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Caribbean Travel Roundup
Paul Graveline, Editor
Edition 57
September 1, 1995
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Here are the latest site locations. I have not had time to check these out fully. If you know of site developments and wold like to share them with the CTR's readers, drop me a message at CTREDITOR@aol.com.
Paul Gravelline Editor
Bonaire http:www.interknowledge.com/bonaire
BVI http://www.caribweb.com/caribweb/cgi/
Caribbean Travel Roundup Sites
http://www.solutions.mb.ca/rec-travel/caribbean
http://199.212.94.33/~aa462/caribidx.html
http://www.caribweb.com/caribweb/cgi/fetch/
( only 1 issue here so far)
Jamaica
Jimmy Buffet Fans
(Ed Note: Buffett puts on a fantastic concert. If you get a chance to attend be sure to take it.)
http://tigger.cc.uic.edu/toby-g/bubba.html
http://www.io.com./user/mikhall/cobo/cobo/html
Martinique
St. Croix http://east_coast_ani.cybernetics.net/vi/virgin.htm
St. Kitts http:www.interknowledge.com/stkitts-nevis
St. Lucia http://www.candw.ag/stlucia/stlucia.htm.
USVI
2/ JOURNEYS FOR SEPTEMBER 1995
I returned from 3 days in Aruba for meeting at La Cabana and had a great time in spite of the weather. They had a surprise storm that dumped several inches of rain and flooded many of the streets. There was also some roof damage done at the hotels and T/Ss. I was impressed how quickly they got things put back together. Maybe it takes a storm to get them moving faster there.
La Cabana has a new show running at the casino showroom called Solid Gold. They are a fifties and sixties act that is really quite good. They do four different shows so you will be able to see them more than once and not have a repeat. I understand they will have dancing after some of the shows as soon as the dance floor is completed and new lighting is in. Show is $20 pp or $99 per couple with the complete meal package at the casino restaurants. The meal package is the better deal. They have two shows per night during the week and one per night on weekends. See additional La Cabana info on Timeshare board under Aruba Loop.
Read in the local paper that the Bushiri will be closed for renovation very soon and it will be turned over to a private operator when it reopens. They will still be a teaching hotel, but the govt. feels it needs outside money for a full face lift. The govt. is also pressing the Holiday to do a serious make over. They have a great beach, but the rooms and lobbies are in major need of a full redo. They really cannot compete with the other hotels unless they put in serious money. The Paradise is running, but so far no work is scheduled on completing the project. Even with a govt. loan guarantee, the owners cannot get financing. The big hotel that is to be torn down is still there. The problem is what to do with the demolished material. They had planned to dump it at sea; but environmental concerns stopped that. You don't think about it, but on a small island they need a place to put the rubble.
The golf course is opened and looking for players. They are running a special of $85 ($57 after 2PM) including a cart and complementary club rentals. Not a good sign.
The cab fare seems to have gone to $13 from airport to La Cabana. At least that is what the charged me. Traffic downtown seems better, although I sense the summer tourists do not rent as many cars as the winter tourists do. A lot more families were there now.
Also there were a lot more topless women. Mainly Europeans, but the Americans seem to be getting in this also. Although the govt. does not approve of the trend they seem to be taking a hands off approach. The beaches at Manchebo and Amsterdam Manor were the good or bad spots, depending on your perspective.
Do to my schedule I didn't get to try any of the restaurants off La Cabana property; but found the casino restaurants there improved in service and quality. They have combined the three menus into one and that made things easier. I found Aruba a nice place to go in July. Much better than the Northeast with heat indexes above 110F.
This was our first 2 week trip, and we used our own time share and an ex- change week.
We had a car rental mid-week to mid-week, and we've actually decided 3 days would have been enough. We "made" ourselves get our money's worth, but the average cab from Aruba Beach Club/Casa delMar (from now on ABC/CDM was $5.00 one way). The car was quoted from Thrifty at $203/wk. Because we have a Sun development card, we got a 10% disc on top of that. But even when you fill the tank in those little Toyota Tercels, it cost almost $40.00, so remember to factor that in when thinking about the car.
I can't say enough about ABC/CDM, in spite of the fact that they are doing renovations in some areas (main lobby, etc.) now. We spent our first week in our RCI exchanged unit which was in CDM. 2 bedroom/2 bath, presidential suite. Perfect!
For the second week, we moved into our own unit which is ocean-front at ABC. Because of some air-conditioning. problems and renovations on the suite next door (long story... suffice to say the front desk people esp. IVAN, were really helpful) we did end up moving out of ABC and back into CDM Because nothing was avail. comparable to our own unit in ABC.
We did go to the grocery store, I took a cab to and from the first day. Unless desperate, wait until Monday to do. EVERYONE who arrived on Sat was in Pueblo on sun.
We had brunch at Seagull at CDM. NOT to be missed...all you can eat buffet...omelets, waffles, fruit, on and on and under $20/person including service charge. They even had real American Half and Half for coffee! (But you have to ask)
An aside, if you like chocolate milk, buy the Dutch canned one at the store. I had to bring some home for our son he liked it so much.
In general, (there were 3 of us the first week, and 2 the next), dinners out ranged from a low of $45 (Tony Roma's-very good and my 14 year old loves it because of the free refills...) to a high of $100 at Chalet Suisse for 2 (our last night out, and we splurged... bottle of wine, Toblerone fondue, and worth every penny of it).
Other restaurants...oh, and check every piece of paper, flyer, etc. for coupons, free glass of wine, etc. b4 you go. You almost need a game plan. 1.Tony Roma's (3 of us) $45/best ribs/hands down... and very dependable meal
2. Old Cunucu House (3 of us) $65/always good there are 10% off coupons around, but we didn't have one
3. Lunch at LaPetite cafe (3/$30) OK, but unless you get something on the stone, it's nothing special-we didn't
4. Bistro Aruba/ Manchebo...actually our first night/ and I'm not sure anything would have been really good after being up since 3:30a.m., but it was just OK
5. Pirate's Nest at Bucuti (3/$66-) ate outside/sunset/gorgeous and great meal and service.
6. Subway/ lunch...fairly typical... funny listening to others complaining about prices... don't they realize Lay's potato chips don't come off those cacti???
7. Villa Germania (3/$80) awesome...the BEST potato soup I have ever tasted( and it was my husband's so I only got TASTES... and red cabbage/side dish was delicious, worth the cost 8. Rigoletto (3/$72) good- I wasn't really up for Italian but our son wanted that for his last night. We went to Pavorotti's later on and i think that was better...
9. Houlihan'smy husband had a good steak, and that's the only positive thing I can say... I sent one dish back and ended up with a salad only and many regrets that I had "wasted" one of my nights out there...oh well....
