Grand Cayman, sell it to me!

[Crazybaldarcher]

My wife and I are still new to the bubble blowing club.

Her best friend (we'll refer to her as Janet in this post) and her husband have been diving for years and they are a bit better off than my wife and I.

Janet has convinced my wife that Grand Cayman where we (all four of us) need to dive next year in the summer time.

Now, I'll admit I'd like to go, but I've heard to budget anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 (US) for this trip.

My thoughts are anything over $5,000 (US) is crazy talk to spend for two people.

We'll be mostly diving on this trip, so 4 or more dives in total.
I believe they talked about going in May.
They want to fly in on a Saturday and fly out the next Sunday.

Personally, I think they're nuts, but can you convince me otherwise?

 

[Damselfish]

Grand Cayman is a very nice place to dive and visit. It's also generally known as a relatively expensive destination. (Though flights there tend to be reasonable. Car rentals also aren't bad and are good to have, I'd consider them necessary when staying in some areas or maybe to get to some of the shore dive locations if you want to do that.) You can easily spend lots, but there are certainly ways to do Cayman on more of a budget. For 2 couples perhaps rent a condo, eat some meals in esp breakfast/lunch (which can actually be nicer than eating out all the time), do some shore diving. But I wouldn't completely skip boat diving, as you'll miss a lot of the diving Cayman is famous for, and I'm guessing your friends won't want to skip it.

It would be helpful for starters to find out if your friends already have a place in mind where they want to stay. If their idea of a Cayman trip is way out of your budget, like staying at the Ritz and eating at the most expensive restaurants every night, you're going to have to level with them about what you want to spend, and see if they are willing to compromise on how they do Cayman, or if they are willing to consider one of the other good but less expensive dive destinations.

Not sure what you mean by "We'll be mostly diving on this trip, so 4 or more dives in total." You mean 4 days? "Mostly diving" on a week trip means more like 20+ dives to most divers on this board.

I can't find the May rates, but as an example you might be able to get a 7 night AI package at Cobalt Coast that includes 6 days of 2 tank boat dives, all meals, on-site shore diving (if the weather cooperates, which is a pretty good bet in May), and also pay for your flights, for around 5k for 2. And while it might be nice to have a car you could do without it here on the AI.

On the east end of the island, it looks like you can get a 2BR condo for 4 at Compass Point for about $1300pp. That includes a 2 tank boat trip each day, breakfasts, and a rental car (which you'll want out there) but no shore diving or other meals. You should still be able to get flights and do the trip within 5k for 2.

Both of those are nice places with excellent dive ops that will get you to some of the better Cayman diving, and either would make for a very nice dive trip.

 

[mcohen1021]

My thoughts are anything over $5,000 (US) is crazy talk to spend for two people.

1. Sunshine Suites
2. Fosters Grocery Store
3. Divers Down Diving

Will cost you considerably less than 5k.

 

[snowdog61]

If they are insisting on the Caymans, I'd look at Brac or even better, Little. We went with Cayman Brac Beach Resort (was also a Surge trip here on SB) and was very happy with things though we did like the diving better on Little Cayman. If you aren't dead set on the Caymans, there are plenty of other areas at better rates. I've done repeats on Roatan and Cozumel and would do Little Cayman again

 

[shurite7]

When it comes to the diving and the resorts one can say many things, yet those same things can said about any other destination.

What then makes Cayman different from other places?
1. Compared to other islands in the Caribbean it is expensive, but not necessarily to other places in the world.
2. Safe. Crime is quite low on the island.
3. Comfort. For some people, especially English speakers, this helps make traveling more at ease.
4. Like England and Japan, they drive on the left side of the road. This gives the feeling of being in a foreign land, somewhat adventurous for those who drive on the right side.
5. Jerk chicken or pork and rum cakes. The former is very spicy and tasty.

 

[flyboy08]

If you can cook some meals at your rental, this will lower the costs considerably....food is very expensive, but there are some really fine restaurants to choose from. Lunch will run close to $100 for four!

