We are back from a great trip to Grand Cayman (June 25 through July 2). I am starting this as I sit in Charlotte airport waiting for our connecting flight back to Maryland. Stayed again at Villas of the Galleon. This was a 2nd trip for my husband and I. We got married on the beach in front of VOG in December 2003. Almost 5 years had passed since our last visit and we were anxious to see the island since the hurricane. We also celebrated hubby's 40th birthday on the trip. This time we took with us my husband's kids (Cerah, 12 and Cole, 9) and our 3 year old daughter, Ellie. Ellie has already has a few Caribbean trips under her belt so she is a seasoned traveler. I am embarrassed to admit how many photos I took but it is an obsession of mine. Plus with kids, it typically requires multiple shots to get one good photo. But as some of you have read, we had 2 camera scares..one was just that, a scare, but the other resulted in the loss of more than half of my photos. I have been heartsick which is why it has taken me a while to get this report up. that and the fact that I have been swamped at work since my return. After the malfunction of hubby'scamera (his Olympus Stylus underwater camera blacked out), we used my stepdaughter's for the last 4 days of the trip. She left it on the plane and no one was decent enough to return it. So I will post a link to some of the photos I do but it will be missing the one awesome sunset we had, the turtle farm, kayaking, and the amazing portraits of the kids I shot, among other things.
Anyway, more on the trip -
I love Owen Roberts Airport...looks like what the quintessential Caribbean airport should look like and the steel drum band that you hear as soon as your feet hit the tarmac really gets you in the island spirit. Customs was a breeze. We picked up our spiffy, new while Corolla at thrifty and were on our way to VOG. It took a very short time for my husband to get acclimated to driving on the left again since gets practice at least once a year at whichever island we are visiting. Ellie did assume responsibility for making sure he did not forget by periodically chirping "Stay left, Daddy."
We had a great oceanfront condo at VOG. It was on the 3rd floor, which sounded great when I booked, but from now on I will only book ground floor. So much more convenient, especially with the kids. The ground floor unit patios practically spilled onto the beach. This is what we had last time and wished I had done so this time. We were required to walk around to the back of the units and then up 3 flights of stairs. Not a big deal except with 3 kids, a trip back to room is a very frequent occurrence. Just personal preference. The landscaping is still beautiful though it is not as lush due to Ivan¡¦s wrath. The beach is still wide and beautiful. The kids barely dumped their stuff in their rooms when we first arrived before they suited up and were in the water. The Casuarina pines are slowly filling back in though they do look sparse compared to how we remembered them.
The beachfront at the Ritz is obscene. What used to be a beautiful view southward is now littered with beach chairs stacked almost on top of each other, buoys, swim ropes, assorted watercraft and one weird looking boat. We walked through the Ritz pool area and while it was nice, it didn't impress me. If I paid that much for a hotel room, I would be appalled at the beach scene. The Westin would have been more my style. I liked the pool area better and the beach was much less cluttered. The place I really liked was the Coral Stone Club next to the Ritz to the South. It had an awesome beach..super wide and flat all the way to the water. They had tiki huts on the beach, nice pool area and the complex overall was just appealing to me. Not cluttered at all. VOG is the same way...just enough beach chairs, no jet skis or water toys and no swim ropes. If you haven't already figured it out, I am a bit of a beach snob. All of my trips to the Caribbean are to those destinations which boast great beaches such as Anguilla and Turks and Caicos. Maybe it is because I am a more seasoned traveler or because I am just getting older but Seven Mile Beach, although beautiful, is getting too busy for my taste. And I know there are much less crowded areas of the island but that would mean giving up the nice beach just steps away.
We hit Foster's Food Fair when we arrived to stock up on provisions for the week - breakfast, lunch and snack food plus soda and juice to mix with our Tortuga rum. We also cooked a couple dinners in. feeding a family of 5 in Cayman is expensive!
A brief review of the restaurants where we dined:
Cocount Joe's (Thumbs up): I love this place but was disappointed to see that the bar swings were gone. Ellie entertained herself by watching the chickens and roosters who take up residence at the restaurant. We had the best service here of any restaurant..impeccable. The rice bowls never disappoint and the calamari is super tender. They also make a mean Bellini. This is a fun, casual, outdoor place with consistently good food.
