Recent Grand Cayman visitors

[denise5374]

How is the island progressing with its repairs from the hurricane? Has anybody been to the island before and after the hurricane?

My Dh and I spent a week there in 1999 and loved it, I was upset to see all the destruction to the island. It truly is a beautiful place to visit!

TIA

 

[TheWog]

We were there in January and the island is still recovering. I bet the island was gorgeous pre hurricane, but after it was pretty beat up.

 

[denise5374]

Do you have any pictures that you could post??

 

[ksjayhawks]

We were there in March. The area along the docks looks good, but as you travel about the island you notice the damage to all the trees and other vegetation. Many homes still had tarps, tin, cardboard, whatever on the roofs. There are lots where junk has been dumped. There are a lot of bare, brown lots where things have been cleared but not rebuilt or replanted. There is one area of town where the owners have decided not to fix their houses and instead will wait for someone to buy them out, which disturbs a lot of the residents. It looks like the slums of US cities and I don't remember that from our visit prehurricane.

Some friends went to the public beaches and were disappointed in them. They still looked rough and had some work done to them, but not a lot. They ended up at a beach at a resort and of course, it was repaired.

 

[bhoffman]

We just spent a week on Cayman in March. We visit yearly and love the island. It certainly is not pre-Ivan yet, but is certainly beautiful. If you stay in the tourist areas (Georgetown, 7 mile beach, etc...) you would never know there was a hurricane. It is only when you go to the South of the island (residental) that you still see areas of massive destruction. They are re-building though so mostly you would see houses under construction. I certainly would not cancel a vacation there for any of this. In fact, 7 mile beach gained a LOT of new sand and is actually better than ever! It is a wonderful place to visit. Any specific questions, let me know!

 

[denise5374]

bhoffman,

When we were there we stayed at the Morritts Tortuga Club, which I understand sustained pretty substantial damage, can you confirm?

We went without the kids and would love to take them back. The only downside to the island is that it is expensive. I was honestly shocked at how much $$$ we spent there and we didn't go overboard on anything. I am thinking maybe an all-inclusive???

Thanks.

 

[bhoffman]

Yes, Morritts did get quite a bit of damage and is not due to open until at least September. If you are looking to find somewhere to stay let me know and I can recommend some places.

It is a great beach vacation with kids but I agree it is VERY expensive. An average dinner for us for 4 adults and 3 children was about $300. Can't beat the beach there though. I am not really aware of any all inclusives there but we usually stay at a condo with the kids it's nice to have your own kitchen for lunch and breakfast and not have to go out except for dinner (which you of course could cook but hey, it's vacation!

Hope I answered your ?s! Cayman is wonderful but we are really looking forward to our Disney land/sea this summer!

 

[denise5374]

B-

What part of the island do you stay? The condo idea is nice. After our first night day there we decided to go to the grocery store for some food, If I remember correctly We bought one box of cereal, one gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, cheese and bologna(and maybe chips) and the total was $50.

The island is beautiful and it was nice to not have to deal with all the "strret peddlars" that you see on the other islands.

The funny part is the year before we went to GC we were in Mazatlan Mexico, where everything is inexpensive, with the exchange rate at the time a dinner for 4 was $40. The next summer we were in GC and our last night we just let loose (by this point i t was funny to us) and our dinner for 4 was over $500. (I think I am still paying that vacation off LOL)

Yes, please let me know where to stay. Do you go often??

Thanks much!

 

[bhoffman]

Yes, the groceries are still very expensive but with kids it is a bit cheaper and the convienience is great. We stay right on seven mile beach. How many in your party? How many bedrooms are you looking for? The only reason I ask is that determines where I recommend. We go usually every year but my parents go twice a year and we all love it! It is an island in it's own class and is heads above the other caribean islands. Worth the price of admission for us!

 

[denise5374]

It is two adults and two kids(12 and 8).

Can I ask where you live and how you get there? When we went before from Philly we had a plane change in Charlotte. Is the airfare stil expensive?

My parents had a timeshare and that is how we got there the first time. Unfortunatley they don't have it anymore.

Thanks again for your help...

 

[TheWog]

sorry, no digital pictures to post.

 

[bhoffman]

We live just outside of Detroit and we get a non-stop flight from Detroit for about $600 each. It is a fast, easy flight (about 4 hours) but only runs in the winter so in the summer my parents always have a lay over.

I would say the absolute best place to stay condo wise on Grand Cayman is the islands club..www.islandsclub.you know what! They are really nice and you walk right out onto the beach. The complex runs parallel to the beach so it is NEVER crowded and is just the best. Very nice. We just stayed at the Regal Beach Club this winter and it was nice as well. Condos are set back from the beach but you just walk past the pools to get to the beach. GREAT pools for kids if your kids like the pool vs. the ocean (no pool at islands club).

Hope that helps! Have LOTS of good places to eat, shop, whatever you want to ask, go ahead, happy to help!