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When you’d requested me a couple of months in the past what I knew about Grand Cayman, the reply could be… that it’s an island within the Caribbean perhaps? This and the truth that “offshore accounts within the Caymans” are one thing folks speak about in films.
Nonetheless, 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 rapidly turned my primary favourite place on this planet.
If you’re contemplating a visit to Grand Cayman, cease studying this and go e book it now. You’ll remorse nothing.
When you’re touring with children, you might be 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 children will adore it).
After spending a month seashore and exercise hopping, I’m sharing an inventory of issues to do with children in Grand Cayman together with ideas for visiting this attractive island.
The place to Keep in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman isn’t a giant island. To drive from one finish to the opposite would take us lower than an hour. Nonetheless, the place you keep will impression how a lot you’ll be able to stroll and the varieties of actions close by.
We stayed in an space referred to as Seven Mile Seaside. That is the preferred space on the island and may be very walkable. If I had been to return, that is the world I might keep once more.
Seven Mile Seaside is named one of the lovely seashores on this planet! And it lives as much as the hype with fully clear water that stays calm. We’d spend mornings paddle boarding throughout the water, typically stopping at a close-by lodge to seize espresso and muffins earlier than paddling again house.
Why do I like to recommend staying on Seven Mile Seaside? (Apart from the truth that the seashore is unbelievable)
We didn’t hire a automotive for many of our time on Grand Cayman. (We rented when folks came over us!)
On Seven Mile Seaside, we may stroll to eating places and entry every little thing we would have liked inside a brief distance. Our favourite restaurant was Paradise Pizza. They’ve unbelievable brick oven pizza and a cool outside seating space the place our children befriended a number of the native cats. Plus, as my spouse famous, that they had wonderful gluten-free pizza and we may stroll there with out ever leaving the seashore.
Seven Mile Seaside is on the west facet of Grand Cayman, making it the right place to catch a sundown on the seashore.
The place we stayed on the seashore was one of many skinniest factors of the island, so we may stroll the width of the island in lower than ten minutes, even pushing the double stroller. We may watch the dawn over Camana Bay (which I’ll share extra about in a minute) and watch it set from our personal seashore. Day-after-day was excellent!
Seven Mile Seaside is the busiest, most touristy a part of the island. We’d see a number of cruise ships port every morning. Our VRBO had a personal seashore space, however the remainder of Seven Mile Seaside was very busy on as of late.
In order for you a quieter tempo, I’d suggest Rum Level.
It’s a few 45-minute drive (or 20-minute boat journey) from Seven Mile Seaside and has a couple of good eating places and seashores. If we weren’t touring with children, I’d take into account this space for a peaceable getaway. Rum Level can be proper subsequent to Starfish Level, one other cool spot I’ll point out under.
Nonetheless, if touring with children, most actions and eating places are centered within the Seven Mile Seaside space. When you keep in Rum Level, you’ll 100% must hire a automotive.
The place to Keep on Seven Mile Seaside
There are a number of motels and short-term leases in Seven Mile Seaside. Whereas we had been there in February and March, a number of the nightly lodge charges had been as steep as $2,000 per night time! When you’re touring with a bigger household or group, I like to recommend short-term leases for a greater worth.
We stayed at a pal’s VRBO at Laguna Del Mar, a centrally positioned condominium advanced on Seven Mile Seaside. The advanced has a pool, gymnasium, tennis courts, and epic grill setup. A few of our favourite nights concerned grilling whereas the children performed within the pool and consuming on the picnic tables earlier than catching the sundown on the seashore.
To say we liked our keep at Laguna Del Mar could be underselling it. It was paradise. We may 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 pal 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 a number of Airbnb spots world wide, and palms down, this was our favourite keep…ever.
The Greatest Resort in Grand Cayman
Primarily based on greater than 1,000 opinions, the Kimpton Seafire Resort is the #1 rated lodge in Grand Cayman. I can attest to the truth that the resort is totally lovely.
We’ve stayed at a number of Kimpton motels over time, and when given a selection, they’re our favourite motels (principally for the service, consideration to element, and facilities).
We heard the Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman had a personal waterpark, so we took the children to play at some point. In the course of the offseason, they permit non-guests to buy day passes. Nonetheless, they only allow us to in free of charge because it was closing in half-hour (what did I let you know about Kimpton!?).
How a lot does the Kimpton Seafire Resort price?
It is determined by the season wherein you’re visiting. Low season for Grand Cayman begins round April, so you can find decrease charges from then on. It was peak season once we visited throughout February, so a room prices as a lot as $2,000/night time.
Stunning, sure. Nonetheless filled with folks? Sure.
For a budget-friendly possibility, you’ll be able to e book the Vacation Inn on factors for cheaper than you’ll be able to e book a lodge in Amarillo. (It was underneath 18,000 factors per night time!)