Fisherman's Reef (Thumbs up) - We went here for the big 4-0 birthday dinner. I was torn between here and Calypso Grill. The food was very good and the setting nice though it was very windy the night we dined. We refuse to eat indoors for the most part when in the Caribbean. My Caribbean snapper (with mangoes and a banana liqueur sauce) was very good and Mark's West Indies Lobster was a hit as well. The restaurant was quite dead though and the crowded parking lot next door at Calypso made me second guess my choice. But we were pleased with our meal.
Aqua Beach (Thumbs down): We ended up here after a series of unfortunate events. Yoshi sushi was the intended restaurant this evening. Terrible service, very limited drink menu and average food.
Lone Star (Thumbs up): We decided to give this a whirl because my frugal self had learned that Kids eat Free on Tuesday sign. Plus I had read good reviews. Food was good - kids loved it. But lucky us got a waitress who had only been there 2 days and it took 30 minutes get to the correct amount on the bill. There was a super nice woman, however (owner or manager maybe) who came around to talk to us various times throughout our meal.
Next time I will definitely try Calypso Grill, Yoshi and Deckers's .I really liked the looks of Deckers.
Most days we ate breakfast on the balcony and took a walk along the beach. Several days we just stayed on the beach and went snorkeling at Governor's and Cemetery. Saw a sea turtle at cemetery which is always a highlight for me. In the evening we went to the beach to try to catch a sunset. Most evenings there wasn't much of one but we did get on nice one.
Visited Georgetown one morning to peruse the shops and to get the obligatory photo with Big Black D__k.
Stingray City: We tried Sotos this time and after a very bumpy start the trip turned out well. They said the would pick us up at 8:40. So we waited until 9 and still no van. I called and no answer. So we quick hopped into the Corolla and tried to find the place. The building marked Sotos was locked up tight and I was very frustrated at this point. After trying to find someone on the street to ask, we rode back by and thankfully saw someone emerge from the back. We were in the right place. They apologized for running so late and not picking us up. Crisis averted. I have no problem with "island time" but check in and take off was at a certain time and was worried we would miss the boat. The boat was nice, the crew great. Seas were kinda rough so we did Coral Gardens instead of the reef. Not too much to see. Stingrays were what I was looking forward too. I just love being in the water with them. They are so friendly..like puppies. We fed them and held them. My 3 year old loved it.
Island Tour: This was a fun day. We started out by visiting Smith's Cove then just stopped at random spots along the way. Drove through some nice neighborhoods and look at the houses being built. Stopped to let an orange crab cross the road. Visted the blowholes, drove around the East End then stopped at Ivory kai in hopes of seiing starfish. Very calm, pretty area. Found several starfish that we let the kids hold and then put back. Then we hit Rum Point. Kids enjoyed being able to walk out so far and have the water only be up to their knees. Snorkeling not so good here. We wanted to visit the Botanic Park on the way back but by this point kids were cranky and hungry. We wanted to stop at Rankins or Woody's for some local fare but someone missed them on the way back. So this led us to the next culinary disaster. I am ashamed to admit we stopped at Wendys. My husband kept muttering to himself about this one but everyone was hungry and it was there. We did at least find a beach to eat it on. After everyone was sufficiently fueled, we hit Eden Rock on the way back to the condo.
Eden Rock: We went here twice. Great snorkeling spot in Georgetown. They also had lounge chairs for those who did nor snorkel. Tons of fish as soon as you step off the ladder. But then again the appear to be well fed by the staff so why wouldn't they crowd in!
Turtle Farm: I had read on the board before we left and confirmed that after 4 pm Fridays admission for adults was free. One time they said it was open until 11 pm and the other time I called they said 9 or 10. No matter, our plan was to go right after dinner at Fisherman's Reef. Turned that everyone got in free..not surprising since the entire place was pitch black! You could hear the turtles and kind of see dark shapes but that's it. So be warned: Do not go after dark!! Had we gone at 4 or 5 it would have been fine. So we went again another day. We didn't do the entire park as the kids had already seen sea turtles and petted stingrays and held starfish. But the kids enjoyed seeing and holding the turtles.
Overall, despite a few glitches, we had a great and memorable trip. Here is the link to my partial photos. Hope you enjoy.
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FINAL Grand Cayman trip report ! June 25 - July 2 (disregard other posts)
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Thanks for posting this! I enjoyed reading it as my husband and I are headed to GC in December with our baby, who will be about 4.5 months old at the time. We've traveled to Anguilla, Aruba, and Provo, too, and are excited to try GC this time. Your pictures are great, too -- Ellie is so cute!
