Planning Trip to Caymans - All Help Gratefully Accepted
 

I have been browsing the different airline packages for CG. It looks like you could get a decent 7 night trip for about $2500 not including meals in late Oct. to early Nov. Of course you have to pick a hotel and it looks like the Westin would be the best bet due to reading all the comments on this forum. The word that keeps popping up is HOT. Being from the Northeast that is not a word we like. Warm is nice - 80's. Is there a time of year that the temperature is around 80-85. I enjoy the beach for sitting, quick dips, shady area and love to snorkel. <BR> <BR>Any advise would be appreciated. Is CG part of the hurricane belt from June - Oct. Thanks

I recently returned from my second trip to GC. The first time I went in early June and stayed on SMB and the last time I was there in March and stayed on the East End. Both times the weather was beautiful, although in early June the water was warmer. I've not been there in late October/early Nov. but I wouldn't think it would be really HOT then, I'd be more afraid of a possible hurricane than the heat. Yes, GC is part of the hurricane belt. I don't go to the Caribbean between July and end of October. I was in Hurricane Roxanne in Cozumel on October 10 and that's not far from GC. My choice of months would be early June. Have fun; it's a beautiful island, although expensive!

Hi! We (husband and I) stayed at the Westin on GC about a year ago. While the Westin is a nice hotel, I found the rooms not as nice as I expected them to be (possibly that my expectations were out if line). Just FYI. <BR> <BR>Things to do: <BR>Stingray City (amazing) - we used Red Sail Outfitters and took off from Rum Point. Did another reef snorkel (same outfitters) which was great too! The town of Hell is an okay drive - don't worry if you don't get there. <BR> <BR>Places to eat: <BR>'The Crow's Nest' - great local joint - you feel like you're visiting a friend and eating on their porch - great food. <BR>'The Edge' - very off the beaten path and very strange looking place (seedy, in fact). GREAT back deck and super meal - we went straight from the beach at Rum Point on our way back to the Westin. Lunch at Rum Point is great - picnic tables under trees on the beach - VERY casual. <BR> <BR>Do plan on renting a car for the week and have a great time!

Assume you are talking about a package for 2 people. You might think about renting a condo instead. Airfare plus a week at that time anywhere on the island would be less than the $2500. Then you also have the option of not eating all 3 meals out, which can be very pricey! You should not have a problem with the heat in late Oct., early Nov. Last week in October is Pirates' Week, a fun time to visit the island, especially if you rent a car and can visit all the districts. E-mail me if you want any more of my 30 years of experience on the island.

Airfare for me and my fiance - in late august from TPA-ATL-georgetown (GCG?) on delta was less than 350 a person - note its DELTA - and thats my LEAST favorite airline - but Continental was almost 300 more a person <BR> <BR>Rooms at the Westin that time of year are 195- 250 a person depending on view <BR> <BR>

WE LOVE THE CAYMANS! GOING NEXT WEEK FOR 7 NIGHTS FOR THE THIRD TIME! IF YOU ALL LIKE SNORKELING THIS IS HEAVEN FOR YOU. TRY THE AUQUA BAY CLUB CONDOS. MANAGER (GAIL) IS GREAT, SHE REALLY TOOK GOOD CARE OF US. PRICES SEEMED REASONABLE AND THE PROPERTY IS NICE. NICE POOL HOWEVER IT IS SMALL BUT THE COMPLEX IS SMALL. BEACH IS GREAT AND ANOTHER PLUS IT IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO CEMETERY REEF WHICH IS ONE OF MANY GREAT SNORKELING PLACES.AS FAR AS THE WESTIN IT IS VERY NICE BUT AFTER VSITING THE PROPERTY WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER PRICED (OUR OPINION). TRY THE FRIDAY NIGHT BEFFET AT THE MARIOTT, VERY EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT. WE ARE STAYING AT A BRAND NEW PLACE THIS TIME SO I WILL TRY TO REMEMBER TO POST A REPLY WHEN WE GET BACK TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS ONE. BECAUSE IT IS NEW I REALLY WORKED HARD TO GET A REALLY GREAT RATE. YES AIR IS USUALLY HIGH TOO. EVERTHING IS HIGH THERE HOWEVER IT IS THE CLEANIST ISLAND AND VIRTUALLY NO POVERTY ( NO BEGGING) WHICH WE LIKE. EMAIL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. AND I WILL TRY TO HELP YOU ALL I CAN.

Greetings! We will be doing our 3rd trip to GC Thanksgiving week this November! Weather is pleasant but may have a few rain showers! We watch the hurricane situation carefully, 2 years ago Mitch did do some damage! We have always stayed at the Westin but will probably look into some condos this trip! The beach is lovely there and if you are in need of shade -go to the pool or rent a shade umbrella from Red Sail Sports right on the beach. The best?? Rent a float from them and float on the calm waters of SMB! Heaven on earth!!!

Thanks to all of you. Yes, Don, I would appreciate a trip report when you return.