Learn Extra: Journey Hacking: How We Journey for (Virtually) Free
Renting a Automobile In Grand Cayman
Relying on the place you keep in Grand Cayman, it’s possible you’ll or could not want a automotive rental. Seven Mile Seaside is a really walkable space. Nonetheless, you have to a automobile if you wish to go to locations like Rum Level or the botanical gardens. We rented a couple of automobiles throughout our keep to go on day excursions.
We rented from Andy’s Rental Automobile, which has two areas in Grand Cayman (one on the airport and one at Seven Mile Seaside). I felt the costs had been cheap and the workers had been variety and honest. I might hire from them once more if once we come again.
Different Transportation Choices in Grand Cayman
When you don’t hire a automotive, you’ve got a couple of 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 Seaside and can cease and choose you up. Every journey is a couple of dollars in money and it’s undoubtedly 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’ll be able to flag down the bus simply. They aren’t conventional buses, however massive vans which are clearly labeled.
There are additionally loads of cabs across the island you’ll be able to name. You will note them driving round and might flag one down as effectively.
Lastly, there’s a water taxi service that departs from Camana Bay that you would be able to take over to Rum Level. You possibly can view their departure occasions and fares right here.
Greatest Issues to Do in Grand Cayman with Youngsters
1. Go to Camana Bay
On paper, Camana Bay is an outside buying space boasting al fresco eating places and waterfront eating. Nevertheless it’s a lot extra. There are retailers, Foster’s (assume Complete Meals, however island fashion), a marina the place excursions and boat leases take off by the mangroves, and infinite water options. No playgrounds had been walkable from our VRBO, however Camana Bay has two splash pads our children lived in all month!
We walked over right here shortly after arriving, and we had been blown away.
It felt like slightly paradise tucked away on the island. The very first thing I seen was what number of households with younger children there have been. They had been all over the place. As we’d study, many of those households dwell right here as expats (however many go to too).
We ended up in Camana Bay each single day for a couple of causes:
1. The splash pads. The youngsters liked these and they’re shaded a lot of the day. Throughout hotter days, it was an ideal space to hang around for some time. Seize espresso from Jessie’s Juice Bar Cafe (or Starbucks should you’re fundamental…like me…it’s proper subsequent to the splash pad, what can I say?)
2. It was an attractive stroll to begin our days.
As an alternative of merely making an overpass to Camana Bay, they constructed a complete 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 Seaside, however we frequented Fosters. Fosters is mainly like a Complete Meals on the island. It is rather good and costly. Cayman usually is pricey, however $10 for a bagged salad blew our minds.
Nonetheless, their ready meals part is nice and one of many most cost-effective methods to seize a meal in Grand Cayman! We’d seize a barbequed rooster, freshly grilled burgers, roast veggies, salad bar (means cheaper than shopping for a bag), curries, and extra.
4. Nice restaurant choice
Our favourite spot was referred to as Agua. Their dessert was unbelievable, and so they had an ideal ambiance for consuming out subsequent to the water.
Agua and most of the different eating places had been very good, however since seating is obtainable outside, they had been kid-friendly, too. Informal clothes like a sundress and sandals could be high quality. We tried a lot of the eating places alongside the waterfront, and Gelato & Co. additionally affords wonderful 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 common with locals. It’s the small, clearly artifical sand island in Camana Bay.
Related by a bridge, this little island was a kid-friendly paradise. Day-after-day, the native Montessori faculty would let loose, and all the children would play on the island whereas their moms chatted.
Ellie would like to go throughout this time to make new mates and play disguise and search or catch the crab or regardless of the women had been taking part in.
2. Go to Starfish Level
That is on most lists of “issues to do in Grand Cayman” for good cause. We took a couple of journeys to Starfish Level as a result of the children appreciated it a lot. It’s a very shallow seashore space the place you’ll be able to see tons of starfish within the water and contact them (although it’s vital to by no means take them out of water). The water is mostly calm, however because it’s on a degree, you’ll be able to escape any wind by strolling to the opposite facet.
You’ll see numerous 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 ideal little spot to spend the day.
Starfish Level is sort of an hour’s drive from the Seven Mile Seaside space however a really fairly and simple drive to make.
Professional 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 Level, you’ll be able to drive to Rum Level for lunch. It’s too far to stroll, however you might 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. Keep away from the ceviche. Order the Colada Colada as a substitute).
3. Spend a Day on the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park
Botanical parks could also be hit and miss with children, however we visited this one twice. It’s slightly expensive, and also you’ll want a automotive to get there. In any other case, we’d’ve visited extra!
The flowers and timber had been lovely, and an unbelievable playground and splash pad had been inside for youths. Plus, there’s a complete sanctuary space for the big blue iguanas.
Strolling round, you’ll be able to see parrots flying and iguanas within the paths. I might finances for round a half-day go to to the Botanic Park throughout a keep in Grand Cayman.
