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If you’d requested me just a few months in the past what I knew about Grand Cayman, the reply can be… that it’s an island within the Caribbean perhaps? This and the truth that “offshore accounts in the Caymans” are one thing folks speak about in motion pictures.
However, we spent a month falling in love (sure, 30+ days) with Grand Cayman this winter.
I’ve been to numerous seashores and a handful of nations in our travels, however Grand Cayman shortly grew to become my primary favourite place on the earth.
If you’re contemplating a visit to Grand Cayman, cease studying this and go e-book it now. You will remorse nothing.
If you’re touring with youngsters, you’re in for an actual deal with. We’ve taken our two and four-year-old to 14+ international locations, and Grand Cayman was THE most kid-friendly place we’ve ever been. I’ll share extra about why under (however belief me, your youngsters will find it irresistible).
After spending a month seashore and exercise hopping, I’m sharing a listing of issues to do with youngsters in Grand Cayman together with suggestions for visiting this attractive island.
Where to Stay in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman just isn’t a giant island. To drive from one finish to the opposite would take us lower than an hour. However, the place you keep will affect how a lot you possibly can stroll and the varieties of actions close by.
We stayed in an space referred to as Seven Mile Beach. This is the preferred space on the island and could be very walkable. If I had been to return, that is the realm I’d keep once more.
Seven Mile Beach is named some of the stunning seashores on the earth! And it lives as much as the hype with utterly clear water that stays calm. We would spend mornings paddle boarding throughout the water, typically stopping at a close-by resort to seize espresso and muffins earlier than paddling again residence.
Why do I like to recommend staying on Seven Mile Beach? (Other than the truth that the seashore is unbelievable)
We didn’t hire a automobile for many of our time on Grand Cayman. (We rented when folks came around us!)
On Seven Mile Beach, we might stroll to eating places and entry every thing we wanted inside a brief distance. Our favourite restaurant was Paradise Pizza. They have unbelievable brick oven pizza and a cool out of doors seating space the place our youngsters befriended a few of the native cats. Plus, as my spouse famous, that they had superb gluten-free pizza and we might stroll there with out ever leaving the seashore.
Seven Mile Beach is on the west facet of Grand Cayman, making it the right place to catch a sundown on the seashore.
Where we stayed on the seashore was one of many skinniest factors of the island, so we might stroll the width of the island in lower than ten minutes, even pushing the double stroller. We might watch the dawn over Camana Bay (which I’ll share extra about in a minute) and watch it set from our non-public seashore.
Seven Mile Beach is the busiest, most touristy a part of the island. We would see a number of cruise ships port every morning. Our VRBO had a non-public seashore space, however the remainder of Seven Mile Beach was very busy on as of late.
If you desire a quieter tempo, I’d suggest Rum Point.
It’s a couple of 45-minute drive (or 20-minute boat journey) from Seven Mile Beach and has just a few good eating places and seashores. If we weren’t touring with youngsters, I’d contemplate this space for a peaceable getaway. Rum Point can be proper subsequent to Starfish Point, one other cool spot I’ll point out under.
However, if touring with youngsters, most actions and eating places are centered within the Seven Mile Beach space. If you keep in Rum Point, you’ll seemingly have to hire a automobile.
Where to Stay on Seven Mile Beach
There are numerous lodges and short-term leases in Seven Mile Beach. While we had been there in February and March, a few of the nightly resort charges had been as steep as $2,000 per evening! If you’re touring with a bigger household or group, I like to recommend short-term leases for a greater worth.
We stayed at a good friend’s VRBO at Laguna Del Mar, a centrally situated condominium complicated on Seven Mile Beach. The complicated has a pool, gymnasium, tennis courts, and epic grill setup. Some of our favourite nights concerned grilling whereas the youngsters performed within the pool and consuming on the picnic tables earlier than catching the sundown on the seashore.
To say we beloved our keep at Laguna Del Mar can be underselling it. It was paradise. We might stroll throughout the road to dozens of eating places, stroll the pedestrian path to Camana Bay and play within the splash pads, or stroll alongside the seashore for miles.
Our good friend lately renovated his 3-bedroom unit at Laguna Del Mar, and you’ll hire it right here on VRBO. Can’t suggest Andy’s place sufficient! We keep in numerous Airbnb spots around the globe, and arms down, this was our favourite keep…ever.
The Best Hotel in Grand Cayman
Based on greater than 1,000 critiques, the Kimpton Seafire Resort is the #1 rated resort in Grand Cayman. I can attest to the truth that the resort is completely stunning.