Wow,
Kristen. What a terrific and cute family you have. It looks like they are all very comfortable on the beach. It looks and sounds as if you had a wonderful time. I am kind of a beach snob too-and I do agree with you that SMB is getting pretty crowded. We honeymooned and discovered Cayman for the first time 17 years ago and have been back many times since. However, 5 years ago we discovered Anguilla, and haven't been able to bring ourselves to go anywhere else. You are so spoiled with those beaches. There have been many times we are the only people on the beach!
I do however agree that Cayman would be a great place to take the kids for a family vacation. Much more to do than Anguilla. Do you recommend VOG for a family? Thanks again for the report. My husband laughs at me for looking at people's picture that I don't even know, but I think it's fun! I enjoyed all your photos.
beachgirl...congrats on your upcoming new arrival! Where are you staying in GC?
Anguillagirl...I am itching to get back to Anguilla! That is my fave island. But GC and VOG are great for families. VOG is nice because because it ios very uncrowded, yet in a great locationa ns close to many things.
Kristen: Thanks! I have exactly 2 1/2 weeks before my little boy arrives, so we are very excited
I haven't decided yet where to stay, if we are going to do a condo, or one of the resorts (Ritz or Westin) since it's low season when we're going and the rates are pretty cheap for the hotels. We are big resort people, but I just haven't decided yet. Anyways, I can't wait to swim in that water!!
just wanted to bump the cleaner copy of the report to the top.
Kristen,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and your pictures. I'm so sorry about your camera problems, but you still have many beautiful pictures of your trip. When you posted your pictures from T&C, I thought Ellie was the cutest baby/toddler, but she just seems to be getting cuter as she grows up!
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind.
1) I think we have similar tastes in islands. I love Anguilla and Provo, and Grand Cayman and St. John are on my list of places to consider. One concern about GC is whether I will find it too crowded (i.e., cruise ship crowds)and/or Americanized compared to Provo Note that I'm using Provo as the comparison because I think Anguilla is less commercialized and crowded, and I am looking for the closest comparison. FYI, I have also stayed at RWI in Provo.
2) My other concern about GC is whether the beaches will disappoint me. I'm a total beach snob after Anguilla and Provo!
3) I was wondering what your thoughts are about the Marriot Courtyard area of SMB. I was thinking about staying there for a combination of value and less crowds. I know there are tradeoffs in terms of proximity to restaurants and stuff. I also love walking on the beach, so walking isn't a problem.
4) If you weren't looking for a place that is good for families (I don't have kids), would you pick GC or T&C and why? I'm not really considering Anguilla for my next trip because I was there in April.
5) What was the pastel house in one of your pictures (sorry I have no idea which one because I looked at them a couple of days ago)?
Thanks for any feedback!
Hi Beachdreams. I don't think the beaches in GC will disappoint you. Anguilla and T&C beaches are outstanding but 7 Mile comes pretty close. Kepp in mind that certain sections of beach are better than others...flat/sloping, sandy/rocky, wide vs narrow etc. I believe the Courtyard Marriott is more North so the beach there should be good. The majority of 7MB especially the central is all great. The only cluttered areas are in front of the few large resorts.
I'd say the main deciding factor would be if you want more things to do or if you are just looking to relax. There is a lot more to do on GC than Provo. Restaurants were comparable..though Anguilla blows them both away. Also there is more shore snorkeling in GC. But you will definitely find GC to be more built up and americanized. Some areas at least.
I would give GC a try since you haven't been before.
The house was just a residence`I saw as we were driving around Cayman Kai. Many gorgeous homes in GC.
We are headed to St. John (just hubbt and I) in March.
Hope that helps!!
Enjoyed the report and the photos. Your family is so cute.
I'm sorry about your camera woes. You still have great photos and some wonderful memories. Thanks for the detailed report, the details are very helpful.
We just returned from a week on GC and were in Provo this winter but AXA is our favorite island. I like GC better than Provo but my husband disagrees. GC is definitely more built-up and Americanized. The beaches on both are pretty comparable (definitely some rocky spots on 7-mile beach) and the they both have good dining choices--probably greater dining range on GC than Provo. GC is definitely oriented toward condos and Provo has more hotels/resorts. Just comes down to the type of accom. you want and which island is easier to access.
Kristen and NM,
Thanks to both of you for the GC/Provo comparisons. I am interested in trying somewhere new, but I would hate to get there and wish I was somewhere else. Anyway, yes, Kristen, the Courtyard is north of the Westin et al (I'm guessing about 1 to 1.5 miles). I have read mostly good things about that part of SMB but just want to keep checking with other people who understand my beach standards (I had a long connection in San Juan this year and left the airport to check out the beach (Isla Verde)that people are always saying is so nice and thought it was horrible). Anyway, I definitely would not stay at any of the GC resorts that are known for narrow, rocky, or overly crowded beaches since the beach is my priority. Activities really don't matter much to me, and the logistics of getting to GC and Provo are about the same (one connection, both legs on jets).
