Just back trip report PART 2.
Jan 20th, 2002, 03:33 PM
#1
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Just back trip report PART 2.
I found the rudeness was not confined to just the Ocean Club. We snorkeled at White House, and went to ask the front desk at Coral Gardens if we could use the phone to call our cab driver to come get us. The woman couldn't have been a bigger $^&* and demanded a dollar for the call! (OClub also charged 91 cents per local call; at our Cayman condo they were free).
Our driver explained that most people on the island have not been trained in how to deal w. tourists. "They take em off the street and put them behind the desk, and u just cant do that, they havent been taught how to talk to people," he said. I beg to differ. You shouldnt need training to treat people w. basic respect. The difference b/t these people and those on Cayman was night and day. In Cayman they KNOW how to treat their tourists.
There is simply nothing special enough about this place to make me want to put up w. this attitude or the high prices (much higher than Cayman). Grace Bay Beach is cluttered w. seaweed, water sports equip, chairs, umbrellas, and boats everywhere, some docked so close to shore I had to step over the anchors. Conde Nast must have been on crack to name this the prettiest in the world. 7MB in Cayman is much nicer, as are many beaches on St. John for that matter.
Snorkeling in front of White House was awesome, but the reef was disappointing, as was the fact that they charge more to visit a deserted Cay than you'll pay to fly from NY to Miami, so other than a beach cruise w. J&B tours, we didnt venture beyond Provo.
Little Water Cay is forgettable, though I enjoyed looking for sand dollars on Ft. George Cay.
I can't reco any restaurants bc we didnt eat out except at the resort. This island is so dead that you really dont have much motivation to go out. We went to the grocery store on Friday nite and I was amazed at how dark and dead it was, just a few street lights. Be prepared for mile high grocery prices too (again higher than Cayman).
Luckily OClub is the last resort on the beach, so a short walk east and I found a much more deserted beach, w. limestome instead of water sports equip. and no one was swimming or sunning, so I could pretend i was on a semi deserted island if only briefly.
If you want to just flop on a beach, you won't mind Provo, but if like me you want to get out and do stuff, you'll be quite bored and frustrated at how expensive it is to get away from the tourist-cluttered Grace Bay beach. Yes, 7MB on Cayman has many Condos on it but somehow it manages to keep a more natural pristine ambiance, esp. the north half. I won't return to Provo; I'll go back to Cayman in a heartbeat. Ill be happy to answer ques or get more specific...
Our driver explained that most people on the island have not been trained in how to deal w. tourists. "They take em off the street and put them behind the desk, and u just cant do that, they havent been taught how to talk to people," he said. I beg to differ. You shouldnt need training to treat people w. basic respect. The difference b/t these people and those on Cayman was night and day. In Cayman they KNOW how to treat their tourists.
There is simply nothing special enough about this place to make me want to put up w. this attitude or the high prices (much higher than Cayman). Grace Bay Beach is cluttered w. seaweed, water sports equip, chairs, umbrellas, and boats everywhere, some docked so close to shore I had to step over the anchors. Conde Nast must have been on crack to name this the prettiest in the world. 7MB in Cayman is much nicer, as are many beaches on St. John for that matter.
Snorkeling in front of White House was awesome, but the reef was disappointing, as was the fact that they charge more to visit a deserted Cay than you'll pay to fly from NY to Miami, so other than a beach cruise w. J&B tours, we didnt venture beyond Provo.
Little Water Cay is forgettable, though I enjoyed looking for sand dollars on Ft. George Cay.
I can't reco any restaurants bc we didnt eat out except at the resort. This island is so dead that you really dont have much motivation to go out. We went to the grocery store on Friday nite and I was amazed at how dark and dead it was, just a few street lights. Be prepared for mile high grocery prices too (again higher than Cayman).
Luckily OClub is the last resort on the beach, so a short walk east and I found a much more deserted beach, w. limestome instead of water sports equip. and no one was swimming or sunning, so I could pretend i was on a semi deserted island if only briefly.
