It's still a nice place to swim - not too rocky like some other places on the island. There is a free shuttle that will take you to a big beach further north, but we had a rental car and so we drove to check out a few different beaches. (I highly recommend Cemetery Beach if you want a quieter spot, but bring food and drinks with you as there's nothing to buy).
The restaurant is outstanding, and many locals and tourists from other hotels come there to eat, so reservations are strongly recommended (it's on OpenTable).
Breakfast is included in the rate for all guests, and it's a proper breakfast: eggs, meats, potatoes, fruit, waffles, pastries, bagels, cereal, etc etc. Really good!
The resort fee is I think $35 (free since we were on points), but includes some cool things like bike rentals, and we really liked the loaner GoPro camera for our swim with the stingrays - good for snorkeling also. Also get a 4pm snack by the pool every day.
But the thing that really stood out the most was the employees. They are just so wonderful, every single one of them. They seem to genuinely like their job and enjoy the guests. They remembered our names, what we like to drink, were great with our 5-year old daughter. Just tremendous, from start to finish. Really a well run hotel. So much so that I emailed the GM to praise several of them by name.
I really don't have anything bad to say about this place. Highly recommended!