Have a great trip to St. John, Kristen, and I'll be looking forward to your trip report!
Hey Kristen. Thanks for the trip report. Ellie is such a little girl and she loves that camera, doesn't she? Very cute! So sorry about your photo problems but the ones you got were still great. Have a great time with your husband in St. John. As much as you'll miss Ellie, you'll love being with just your husband
. Where will you be staying?
Hi Caribtraveler! I just read your Staniel Cay report...looks awesome.
We are staying at the Westin in St. John. I am really looking forward to it. We are doing a day trip to the BVIs but I know I will want to see more so I am sure that will be a future trip....
Thanks for posting -- great report.
I visited Grand Cayman over July 4 weekend, staying at Sunset House (geared for divers), but visited friends staying at the Ritz Carlton, and I agree with your assessment. The place was enormous, impersonal, no sense-of-place, with the most crowded beach scene I have seen.
Sunset House was far from fancy, but its bar attracted locals and overseas visitors from places other than the US -- the Ritz (at least to me) seemed to be like a Miami Beach hotel transported (with its crowd) to Grand Cayman.
I can also vouch that the turtle farm is free after 4:00 -- we arrived, not knowing that, at 3:30, and the helpful staff told us to wait. It was empty, and light, at 4:00, plus we avoided what I thought was their excessive fee.
Michael
Thanks for writing the trip report. I really enjoyed it. Does your villa have a website?
travelenthusiast: here's a link to the pink house: http://www.grandcaymanvillas.net/VILLALAPLAY.HTM
it's very close to rum point, close to the end of the lagoon so you do not face the ocean. an almost identical house is next door. they are both very cute.
I really enjoyed your review of your trip. We are looking at going the week of Thanksgiving and staying on the east side of the island at the Reef. I know it is off the beaten path, but wondered if you had been out that way or have any feedback.
Lisa
Kristen,
I really enjoyed your report! I have great memories of a family trip to GC a few years ago. My husband I are on going to be in GC on a cruise stop in a few months and we are looking forward to spending the day snorkeling from the shore. Rum Point was at the top of our list. I remember there being great snorkeling under and around the pier and out to the right of the pier with all kinds of coral, fans, starfish etc. I am wondering if things have changed since our trip, maybe due to hurricane? Would you please share a few more details on your snorkeling experience there? Did you snorkel anywhere else other than Eden Rock?
THANKS!
tedelano...the best snorkeling we found was at Governor's Reef..a decent swim off of 7 mile beach/Cemetery beach. I didn't snorkel at Rum Point this time but a lot of people were. Hubby said he didn't see much. But then again we didn't see much in 2003 either. I think if you go out to the reef around the corner from the point, snorkeling is good. But that is only do-able in calm/non-windy conditions. have fun!!
I am planning my honeymoon and we were debating between Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman. We have been to niether. We just booked flights to Grand Cayman for July to the beginngin of August. Your posting was very helpful and your pictures helped me confirm our decision to go there. We are not sure where we will be staying yet. I was wondering how the weather during July and August is. I have read that it is the rain season but does not rain that much. I would love yoru input!
Also, what type of camera do you have! I loves cameras and your pictures cam about amazing!
Hi Carabe - Summer weather in Cayman (and the Caribbean in general) isn't as bad as you might think. Maryland summers are much hotter! Temps will probably be in the upper 80s and water should be calm. We didn't have any problems with bugs either. We did have a breif rsin shower or two most days but the other than that, the sun shined all the time.
I recommend that you stay on Seven Mile Beach - the mid to North section as it gets more crowded the closer you get to Georgetown. Otherwise, you will have long ride to most places if you stay in other areas such as Rum Point. And I think 7MB is th best place for a first time visitor. Great beach, amazing shore snorkeling and close to restaurants etc. If you want to stay at a hotel, The Westin is your best bet though the Marriott is also nice and affordable. If you want a condo, I can recommend Villas of the Galleon where we stayed, Plantana, Avalon and Coralstone Club.