10. Brunch at the Steamboat...very good/not the Seagull, but about 1/2 the price.
11. Boonoonoonooshad never been there and now we wonder why. Wonderful meal... have the chicken with plantain and coconut (again...husband did... I should have ordered what he did a few times!!) Service/salad, my shrimp dinner... all very islandy and great (oh, 2 of us now $60)
Gasparitos (there is a coupon for a four course meal for $50...this is a real bargain as you can order almost any appetizer/main course/dessert and coffee or tea (that part strikes me as cute, calling it as course) Beautiful house and art gallery, although I felt a bit strange hanging over people's tables looking at the art! (HA-ha... so we didn't)
Had lunch at Brisas del Mar, as we always do, and Bill, who likes fish a lot had their kabob/which was very good. I had shrimp any time I couldn't make up my mind. I am not a big fish eater, so I had chicken, beef, or veal.
El Gaucho was closed for vacation... we have never made it there. Someone I was talking to felt that there was more of an off-season attitude this year than in the past, but we haven't been in 3 years, so I don't feel that I can tell. Pavorotti for dinner (and my left-overs served us both for lunch the next day) was great. they had a tremendous hot/cold salad bar that could have been a meal by itself (2/$43 and we had a 10% off coupon and free glass of wine)
We also went to Sandra's and the best thing I can say is with the coupon for 2 it was only $30.
If you want ribs, go to Tony Roma's. Chalet Suisse was just perfect/service, food, wine, etc. Could not have been better...unless I'd had more room and could have started dinner all over again.
For the last night we were supposed to do a Pelican sunset cruise and dinner, Thurs. it was postponed to Fri. and Fri. canceled because the weather was supposed to be unpredictable...
We went to Buccaneer... decent/ cute, good meals, great appetizer with mushrooms and cheese and hollandiase sauce, and nice little extra touches, candied plantains, twice baked potatoes, etc.
Our son did two scuba dives with Pelican, and wished he had gotten most of his paper work done here so that he could have gotten certified (they told us if we know we are coming, you can do your dives there.
We went up and saw Tierra del sol and although I'm somewhat of a golfer... I personally think it's a tremendous waste of money and resources to try and keep anything that green on Aruba...even if they do use run-off water from the hotels. But it looks nice, and if you like the sun and heat... it should be an awesome course.
Shopping disappointed me a bit... I don't think the quality and selection is what it used to be. And I'm one of those die-hards who leaves the US to experience a foreign culture/food, etc... so I really don't like the Americanization of Aruba. I'm sorry if you don't share my viewpoint, but I really feel that way. That said, you could almost feel like you never left home if you choose that.(Wendy's, McD's. Pizza Hut. Dominoes, etc.)
The other thing we noticed is far fewer goats/ no burros/ and very few little lizards. Lots of changes since I first went there 15 years ago.
Word is that the Mariott (yes, open, and beautiful as long as that's the type of place you want) is looking into the hotel next door and so is Westin. A decision is to be made by the early fall. To me, it's really an eyesore and definitely takes away from Mariott as you approach.
Word on the Royal is that the tower will be knocked down, and the rest is supposed to go soon. I guess I will end and say that I will be glad to hear from anyone about Aruba. The two weeks went tooooo fast... but they were wonderful.
BAHAMAS: NASSAU BY BRUCE CLARKE
My wife, I and sons(27,21,19) spent 7 days in Nassau. All had great time. We stayed at the Comfort Suites-PI. We were allowed to use all Atlantis facilities as well and got free continental breakfasts at the Suites.--very good.
Food-pricey. $18-50+ entrees depending on place. Atlantis has 12 restaurants and looked really good but among the most expensive. Least expensive in Atlantis was Casino Cafe (not real fancy though). We like Seagrapes best. Buffets at all three meals and one price which incl. ice tea, coffee etc. The best deal was to eat lunch there before they closed at 3pm for $16+ with an automatic 15% tip (yes at a buffet) then skip dinner. Plenty of food and was mostly the same as the dinner buffet for $25 +tip. Plus it had a nice view and was very clean.
We also ate at Blue Marlin which had native food, native band and glass eater at 8:30pm no extra charge. Nice staff and in $18 range. Look for coupons in entertainment guides for free wine.
Rock & Roll Cafe on Cable Beach was very good. Had one of the best filets-$23 I believe. Also has coupons for free wine. BUT will be a $24 + cab ride each way if your staying on PI. The kids also twice ordered delivery to the hotel of Domino's, and Subway. They said subway had the best subs even compared to the states and were not high priced.
Shows. We saw both: Sensation at Atlantis and Magic one at Crystal Palace (again $24 cab each way from PI). Sensation for $30 each which incl. 2 drinks was OK but we have seen much better on cruise ships and Vegas. It is a family show however and the sound system is outstanding. The Magic and Vegas type show at Crystal was better but the theater was worn. Again $35 each incl. 2 drinks but the are 2 for 1 coupons in entertainment papers.
Didn't try the Comedy Club at Atlantis but heard it was good. Oh I forgot the Magic show also includes topless showgirls but done very tastefully. Our sons did enjoy that though. Many young kids there too so I don't think it was a big deal.
If worried about food costs take a extra suitcase filled with snacks. We and kids went through the whole thing.
Taxi's are expensive as were rental cars which we didn't get or really need. You can rent scooters but it seems pretty dangerous as drivers were worse than Boston and drive on left. Ever try a rotary in a left drive country-watch out. Roads are poorly maintained with many holes and tight streets.
Atlantis beach is no where near as bad as were told. Nice sand just a little steep in spots and some rocks in spots but they have warnings and they were big and smooth anyway. So I rate the beach very good. Pools and tube ride excellent. Dinner cruise from PI looked good but didn't get on it.
(Ed Note: This file was provided by Linda Cousins, Publisher, Caribbean Bound! -Culture Roots, Places, and People; (Akan@aol.com,75477.1420@compuserve.com); Cultural Travel Publications, PO Box 5/Radio City Station, New York, NY 10101-0005. E-mail for a free subscription to her on-line electronic travel newsletter, The Cultural Traveler. BACK, BETTER, BEAUTIFUL AND BARGAIN-FULL IN THE BAHAMAS)
As a travel publisher with years of Caribbean travel under my belt, I have pretty much formulated my ideal of the perfect island home-away-from-home -- a small to medium-sized beachfront hotel close to the heart of the culture, history, and happenings in the islands. While this is my ideal as a cultural traveler, when I am not traveling on business, this type of facility sometimes doesn't comfortably fit my budget as an independent publisher, educator, and single mom. Thus, when I find a reasonably-priced facility like this such as the Mariners Beach Resort in Anguilla, the Island Beachcomber in St. Thomas, and the Astoria in Nassau, I tend to return to these treasured spots time and time again during my cultural getaways.
