Cayman Islands Hotel Tips by diver-x

We really enjoyed this 2 bedroom condo in West Bay on Grand Cayman. The location was perfect for us, right next door to Turtle Reef, one of our favorite dive spots ever! Turtle Reef is right at the Cracked Conch restaurant and is also the location of Sun Divers where one can conveniently rent tanks, weights and anything else you need to dive the spot. Anyway, the condo was great: 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, full kitchen with everything you need to cook in. The development is quite small with just a few buildings. The larger units are right on the water and the smaller units are behind. Ours was right on the pool which was very pleasant, but we still had a little bit of a view to the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea. West Bay is a little bit away from the busy touristy area of George Town but not so far away as to be inconvenient for eating out or shopping.

Unique Qualities: This unit is owned by folks who actually take their own extended vacations there, so everything you need is in the unit: Towels, linens, kitchen appliances, utensils and cooking implements; even a great music collection on cd. The pool was right in front of the unit and we could see the sea from the small patio. The pool seemed to be only lightly used so we didn't feel as though our privacy was being invaded ever. The development is on the water and there is a small sandy area for a "beach" with lounge chairs, but right at the waters edge it is sharp coral rock (as is much of Grand Cayman), so water shoes are a must. The location is fantastic for snorkeling and diving! There is a step ladder to get into the water.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Address: North West Point Rd., West Bay, Grand Cayman
Directions: About 20 minutes drive north of George Town, right on the water.
Website: http://www.coconutbaygetaway.com/index.html
Other Contact: info@coconutbaygetaway.com

We stayed at Morritt's Tortuga Club on the East End. It's a time-share resort of townhouse condos. We weren't all that impressed when we first saw it, but the condo we got turned out to be quite comfortable and perfect for two couples.
Actually, I'm not sure exactly what it cost since our traveling companions traded their time-share for this, but I think it was mid-range for Cayman. It cost about $30 extra for the electricity for one week. And dinner for 4 at the restaurant was around $200 - and it wasn't that good, plus drinks came in PLASTIC cups! However, everything in Cayman is pretty expensive, so needless to say, we cooked in most of the time.

Unique Qualities: The pool area was quite nice, complete with waterfall and pool-bar - though a little small. What we liked about Morritt's was that the beach was sandy, but once in the water it was all coral and rock so it was great to come home after a day of diving and then eat dinner and go out for a night snorkel at the home-beach. Morritt's shines a light into the water at the dock house, which attracts huge tarpon and other critters. We had as much fun night-snorkeling as we did diving.

We found the in-house dive operation to be nice but expensive. We had a much better dive with Divers Down out of Georgetown. We opted to do more shore diving than boat diving due to the expense ($80 minimum for 2 tanks). The down side of staying on the East End is if you want to shore dive, you may have to sit in traffic for a very long time to get to the good spots around & beyond Georgetown. They have rush hour in the AM & PM.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average

Directions: On the East End of Grand Cayman. Take the shore route east and north and you'll get there.
Other Contact: http://www.morritt.com/

Disclaimer: When I stayed here it was a Holiday Inn and that was before Ivan, in 2003. On our last trip to Grand Cayman, I noticed the hotel had changed hands and is now a Marriott. But I can't imagine it has changed all that much. This wasn't the kind of Holiday Inn my parents used to take us to during my childhood vacations. To compete with the likes of the Westin and Marriot, this hotel has a fairly impressive lobby, a huge pool with a fountain, and five floors of very well maintained rooms. The bathrooms looked brand-new.

Unique Qualities: Although the hotel isn't directly on 7-Mile Beach, it is just a walk across the street. Hotel guests get free access to the beach lounge chairs and towels. The hotel has a store and a restaurant and small bar. A "Business Room" is located just off the lobby, for those of us who can't spend more than a day away from a computer and the internet. There is also an exercise room and of course, the pool.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 345 946 4433
Address: 1590 West Bay Road, West Bay
Directions: West Bay is just north of Georgetown, Grand Cayman
Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/gcmcy-courtyard-grand-cayman/