Travelling, Holidays and Vacations from Grand Cayman

A guide to living and working in the Cayman Islands

Jul 4, 2008

Travelling and Taking Holidays from Cayman

Cayman is a great jumping off spot for visiting other islands in the Caribbean. Cuba and Jamaica are only about a one hour flight away and Cayman’s very own Sister Islands are even closer. Then there is Panama and Miami for shopping and Costa Rica to explore. Wherever you choose to go there is a lot to do in the area.

Another encouragement to helping you book a trip away is the phenomenon of ‘Rock Fever’ which many residents begin to feel after having been on-island for over three months. It is a feeling akin to claustrophobia or an overwhelming desire for a change of scene.

So with that in mind, we have come up with a list of places that you can visit to get away. We start with resorts on Grand Cayman where you can stay for the weekend. Then we move on to the Sister Islands, before moving further afield to Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica and more.

LOCAL WEEKEND DESTINATIONS

Grand Cayman

A great weekend getaway without the expense of an airfare is staying at one of the local resorts in Grand Cayman. Many offer a special rate to residents, especially in the summer months and even though you may not be flying off-island a change of scene can be as good as a trip away. The following places are two of our favourites:

Cobalt Coast

Sea Fan Drive, West Bay

Tel: (345) 946 5656 Fax: (345) 946 5657

A charming place located right on the water in West Bay. They have a good seaside restaurant that specialises in seafood. The rate is CI$150 per night per room, regardless of time of year.

The Reef Resort

Colliers, East End

Tel: (345) 947 3100 Fax: (345) 947 3191

Located on the beach in East End. Resident rates in the summer vary from CI$127 to CI$168 per night depending on the room size and in winter from CI$200 to CI$266.

If you fancy splashing out a little more then there are a number of 5-star options with The Ritz-Carlton and the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa being at the top end. They typically charge between CI$400 to CI$600 per night in the winter and CI$250 to CI$400 per night in the summer months.

THE SISTER ISLANDS

Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are known as The Sister Islands. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were actually discovered a few years earlier than Grand Cayman and each is unique in its own right. If it’s peace and tranquillity you are after then look no further. The Sister Islands are known for their own unique identity and an experience very different from that of Grand Cayman. These are the idyllic tropical islands one dreams of escaping to when imagining the picturesque tropics.

There is no ferry service operated between islands so you’ll have to travel by air. Cayman Airways flies to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman several times daily (CI$112 return) via two De Havilland Twin Otters that seat 17 people each.

Cayman Airways Express

Tel: (345) 949 2311 or (345) 946 0680

Cayman Brac

On his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus sighted Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on the 10th of May 1503. He named the islands “Las Tortugas” (The Turtles) and claimed them for Spain. Eventually they came to be known as the Cayman Islands. Cayman Brac was a prominent home for pirates, known as the “Brethren of the Sea,” seeking hiding places for their stolen treasures. Of these swashbuckling pirates, the most famous one to roam the island’s shores was Edward “Blackbeard” Teach. Legend has it that Blackbeard’s booty is still buried or hidden in the recesses of a Cayman Brac cave.

The Brac is the most easterly of the Cayman Islands. With a total land mass of 14 square miles, the island is small enough to maintain a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere but big enough to have a plethora of hidden caves, winding trails and a unique cultural history. Cayman Brac (Gaelic for bluff) is known for its charm, friendliness, the most dramatic scenery of the three islands and is great for couples or families. The small towns have names like West End, Watering Place, Cotton Tree Bay, Creek and Spot Bay. A haven for a multitude of bird species, Cayman Brac has a Parrot Reserve created by the National Trust of the Cayman Islands, an International Airport, boasts the oldest museum in the Cayman Islands and has the highest elevation of the three islands at 152 feet.

Things to do/points of interest: Museum, parrot reserve, diving, fishing and the bluff.

Where to stay: There are a variety of places to stay, most offering special room and diving rates for residents. Shop around to see what deals are on offer, but below are some ideas.

Brac Reef Beach Resort

South Side, Cayman Brac

Tel: (345) 948 1323

Toll Free: 1 800 327 3835

Email: bestdiving@reefseas.com

A charming, family-owned all-inclusive getaway located on four and a half acres of white-sand beachfront. Brac Reef caters to divers and non-divers alike, welcoming families, small conferences, wedding and honeymoon guests and adaptive divers. Brac Reef Beach Resort has a special rate for residents all year round. It is CI$99 per room per night and is subject to availability.

Carib Sands Beach Resort

Tel: (345) 948 1121

One, two, three and four bedroom apartments costing from CI$825 to CI$1950 per week in the summer and CI$1100 to CI$2600 during the winter.

