Cayman Islands January 2007 Vacation

:cayman islands:

TRIP REVIEW

January 13 - 21, 2007

The Cayman Islands is a great tropical destination and have a lot to offer. It is well known especially for its Stingray City and great diving. Unfortunately, since this trip was intended as a diving vacation, we weren't able to experience all else. I will definitely go back.

I will try to minimize this review by not including the details about the facilities/services/products that can be found in their websites. Click on the names to go to the websites. Included in this review are what I think about the services, tips, and info that are not mentioned or cannot be easily found online. For more details, click here for my travel log.

Diving is great in any of the islands. But a lot of divers prefer Little Cayman because of its proximity to the famous Bloody Bay Wall. And trust me, it was awesome diving. But if you want to be able to do more than diving or snorkeling, I would suggest staying in Grand Cayman.

As always, I recommend joining a forum for the destination (if any). Or at least visit the forum and read what the members say. A forum is where I get the best tips and recommendations. Click here for the forum I liked for Cayman Islands.

Inquire for prices through Cayman Activity Guide. They may offer cheaper rates.

US currency is widely accepted at US$1.25 - CI$1 ratio. Even taxis accept them, so no need to bring Cayman Dollars.

Go to CaymanGoodTaste.com for a list of restaurants and reviews in Grand Cayman. The site also has a good detailed map. I was able to grab a catalogue at our hotel for free.

Go through the brochures and magazines in your hotel. They're free and very useful. Don't forget to grab a map when you go around the area.

Book the flights early if you're going to the sister islands (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman). There are not a lot of flights going to these islands with Cayman Airways. And they get booked. I had to re-book my international flight because I tried to book our flight to Little Cayman too late. Don't worry, the airfare is pretty much the same all year round.

Remember that the baggage limit on the Cayman Airways flights to the sister islands is only 55lbs per person, unlike in international flights. Excess weight may incur additional charges and may arrive delayed.

If booking Little Cayman Beach Resort, I suggest getting the FAP (all meals included) package. There's not a lot of places to go to in Little Cayman. Besides, I find the food in the resort very good.

Gratuities are 10%-15%.

Click here for my trip log.

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HOW WE RATE

First, we start with 5 smilies, then we deduct points for anything we think anyone might find or consider a negative, even just slightly.

If there were no deductions, we look for similar options. If we think there are better options out there, we then rate accordingly based on the best option having the highest rating.

Since there are two of us, we average our rating to get the final rating.

Having less than 5 smilies does not mean it's not highly recommended. We are just not keen on giving a perfect rating (5 smilies).

TRANSPORTATION

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT:
Delta Airlines $447.75 pp round-trip

In-flight service is a lot better than the other US airlines (i.e. American Airlines) we've flown. They offered a few choices for snacks (unlike American Airlines that didn’t have any choices that time we flew with them).

They offered us free headphones at our flight from NY Laguardia to Grand Cayman. We also got to keep them. However, it was no longer free on the way to NY, one had to shell out $2 for one. In-flight visual entertainment was better in Greyhound (bus) than our flight back to NY. It was a feature about Cirque de Soleil and the TV shows, The Office and Numbers.

It took Delta a long time (around 45 minutes) to bring out our luggages.

DOMESTIC FLIGHT:
Cayman Airways $130.25 pp round-trip

The flight was nothing special. The plane was tiny and the ride was a little bumpy at times, but not scary. Just remember what I said earlier in this review: BOOK EARLY and REMEMBER YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED 55LBS PER PERSON. It was a little hard for us because John was brining most of his dive gear, but we managed. We could have been upset, but we weren't. We understand the limit because of the size of the plane.

TRANSFERS - GRAND CAYMAN:

Local taxi $15.50 one-way

The taxi dispatcher was right outside the airport. It was easy and quick to get a taxi. There was nothing special about it, it was a regular taxi. But the local driver was nice.

TRANSFERS - LITTLE CAYMAN:

Little Cayman Beach Resort (included in package, see Accommodations)

As soon as our plane arrived, the van from Little Cayman Resort was already there waiting for us. Our driver was very nice and carried all our baggage. We insisted we at least carry our carry-ons. Upon arrival at the hotel, he took our baggage straight to our room as soon as he got our room number. I am disappointed with myself for not remembering his name.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS - GRAND CAYMAN:
Comfort Suites 7-Mile Beach $202.50 /night

Comfort Suites was nice and clean. It was pricey though, but so are the other hotels in the area. The lady at the front desk was very nice. We only stayed overnight so this review is limited.

ROOMS:

Our room was a studio (the smallest room) and it was not that big. But people in the forum said they’re pretty spacious. So I’m guessing the other hotels in the area offer smaller rooms. The room was clean and the bed was comfortable with 2 pillows. Two extra pillows were in the ‘closet’. I placed quotations around closet because it didn’t have a door. The bathroom had a shower stall, not a bath tub, but it was big enough.