A friend had recommended the Dolphin Hotel to me several years ago, and when another friend and I made our first trip to Nassau, we booked a stay there. To our travel-lovin' chagrin, the hotel had gone down quite a bit in quality since my friend's stay--i.e., peeling paint, a dingy overly worn to worn-out carpet, and a poor dead plant at the lobby door to greet our arrival. We seriously contemplated moving to another facility despite the fact that we paid for the hotel as part of a package, but the hotel staff was so kind, helpful, and accommodating and the hotel so conveniently located that we decided to clench our teeth and bear it. It wasn't really dreadful--just a bit unpolished around the edges according to what we'd become accustomed to. In fact, I got rather attached to the Dolphin, and on my next visit to Nassau, I actually booked another stay there. However, my getaway spot had deteriorated even more. Same pleasant staff and the seafood in the restaurant was supreme, but my goodness, that God-forsakened room! Got switched to another which was only a tad better. This time I looked myself firmly in the eye in that mirror and silently pledged that no matter how nice the employees or tasty the food, I would not return. I would definitely return to Nassau whose history, culture and people enchanted me, but not to this particular hotel under these particular conditions.
I kept my promise and had a great return stay at the Casuarinas, a nice Black-owned facility in the Cable Beach area. However, to my delight, as I was driving about Nassau, I found that the Dolphin had been reborn, rejuvenated, and thoroughly refreshed as the Astoria (under new management) -- sporting a new coat of paint, fresh new carpets and room accessories, and still at a wonderfully can't-beat-it travel price: only $55 for a comfortable, beachfront room with telephone and satellite/HBO TV($60 for duo).
Perfect! In addition to being right across the street from the beach, the Astoria is also in walking distance of the Bay Street shopping district, including the famous Straw Market, the Pompey Museum, and the Junkanoo Museum. Also within walking distance is Arawak Cay, the open-air island food stands where all manner of Bahamian seafood are prepared right before your eyes and where a lively local crowd gathers on weekends. For a little island nightclubbing and immersion in the musical culture, the Bahamen's Culture Club, owned by the island's most famous band, is right around the corner from the hotel and the Garden Club a few steps up Bay Street, and yet another beachfront nightspot is across the street.
Hmm, culture, food, music, shopping--all just a few leisurely footsteps away. I simply love it. Can't wait to get back to Nassau. And to think, it won't take that much folding currency to cover a pleasant, home-away- from-home stay. No wonder the college kids head here during their spring break. It's a budget-minded cultural travel lover's ideal.
Am quite happy to share this travel info with other bargain-minded culture lovers: The Astoria Hotel PO Box N3236 Nassau, Bahamas tel.: 809/322-8666-9. Enjoy!
BVI: Tortola by HARVEY SANDERS
We just returned June 30 from a great week on Tortola. There were two families with five "children". I put children in quotations because two of them were twenty one and would be offended by my terminology.
We rented two villas at Frenchman's Cay. We were a little concerned at first that there was no air-conditioning, but this proved to be no problem as we had cool sea breezes. The villas were large, comfortable, clean and had great views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel. There is a wonderful snorkeling reef right off their immaculate man-made beach. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The only drawback we found was the dinner meal which was less than great. The breakfasts were good.
We dove three days with Blue Water Divers at Nanny Cay. For some of us, this was the first ocean dive and they graduated our dives to make us comfortable and still made sure that the dives were exciting for all. They gave excellent information about each dive site and conditions prior to the dive. Our last day of diving was at the wreck of the Rhone. Visibility was only 50 feet, but we had great dives anyway.
Island time is very much in evidence when dining on Tortola. We had the good fortune to meet Clarence, the owner of C anf F Restaurant, in the Spice Shop in Road Town. He made reservations for us at his restaurant, which proved to be our best meal. Quito's Gazebo came in a close second, with the added benefit of great entertainment by Quito. Pussers at Sopers Hole and Spaghetti Junction were also enjoyable. I wish we had had time to eat at the North Shore Shell Museum, as it came highly recommended by people we met. We did manage to stop by for a Mango daiquiri and the owner was very interesting to talk to.
Driving on Tortola is not for the faint-of-heart, but well worth the experience. We mustered up the courage to drive to Sky World. What a view!
I'm just back from a glorious 10 days in the British Virgin Islands. We had a marvelous time with many memories to share with you BVI lovers; some great, some not so great, and one very sad memory. For those of you who have been to Harriss' restaurant of Jost Van Dyke, it is my sad duty to tell you that Mr. Harriss was killed on July 17th, the night after we had a memorable dinner with him. As I understand it, Mr. Harriss got into a disagreement with his cousin who owns a restaurant next door to Mr. Harriss. His cousins son picked up a spear gun and stuck it through Mr. Harriss. As this was second hand from a t-shirt vendor at Beef Island Airport, I can't add anything to this. Only to say that I already miss Mr. Harriss and I only met him last week. He was something special. I wish I could have known him longer.
Enough said about that, I will now try to relive my days in paradise.
Day One: The Stone party departs from DFW Airport for Beef Island, BVI. We were met at the airport by a Moorings Van that took us to our first night of residence, the Mariner Inn. Wonders have been done at the Mariner, including air conditioning all of there rooms; also fresh paint. Their restaurant, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Even for island time, the service was bad, to say the least. How can a restaurant be out of French toast? They had milk, eggs, and bread, but could not make French toast that was on the menu. Also, they could not bake a potato for dinner because the waitress said it would take too long. She didn't appreciate it when I said that I had all week. Aside from the restaurant, the Mariner treated us OK.
Day 2: After our breakfast we went to our orientation meeting with the Moorings. Very nice briefing. After orientation, we provisioned our Moorings 500 and set sail for the Indians, off of Norman Island. My son-in-law and I made our virgin dive there. We only went down 40 feet, but the scenery was breathtaking. We swam through a school of jellyfish, hundreds of them. Good thing we had on dive skins as we were not bothered by them. After the dive we sailed over to Deadman's Bay to anchor for the evening. One of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen; however, not a very good spot to anchor. We had a difficult time getting our anchor to hold, but we finally got settled for the night. The anchorage was very rough and our boat was moving all night long. Don't know if the full moon had anything to do with it or not. But we made it OK.
Day 3: My son-in-law and I dove down to the RMS Rhone on Salt Island that morning, down 90 feet. Not bad for our second dive. Very beautiful and eerie at the same time. Just knowing over a hundred people went to their death on this ship gave me a feeling I can't describe. Sting Rays and eels, lobsters and turtles, fish of all descriptions swam by us. No sharks, thank goodness. The water was so clear. We decided to make a second dive that day to make sure we didn't miss anything. We sailed over to North Sound, Virgin Gorda for the evening. We picked up a mooring ball at Leverick Bay and had the all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner at Pussers. The overnight mooring charge was waived by Pussers since we had dinner there that night.