We have stayed at a number of Kimpton lodges through the years, and when given a alternative, they’re our favourite lodges (principally for the service, consideration to element, and facilities).
We heard the Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman had a non-public waterpark, so we took the youngsters to play someday. During the offseason, they permit non-guests to buy day passes. However, they simply allow us to in without cost because it was closing in half-hour (what did I inform you about Kimpton!?).
How a lot does the Kimpton Seafire Resort value?
It is dependent upon the season by which you’re visiting. Off-season for Grand Cayman begins round April, so you will see decrease charges from then on. It was peak season after we visited throughout February, so a room prices as a lot as $2,000/evening.
Shocking, sure. Still filled with folks? Yes.
For a budget-friendly possibility, you possibly can e-book the Holiday Inn on factors for cheaper than you possibly can e-book a resort in Amarillo. (It was beneath 18,000 factors per evening!)
Read More: Travel Hacking: How We Travel for (Almost) Free
Renting a Car In Grand Cayman
Depending on the place you keep in Grand Cayman, it’s possible you’ll or could not want a automobile rental. Seven Mile Beach is a really walkable space. However, you have to a car if you wish to go to locations like Rum Point or the botanical gardens. We rented just a few automobiles throughout our keep to go on day excursions.
We rented from Andy’s Rental Car, which has two areas in Grand Cayman (one on the airport and one at Seven Mile Beach). I felt the costs had been affordable and the employees had been sort and truthful. I’d hire from them once more if after we come again.
Other Transportation Options in Grand Cayman
If you don’t hire a automobile, you’ve just a few different choices for getting round in Grand Cayman. One possibility is to face on the facet of the street and hail a bus. They run up and down Seven Mile Beach and can cease and choose you up. Each journey is a couple of bucks in money and it’s positively the most affordable possibility for getting round.
I say stand on the facet of the street as a result of there aren’t very clear bus stops, however you possibly can flag down the bus simply. They aren’t conventional buses, however giant vans which are clearly labeled.
There are additionally loads of cabs across the island you possibly can name. You will see them driving round and might flag one down as properly.
Lastly, there’s a water taxi service that departs from Camana Bay that you could take over to Rum Point. You can view their departure occasions and fares right here.
Best Things to Do in Grand Cayman with Kids
1. Visit Camana Bay
On paper, Camana Bay is an outside buying space boasting al fresco eating places and waterfront eating. But it’s a lot extra. There are outlets, Foster’s (suppose Whole Foods, however island model), a marina the place excursions and boat leases take off via the mangroves, and infinite water options. No playgrounds had been walkable from our VRBO, however Camana Bay has two splash pads our youngsters lived in all month!
We walked over right here shortly after arriving, and we had been blown away.
It felt like somewhat paradise tucked away on the island. The very first thing I observed was what number of households with younger youngsters there have been. They had been in every single place. As we’d be taught, many of those households stay right here as expats (however many go to too).
We ended up in Camana Bay each single day for just a few causes:
1. The splash pads. The youngsters beloved these and they’re shaded a lot of the day. During hotter days, it was an excellent space to hang around for some time. Grab espresso from Jessie’s Juice Bar Cafe (or Starbucks should you’re primary…like me…it’s proper subsequent to the splash pad, what can I say?)
2. It was a ravishing stroll to start out our days.
Instead of merely making an overpass to Camana Bay, they constructed a whole jungle. You’ll see wild parrots, chickens, lizards, iguanas, and all types of wildlife simply in your stroll over the bridge. We made this a part of our morning ritual.
3. Grocery buying.
There’s a handful of grocery shops close to Seven Mile Beach, however we frequented Fosters. Fosters is principally like a Whole Foods on the island. It could be very good and costly. Cayman on the whole is dear, however $10 for a bagged salad blew our minds.
However, their ready meals part is nice and one of many most cost-effective methods to seize a meal in Grand Cayman! We would seize a barbequed hen, freshly grilled burgers, roast veggies, salad bar (method cheaper than shopping for a bag), curries, and extra.
4. Great restaurant choice
Our favourite spot was referred to as Agua. Their dessert was unbelievable, they usually had an excellent ambiance for consuming out subsequent to the water.
Agua and lots of the different eating places had been very good, however since seating is obtainable outdoor, they had been kid-friendly, too. Casual clothes like a sundress and sandals can be superb. We tried a lot of the eating places alongside the waterfront, and Gelato & Co. additionally provides superb desserts.