Beach access at Comfort Suites 7-mile beach Grand Cayman

AMENITIES:

The hotel didn't have its own beach. The beach was about 50ft away and can be accessed through a small pathway to the beach to the side of the pool. The beach was not that crowded compared to the one infront of Marriott next door. They were constructing another hotel in between the Comfort Suites and the beach, so I don't know if that will change the situation on the beach when it comes to crowd. The pool wasn’t too big and goes up to 8ft, but it wasn’t crowded. Half the time I was there, I was alone.

Beach towels were free and no deposit is required. Just fill out a form and they tear it out when you give it back.

There was one bar/restaurant in the hotel premises. It was more of a bar than a restaurant and is situated by the pool. See the Food section for a more detailed review of the bar.

Wireless internet connection was free in the rooms and speed was average. Ask front desk for username and password to access the internet. If you don’t have a laptop, you can use their computer in the first floor for free.

Continental breakfast was included in the room rate. They had cereals, waffles, eggs, fruits, bagels, bread, muffins, juices, coffee, tea, milk.

The hotel has ample parking and it's free.

LOCATION:

The location was good, but not great. It was a bit to the south end of 7-mile beach, but still a walk away from most of the shopping centers and restaurants. But if I go back to Grand Cayman, I would find a hotel a little more north.

ACCOMMODATIONS - LITTLE CAYMAN:
Little Cayman Beach Resort $1595 Diver AI 7-nights, $1085 Non-diver AI 7-nights

Little Cayman Beach Resort is nice and quaint. I highly recommend it for divers. Inquire for prices via Cayman Activity Guide. I got the best price there.

PREMISES:

The grounds were lovely and clean. The resort was not that big. The rooms were in 2-story buildings situated on two sides of the premises opposite to each other. I noticed a lot of mosquitoes everywhere. But surprisingly, I only had a couple of bites. John didn't even have any.

Double room at Little Cayman Beach Resort ROOMS:

The room was more beautiful than I expected. We had 2 full beds and they were soft and comfortable.

The bathroom was spacious and smelled really nice, but the tub had 2 dead mosquitoes. I actually found one flying around in the room. We weren't bothered by mosquitoes in the room though. There were 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, and 2 face towels. Considering that there were 2 full beds in the room, the bathroom needed more linens. The water took a while to heat up so when you take a shower, let it flow first for a minute or two to get the right temperature then go in.

There were no phones in the rooms. There were payphones by the bar and the lobby, but you’ll need a phone card to call long distance. I had T-Mobile and the reception was pretty good. Cayman Island roaming charges with T-Mobile was $1.49/min.

The air-conditioner worked very well, but it was a bit loud at times.

Housekeeping was great and the maids were very friendly.

AMENITIES:

Pool:

The pool was nice and not crowded at all. I rarely saw guests in it. There were two hot tubs as well which the guests used more, but still not a lot. There were not a lot of lounge chairs, but again, guests don't usually hang out by the pool so they're usually empty. The resort provided beach towels by the pool. But they run out quick. There are plenty though in the dive boats if you're a diver.

Beach:

There were lounge chairs and covered hammocks by the beach, perfect for those who want to lay back and relax. The beach was alright. The water was shallow for a long stretch out into the ocean and had some seaweeds and rocks so I didn't bother to swim in it. There were kayaks or hobie cats that you can rent though.

Pool at Little Cayman Beach Resort Fitness Center:

The Fitness Center was tiny and didn't have many equipment. There was also a pool table and a tiny library in the room.

Beach Nuts Bar:

The bar was the social center of the place. That was where most guests hang out when not diving or eating or sleeping. I did notice though that the staff (particularly the dive staff) are the first ones in the bar occupying a lot of the seats. Sunday was the manager's welcome party and food was served by the bar. Wednesday was movie night and it was also held by the bar.

Internet:

Wireless internet connection is available at a cost of $5 for 24 hours or $25 for 1 week. We got the 1-week connection and the connection was really fast. You can get signal by the pool as well.

FOOD:

See Food Section

DIVING:

See Activities Section

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FOOD

STINGERS, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Stingers was the bar by the pool at Comfort Suites (the only restaurant in the premises) that was known for its crispy calamari. They used small squids for their calamari, but they were crispy alright. The calamari rings were tiny and had a little too much batter. Try their chicken wrap, I liked it.

Service was a little slow, but the lady bartender was very accommodating and made a drink according to John's instructions.

MYRTLE'S, Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Myrtle's was just a short walk away from Comfort Suites. So we decided to go there to taste some local cuisine. We got there and no one was eating. But we decided to eat there anyway. It took them too long to serve the main entree and I was hungry. The food was sub-par. They were overcooked. The dinner cost $80 for two including tip. Yes, it’s expensive to eat out in Grand Cayman. Go to CaymanGoodTaste.com for a list of restaurants, reviews, and idea for prices. I won’t eat there again.

LITTLE CAYMAN BEACH RESORT, Little Cayman

We got the FAP (breakfast, lunch, dinner) package from Little Cayman Beach Resort. The food was buffet style and it was good. They usually have at least 3 main entrees, rolls, salads, and lots of dessert. Yum!