Day 4: We decided to motor over towards Little Dix Bay to get some pictures for a friend of ours who honeymooned there last summer. Big mistake. We followed the buoy's toward Little Dix, but could tell it was someplace we should not have been. Trying to back out of the Bay, our engine died and the tide carried us over to a coral bed where we got stranded. Looks as if I will have to finish this on another report. Just when it was getting good. We are now stuck in a coral bed off of Little Dix Bay. A chase boat from Little Dix came over to assist us and decided he could pull us out. Another big mistake. As the boat tried to pull us out, he tore off 1/2 of the rudder, as well as damaging the prop and cracking the keel of the boat. After trying for about 30 minutes to get us off of the reef, we reluctantly called the Moorings. Reluctantly, because no one wants to admit they mishandled the boat. The Moorings were right over and rescued us from our plight. If I can just give a bit of advice to anyone who is considering chartering a boat, we could not have been treated nicer by the Moorings. We had some discussion as to insurance we purchased, but to make a long story shorter, the Moorings repaired our boat overnight and sent us on our way with their blessing. I cannot recommend them more highly. Two other words of advice; always purchase insurance and KNOW what the policy covers and always charter from someone who has the capabilities to handle any type of situation. The Moorings certainly fits this criteria. Needless to say we spent the night again at the Mariner Inn while the Moorings repaired our boat. We went into Road Town and had dinner at Pusser's. They are everywhere and so clean and refreshing. That night i drank too many painkillers to try and drown my frustrations from the day. It worked. I had a new outlook in the morning. Things could have been much worse. No one was hurt and we didn't sink the boat. So I just chalked it up to experience and decided not to let it ruin our vacation. Someone at the Moorings told me there are two kinds of sailors. Those that have run aground and those that will run aground. I have done mine so it was time to reprovision the boat and sail to the Baths.
Day 5: We set sail for the Baths after our boat was pronounced ship shape. We had tried for 3 days to get there, and we finally made it. What a beautiful place. It was certainly worth the wait. We spent the day snorkeling and lying on the beach and going through the caves, then set sail for Cane Garden Bay. We anchored in Cane Garden Bay for the night and had dinner aboard because we got there so late. The music from Quitos and another bar kept us awake most of the night, but we needed to unwind anyway. The painkillers aboard were as good as any I have had. I am getting pretty good at making them, if I do say so myself.
Day 6: We sailed around the west end of Tortola most of the day and anchored again in Cane Garden Bay. We had reservations at the Sugar Mill Restaurant that night. We met a very taxi driver who took us to the Sugar Mill. We ran into him at 3 different spots on Tortola. Such a delightful man. He name was Julian Rhymer, Quito's cousin. After a wonderful dinner at the Sugar Mill, Julian dropped us off at Quito's for some of the best reggae music I have ever heard. We sat on the beach for about an hour until we could not stay awake any longer. We dinghyed back to our boat and slept like babies.
Day 7: We sailed again around the west end of Tortola and around Jost Van Dyke and spent the afternoon at Sandy Cay. Some of the best snorkeling we had. We had lunch and walked around the island. Not a very long walk, but very beautiful; full of birds and iguanas. After sunning and snorkeling, we sailed over to Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke to anchor for the evening. As my report started out, we had dinner reservations at Harriss' restaurant for the evening. Have any of you ever dingheyd with 7 adults in a dinghy? We should have been on Candid Camera. We only had to go 3 miles to Little Harbour, but it took us over 45 minutes. Very funny and we had a great time making jokes. All but 2 of us took a taxi to Foxy's at Great Harbour. I will not repeat our sad occasion at Harriss'.
DAY 8: We motor over to Soper's Hole early this morning to catch the Ferry over to St. Thomas for a day of shopping. We walk our legs off today, and have lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Buy souvenirs, jewelry, liquor, etc. You would think we were tourists (ha, ha). Catch the ferry back to Soper's Hole and have nice dinner at Pussers. Where else? Not many places to eat there. Had a great pizza tonight.
DAY 9: Woke up with squall hitting us. We could tell that we would not be able to put up our sails today so we started our final trek to the Moorings. Our boat had to be there by noon, so we took off with everyone packing their belongings. The Moorings are so good about helping us finalize our trip. They met us at the dock and immediately took and inventory of the boat. We were closed out in about 40 minutes. Very painless. We had reservations at The Treasure Isle Hotel for the night. We think this is much nicer than the Mariner Inn. Much better service at the restaurants, too. Very nice going away party that night.
Day 10: The Moorings picked us up at 10:30 am for our trip home to DFW.
I flew into Beef Island on American Airlines via a prop plane. From the plane you could see the Virgin Islands were somewhat dry due to lack of rain. We then had a long hot cab ride from the airport to Long Bay Beach Resort.
Finally, we arrived at Long Bay and checked into one of the hillside villas. The villas are two and three story houses with 1 to 2 bedrooms per floor. We stayed in 123 and 122 (second and third floor respectively). Each had A/C, a king bed, kitchen, large bathroom with shower and balcony. (Highly recommend the A/C after April).
The villas have an absolutely fantastic view of Caribbean and Jost Island. Seems like it's always sunny on Jost. Even our shower had a great view of the water. Long Bay beach is about a half mile crescent shaped beach. There are rocks in the water but it is very swimable - aqua socks are highly advisable. Snorkel around the rocks sticking out of the water, there is a great little reef right there. Long Bay has good rum punch - and everything gets charged to the room. Drinks cost $4 US plus 10% gratuity. Seems to be the going rate on the Island. Breakfast is a little expensive but very good. The poolside restaurant is very casual and the food is good. The garden restaurant is a little more formal - slacks requested, however, we went in shorts. The food was excellent. Be prepared to wait awhile for service - things just move slower here. All the employees, however were very nice. Alberto, the day manager was very helpful.
You can also rent a car at Long Bay for a good price. Suziki 4WD $40/day, $105/3days, $250?/week.
Smugglers Cove is just down from Long Bay and is an excellent beach. It is more deserted with lots of palm and coconut trees. There're rock formations under the water with lots to see. Bring your snorkeling equipment. Smugglers is a 25 min. walk from Long Bay. We drove, but remember - take the low road. It's a very short trip.
Sebastian's bar and restaurant is just down from Long Bay at the corner of Zion Hill Road. They also have great rum drinks and good sandwiches. We bought a bottle of their special blend and made some of our own. Across the street you can buy orange, pineapple, and guava juice. Just add some Sebastians rum and - Instant Vacation!
Went to Bamba's Shack one night. It's just down the street from Sebastians. We weren't there for a full moon so there wasn't much happening. Lots of underwear hanging from the ceiling - must be some hellacious full moon parties. Remember pictures only no videos. Why? I don't know.
We went exploring for other beaches and found two. Cane Garden Bay is not too far and has lots to do. There were a fair amount of people there with several bars/ restaurants. You can rent small sailboats but we wanted something a little more secluded. We found it at Brewer's Bay. It's an awesome beach about 20-30 minutes from Cane Garden Bay. Very secluded with lots of palms and coconut trees on a beach right at the base of a mountain. There's even one bar there. Recommend you take the long way around the mountain as opposed to the direct route over the mountain. This road is very steep with many hairpin turns.
We chartered a sail boat out of Road Town on two separate days. We sailed with Capt. Bill of the Dual Bliss. The boat is a 38' beige catamaran with 2 heads. Went to Peter, Norman, and the Indians one day and the Baths at Virgin Gorda the next. The Indians have some great snorkeling. Bill's from Vancouver and cooks a great Filet Mignon for lunch. He makes a good rum punch and seems to get even friendlier after he's had a couple of beers himself. The cost was $85 US per person and well worth it. Bill only takes 4 to 6 people. Be careful because many boats take 10 or more persons, some with no heads. They call these Cattlemarans.