It price 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 children. It was principally shaded and included this four-story platform with swings and seating so you’ll be able to climb to the highest and see panoramic views of the island.
The backyard is “divided” into a number of completely different gardens The Floral Color Backyard was my favourite. There’s additionally mountaineering 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 top-of-the-line ones for the household. There’s no meals contained in the backyard (at the least it wasn’t open once we visited) however you’ll be able to herald your individual meals. Simply be careful for iguanas who WILL steal your meals or chunk you to get it.
4. Discover 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 cause. It’s an ideal 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 children 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 ideal spot for a day journey with children.
The most important shock of the turtle centre was the meals. The jerk rooster meal was:
- Sufficiently big for the 4 of us to separate. Wonderful worth.
- The BEST jerk rooster on the island. My spouse wished to return simply to eat that rooster once more. 10/10.
5. Seaside Hop
One factor I liked about Grand Cayman was how straightforward it was to search out remoted areas of seashores with out massive crowds. Starfish Level and Seven Mile Seaside sometimes have crowds, however we additionally discovered it straightforward to flee and discover a secluded spot.
One in all our favourite seashores was referred to as Spotts Seaside. It’s an ideal spot for snorkeling and seeing sea turtles. Each 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. When you have the gear to snorkel, it’s potential to identify octopus, sea turtles, and extra.
One other nice seashore space is “Public Seaside,” which is over by Kimpton Sea Hearth Resort. There are a few good playgrounds to hang around at over right here, proper alongside the beachfront.
For snorkeling and a secluded seashore, strive Smith’s Seaside or Smith Barcadere. The seashore is small and quiet with loads of shade timber round. There are massive rock formations you’ll be able to climb on to look into the intense blue waters. This seashore may be very near George City, the place the cruise ships port.
6. Pet Sting Rays at Sting Ray Metropolis
I do know what you’re considering; I’m good, Heath. No must pet a stingray.
Nonetheless, there’s a sequence of shallow sandbars off the coast of Grand Cayman the place you’ll be able to comfortably pet and expertise the stingrays. I used to be apprehensive a few four- and two-year-old. Was it secure? Would they care? After studying a bunch of opinions on Journey Advisor, we opted to provide it a strive.
Because 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 need to get into the water, however it was nonetheless a enjoyable journey for the adults whereas the children 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 for the reason that waves would go over her head. (She’s 5’2″)
7. Hearken to Stay Music at Peppers Restaurant
One in all our children’ 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 a very good time, and the meals is nice. We ended up coming again to Pepper’s on a number of events.
Honorable Point out
When my household visited us, we rented a big SUV and drove your complete island perimeter. We discovered a shipwreck, noticed the Blow Holes, ate at Tukka (which was wonderful, however there’s one nearer to Seven Mile Seaside too), and noticed the undeveloped facet of the island. We wished to go to the Parrot Sanctuary, however it was closed the at some point we made it to the far facet of the island! It was an ideal day, however not probably the most kid-friendly and concerned a number of being within the automotive.
Is Grand Cayman Price Visiting?
When you haven’t already realized it from this publish, we liked 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 most costly place to dwell on this planet, we may very well take into account it. When you’re on the fence about visiting Grand Cayman, it is best to e book a visit to this unbelievable island.
I’m completely satisfied to reply any questions under concerning planning a visit to Grand Cayman. Simply drop a remark.
FAQs on Visiting Grand Cayman
What’s the finest space of Grand Cayman to remain in?
Seven Mile Seaside is by far the preferred space to remain in when visiting Grand Cayman. It has a excessive density of eating places and actions and an attractive beachfront.
How costly is Grand Cayman?
Grand Cayman is ranked because the #1 most costly place to dwell in your complete world, in response to Expatistan. Whereas 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 alternate!
What’s the finest time to go to Grand Cayman?
One of the best time to go to Grand Cayman for climate causes is from December by February. The climate is nice and constant. Nonetheless, should you go later within the shoulder season (April-Might), will probably be much less crowded with vacationers, and charges are cheaper.
Are US {dollars} accepted in Grand Cayman?
Sure, we may pay in USD or a bank card for each restaurant and retailer we visited. Most gadgets are marked in Cayman Islands {Dollars}, however there isn’t any drawback with utilizing a bank card.
Can I drink the water in Grand Cayman?
The water is secure to drink in Grand Cayman, offered by desalinated seawater made on the island.
Is Grand Cayman secure?
Grand Cayman may be very secure. Not as soon as did we ever really feel in a not secure setting. Our children may run round freely and be children 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 Youngsters
Grand Cayman is ideal for younger households. We regularly really feel like eating places or shops are aggravated once we stroll in with younger children, 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 workers was so variety and useful. When you’re on the lookout for a tropical trip with younger youngsters, I can not suggest Cayman sufficient!