(I imply, we tried actual meals, too…however the dessert recreation is STRONG over right here!)
5. “The Island”
The Cayman Islands are made up of three main islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman is the preferred one with vacationers, however one other island is standard with locals. It’s the small, clearly artifical sand island in Camana Bay.
Connected by a bridge, this little island was a kid-friendly paradise. Every day, the native Montessori faculty would let loose, and all the youngsters would play on the island whereas their moms chatted.
Ellie would like to go throughout this time to make new associates and play cover and search or catch the crab or regardless of the women had been enjoying.
2. Go to Starfish Point
This is on most lists of “things to do in Grand Cayman” for good purpose. We took just a few journeys to Starfish Point as a result of the youngsters favored it a lot. It’s a extremely shallow seashore space the place you possibly can see tons of starfish within the water and contact them (although it’s essential to by no means take them out of water). The water is usually calm, however because it’s on some extent, you possibly can escape any wind by strolling to the opposite facet.
You’ll see plenty of tour boats come out thus far and on busy days, a meals boat (like a meals truck, however a ship) will setup too. It’s an excellent little spot to spend the day.
Starfish Point is sort of an hour’s drive from the Seven Mile Beach space however a really fairly and straightforward drive to make.
Pro tip: A recent fruit and juice stand is on the drive. I extremely suggest grabbing some recent mango pineapple juice and banana bread!
After hanging out at Starfish Point, you possibly can drive to Rum Point for lunch. It’s too far to stroll, however you may bike.
There’s a beachfront restaurant and bar with a shallow water space for youths to play in. We ate right here a number of occasions and had nice meals (Minus the one time we ordered ceviche and bought meals poisoning. Steer away from the ceviche. Order the Colada Colada as an alternative).
3. Spend a Day on the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
Botanical parks could also be hit and miss with youngsters, however we visited this one twice. It’s somewhat expensive, and also you’ll want a automobile to get there. Otherwise, we might’ve visited extra!
The flowers and timber had been stunning, and an unbelievable playground and splash pad had been inside for youths. Plus, there’s a whole sanctuary space for the massive blue iguanas.
Walking round, you possibly can see parrots flying and iguanas within the paths. I’d funds for round a half-day go to to the Botanic Park throughout a keep in Grand Cayman.
It value us 60 Cayman Dollars for 2 adults, a four-year-old and a two-year-old (the youngest was free). They playground was a spotlight for the youngsters. It was principally shaded and included this four-story platform with swings and seating so you possibly can climb to the highest and see panoramic views of the island.
The backyard is “divided” into a number of totally different gardens The Floral Colour Garden was my favourite. There’s additionally climbing trails to get from one facet of the gardens to the iguana sanctuary.
We love to go to botanical gardens in each nation we go to and this was probably the greatest ones for the household. There’s no meals contained in the backyard (not less than it wasn’t open after we visited) however you possibly can usher in your individual meals. Just be careful for iguanas who WILL steal your meals or chew you to get it.
4. Explore the Cayman Turtle Centre
The Turtle Centre has been a staple in Grand Cayman for many years. It’s a preferred tour when cruise ships arrive in port, and for good purpose. It’s an excellent place to spend a day exploring and strolling round. Snorkeling within the park (together with a few water slides) can be accessible in case your youngsters are a bit older or good are swimmers.
We spent 3-4 hours strolling round, trying out the turtles (even petting some) earlier than leaving. Our two-year-old’s spotlight was seeing them feed the nurse sharks on website. It’s an excellent spot for a day journey with youngsters.
The greatest shock of the turtle centre was the meals. The jerk hen meal was:
- Big sufficient for the 4 of us to separate. Amazing worth.
- The BEST jerk hen on the island. My spouse wished to return simply to eat that hen once more. 10/10.
5. Beach Hop
One factor I beloved about Grand Cayman was how simple it was to seek out remoted areas of seashores with out giant crowds. Starfish Point and Seven Mile Beach usually have crowds, however we additionally discovered it simple to flee and discover a secluded spot.
One of our favourite seashores was referred to as Spotts Beach. It’s an excellent spot for snorkeling and seeing sea turtles. Both occasions we visited Spotts, it wasn’t very crowded, and we had a lot of the seashore to ourselves. Going early within the morning is a good time for recognizing sea turtles. If you’ve the gear to snorkel, it’s potential to identify octopus, sea turtles, and extra.
Another nice seashore space is “Public Beach,” which is over by Kimpton Sea Fire Hotel. There are a few good playgrounds to hang around at over right here, proper alongside the beachfront.