Road Town sounds like something out of a Mad Max movie but it's nothing like that. It's a small town with no traffic lights. Actually there's not one traffic light on the whole Island. There is some shopping in town including a Pusser's store. Some cruise ships come in and dump passengers off for the day, but the town is not setup for major shopping. You also won't be able to truly experience Tortola in one day.
We ate very well on Tortola and you can order all types of food including salmon, lobster, steak, and of course fish. Sugar Mill lodge is just down from Long Bay and has a four star restaurant with excellent food. A little expensive, but you get what you pay for. There is also a Pusser's Bar and Restaurant located at Frenchman's Cove on the West End. It is very Americanized and the lobster was very good. We found the Jolly Roger Inn restaurant & bar at the West End to be our favorite. The people were very nice and the food was great. The breeze is just right and you can see St. Johns from your table. Great conch stew. We ate there twice. Go right at the fork where the road splits to Frenchman's Cove.
We went diving with "Baskin in the Sun" at Frenchman's Cove. We did a two tank dive at Norman and Peter Island. The Captain and dive master were very nice. The cost was $86/person with tanks, BC and regulator. Tell them the Bishop sent you.
We had a great vacation on Tortola and highly recommend it. Here are some things we recommend you take: A collapsible cooler (so you can take drinks to the beach), bug spray, 30+ sun block, aqua socks, 2 pair of sunglasses. We also suggest you bring Hydrocortisone and Benadryl in case of sea stings.
Here's a few other things we picked up on: The island bull; The naked factor; Bamba's rats; Stay on the yellow road; Go to Sky World but don't eat there. Stay away from the rocks when it rains; He's checking his coconuts again. Really fresh chicken by the pool; Remember, you're on Island time now.
Just got back from Cancun after a wonderful 10 day stay. My wife and 2 boys ages 14 and 11 expressed similar sentiments, that it was indeed a terrific vacation. Here are some tips based on our experience:
Airport - Zipped in and out in Mexico and the U.S. with no hassles. My wife and I carried U.S. passports, the boys with their original birth certificates. Used them at Airports only. Also, filled out visitors cards and custom declaration forms on the airplane. Very basic, easy and quick.
Hotel - Stayed at the Hyatt Cancun Caribe. Very nice. Excellent service. Nice beach. Restaurant and food a bit pricey. Bar in room. Regular fridge would have been very handy. Rooms are nice and clean. Terrific ocean front view of the Caribbean. Most if not all rooms have a balcony and ocean front view.
Drinking Water - Drank only bottled water, but went for everything else. Beer, margaritas, pina coladas, iced drinks, sauces, Mexican food, the works. We all felt fine! We did take 2 tablets of Beptomismol each day as a preventative measure. As for the water, can be expensive. Bonafonte and Splash are very reasonably priced brands and tasted great. Do not pay any more than 6 pesos for the 1.5 liter or 8 pesos for the 3.8 liter bottles. I would get a cheap cooler (styrofoam type) and load it with ice and place a few bottles of water, beer or sodas in it. Unless you have a fridge in the room, not a bar which can be your classic highway robbery!
Ocean Water - Brings a new meaning to the color turquoise. Absolutely magnificent. Very clear and clean. The vertical coastline has waves and can be rough at times. The horizontal coastline is calm with no waves. Our family preferred the waves as we tried both. Our hotel was on the vertical coastline.
Timeshare - Beware of complimentary anything. That's your signal that you're getting sucked into a timeshare lecture. They are all over, in hotels, on the streets and downtown. Everybody wants to talk to you under the guise of reasonably priced tours or free tours. That was the only turn off about our trip. You learn to spot them and ignore them. Beware of the "Hospitality" desk at your hotel, they may be in on this nonsense as well. Our Concierge was legit and was very helpful with area information and activities. Unfortunately I had to quiz her on her intentions up front. Sad that you have to do this at the risk of being rude in order to establish everyone's motives. Because, there are indeed some very nice people there who are merely trying to be helpful!
Exchange Rate - In banks from 6.0 to 6.2. At our hotel 5.8 to 5.9. Elsewhere as low as 5.5. Our VISA card was very handy. So were the U.S. dollars. But you will need local money especially for buses, flea markets and small shops. Otherwise, the credit card was handy and got the best rates.
Buses - Very convenient and inexpensive. 3 pesos takes you anywhere on the 20 km hotel zone strip and even downtown. Average wait for the bus, 30 seconds. It was amazing. They must have thousands of them running up and down the strip!
Xcaret - Beautiful park, natural aquariums (turtles, dolphins, fish), underground rivers you can swim through, great snorkeling. Definitely recommend it. We took pictures underwater while snorkeling using an inexpensive throw -away camera, developed the pictures while there, couldn't believe the quality and the sight of the multi-colored fish!
Isla Mujeres - See Note 2 for continuation.
Isla Mujeres - On our own, took the public shuttle from Fat Tuesday's for 75 pesos round trip each person. On the island, hired a small boat along with 6 other people (10 total) for 60 pesos each. Plenty of operators running this kind of thing once you get off at the dock. The guy took us to 3 different locations off the island for snorkeling including Park Garafon in the southern end of the island. At one point we swam a fair distance while snorkeling leading us to a light house and on the way we were able to see the statue of the Virgin Mary underwater with fish swimming all around. It was very exciting. The boat was always around us with life jackets for those who choose to have it . We felt very safe. Also included was a delicious authentic lunch at the park by the shore(Kingfish grilled on hot coals smothered with local reddish sauce/spicing). We watched them cook the meal. It was really a great experience. From there he took us to the north side to the beach. I would recommend you catch the 9:00 a.m. shuttle as it takes 45 min. each way. Last one back is at 5:00 p.m. .
Jungle Tour - Through AquaWorld, took this adventure and enjoyed it immensely. Two people to a waverunner driving at speeds of up to 40mph, travel to Point Nuzac (45 min.), snorkel for 45 minutes, return to the point of origin (45 min.). Altogether about 2.5 hours. Great ride on that water which at times was a little choppy as other boats pass and create waves. But it was relatively safe as everyone was fitted with a life jacket. About 10 waverunners follow a guide though the dense mangroves out the lagoon and into the turquoise water of the Caribbean for snorkeling. Snorkeling gear is provided and you get to keep your own new snorkel. My older boy rode behind me and my younger boy rode with my wife. We had a grand time. Club Med - We had heard about snorkeling down that end. So, we took a bus down to Westin Regina hotel. Went through the hotel, and once on the beach walked to the right less than 1/2 mile. Cub Med is there, nice snorkeling off the dock. The trip cost us 6 pesos each. (Round trip bus fare). I got this tip previously off this board and sure enough it was exactly as was described.
