Beaches in Cozumel / Grand Cayman

[tiggere]

We're planning to go to the Hard Rock Cafe in Cozumel and Grand Cayman but would like to visit a beach area, time permitting, afterward. Aside from a shore excursion, anyone have advise on specific beaches to visit? Charges? Transportation? Distance? Recommendations? Thanks.
:cool:

[DARWIN91]

Grand Cayman - taxi ride cost $4.00 per person to go to 7 mile beach across from the Holiday Inn. There is no admission cost. There are bathroom facilities, cafe and bar service on beach. Plenty of lounge chairs.

Cozumel - Mr. Sanchos Beach - $15.00 taxi ride for 3 adults and 2 children. Free admission, sandy beach, plenty of chairs and shade, bar and restaurant, pool,watersports, bathrooms, massages, live music. Food is good.

[tiggere]

Thanks! Looking forward to exploring on our own a little this time.

[trishy]

At Chankanaab, the taxi ride there was $10 (for 1 adult, 2 kids) + a tip, the admission was $10 per person. My dh & 2 dds had a blast going there last week. We ate with some other cruisers at the Hard Rock in Grand Cayman - was a blast. Be warned however, that around noonish, several excursions ended and the place was swarming with tired, hungry cruisers. Get there 11ish - got some nice shirts there! Our Stingray boat guide recommended the Holiday Inn place, too. We didn't go, but he highly recommended it.

[kpgclark]

How do you get back from the beaches to the cruise ship? Do you tell your cabbie what time to come back? Are there cabs just waiting?

[DARWIN91]

There are taxi drivers lined up there (in both Cayman and Cozumel). There is no need to tell one to come back at a specific time.


One tip: when we ordered drinks on 7 mile beach in Grand Cayman - the waitress said she needed exact change otherwise she would have to give us Cayman dollars. In town however, when shopping, they reimbursed you in $US dollars.

[BWVPam]

We went to Nachi-Cocum beach in Cozumel. Lovely beach area, as well as changing rooms, showers, great pool and jacuzzi, rest. and bar. No charge for the use of all facilities and taxi ride was about 15.00 for 2 adults/2 kids. We had a car, but friends used a taxi and that is what they paid. We went on May 25 cruise.

Pam

[KeenHo]

We were on the June 22 Western cruise. After a Captain Marvin's trip we booked on our own (which was fantastic!!!), we had the shuttle driver drop us at the Holiday Inn on 7 mile beach. Beach chairs are only supposed to be for hotel guests, but it wasn't policed too tightly. My wife and I had cheeseburgers and fries and two sodas at the bar, the bill came to $30 U.S. A bit high I'd say, but that was the cost for cheeseburgers in paradise.

When a friend and I decided to go back to the ship before the ladies (kids at home for both of us this time) we went out to the taxi area where there were two vans waiting with no passengers. We asked how much to get back to the ship, $4 each. We hopped in the hot, hot van and sat, and sat, for over 10 minutes.

After complaining, the driver said she was waiting for some other people who were just finishing up and were on the way. At that time, due to our frustration and the heat, she started the van up and put on the air conditioning.

My friend, Mike, and I were talking and getting very upset that we hadn't left for the ship. The girls were supposed to leave 1/2 hour after us and it was almost that time now. After complaining one more time the taxi driver said they were on the way. I looked out and did not see anyone and we decided to hop out and start walking. We were fed up. The taxi driver almost begged us to stay, but we just couldn't- even if she were to take us that instant.

We walked down to the next beach access area and found a cab that was looking for someone who had called for a pick up (a large party). Since they were not ready yet, and he agreed to take us immediately, we got back to the ship in just a few minutes.

Please do not let this happen to you. Make sure you ask up front if the cab will take you right a way, or if it is going to wait until it is full or close to full. It may take a while. The cab driver was not too polite either, however the second driver we came across was very nice to us.

By the way, the 7 mile beach is beautiful.

Howard