Little Cayman

Little Cayman was the site of the Cayman Islands’ first settlement when turtle fishermen set up fishing camps in the 1600s. Raided by a Spanish privateer and abandoned in 1671, Little Cayman was not settled permanently until 1833 when a few families established Blossom Village. By the early 1900s, several hundred lived on Little Cayman, exporting phosphate ore, coconuts and marine rope. Little Cayman, the smallest and least developed of the three Cayman Islands, is located 80 miles northeast of Grand Cayman. A nature lovers dream, the island consists of 10 square miles of unspoiled surroundings, including more than a dozen secluded beaches, numerous lagoons, mangrove forests, salt ponds and tropical forests strewn with orchids.

Today the island is most commonly known in the diving community as the Mecca of the Caribbean. Bloody Bay Marine Park draws the majority of visitors to the island. Most of the resorts have their own diving centres that cater to all your underwater needs. Increasingly, visitors also come to enjoy the privacy, quiet and timeless beauty of the Island’s unspoiled natural splendour and to return to simpler times. Little Cayman also boasts a number of natural and cultural attractions. Venture to remote Point of Sand for a private swim or row out to tiny, deserted Owen Island to enjoy a view of nature in its most pristine form and truly ease the body and soul. A very popular escape for individuals and families from Grand Cayman as it is so close, very friendly and completely relaxing.

Things to do/points of interest: Diving, fishing, exploring, bicycling, beach picnics, bird watching.

Little Cayman Beach Resort

Tel: (345) 948 1033

Toll Free: 1 800 327 3835

Email: bestdiving@reefseas.com

They feature a full-service spa, guided fishing, dive shop, pool and restaurant. Rooms range from CI$119–$213 depending on the time of year. Little Cayman Beach Resort also manages The Club at Little Cayman and Conch Club Condominiums, premium 1, 2 and 3-bedroom condominium units located beachfront. Prices start at CI$205 for a 2-bedroom condominium in low season and go up. These are an excellent option for families with children and guests of both condominium complexes enjoy all of the services and facilities of Little Cayman Beach Resort.

Paradise Villas

Tel: (345) 948 0001

Email: iggy@candw.ky

www.paradisevillas.com

12 one-bedroom self-catering villas within 50 ft. of the beach with large oceanfront patios from CI$115 per night. They have a fresh water pool, a dive company on-site and a restaurant next door.

Southern Cross Club

Tel: (345) 948 1099

www.southerncrossclub.com

The casually sophisticated SCC is Little Cayman’s oldest original resort, offering professional in-house diving and fishing operations. The property has an untraditional layout featuring 12 spacious ocean-view beachfront bungalows and set in the middle of this row of bungalows is the Club’s main building. The club-house features the main dining room; a screened, open air dining pavilion; the main bar and thatched Tiki bar around the freshwater pool. There is a spa on-site. Packages include three meals a day for approx. CI$200 per person per day depending on the time of year.

Off Island Weekend Destinations

It is a good idea to check the local newspapers for holiday-weekend charters which can be excellent value, as well as contacting the travel agents in this chapter.

Havana, Cuba

With a US embargo in place, and being closed off to much of the world for the last 40 years because of their Communist government, the Cubans have become experts in patching up and repairing what they own. As a result, Havana has been preserved as a 1960s time capsule with American classic cars and Spanish architecture – much in various stages of decay. Music is a big part of the Cuban way of life – being the birthplace of much of Latin music including the rumba, cha-cha-cha and mambo (the precursor to salsa). Cubans are also famous for their art.

Things to do/points of interest: Take a walk around old Havana with its fascinating historic buildings, museums and churches. Tour the Partagas cigar factory to see how their legendary cigars are made. Book a cabaret show at the Tropicana or take a taxi ride in an old American car to Ernest Hemingway’s house.

Prices for two-night packages with airfare, hotel, transfers and breakfast range from US$440 to US$550 per person. Cayman Airways currently operates flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, which take only 45 minutes. American tourists can request that Immigration officers do not put a stamp in their passport!

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Montego Bay is great for couples or families and offers gorgeous beaches, world-class golfing, historic homes and a rich cultural and musical heritage. Accommodation ranges from older, well-established luxury hotels, newer all-inclusive resorts and numerous small and intimate places. For reggae lovers, we recommend two music festivals, which take place every year in August – Reggae Sumfest and Reggae Sunsplash. The airfare is approximately US$329 with Cayman Airways or Air Jamaica.

Things to do/points of interest: Rose Hall Estate, horseback riding, river rafting, golfing, Dunn’s River Falls.

