Paradise has a Price!

I was very impressed with the politeness of the residents of Grand Cayman Island. They were all very clean and almost overly polite. It was a culture shock for someone who was raised in a large Midwest city, where the locals are usually dirty, impolite, and sometimes dangerous.

Quick Tips:

The turtle farm was a lot better than we expected for . There are hundreds of turtles, from small to 250-plus pounds. It was under construction while we were there.

Best Way To Get Around:

We rented a car from Dollar Rent A Car. The office is across the street from the airport terminal. It is not easy to find, with only a tiny sign. We paid for the car online 9 months before arriving on the island. The woman working there acted surprised to see us. The car was not ready, and they did not even have a full-sized car, which is what I rented 9 months ahead of time. Try someone else for a rental car.

Best Things Nearby:
Rum Point, for swimming and Stingray City. Over the Edge for inexpensive eats. Sunday BBQ at The Driftwood is inexpensive and good food, with a rustic charm. Lunch at Rum Point was good and inexpensive.

Best Things About the Resort:
What is left of the resort is very nice. The pools and hot tubs are very nice. The beach is very clean and well kept. There are plenty of recliners available for guests on the beach. The beach is a little rough but snorkeling is good. If you plan to snorkel swim with the current to cover more ground. Make sure to swim down to the pier at the reef resort next door. There are hundreds of fish of all kinds under and around the pier. The room was perfect, with a blender to make your own drinks. Our first round of two drinks at the swim-up bar were $22. We made our own in the room from then on.

Resort Experience:
Dining out on the island was unbelievably expensive. I suggest everyone rent a car and stop at Hurleys food store and stock up with groceries and drinks before you drive all the way out to Morritt's. We shopped at Fosters also, but the aisles were very narrow and crowded. Make sure to visit the turtle farm on the north end of 7 Mile Beach. Visit the shops in town on Saturday, or on a day when less cruise ships are in port.(Check port authority online for schedule.) Rum point, and a Redsail catamaran to Stingray City, are must sees.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Dinner for two, with an appetizer and one glass of wine, $152. A #1 Lobster proved to be three small and overcooked tails. The wife's steak was good. Bottled water was $7 Cayman a quart. The food was really quite ordinary for the price. Save your money.

I had conch fritters and seafood chowder, the wife had a Caesar salad. We each had two beers, and the total tab was $40. This proved to be a real bargain, and the food was great. Very nice, friendly staff and customers. They made us feel welcome.

I had the seafood special, Mahi-Mahi cooked with Thia and Caribbean spices. It was served with slaw, red beans, and rice. My wife had chicken strips and fries. We both had a drink, total bill $38. It was very good food at a very good price, for this island.

Our favorite place on Grand Cayman Island proved to be Rum Point Club. There is a very nice swimming beach and lots of recliners for sunning and relaxing. The food was very good and reasonable, compared to most of the Island. My meal, catch of the day, was Mahi-Mahi cooked with hot spices and coconut. It was served with red beans, rice, and coleslaw for $10. My wife had a huge pile of chicken strips and fries for $9.The Redsail's 65-foot catamaran sails out to Stingray City three times a day, for $50 each. This is a bargain. The boat is very nice and the crew were very helpful. Petting and feeding the stingrays was a different experience, which proved to be unforgettable. The second stop was a coral reef, for a half hour of snorkeling with lots of fish and even some moray eels. The snorkeling gear was included in the cost. The only restriction to using the Rum Point Club's private property was that you had to buy your refreshments there and couldn't bring any with you.