There was always a lot of food. It was a surprise we didn't gain much weight (probably because of the diving). They replenish the food frequently. They usually serve at least 4 kinds of dessert, but they were so good that they run out quick. I think everybody got a piece of each dessert for themselves. I probably took at least 2 kinds each meal :).

They didn't serve the same entree more than once the whole week we were there. I always looked forward to what they had in store for us for each meal. For details on what they served, click here for my travel log.

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ACTIVITIES

STINGRAY CITY SNORKEL TRIP, Grand Cayman

Soto's Cruises $30 pp

We booked a morning trip to Stingray City through Soto’s Cruises. We got a rate of US$30pp that included 2-hour snorkeling trip, beverages, and pick-up in any hotels in the Seven Mile Beach area. They only accepted cash.

They told us that they were picking us up at 9am. We were packed and ready, waiting in our hotel lobby at around 8:50am, but noone came. It was 9:20 when I decided to call them. Then the girl who answered told me that the captain just arrived and cancelled the trip because of the windy conditions. US$0.75 of phonecall down the drain.

Soto’s Cruises was highly recommended, but I was pissed that they didn’t call us about the cancellation, or if they were planning to, they didn’t call us early enough.

OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION, Little Cayman

Reef Divers - Warren $450 pp

I took my full open water certification with Reef Divers at Little Cayman Beach Resort. I was the only student so the $450 fee seemed like a deal. I was very nervous, but my instructor Warren assured me I could do it. He told me that we may be able to finish the whole class in only 2 days since I was his only student. In the beginning, I felt like he was trying to rush me. But we ended up going through the class at my own pace and finished it in 3 days.

Warren was a good instructor to have especially in the open water. He pulled me to the line on the front of the boat, so I didn't have to swim. It was a relief coz I needed every bit of energy I had concentrating and doing skills underwater. He made me feel at ease underwater. When I got water in my regulator and panicked at 60ft, he was very good at calming me down. He could be a bit moody though and that showed on my last dive. I had to do 3 open water dives on my 3rd day. By the 3rd dive, I was exhausted and I was forgetting some things I've learned. Warren sort of got impatient and irritated.

I would highly recommend taking full open water certification at Little Cayman with Reef Divers. All the divers were jealous and accuse me of being spoiled. One-on-one training and diving in a phenomenal underwater environment make for an incredible learning experience.

SCUBA DIVING, Little Cayman

(included in package, see Accommodations)

DIVE SITES

John and I loved the diving in Little Cayman. The best was the Bloody Bay Wall which was just on the opposite side of the island from the Little Cayman Beach Resort - about a half hour boat ride away. We were blessed with calm weather and visibility was great (around 80ft or so).

The wall was full of beautiful and diverse marine life. Sited were nurse sharks and a reef shark, lots of turtles, eagle ray, stingrays, groupers, barracudas, lobsters, and a lot more. A lot of the divers were able to pet a grouper. I am not very familiar with the names so I can't list them all. You can also look at our album for photos.

DIVE SHOP: Reef Divers

Reef Divers take a maximum of 20 divers per boat with two dive masters. The boats were big and comfortable. They are equipped for giant stride entries. On every dive, one dive master dove with the divers and the other stayed on the boat. The boats weren't filled to the max when we were there. But it would have been nicer if the ratio of divers to divemasters was smaller.

The valet service offered by Reef Divers is a great treat and made it very convenient for the divers especially me, a newbie. Upon check-in at the dive shop, divers were given the name of the boat they would be on the rest of their stay and mesh bags for them to put their gear on. The divers were asked to place their gear outside their room early morning the first dive day. The dive staff picked up the gears and put them on the boats. Once on the dive site, a dive master draws the dive site's topography and the best route to go through it. When ready, a diver (with his/her mask, snorkel, fins) just go to the back of the boat, sit on one of the two seats and a dive master would take the diver's BCD and tank and help the diver put it on. I was so relieved I didn't have to lug that heavy equipment from where it was held to the back of the boat.

Since the dive masters help the divers with their gears, the dive master assigned to dive with the divers didn't get into the water until later when everybody was already underwater. You're practically on your own to explore the dive site. Most of the divers in our trip were advanced or experienced divers so they went their merry way without waiting for the dive master. But for a newbie, I would have had to stay close to the dive master and that would have lessen my down time. If you're a new diver, I would suggest letting the dive shop know beforehand so they can keep a better eye on you or stay with you and guide you.

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PRICING

January 13 - 21, 2007

Diver

Total: $2274.25 pp

FLIGHTS $447.75 + $130.25

- Delta Airlines

January 13: 6:00am LGA - 12:45pm GCM

January 21: 2:05pm GCM - 10:10pm LGA

- Cayman Airways

January 14: 2:45pm GCM - 3:50pm L CAYMAN

January 21: 11:25pm L CAYMAN - 12:00pm GCM