I have been to 7 Mile Beach Grand Cayman, but not T&C Grace Bay. When reading about Grace Bay I get the idea that they are similar. Am I correct? How are they similar different? Thanks!

Grace Bay is like Grand Cayman was 30 years ago.

no comparison - Grace Bay is pristine....sand like flour - ocean as turquoise as I've ever seen. 7 mile is nice - but I would go to T&C anyday over Cayman.

Shirleyk, could you be more specific? Are you refering to the number of people? hotels?

BellaClaire, that is good to know. What about how hotels are on the beach, traffic, people etc?

I am helping a friend plan a honeymoon. I don't think they want to be too far off the beaten path but hotels one on top of the other doesn't really appeal either. What would you recommend?

THANKS!

Grace Bay is a 10 and Seven Mile Beach is a 9. Provo is less developed than GC with fewer sightseeing activities. A bit more laid back, but not to say GC isn't also laid back. Dinning is better on GC IMO and Provo has better beaches overall. Biggest downside to Provo is the current safety and crime situation. For a honeymoon I think Provo would be my choice.

What is the current safety and crime situation?

Seems like there has been a spike in criminal activities that are directly affecting tourists, from petty theft to some more sinister activities. Like anywhere, you must be alert, smart and aware of your surroundings. No reason not to go, but just be informed.

http://wiv4.wordpress.com/2010/07/21...-med-employee/

http://wiv4.wordpress.com/2010/07/07/0706-crime-report/

TurtleTagger, with all due respect, while it's good to be aware, reporting the crime in T&C and not in Caymans is irresponsible.

I see by your posts, that you appear to post on Cayman posts, and this is your first T&C one. While Grand Cayman is twice the size, crime is a lot more proportionally. So while it's good to be aware (you always should at a new place where you're not familiar) here's an article on Grand Cayman crime increase posted in June 2010, which doesn't even include the shots fire at a nightclub July 31st. (Yesterday!)

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycomp...more-than-10-/

I would not let crime stop me from going to either place. hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to both each year, and crime against tourists is very minimal. It's great to be aware, it's great to use precautions.

I can only assume at Caymans, but I know for a fact in T&C, the resorts have security.

As for the beaches, Grace Bay is one of the best in the world, according to all the major magazines and top ten lists, 7 Mile beach is pretty, but not as nice as Grace Bay. Overall, T&C doesn't get cruise ships, is more spread out, and no major nightlife (there's a little, but not when compared to Caymans.) There are activities there, and the restaurants are ultra romantic.

I've been to Caymans twice, been to Provo (the main island of T&C) more than 20. Either would make a nice vacation, in my opinion Grace Bay is nicer, truly one of the best beaches in the world. (and I've been around the world to compare--Anguilla, Bora Bora, Maldives, Seychelles.....)

The defensive nature of some posters is rather peculiar. I was responding to a direct enquiry regarding a comment in my previous post. No one asked about the Cayman Islands crime rates, so why would I state them?

My post was not intended to be indictment of the law enforcement situation on Provo or to compare and contrast crime rates of other locations. It was intended simply to advise that the crimes (some violent) that have been perpetrated upon TOURISTS on Provo. Tourists, so far, have not been AS affected by the rising crime rates in places like the Caymans, and hence my adviso. When TOURIST families are robbed of their possessions while swimming along Seven Mile Beach I would advise to be extra diligent when visiting the Caymans as well.

While I have property and financial interests in both territories, I did suggest the Provo would make a better honeymoon destination.

Cheerio!

When we went to GC the first time about 30 years ago (or more) there were only a few places to stay along 9 Mile Beach. Now there are many hotels or condos lined up along the beach. Hardly any traffic - now there are traffic jammed at certain times of the day. The first time we went to Provo about 15 years ago there were a very few places to stay along Grace Bay. Now there are a lot more condos lined up along the beach. Still no traffic jams. When we walk along Grace Bay we think of how it was on GC years ago.

I appreciated the information. As I will be traveling with my mother, I'll think more carefully about heading out to secluded beaches, etc. I've seen many post about having Malcolm beach to themselves. I'm sure there's a lot more crime in my neighborhood, but the seemingly new trend of the last month seems something to be aware of. I liked that on the news story, they were trying to determine if it was the "first" homicide?! Thanks for all of the information. I love traveling and I can't express how excited I am to have discovered these forums!

I'm happy that you think Grace Bay compares to those other beaches. Some of the Fijian Islands set my bar for a nice beach... very hard to compete with.

geanster,

Think you'll like Grace Bay, not quite as tropical as some of the Indian and pacific isles, but still wonderful. Hopefully when you visit the current issues are a thing of the past.