We like to stay up at Rum Point. We rented a beautiful new home on a previous visit....we just returned from an AI on little Cayman which can be another alternative as well.

 

[drrich2]

Been looking at G.C. for a possible family trip (me diving, 3 folks not), and I've been on the Cayman Aggressor IV live-aboard before. Based mainly on info. knowledgeable posters have shared in other threads, in your shoes I'd consider...

1.) I think it's Turtle Nest Inn @KathyV has posted about in the past for what looked like very good overall value package deals when I checked into it, but Boddentown is not real close to 7 Mile Beach. If you're about location-location-location, do some reading about that.

2.) For the best diving, I keep reading about Ocean Frontiers/Compass Point as the dive/stay place to be, but that's on the east end of the island, far from 7 MB and not a shore diving area.

3.) If you want 7 MB, and you can stand a short walk in the name of saving money, I'd be looking hard at comparing Sunshine Suites (which gives you access to 'amenities' at the Westin) and Comfort Suites. Comfort Suites as Ambassador Divers onsite. In fact, if income discrepancy is a big issue, maybe your friends could stay at the Westin and you guys at Sunshine Suites?

4.) Cobalt Coast Resort was already mentioned. Couple of caveats from what I've been reading; a recent review on Undercurrent.org was surprisingly uncomplimentary because of the food situation (even if you don't subscribe to Undercurrent, scroll down and read some of the comments - the review noted "I hope I didn't convey "awful". The diving was great as was the dive operator and my room was fine. If they had a real chef and an enclosed dining room it would be great. It is awful to have flies walking on your food though."), I've read the onsite shore dive often gets 'blown out' parts of the year (perhaps others can tell us what seasons that's more an issue?), and IIRC, it's iron shore, not a big sandy beach if that matters to you.

5.) There's a Holiday Inn Resort and Suites facing the North Sound, but that's not 7 MB. I don't remember what all I read when I checked into it; bottom line, the price was right but for whatever reasons I passed due to location.

6.) Maybe if your friends rent a vehicle you can ride with them & won't have to rent one, but if you guys are taking your diving gear rather than renting it, that changes things.

Richard.

 

[DeputyDan]

I would go to Cozumel.....

Have visited all three Islands and did the liveaboard when the Nekton boats were in service.
No real complaints other than the prices. I Simply like other locations better.

 

[Crazybaldarcher]

@Damselfish, yes I meant 4 days with at least 2 dives per day. I would love to dive 20 times but I think it'll exhaust everyone else. We've not done a boat yet, but we'll look into it.

@mcohen1021, Thank you so much for these suggestions. I'll be researching pricing soon and having some suggestions for places to look helps a lot.

@snowdog61, originally the trip was to go to Cozumel, but with mexico as a whole getting more and more questionable they abandoned it. As far as Little Cayman I will discuss with them about moving the location. They might be up for it or they could be staunch about not moving it again.

@shurite7, I do love me some jerk chicken. Although I've only had mine.

@flyboy08, We just returned from a trip to the big island where we shared a house with my brothers and their spouses. It definitely made it cheaper. We only spent $3k total and enjoy 10 days of diving, concerts, the volcano, waterfalls, and lots and lots of taro with a side of some food. I would like to follow suit and not spend a crap ton of money staying in a ritz like hotel.

@drrich2, Wow, where to start.... This is some good info. I'll have to digest this and the above comments as we get in deeper into the planning stages of this trip. I'm all about being prepared having been a scout and scout master. I'll talk with them about where as far as location we'd like to be if we stick with staying at Grand Cayman.

 

[mcohen1021]

I went to Seymour's Jerk shack - if you take public transport, you can tip the driver to wait for you until you buy your food. The hood gets shady back there.

Also if you can make it to Bodden Town, eat at Grape Tree Cafe - it's the best meal I think you'll eat on the island - fresh catch of the day, ocean side!!

Sunshine Suites is across the street from the beach, but the service, cleanliness and facilities are awesome.