There are daily flights from Miami (Cayman Airways, American Airlines), Tampa, (Cayman Airways), Atlanta (Delta Airlines), Philadelphia and Charlotte, NC (US Air). As well, there are direct flights from Detroit (Northwest Airlines — seasonal), Houston (Continental Airlines) and Chicago (Cayman Airways and United Airlines). Cayman Airways offers three direct flights a week from New York (JFK). And, US Airways has announced a weekly direct flight from Boston every Saturday, beginning on January 12th 2008. Direct flights on Cayman Airways from Dallas, Texas are to begin on June 23rd 2012. JetBlue is to begin direct flights from Boston and New York in November 2012. On June 4th 2017, Southwest Airlines began daily, year-round direct flights from Fort Lauderdale at discounted fares.
There are daily flights from Kingston, Jamaica (Cayman Airways). As well, there are a number of flights a week from London (British Airways, via Nassau), Havana, Cuba (Cayman Airways), Montego Bay, Jamaica (Cayman Airways), La Ceiba, Honduras (Cayman Airways) and Toronto, Canada (Air Canada and WestJet). Cayman Airways began regular, twice-weekly direct flights to Panama in May 2012, but cancelled the route shortly after.
Everyone generally flies to the Sister Islands (Little Cayman and Cayman Brac) and we don’t know of any accessible sea link — unless you charter a boat privately. Island Air and Cayman Airways are your only options. Another popular destination for a “side trip” from Grand Cayman is Cuba, with several direct flights a week on Cayman Airways.
No, US cash, travellers’ cheques and major credit cards are accepted everywhere on the island, and at the same exchange rate as at the local banks. The Cayman Islands dollar (CI$) is worth US$1.25 — US$1.00 is worth CI$0.80. This is a fixed rate, not subject to currency market fluctuations. We suggest that you reconvert any CI$ you have left into US$ before departing, as not all banks outside of the Cayman Islands will purchase our currency.
Consult our website money converter for Canadian, US and other currencies.And, keep in mind that there’s a slight advantage in bringing US$ travellers’ cheques rather than cash — you’ll get CI$0.82 (instead of CI$0.80) for each US dollar, but only at a local bank.
Not if you’re from the USA or Canada — all electrical outlets are 110VAC, 60 cycles. If you’re from elsewhere, and your devices are dual-voltage (110VAC/240VAC), we have a good selection of plug adaptors at the Inn that will work with local outlets. We can also lend you a low-wattage transformer with which you can use a number of small, 220-240VAC devices (e.g., electric razors, toothbrushes, radios, phone chargers, etc.).
Like the east coast of the USA (e.g., New York, Washington, Miami), the Cayman Islands are on Eastern Standard Time (EST), with no time difference between October and April. But, since we don’t adjust our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, there is an hour difference between mid-April and mid-October. During those months, it’s an hour earlier here.
Yes, they do. Technically, you can enter with either a sworn affidavit prepared by a Justice of the Peace (or Notary Public), or a birth certificate along with photo identification. But, since January 23rd 2007, the US Department of Homeland Security requires that all travellers re-entering the US from the Caribbean by air, carry passports. As such, unless you’re a legal resident of the Cayman Islands, the airlines will not let you board your flight from the USA without a passport.
To the best of our knowledge, all arriving passengers aged 18 years or older may bring with them up to one litre of spirits or four litres of wine or one case of beer (not exceeding eight litres). They can also bring in up to two hundred cigarettes or one hundred cigarillos or twenty-five cigars or two hundred and fifty grammes of tobacco. While alcohol is more pricey here, cigarettes are actually less costly on Grand Cayman than in most US states.
Although some are the same, like Christmas, and of course New Year’s Day, etc., many are not. There’s no Independence Day, President’s Day, etc. You can find the official list of holidays at the website of the Cayman Islands government. Supermarkets are closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday. Opening hours are limited on all other public holidays, from 9:00am to 6:00pm (instead of the normal 7:00am to 11:00pm.
We’re certain that you’ll get more out of your vacation with your own vehicle — and save money as well! There’s really no other way to fully explore the island and have access to the full range of restaurants, including the more reasonably-priced ones. Grocery shopping at the supermarkets is difficult without a car. And, renting one for pick-up right at the airport is simple and affordable, given the discounted rates we’ve negociated. Other than the fun of open-air driving, there’s no need for a jeep — roads are good, there are no mountains, and driving on the beach is illegal.
Yes, but getting one is just a formality. The car rental agency will issue you a temporary driving permit for about US$20.00 (per driver), simply upon presentation of a valid driving permit from your home country. It’s valid for six months, and no driving test is required.
Yes, they are available. We don’t have rates posted at our website and don’t recommend them because of safety concerns — there’s a high incidence of serious accidents involving tourists on scooters. And, although we have had guests who’ve arrived with their own bicycles and survived some long-distance biking on the island, there are no cycle paths, quite a bit of truck traffic, and most roads have just one lane in each direction.
Taxis are available, particularly at the airport, but phoning for one from elsewhere can be frustrating. And cab fare is very pricey. At about US$45 fare from the airport to the Inn (one way), renting a car for the whole day will cost you considerably less during low season — and a couple of dollars more during high season.
Public transportation is fairly efficient during working hours, with buses usually every 30 minutes and a bus stop right next to the Inn. The bus from the Inn will take you to the central terminus in George Town, with a transfer and additional fare required to go on to anywhere along Seven Mile Beach. But service is limited to the island’s main road, and sporadic during evenings and weekends, with no service to the airport.