Oh, and blamona, I was posting about a Cayman Islands tagged query that also happened to be tagged TCI. But glad you are policing who is posting on what topics. Maybe you can make better use of your detective skills and help the RTCIPF catch some of the evil doers.

clicking on someone's name to see their other threads is a common/useful practice on fodors. it helps figure how who someone is and to get an idea of their experiences & background. you'd be surprised by some posters "expert" claims & advice that turn out to be more like something they heard at a party last yr - obviously thats not you & i don't think blamona meant to insult you. i've also done it to determine someones home airport or to figure out how they like to spend their time, get an idea of hotel style, etc before suggesting a particular destination.

As stated, I just truly find the defensive nature of some posters peculiar. If they happen to read something about their cherished destination that is the least bit negative (even if only in their minds) they enter an attack mode mentality and lash out. No issue if it is to refute a blatantly inaccurate post, but trying to deflect attention from cold hard facts is just wrong. Blamona's "I see by your posts, that you appear to post on Cayman posts, and this is your first T&C one" comment came across as I was trespassing on her territory. At least try reading the tags on the post if you are going to investigate my credentials. I am posting in response to a Cayman Islands post for Jimminy's Sake.

Still trying to figure out why not posting the crime statistic about the Cayman Island is somehow irresponsible. Should I click on all the posters' profiles and thread contributions to see where they are from and have been, to post crime statistics for all those areas as well?

While Provo is a beautiful place and it is just sad that it is all some people seem to have.

Travel Safe and I'll end this here.

TurtleTagger, I wasn't defensive. I've been a user on Fodors since 2005, and have answered questions about many islands. You can think I'm peculiar, but your very first post on this thread:


"Grace Bay is a 10 and Seven Mile Beach is a 9. Provo is less developed than GC with fewer sightseeing activities. A bit more laid back, but not to say GC isn't also laid back. Dinning is better on GC IMO and Provo has better beaches overall. Biggest downside to Provo is the current safety and crime situation. For a honeymoon I think Provo would be my choice."

To the written word, there is no expression, so "feelings" don't come thru. It's possible I misinterpreted, but that post, your first one to this thread, appeared as you were ignoring the crime in Caymans, yet bringing up the crime in Provo. I clicked on your name to get a feel for if you had been to Provo, and found all of your posts to be Cayman related.

You have every right to post your opinions, as do I. I find it funny that you brought up the increase in crime in Provo, when this was a thread about which island to choose, yet you ignore bringing up the crime increase in Caymans. So I brought it up for you. ;-)

It's fine to love 1 island over another. It's funny that you would pick Provo for a honeymoon despite putting people on guard about the crime. It should be encouraged to know facts on every island. You stated the biggest downside to Provo is the increase in crime, but neglected to share about the increase in crime in Caymans, so I did it for you. I wasn't being defensive, but you can think of me what you want.

After 20+ islands----Grand Cayman, once----Grace Bay,3 times and again next March.

Just one persons opinion.

Another opinion---Grace Bay restaurants outshine Grand Cayman for food. If you prefer busy, busy nightlife--Grand Cayman.

Another vote for Grace Bay for the honeymoon.

If anyone knows of any beach destination <i>without crime</i> please let me know. I have not found any place stateside or other that is immune to crime.

I think within reason, that people usually write about their own experiences. That doesn't mean that other people haven't had completely different experiences, but they are just writing what they know. Such as I had a horrible experience with the crime in T&C (would still consider going back someday) but when we were in Barbados saw absolutely none of the things I saw in T&C. In the newspaper in Barbados the biggest crime story was somebody stealing a candy bar Then when in T&C, I open up the T&C paper and I see a table full of machetes and stories about rapes and other crimes, that, plus what happened to us personally. So just from my own experiences what do you think I would think when comparing the two islands? That said, other people may have had completely different experiences and therefore would probably have a different opinion. That is why this forum is so nice because we can all share our opinions, whatever they may be

By what you described - I would put money on Turks....the hotels on the beach are not on top of eachother - there are no high rises - just really great places - great restaurants and the best beach I've ever seen - and I've been to most caribbean islands - the most popular ones to the smaller ones some people have never heard of.......Royal West Indies gets great reviews - as does the Somerset - try seven sisters - or ocean club west......good luck!

Crime is increasing everywhere:

http://www.compasscayman.com/caycomp...-laid-in-wait/
http://bernews.com/2010/11/cayman-ar...terfield-bank/
http://www.compasscayman.com/story.aspx?id=17801
http://www.compasscayman.com/caycomp...home-invasion/
http://www.compasscayman.com/caycomp...nvade-WB-home/