Hotel Suggestions: Upscale: Ritz-Carlton and Half Moon Club. All inclusive resorts: Sandals Resort, Breezes Resort and Sunset Beach Resort.

Blue Mountains, Jamaica

These mountains are consistently covered in mist giving them their bluish colour; the highest point is 7,402 ft. and you can take a seven-mile hike to the summit. Due to a humid and cooler environment the plant and bird life has thrived. Located on the eastern part of the island, it is home to the famous Blue Mountain Coffee, offers spectacular views and numerous hiking trails. This is a romantic destination and hosts many weddings, honeymoons and relaxing spa getaways. Many Cayman residents love the fact that in the hot summer months in Cayman, the Blue Mountains are a cool and refreshing get-away.

Strawberry Hill

Blue Mountains, Jamaica

Tel: 876-944 8400

Located 3100 ft. above Kingston in the Blue Mountains, Strawberry Hill has 12 beautiful cottages interspersed amongst lush gardens. Things to do while there include exploring local trails, visiting the coffee plantation nearby, having spa treatments in their Aveda spa, resting and relaxing. Make sure to let them know you are from Cayman as they give Cayman residents a special rate.

Orlando, Florida

Although Walt Disney put Orlando on the map, it is not just Disney World that makes this city the capital of theme parks around the world. Favourite Disney theme parks include the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Centre and MGM Studios. Other fun theme parks include SeaWorld and Universal Studios, but there are dozens more places of interest within the Orlando area.

Miami, Florida

A great getaway for weekend shopping and entertainment. Miami has a huge variety of areas to stay and to visit like South Beach, Coconut Grove and Dadeland. They also have very good restaurants, nightlife, museums, shopping and things to do with kids. Cayman Airways operates direct flights daily for approx. US$350 roundtrip.

Five to Seven Day Breaks

Costa Rica

This small country is a nature and adventure lovers’ paradise with mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests and rivers from coast-to-coast. We highly recommend the Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort, where you can enjoy the natural hot springs in a jungle setting and a magnificent view of Arenal Volcano, which is still active. Hardcore surfers also flock to the Pacific side for great waves.

The airfare is approximately US$700. Various flights are available with connections via Miami, although travel agents frequently offer charter package tours.

Panama

While Panama is famous for the Panama Canal, this country’s natural attractions offer an irresistible allure to travellers. We recommend visiting Casco Viejo (Old City), which has Spanish colonial buildings and churches reminiscent of Old Havana, Cuba which over look the sea. It also offers great shopping of name brand clothing, electronics and housewares at fantastic prices.

Various flights are available with connections via Miami or Jamaica. (approx. US$650)

Outdoor activities: bird watching, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing.

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun offers all the delights of breathtaking beaches, luxury hotels, restaurants and nightclubs for a fun-filled holiday. Adventure divers can explore numerous underwater caves in nearby Ceynotes. Above water, you can explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum or shop-until-you-drop at a dozen malls, packed with name brand and duty-free shops at bargain prices.

Airfare to Cancun is approximately US$600. There are daily flights via Miami.

Things to do/points of interest: visit nearby Mayan ruins, jungle tours, horseback riding, cave diving, numerous water activities, Xcaret, Xel-ha, golfing, deep sea fishing, swim with dolphins and bullfights.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

The world-famous Carnival in February turns the already vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro into an over the top party of street dancing, eye-popping costumes and passionate samba. However you might choose to enjoy the Carnival a little further north in Salvador in a more family-friendly environment. The city is also the jumping off point to do a trek through the Amazon jungle. Contact Marcelo Sa for a true and safe Rio-Brazilian experience on Tel: 55 (21) 22559720.

Other Caribbean Islands

Bahamas

With more than 700 islands, exploring all of the The Bahamas could take years. We recommend visiting Nassau, which exudes a special charm, lent by a blend of Old World architecture and contemporary vitality. It also offers an array of restaurants, glitzy casinos, and posh hotels. Airfares are approximately US$380. British Airways operates direct flights four times a week.

British Virgin Islands

Lush green hills and sheltered waters attract sailors from around the world. The BVIs are not as crowded as other tropical islands, and so they are an excellent location for friends and families to get away from it all.

The airfare is approx. US$700 and it will take all day to get to Tortola from Cayman.

Local Travel Agencies

Cayman Travel Services Ltd.

Tel: (345) 949 5400

Email: info@caymantravel.ky

www.caymantravel.ky

Specialise in: International travel, cruises, tours, etc.

Cayman Tours & Travel

Tel: (345) 949 2355

Email: katherine@caymantours.info

Specialise in: International travel, cruises, tours, etc.

Cuba Vacations