Restaurants:
Pericos - A must. Great fun. Mexican fiesta. Good food. Waiters very entertaining. Nice shots of tequila routines administered by a colorfully dressed lady bar tender at your table. Incidentally, we took the kids with us everywhere and we never felt that they were out of place.
Planet Hollywood - Expected it to be glitzy, overpriced with average food. Found it to be interesting, different, good food and moderately priced. The kids enjoyed it as they identified with many of the displayed props from familiar movies. Great drinks(Terminator, Hasta Lavista), music, decor, bar, service. Way above our expectations.
Lorenzillos - Good seafood place. The boys and I shared a 2.5kg (5.5lbs) fresh lobster which we picked from the tank. It was terrific but pricey. Too embarrassed to admit how much I paid. But what the heck enjoy life while you can! My wife had a nice fish dish which she enjoyed and which was reasonably priced.
Mango Tango - Very good food. Opted not to sit downstairs and see the island show as that had a fixed price limited menu. We should have. From the reaction and noises heard, people seemed to enjoy the show . Captain Cove's - See note #3 for continuation Continued from note #2.
Captain Cove's - Great breakfast buffet for $5.95.
O.K. Maguey - Very good Mexican food, Music, Sombreros, waiters joining in the fun.
Tony Romas - Our first dinner close to our hotel (walking distance). Great ribs, reasonably priced.
Shopping Malls - Flamingo, Kukulcan, Caracol. All in hotel zones, were nice and air conditioned and had a lot to offer. Silver, leather, ceramics, clothing, plenty of T-shirts, restaurants (large, small and food courts). Flea Markets by the convention center (Coral Negro) were an interesting experience with great buys. There you should never pay the asking price. Must negotiate. Start at half price, and go up to about 75%. Beyond that, you're at their mercy unless you know exactly what you're buying and have priced it at various other places.
The time passed quickly while down there. They were glorious 10 days. We would definitely go back sometime in the future. Would be happy to respond to any inquiries anyone may have, as it is impossible to cover everything in one report. Gave it my best shot as I feel indebted to this board. It was helpful to me a few months back as we planned our trip. The least I can do is share our own experience with you all. Good luck to all who will be going soon. You'll have a great time, I'm sure.
We (2 adults, 2 teenage girls) went to Cancun the 3rd week of July for the first time.
We arrived late at night but finding our transfer transportation was simple and efficient. We had reservations at the Cancun Marriot. The airport is a dump and we weren't quite sure what rest of island would be like. The hotel was beautiful and we were soon checked in and walking around hotel- great lobby, great pool, beach, etc. Room was nice although I thought the furniture could use a replacement.
Next morning was our first look at the place in daylight. We couldn't believe the color and the clarity of the ocean. It was really unbelievable- certainly different from the NJ shore! The pool area was great also, there are three areas for food or drinks around the pool, including a swim up bar.
We met our tour guide and he explained our options and offered to exchange dollars for pesos at a better rate than the hotel was offering. We didn't bother to exchange anything at the airport since I had been warned that this would be the worst exchange rate. Hotel was offering 5.5, tour guide was offering 5.8, across the street at restaurant was a booth offering 5.85, we found a place downtown near the marketplace offering 5.9.
A few notes about attractions for those of you traveling soon.
Buses- are really incredible - run every minute or so 24 hours a day, there is one main road through Cancun so you will never get lost. At three pesos (about 50 cents) it is a great value although they are not air-conditioned. Restaurants- Didn't go that many places- Senor Frog's twice, a lot of fun, very noisy, I think you would enjoy it most if you enjoy drinking. Reasonably priced (about 8-9 dollars US per meal).
Carlos and Charlies- Similar to Senor Frog's (same owner) but it didn't seem quite as wild. Teenagers enjoyed the dancing on the patio. Good food, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere.
Escape- Directly across from Melia Cancun, very close to Marriot. Great little buffet for $4.99 (breakfast), beautiful view of the sunset on the bay in the evenings (all drinks 2-1 between 5-7 PM.) Good service, good food (certainly not gourmet!), and good prices. This location has bakery, money changing stand and small convenience store attached.
Marriot Food- Breakfast Buffet was great although pricey at $10.99 US. Food was quite reasonable around the pool area and drinks were fairly priced- only complaint was that service around the pool was slow. I have seen some packages offering great room rates and 1/2 price on all food purchases- that would be great.
Jungle Tour- My girls wanted to rent wave runners which were about $50.00 for an hour. On the Jungle Tour you drive wave runners to coral reef for snorkeling. We paid $42.00. It was close to 1 hour to reef and 1 hour back.
They therefore got close to two hours on wave runners through the jungle and almost an hour of snorkeling for $42.00. A great deal. The Jungle is a bit of a joke since it is not a Jungle like we see in the movies. It was a relatively small land mass with trees about 8 foot tall and a few birds. The waverunners and snorkeling were the attractions. We did this through Aqua World and booked through our tour guide. The price is the same if you book it through your guide or book it direct. The tour guides work long hours, let them make a few bucks in commission.
The Market- If you don't like to deal and argue about prices you should just stay at your hotel. Very tight quarters and many, many vendors hawking their wares. Not terribly comfortable to have people trying to grab at you to look in their booths. Just be
firm and keep walking if you are not interested. We got a few of the blankets, some linens and a little jewelry- don't spend a lot of money on anything. Prices in the market downtown were better than at the market mid-island in the hotel zone.
Marriot Japanese Restaurant- On our last night we had a fine meal at the Japanese restaurant attached to the Marriot (I can't remember the name). Typical meal prepared with finesse at your table. Very enjoyable.
Nightlife- My daughters went out on their own three nights to the clubs. I felt comfortable letting them go since they went with a group of friends and the bus system drops them right in front of the hotel. I am not sure what went on but they had a great time.
General- Weather was HOT but really nice by the ocean or the pool area
because of the ocean breeze. Mosquitoes are wild after dark, particularly on bay
side of the island. No one got sick although we went prepared with Immodium and
Pepto Bismol. A really nice vacation, very reasonably priced (I was using
frequent flyer mileage for airfare) and we are all looking forward to going back
again. I am envious of those of you who are going in the near future. Have fun.
We arrived late on a Thursday night in the middle of a rain storm that ended a long dry spell for the Island. The roads were flooded and we immediately had to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road. We rented a NISSAN from Marshall's car rental. The daily rate was $25.
We stayed the first three days in the HOLIDAY INN. As we had read in the travel forum the rooms were typical HOLIDAY INN, not luxury but very nice. The beach is the best we saw at any of the other hotels on 7 mile beach including much more expensive hotels. There was a great breakfast and dinner buffet with excellent food at what we considered a great price. A band played in the evening on the outdoor patio with an outdoor bar. Unfortunately, Barefoot Man was on vacation and we missed his singing.
We stayed at Plantation Village with some friends that had a time share for the remainder of our stay at Cayman. Plantation Village had very roomy condos and were nicely furnished. The two pools were very refreshing with shade to escape from the sun when it sneaked between the rain clouds. The beach was not quite as nice as the HOLIDAY INN though it was much better than most of the other beaches we saw. The snorkeling off the beach was very impressive and you only had to swim 20yds offshore to be in schools of tropical fish that swam all around you with no fear.