This is my first post on these message boards. I am researching honeymoon destinations and got sidetracked here. <BR> <BR>I have been to the Caymans twice, with the last time being in 1991. I am sure that they have changed alot since I have been there, but here are my suggestions. We stayed at the Victoria House on the far end of Seven Mile Beach - away from the crowds.(Although the crowds may have migrated with new hotels going up!) Anyway, it was wonderful. I was there with my parents and two brothers so we stayed in a 2brd condo that opens right on to the beach. I mean door to sand. Victoria house was small - only two stories which I think is a definte plus over big resorts, but there is no pool which some people might want. I definitely recommend the first floor for the proximity to the beach. We were there in the summer and the weatrher was fine - don't remember it being really hot at night. There are hammocks strung between plam tress on the beach right outside the Victoria house. And best of all, we swam with sea turtles every night around 5pm. For some reason, they seem to congregate there. We loved Victoria House so much that we went back two years later. <BR> <BR>I would love to see hear any recent info about Victoria House...

JUST GOT BACK LAST SAT. HAD A GREAT TIME AND WEATHER WAS OUTSTANDING. RESORT WAS PRETTY NICE (BRAND NEW) HOWEVER IT WAS WAY OUT OF TOWN, ABOUT 45 MIN.IF WE HAD IT TO DO OVER WE WOULD MOST LIKELY GO BACK TO THE AQUA BAY CLUB! WE TOOK A SNORKELING BOAT OUT ONE DAY (ABOUT 28.00 P.P.) AND WHILE IT WAS O.K. WE SAW MUCH PRETTIER FISH AND CORAL AT CEMETERY REEF AND IT IS FREE! ATE AT THE MARIOTT AGAIN FOR THE FRI. NIGHT BEFFET AND IT WAS VERY GOOD BUT EXPENSIVE! ATE AT THE OUTBACK 2 NIGHTS AND IT WAS BETTER THAN ANY OUTBACK STATESIDE. WE GOT OUR WATER CAMERA PICTURES ON DISC SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEND YOU A FEW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED CONTACT US IF SO. THEY HAVE A NEW HARD ROCK TOO F.Y.I. WE ALSO ATE AT KIABO YACHT CLUB (CLOSE TO RUM POINT) AND IT WAS GREAT. TRY TO AVOID DOWNTOWN ON CRUISE SHIP DAYS, I THINK SAT. SUN. AND FRIDAYS ARE FREE OF THEM! FOSTER'S IS A GREAT FOOD STORE TO GO TO UPON ARRIVAL, IT HAS JUST ABOUT EVERY AMERICAN FOODS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, AND ALOT OF U.S.A. NEWSPAPERS TOO! WE STAYED AT THE ROYAL REEF CONDOS AND AS I SAID IT WAS BRAND NEW AND CLEAN BUT TALK TO ME BEFORE YOU BOOK THERE! OCEAN FRONTIERS IS A GREAT DIVE OUTFITTER! GAS IS ABOUT 2.40 CI A GALLON. OUR DOLLAR IS WORTH ABOUT .80 THERE. PEOPLE WERE VERY NICE AND WE FELT VERY SAFE THERE OUT OF THE CAR! DRIVING WAS MORE OF A CHALLENGE THAN WE REMEMBER! YOU CAN GET A VERY SMALL CAR FOR ABOUT 20.00-25.00 A DAY! WE GOT A DODGE INTREPID FOR 395.00 FOR THE WEEK, THAT INCLUDED THE INSURANCE WHICH I RECCOMEND EVEN IF YOU ARE COVERED BY YOURS!! WHERE A WILL YOU BE FLYING FROM? ALL OF THIS IS "OUR" OPINION OR EXPERIENCES SO I HOPE THIS WILL HELP YOU CONTACT US IF YOU NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ELSE AND WE WILL TRY TO HELP YOU!!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<BR>$2500 ?? Cayman Airways was only 285, direct from Texas. A beautiful 1 bedroom unit at the Turtle Nest Inn (best snorkeling we found on the island right from the beach there) was 150 per night. We rented a really nice car for about 350 for the week but you can find much cheaper. Seven Mile Beach is great but you don't have to stay there to play there. And we loved our time relaxing at the Inn, romantic & private. <BR> <BR>Last Oct. it was in the 80's & the water temp was perfect, with only one rainy morning. Hurricanes don't bother the Cayman Islands often --- we get more storms here on the Gulf Coast. <BR> <BR>

My family and I just got back from Grand Cayman and loved it. I agree with all the other messages posted. We stayed at Discovery Point Club condos and found them roomy, clean and nice. Snorkeling off the beach was good and not too far from Cemetary Reef, which I also would recommend. Aqua Bay Condos looked nice. Turtle Inn also looked nice but is 30 minutes east of George Town. <BR>We went diving with Ocean Frontiers and Red Sail Sports. Both were fine but Red Sail Sports is more commercial and crowded. Definitely visit Stingray City. <BR>The biggest shock was prices. Everything is expensive and in Cayman dollars. When you convert, it increases 25%, so be prepared. <BR>

Keith's Nan--I have been to GC over the years, and watched as it has grown more and more congested. The island is overrun with cruise-ship day tourists, and one of my favorite spots--the Cemetery Reef--has virtually been ruined. It is so sad! Of course there are plenty of places to stay, because there are so many people!! Have you considered the TURKS & CAICOS? The island is still pristine with amazing snorkeling, diving, etc. You can check other posts for places to stay there, but I would definitly recommend it over Caymen.

<BR>Turks & Caicos won't be pristine for long with all the positive postings about them. I'd recommend going soon. <BR> <BR>As for Cayman, the sister islands are great, as is the east end. Just beware of Seven Mile & Georgetown. <BR> <BR>Cheers! <BR>Dan