For snorkeling and a secluded seashore, attempt Smith’s Beach or Smith Barcadere. The seashore is small and quiet with loads of shade timber round. There are giant rock formations you possibly can climb on to look into the brilliant blue waters. This seashore could be very near George Town, the place the cruise ships port.
6. Pet Sting Rays at Sting Ray City
I do know what you’re considering; I’m good, Heath. No have to pet a stingray.
However, there’s a collection of shallow sandbars off the coast of Grand Cayman the place you possibly can comfortably pet and expertise the stingrays. I used to be apprehensive a couple of four- and two-year-old. Was it protected? Would they care? After studying a bunch of critiques on Trip Advisor, we opted to provide it a attempt.
As it seems, the stingrays there are extremely docile. The tour guides have names for every stingray as they see them day by day. They’ll even allow you to maintain them.
Our four-year-old was terrified and didn’t wish to get into the water, nevertheless it was nonetheless a enjoyable journey for the adults whereas the youngsters frolicked within the boat. This space will get crowded whereas cruise ships are in port, so I like to recommend checking the cruise ship schedule for a day when there aren’t as many boats.
My spouse famous that the water is usually thought of 3-4 toes deep, relying on circumstances. It was windy the morning we visited, and she or he placed on a life jacket because the waves would go over her head. (She’s 5’2″)
7. Listen to Live Music at Peppers Restaurant
One of our youngsters’ highlights was listening to music at Pepper’s Restaurant on Wednesday nights. They’ll have a band arrange and play cool island music. The youngsters dance and have an excellent time, and the meals is nice. We ended up coming again to Pepper’s on a number of events.
Honorable Mention
When my household visited us, we rented a big SUV and drove your entire island perimeter. We discovered a shipwreck, noticed the Blow Holes, ate at Tukka (which was superb, however there’s one nearer to Seven Mile Beach too), and noticed the undeveloped facet of the island. We wished to go to the Parrot Sanctuary, nevertheless it was closed the someday we made it to the far facet of the island! It was an excellent day, however not probably the most kid-friendly and concerned numerous being within the automobile.
Is Grand Cayman Worth Visiting?
If you haven’t already realized it from this publish, we beloved Grand Cayman. Not solely would I’m going again, however I’ve been actively pitching Alyssa to maneuver there since we left.
If it wasn’t the #1 costliest place to stay on the earth, we may very well contemplate it. If you’re on the fence about visiting Grand Cayman, you must e-book a visit to this unbelievable island.
I’m glad to reply any questions under relating to planning a visit to Grand Cayman. Just drop a remark.
FAQs on Visiting Grand Cayman
What is the perfect space of Grand Cayman to remain in?
Seven Mile Beach is by far the preferred space to remain in when visiting Grand Cayman. It has a excessive density of eating places and actions and a ravishing beachfront.
How costly is Grand Cayman?
Grand Cayman is ranked because the #1 costliest place to stay in your entire world, in accordance with Expatistan. While we had been there, paying $100 for a meal for 2 folks was not unusual. The groceries and meals at eating places will certainly offer you sticker shock when you arrive. One Cayman greenback is $1.25 USD, so your bank card invoice will really feel the forex change!
What is the perfect time to go to Grand Cayman?
The greatest time to go to Grand Cayman for climate causes is from December via February. The climate is nice and constant. However, should you go later within the shoulder season (April-May), will probably be much less crowded with vacationers, and charges are cheaper.
Are US {dollars} accepted in Grand Cayman?
Yes, we might pay in USD or a bank card for each restaurant and retailer we visited. Most objects are marked in Cayman Islands Dollars, however there is no such thing as a drawback with utilizing a bank card.
Can I drink the water in Grand Cayman?
The water is protected to drink in Grand Cayman, offered by desalinated seawater made on the island.
Is Grand Cayman protected?
Grand Cayman could be very protected. Not as soon as did we ever really feel in a not protected atmosphere. Our youngsters might run round freely and be youngsters throughout our complete keep.
What language is spoken in Grand Cayman?
English. Grand Cayman is a British Territory so the official language is English, the first language everybody on the island speaks.
What to do in Grand Cayman With Kids
Grand Cayman is ideal for younger households. We usually really feel like eating places or shops are irritated after we stroll in with younger youngsters, however we at all times felt welcome in Cayman. Even when our daughter spilled her complete drink all around the flooring at a restaurant, the employees was so sort and useful. If you’re on the lookout for a tropical trip with younger kids, I can’t suggest Cayman sufficient!