We endured approximately 14 inches of rain during our stay that flooded the roads at times. The rain created murky water conditions during the heaviest downpours. The upside of the rain was that it made the snorkeling cooler without the sun beating down on your back and for us it only was an inconvenience at times since we have much similar rains at our home in Houston. The downside of the rain was that travel was difficult at times and water conditions were affected during the worst parts of the rain. We went reef fishing one day in heavy rain with 18 to 20 knot winds. It was a wild ride but we did catch fish.
We took the submarine to approximately a 100 ft depth and saw a couple of wrecks and many fish and coral formations. We snorkeled at the "Cemetery", another great spot with easy public access. We also went to the Stingray City "Sandbar" and swam with the stringrays and then went to the Coral Gardens and saw the largest collection of tropical fish and beautiful coral of any place that we snorkeled. Unfortunately, as I was about to climb out of the water onto the boat ladder I was hit in the face with a Jelly Fish and my eyes swelled shut immediately and I had trouble breathing. I got to a doctor within 30 minutes and recovered after several injections from a local British Doctor. (The locals tell me that Jelly Fish are very unusual and only seen during severe weather conditions). Our last few days on the Island were sunny with some short showers. In summary, we had a great time with some minor distractions and would like to plan another trip to the Island. The meals were expensive but no more so than any resort area. A person could save money on meals by using a bit of planning to economize in places to eat. The shopping was also expensive but again, how much you spend is a personal choice.
We spent a few minutes at Hell so we could send postcards to our respective offices with their postmark. We also spent about 30 minutes at the Turtle Farm which was fun and informative. We spent one morning driving out to Rum Point and enjoyed the beautiful beach there and stopped briefly at Morritt's Tortuga Club on the way. Morritt's appears to be a great place to stay but a bit far from the main activity of the island. The blow holes on the east end of the island are interesting to see too. The new botanical garden was beautiful but we chose the heat of the day to tour it and would have enjoyed it more in cooler weather.
I hope this information is helpful if you are planning a trip to Cayman. I
hope your vacation is as
History
The Cayman Islands were officially discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. He initially called the islands Las Tortugas or "The Turtles." The islands were later named Cayman, Indian for a species of lizard indigenous to the islands. Once a dependent of Jamaica, in 1962 Jamaica gained their independence from Great Britain. At this time the Caymans preferred to remain a British Crown Colony and still are to this day.
Location
The islands are located 480 miles south of Miami and 180 miles west northwest of Jamaica.
Size
Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands, is 76 square miles in size, approx. 22 miles long and at its widest point 8 miles. Time Zone
The Cayman Islands are on Eastern Standard Time with no daylight savings time. It is 1 hour earlier there than here during our vacation travel.
Climate
The yearly average temperature is 82 degrees. The Cayman Islands lie in the trade-wind belt and the prevailing northeast winds moderate the temperatures, making the climate pleasant round. The water temperature averages between 82 and 85 degrees (in the summer), with a yearly average of 80 degrees.
Population
Approximately 31,790 permanent residence as of July 1994. Languages
The official language is English.
Currency
The official currency is the Cayman Islands Dollar. The average exchange rate is $0.84 CI = $1.00 US or $1.00 CI = $1.25 US.
Entry Requirements
Passports are not required for U.S. citizens. All that is necessary is proof of citizenship (Authentic birth certificate with raised state seal [no photo copies]) or voter registration and a return airline ticket. If you have a passport or were thinking of getting one, I would recommend using this as identification. They provide an excellent form of identification and tend to speed re-entry tremendously. It takes approximately 4 - 6 weeks to receive your passport. Call your US Post Office for more information.
Electricity
The power on the island is 110 VAC @ 60 Hertz. This is compatible with the power in the U.S. Drinking
Water
The water is safe. On previous trips we have not had any water problems.
Communications
Direct dial telephones to the United States are available. There are AT&T phones located by the docks in Georgetown. Calls can be made from the hotel, but you may be charged an additional service charge. There are 2 AM and 1 FM radio stations on the island. There are no TV broadcasts from the island.
Coconut Harbour Resort:
South Church Street P.O. Box 2086 Grand Cayman, B.W.I. 809-949-7468 Phone
809-949-7117 Fax Accepts: American Express, Mastercard and VISA
Located on 1/2 mile from the south of downtown Georgetown The resort features:
- Sink
NOTE: The resort will need a credit card imprint for each room when checking in. This will be used should you decide to make any calls from your room or charge anything to your room.
Parrots Landing (809)949-7884
Trip Package
All Packages Include the Following:
Dive Packages Include:
Schedule Note
Meals are served:
Breakfast from 7AM - 10AM
Lunch from 11AM - 1PM approx. (Lunch not included in
package)
Boat Schedule
5 PM - 7PM Sunset Sail (Leaves from Cayman
Island Yacht Club)
- Tuesday, August 8th - 2PM Stingray City Trip
7PM Night Boat Dive
If you would like to do any shore dives the day of arrival the cost is $6.25 per tank and $0.63 for weight belt and $0.30 per pound.
Things to Do and See
Cayman Turtle Farm (809-949-3894) Northwest Point of Island The Cayman turtle farm is the only green turtle farm of its kind in the world. The turtle farm serves two purposes. The first is to provide turtle meat to restaurants and for export. The second is to release green turtles back into the waters of the Caribbean. Here you can view thousands of turtles in every stage of development from eggs ready to hatch to 600 pound grown adults. They also have some 10 foot crocodiles and other reptiles on display. If you have a desire to try turtle meat the snack bar on the premises serves some turtle dishes. Some of the restaurants on the island serve turtle dishes as well. The farm is open from 9AM to 5PM daily. The admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children 6 -12. Allow at least 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to see.
Hell, Grand Cayman Northwest End of Island
After visiting the turtle farm, you may want to stop by an area on the island named Hell. The jagged pieces of rock protruding out of the earth characterizes this area. While there mail your post cards and have them post marked "Hell, Grand Cayman". Allow at least 10 minutes to see and look through the gift shops.
Botabano North Sound
At this location on the island, fisherman bring in their daily catch. You can buy lobster (in season), fresh fish, even conch from the fisherman, or just take pictures of the fisherman with their catch.
Treasure Discovery Centre & Museum (809-947-5033) Seven Mile Beach in front of the Hyatt Here you will find a wide assortment of displays and some are related to the discovery of the New World by Columbus. At other displays you will see sunken treasures
and the "lore'n legends" of pirates. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. It is open from 9AM to 5PM daily.
Pedro's Castle, Bodden Town
This is the oldest standing building on the island. The building was built by slave labor. It currently houses a restaurant. To find Pedro's Castle, travel Old Prospect Road to Bodden Town. A few miles from there turn right at the crossroads at Savannah.