If you want to just flop on a beach, you won't mind Provo, but if like me you want to get out and do stuff, you'll be quite bored and frustrated at how expensive it is to get away from the tourist-cluttered Grace Bay beach. Yes, 7MB on Cayman has many Condos on it but somehow it manages to keep a more natural pristine ambiance, esp. the north half. I won't return to Provo; I'll go back to Cayman in a heartbeat. Ill be happy to answer ques or get more specific...
Jan 21st, 2002, 03:36 AM
#2
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Mimi,
Great trip report and very informative!! I've been going to Grand Cayman for 11 years. Many people on this board talk about what a great place Provo is, and how much nicer it is than Grand Cayman. I've always wondered if these people had ever been to GC?? I was almost convinced that I needed to try Provo as a change in scenery, but after reading your trip report, I'll just stay with Grand Cayman!!! Thanks so much for posting!
Sandy
Great trip report and very informative!! I've been going to Grand Cayman for 11 years. Many people on this board talk about what a great place Provo is, and how much nicer it is than Grand Cayman. I've always wondered if these people had ever been to GC?? I was almost convinced that I needed to try Provo as a change in scenery, but after reading your trip report, I'll just stay with Grand Cayman!!! Thanks so much for posting!
Sandy
Jan 22nd, 2002, 05:19 AM
#6
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I was on Provo in December and Grand Cayman in November 2000. I enjoyed both and will consider going back to both.
There aren’t a lot of touristy things to do on Provo itself. Most people go to lie on the beach and take it easy. Provo does have a casino if you like to gamble.
Day trips can be somewhat expensive (Grand Turks was $155 US and Middle Caicos/reef snorkelling was $145 US). However, the total cost of my week trip to Provo was about the same as my week trip to Grand Cayman.
Provo, like Grand Cayman, has some very good restaurants. I found restaurant prices a little cheaper on Provo because you paid in US dollars, instead of Cayman dollars.
Unfortunately, part of the reef in front of the White House is damaged from people kicking it with their fins.
Except for Beaches and Club Med, which have piers, I don't remember seeing any boats tied up along the beach.
There is some seaweed on the beach. But it is where there is no hotel/condo. The hotels/condos keep the beaches in front of their properties clean, just like on Grand Cayman.
I spoke with a real estate agent, who used to live on Grand Cayman. He said Provo now is what Grand Cayman was like about 10-12 years ago. He estimates Provo will look like Grand Cayman in about 6-8 years.
There aren’t a lot of touristy things to do on Provo itself. Most people go to lie on the beach and take it easy. Provo does have a casino if you like to gamble.
Day trips can be somewhat expensive (Grand Turks was $155 US and Middle Caicos/reef snorkelling was $145 US). However, the total cost of my week trip to Provo was about the same as my week trip to Grand Cayman.
Provo, like Grand Cayman, has some very good restaurants. I found restaurant prices a little cheaper on Provo because you paid in US dollars, instead of Cayman dollars.
Unfortunately, part of the reef in front of the White House is damaged from people kicking it with their fins.
Except for Beaches and Club Med, which have piers, I don't remember seeing any boats tied up along the beach.
There is some seaweed on the beach. But it is where there is no hotel/condo. The hotels/condos keep the beaches in front of their properties clean, just like on Grand Cayman.
I spoke with a real estate agent, who used to live on Grand Cayman. He said Provo now is what Grand Cayman was like about 10-12 years ago. He estimates Provo will look like Grand Cayman in about 6-8 years.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 08:19 AM
#7
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This is for James-----The woman who wrote the trip rport e-mailed me directly because I was trying to decide between Cayman and Turks and Caicos. It was NOT sandy-I've seen sandy's postings all over and she is very helpful and informative but I've never seen her come out and tear apart a place--especially with a false name and new e-mail address---get real and get over your paranoia please!