We regret that we can’t. Hotels are prevented from picking up guests at the airport by local regulations adopted to protect island taxi drivers. And, the public transportation system does not include the aiport. Other than a taxi, the only option is a rental car.
Some guests with a wide-range roaming or satellite-based service have been able to use their phones, but you’re best to check ahead with your cell service provider. If it doesn’t work here, you’ll have to go to a local phone company for connection and buy a “Pay as You Go” phone card sold in various denominations. Of course, your best bet is to leave your phone at home — and check out our “World Phone” plan (see link far left).
Although Cayman does tend to be a more “upscale” tourist destination, you don’t have to be wealthy to vacation here. Once you’ve shopped around for affordable airfare, choose reasonably priced accommodations with a kitchen (like our Inn). Even if you dine out in the evenings, you’ll save a lot on breakfasts, lunches, drinks and snacks. If your holiday period is flexible, check out our “Package Specials” and “Late Summer/Fall Rates”.
The weather here is typically sunny, warm and beautiful, all year round. It’s hottest between mid-July and mid-September, and it’s rarely below 80°F during even “winter” days, when evenings can drop as low as 70°F. There’s usually little rain, even during the rainy/hurricane season (June 1st to October 31st). With a couple of (serious) exceptions, hurricanes this century have been very rare. If visiting between August and October, you might consider travel insurance, to cover the cost of both airfare and hotel.
No, in the Cayman Islands you’ll be driving on the left side of the road — like in Britain, Japan, India, Jamaica, etc. It won’t take long to get used to, especially if you rent a non-US car, equipped with right-hand steering. Overtaking is safer, and it’s more difficult to forget which side of the road to drive on. Entering and exiting parking lots is really all that’ll take a little concentration — just remember to stay to the left!
Yes, there are varying speed limits posted, and we’d caution you not to exceed them by more than 10 mph — if you’re caught, it can be quite costly. This applies as well to seat belts (up to a CI$500 fine), which were made compulsory in 1998. Although the speedometer in many rental cars may be in kilometres-per-hour, posted speed limits are all in miles-per-hour, and you’d multiply by “.6” (e.g., 50 kmh is about 30 mph).
No, it can be waived, but we suggest doing so only if you have alternate protection. Many credit cards (e.g. Visa Gold Card), when used for payment of the rental car, do provide automatic insurance coverage, and your insurance policy back home may also be valid. But, if you do opt for insurance with Avis — decided upon when you pick up the car, and paid directly to Avis — Public Liability (LDC) is available seperately, as is Collision (CDW). You can opt for one-way, two-way, or none. Current insurance coverage rates are available at the Avis Grand Cayman website, listed according to car class.
Along with Cuba, the Cayman Islands is probably the safest tourist destination in the Caribbean, with crimes against visitors extremely rare. You can feel secure walking alone anywhere, anytime of day or night. Which isn’t to say that we’d leave a camera or a cell phone exposed in our car. There’s no sense tempting anyone needlessly, so we do encourage guests to leave their car and apartment locked when not in them.
Stores are generally open from about 9:00am to 5:00 or 6:00pm, six days a week, although some close about 1:00pm on Saturday. The supermarkets keep longer hours, and are open from 7:00am to 11:00pm, Monday to Saturday. Except for restaurants, gas stations (which often include a convenience store), and a number of shops catering to cruiseship passengers, most businesses and all supermarkets are closed on Sunday.
No. Beer, wine and spirits are sold at licensed liquor stores, privately owned and located throughout Grand Cayman. They’re closed on Sunday, but open generally from 10:00am to 7:00pm, Monday to Saturday. However, alcoholic beverages are sold at restaurants and hotels, seven days a week.
Like restaurants throughout the Caribbean, they tend to be more expensive than in North America. But Grand Cayman boasts a very broad selection of dining spots, including many reasonably-priced ones, so it is possible to dine out on a budget. One could manage two to three meals a day quite comfortably on as low as CI$35-40 (about US$45), including gratuity, but excluding booze. See “Island Dining” (far left)
Many restaurants will automatically add 15% to your bill as gratuity, which is the going rate. Of course, you’re encouraged to leave more if the service is particularly efficient and pleasant. Before leaving a tip, make sure that it’s not already included. Tipping policy is usually posted on the menu, and on the bill itself. If you don’t see it, just ask! And, if paying in CI$, make sure that you don’t pay the often posted (and higher) US$ total!
Pirates Week is a multi-day, annual festival with fireworks, street dancing, heritage days, a pirate ship landing, golf tournaments, childrens activities, and many other events. It’s now scheduled towards the beginning of November, and lasts about ten days. For more details about the next festival, please visit their website at www.piratesweekfestival.com.
Topless and nude bathing is illegal in the Cayman Islands, as in other British colonies like Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands, etc. Nevertheless, there are a number of secluded beaches in less developed parts of the island where people have gotten away with it.
No, there are no casinos in the Cayman Islands, and no legalised form of gambling. If you’re into casinos while on holiday in the Caribbean, you might want to consider the Bahamas, St. Maarten (the Dutch-ruled half of St. Martin), Turks and Caicos, etc.
Yes, there are several of them. For a list of names, location, services offered and phone numbers, just click on Beauty Spas.