Bat Cave, Outside Savannah on Spots Bay
After seeing Pedro's Castle and returning to Georgetown, be sure to see the bat cave. Follow these directions to locate the cave: after you pass a speed limit sign on your left you will see a dirt road, follow the road to the end, when you reach the sea turn left, walk along the cliffs edge for about 30 yards, you will come to a sandy beach, climb down 10 feet, here you'll find the cave's low mouth. You will have to explore the cave on your hands and knees. The bats will squeak loudly as you enter, but they are harmless.
Blowholes, On your way to the East End
As you travel Church Street out of Bodden Town, you will pass Frank Sound Drive on your left. After you pass Frank Sound on your right, start looking for the blowholes on your right. There are places you can pull off and walk out to the blowholes. These natural formations shoot sea water 20 - 30 feet in the air. This occurs due to holes and passage ways cut in the coral shore. As the waves hit the shore, watch the water shoot into the air and listen for the unique sound made by this naturally occurring event.
Atlantis Submarine (809-949-7700) in Georgetown
This 50 foot craft takes 28 passengers for a cruise under the sea. The submarine dives to 150 feet and cruises some of Grand Cayman's coral walls for an hour. The submarine makes 12 voyages into the water of Grand Cayman, leaving on the hour from 9AM to 8PM. The cost of the trip is $69 per person.
Deep Line (809-949-9296) in Georgetown
If the Atlantis didn't go quite deep enough for you, try the Deep Explorer 2 or 3. The submersible take you on a voyage to 800 feet into the waters surrounding the island. The cost of the 1 1/2 hour trip is $275 US.
Cayman Information
$600 back to the states
without paying any duty. You may find bargains on silver, china, crystal, Irish linen, French perfume, British woolen items, and local crafts such as black coral. Know what you are willing to pay for such items, since most of the items that you will save the most amount on will probably not be the least expensive. Most of the shops are open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
1/WW Rental 800-262-6687, or Cayman Cycle at 947-4021 for bikes and scooters.
Some Recommended Restaurants
(From Frommer's Caribbean 92, Compuserve Scuba Forum Members and personal experience.)
Expensive
Chef Tell's Grand Old House (809-949-2020)
Located on South Church Street. This former plantation house converted into a restaurant in 1969. The restaurant was purchased in 1986 by chef Tell Erhardt. The Grand Old House specializes in conch fritters, Swedish gravlax, and grouper beignets (deep-fried grouper served with a minted yogurt and curry sauce). The Grand Old House is on the expensive side. Lunches start at $15 and dinners run from $40. Their lunch hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11:45 to 2:30pm. Dinner is served nightly from 6 - 10pm. Reservations are recommended.
Lobster Pot (809-949-2736)
Located on North Church Street overlooking the water at the western side of Georgetown. The Lobster Pot, as its name says specializes in a variety of dishes featuring lobster. You can treat yourself to lobster: Cayman style, bisque, salad or a lobster potpourri with conch and shrimp. The menu also features dishes with conch, shrimp and steak. If you have an appetite for something different, try a turtle steak. The Lobster Pot is closed on Sunday (April - December). They are open for lunch during the midday hours. Lunches will cost you around $15. Dinner will cost you $30 and up, it is served from 5:30 - 10pm.
Moderate
The Cracked Conch (809-949-5717)
Located in Selkirk Plaza on West Bay Road. This restaurant specializes in preparing conch in a variety of ways. You can have a conch burger, conch fritters, cream style conch chowder or Manhattan style conch chowder. If you don't like conch, they feature a variety of fresh fish dishes. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 10:30pm. Figure on spending between $12 to $25 for your meal.
The Wharf (809-949-2231)
Located on West Bay Road. The Wharf features Caribbean and continental specialties. There is usually a calypso band playing in the background. The Wharf has been mentioned as one of Grand Cayman's most romantic dinner spots. If you just want to drop by for a drink, try around 9pm. This is the time they feed the tarpon next to the restaurant. The Wharf is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 to 2:30pm for lunch and from 6:30 to 10pm daily for dinner. Lunches start around $15 and dinners start around $25. Reservations are recommended.
Local Favorites
Crow's Nest Restaurant (809-949-6216) - 2 Locations
Located in town and 4 minutes outside Georgetown on the beach overlooking Sand Cay and a lighthouse. This has been a favorite of some of us on previous trips. The Crow's Nest specializes in grilled seafood. They are open for lunch Monday through Saturday from noon to 2:30pm and daily for dinner from 6 - 10pm. The cost of a meal at the Crow's Nest is $10 for lunch and $15 to $25 for dinner.
Lone Star Bar and Grill (809-947-5175)
Located next to the Hyatt on seven mile beach. The Lone Star has been a favorite eating location in the past. On Monday and Thursday they have an all you can eat fajita night that is priced $15 US. The fajitas are excellent! Be careful if you eat any of the carrots on the table they are extremely HOT! The Lone Star is also popular with some of the divemasters. If you have an interesting T-shirt you want to leave with them, they will gladly hang it on their wall.
The following recommendations were made by various divers .
Restaurant Food Type Food Quality Service
Almond Tree Seafood Great Excellent
The Lighthouse Italian Great Great
Morgan's Harbor Island Good Very Good
Periwinkles Continental Excellent The Best
Rum Point Lunch Good
Santiagos Mexican Very Good Good
If you are missing the states, you can stop by one of familiar restaurants:
Wendy's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, or have a pizza delivered by Domino's or Pizza Hut. Although the food is familiar - be careful, the prices may be higher.
Dive Equipment Rental Rates (per day)
*(Prices listed in US dollars)
- Mask, fin, and snorkel $ 7.50
Deposit required on all items.
Additional Services
Rental Rates
around $25 per hour
Collision Damage Waiver insurance is from $8 - $15 per day.
Emergency Numbers
- For MEDICAL EMERGENCIES dial 555. For diving accidents there is a recompression chamber on the island.
- Island POLICE can be called at 999.
Things to Remember
Mask, Fins and Snorkel B.C.
Regulator
Octopus
Pressure Gauge
Depth Gauge
Compass
Dive Tables
Dive Computer
Weight Belt (no lead) Mesh bag to rinse gear Dive boots
Dive skin or light wetsuit Dive light and Cylume sticks Batteries
C-card and logbook
Emergency medical information
Proof of Insurance/ DAN Membership card Save-A-Dive Kit
First Aid Kit
Cameras, flash and film
Telephoto lens for land camera Binoculars
Sunscreen dependent on skin type
Cooler (for packing food to take, picnics, bring things back in) Passport, Birth Certificate, voter registration card, Marriage License (if recently married)
Drivers license for car rental
Swimsuit for diving / pool / Jacuzzi
Sun glasses
Bug Repellent/ Skin So Soft (Avon) (Bugs usually are not a major problem, but just in case.)
Cash, Travelers checks, and Credit Cards (If you need a suggested amount, talk to Sean.)
Airline Information
US Air
1-800-428-4322
Cayman Airways
1-800-422-9626
Maximum checked baggage
14" by 20" in size
** Excess baggage charges not covered by trip organizer.