The camera I used was just a Canon Elph point and shoot though some were taken on the Olympus that can also go underwater. I didn't take my Rebel.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey, Kristen... I just spent the last half hour or so perusing your BEAUTIFUL pics and trip reports... your photos of the crystal clear waters of GC were just plain dreamy on this dreary cold NC day! You and I appear to have exceptionally similar travel tastes, so any insight/advice you can provide would be VERY much appreciated!
Here’s the scoop: My husband is currently deployed, but we’re planning a 7-10 day “Welcome Home” trip to the Caribbean sometime in late March/end of April. We've traveled all over the world but we've NEVER been to the Caribbean! We both love to dive and we appreciate luxury, but we usually prefer comfortably rustic accommodations near good food and activities (sight-seeing, hiking, local towns, etc.). Our sticky wicket? We have a 2yr old son. With no family or close friends nearby, we’ve decided Andrew will join us on the trip. Against our better judgement, we've looked at AI's for the inclusive childcare... even tho we've done AI before and it really isn't our bag. We love our fellow Americans but we’d rather not be surrounded and it kind of defeats the purpose of travel if we’re in an Americanized resort.
SO!
Here’s my question:
Of all of the islands you've travelled, which would you recommend? We've looked at T&C, Jamaica (FDR for the nanny), and Barbados.... but from your posts I may have to look into Anguilla and GC. As you can imagine, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the bazillions of options available and conflicting reviews on Fodors and TripAdvisor.
Thanks so much for your time!
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and travel-full 2010 ~
Christine
Hi Christine. Based on your needs and likes, I think you should go with T&C. Very laid back yet easy to get around, close proximity to great restaurants and places you can go to explore. But most importantly is the beach and T&C has one of the best. And there is a reef right off shore for snorkeling from the beach. the water color and clarity is some of the finest you will ever see. The soft sand and calm water of Grace Bay will be perfect for your 2 year old. We took our daughter when she was one. I do have a trip report from that trip on here (April 2006) in case you haven't come across it. We stayed at Royal West Indies which I highly recommend or is you want to splurge, check out the Somerset.
GC is also a good option but may be a bit too built up..though you can definitely find secluded areas. Anguilla is probably my favorite island, but everything is very spreadout and roas aren't so great. With a toddler, T&C gets my vote!
Let me know what you decide and feel free to ask anything else you might think of!
oh and Happy New Year!
Thanks so much for your advice, Kristen! I'll definitely keep in touch and I look forward to reading your April '06 trip report.
~
Happiest New Year!
Check out the Sands too. That would actually be perfect for you I think.
I appreciate your comments on my Treasure Island question. Sounds like we can find a better beach area, although owners of the property at Treasure Island told us that that beach there is being refurbished right now. Supposed to be completed by July when we arrive. Don't know how true that is. You certainly seem knowledgeable about GC, so I would love some accommodations advice. Looking for condo with a resort-type setting. 3 kids (2 boys 18 & 16, girl 13) I liked the idea of the "swim up bar" at Treasure island. Also, liked having tennis right there. We keep busy on vacation for sure! Any advice on accommodations would be greatly appreciated. Also, anyone that knows if beach is being improved at Treasure Island - would appreciate your comments as well.
Hi Japh. Central Seven Mile beach seems like it would be the best place for you to stay. The nice thing about where we stayed at Villas of the Galleon is that we had the condo/villa type accomodations, large uncrowded beach but we were right in between the Westin (swim up bar and watersports) and the Ritz (watersports).
If you want to splurge, the condo complex on the other side of the Ritz....Coralstone Club is realllyyyyy nice.
Hi Kristen,
I am a little different, in that while I love the beach, we also like a nice pool and people. Having been to a private residence at the Ritz, phenomenal, we spent more time in the water or at the pool. (beach was crowded). Was a guest on girls weekend, so our return with family, we will have to get a condo. Wondering what your recommendation is between Coral Stone Club and South Bay Sea Club. I would be on first floor at Sea CLub, which I do like, as my 4 1/2 year old tires and like to go inside. Would be on upper floor with Coral Stone Club. I remember the beach being exceptional and do like the location. Don't know if the area by the Marriott is too small a beach, and the water looks questionable with dark areas. Would love your advice.
Thank you for your time,
Charlie8100
Hello! Trying to plan our first family trip to a great beach! Need help! Overwhelmed by options. Safety is a priority for me. Never traveled outside US. Kids are 19 and 14. Stumbled on GC. Looks like lots of things to do here: stingrays, waverunners, etc. Don't want touristy beach but access to shops and restaurants. Looking at condo at Rum Pt. Other ideas? Apprciate any advice. Thanks.