Jan 22nd, 2002, 08:37 PM
#9
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James, I posted that report and I can assure you my name is not Sandy. Maybe you should accept the fact that more than one person on here thinks Provo sucks.
ANd Bob, I'm sorry but when I was there, just last week mind you, I saw seaweed EVERYWHERE, including in front of the properties. In fact, it was also in front of Coral Gardens and the properties around there, not just Grace Bay. And boats were all over the place.
But again, it was the attitude of the employees that ruined it for me. By the way James, I'm not some Cayman freak. I also think St. John, St. Thomas, Bermuda and even parts of Grand Bahama island beat Provo. The only island WORSE than provo that i've seen so far is Jamaica.
ANd Bob, I'm sorry but when I was there, just last week mind you, I saw seaweed EVERYWHERE, including in front of the properties. In fact, it was also in front of Coral Gardens and the properties around there, not just Grace Bay. And boats were all over the place.
But again, it was the attitude of the employees that ruined it for me. By the way James, I'm not some Cayman freak. I also think St. John, St. Thomas, Bermuda and even parts of Grand Bahama island beat Provo. The only island WORSE than provo that i've seen so far is Jamaica.
Jan 23rd, 2002, 09:14 PM
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The only thing worse than someone who lives to correct others is someone who does so with inaccurate info. I was told by a local (and the map also shows this) that the area around Coral Gardens is known as "The Bight" area and is typically referred to as if it's a separate area from GBay, though technically its all one shoreline. Now, WHO needs to be more careful?
Terry, I didnt see a lot of poverty per se, although I did see some run down bldgs. That's the point - I didnt see much of ANYTHING on provo. The island is simply undeveloped and some people dig that, I didn't. I'm not sure what you mean by 'nice landscaping'. Cayman is totally built up and Americanized and reminded me of some parts of Florida, until of course I got to the beach. No beach/water in the US comes close.
If you want an island where you feel like you're in paradise no matter where you go, not just on the beach, go to Bermuda. Even on the ride from the airport we were surrounded by lush tropical plants that immediately brought to mind 'tropical paradise'. So far I havent had a similar experience on any other island I've been to. I hear Barbados is like this - plan to find out soon.
Terry, I didnt see a lot of poverty per se, although I did see some run down bldgs. That's the point - I didnt see much of ANYTHING on provo. The island is simply undeveloped and some people dig that, I didn't. I'm not sure what you mean by 'nice landscaping'. Cayman is totally built up and Americanized and reminded me of some parts of Florida, until of course I got to the beach. No beach/water in the US comes close.
If you want an island where you feel like you're in paradise no matter where you go, not just on the beach, go to Bermuda. Even on the ride from the airport we were surrounded by lush tropical plants that immediately brought to mind 'tropical paradise'. So far I havent had a similar experience on any other island I've been to. I hear Barbados is like this - plan to find out soon.
Jan 23rd, 2002, 10:35 PM
#18
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Mimi, the silent majority out here appreciates the time you took to share your opinion. I figured you were not the one who is annoying at times with her one-dimensional "my island is better" routine, or the other one that trys so desperately to impress. I'm the type that would offer the 10 best and worst things about any island so that you can make up your own mind, but of course some people implode at the slightest mention of negatives because they are either insecure or have an investment to protect or whatever. The interesting thing to me about this forum is how people remain addicted despite the (contrived?) turmoil...
Jan 26th, 2002, 05:54 PM
#20
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Sandy, how can I name the best and worst of two islands I haven't been to?? I'm here to learn, not to push one island or another. This is what I've learned from you so far after reading your countless posts (thanks for your in-depth insights):
Cayman is best!! Rum Point is much better than 7MB!! Stingray City is a must do!! GC restaurants are great!! Stay at Aqua Bay Club!!
Cayman is best!! Rum Point is much better than 7MB!! Stingray City is a must do!! GC restaurants are great!! Stay at Aqua Bay Club!!
