You can get some of the best deals from Miami to the Caribbean. I chose the tiny Island of Grand Cayman Islands because of the picturesque water views. After arriving in Miami from Atlanta, I found the AMEX lounge, which was a quick walk and a couple of train stops from my gate. Before the plane departed, the flight attendants passed out magazines. The magazine was like our own personal guide about the Island, as well as things to do!
Once we land, the excitement of flying to the Grand Cayman Islands starts to kick in. We disembarked and headed down the stairs leading to the airport. By the way, I love getting straight off the plane and onto the ground instead of the jetway. The fresh air of the destination immediately sets in and feels amazing. Once you’re outside the airport, there are Taxis lined up. USD is also accepted. I hop in a taxi and head to The Westin Grand Cayman.
Hotel Arrival
As we pulled up to the hotel, the bellman started dancing as I hopped out of the taxi, so I started dancing with him! He greets me politely, grabs my carry-on luggage(my lost check-in luggage is another story), and shows me to the front desk. I check into my room on the first floor, which leads to the Pool Lanai Guest Room, facing the beach. It was hot and humid that day, but I always travel in pants because I’m typically cold on planes. Since I didn’t have my check-in luggage, I decided to walk the grounds and pop into one of the restaurants at the resort, Weto.
I returned to my room and found my lost luggage waiting for me! Immediately, I changed into shorts and sat in front of the ocean for some time. The overcast weather didn’t stop me from heading to the beach. Later that night, I got some Mahi Mahi fish tacos and fries from another on-site restaurant, Tortuga Beach Grill & Bar. The food tasted amazing! The rest of the night, I decided to relax and watch TV.
Fresh Start
I was excited to wake up in the Cayman Islands the following morning, so I dressed for breakfast. I get complimentary breakfast at the Westin because of my Titanium Bonvoy Status. The table I chose faces the beautiful turquoise water! No excursions were booked, as I decided to take my vacation one day at a time. I opted not to eat at the hotel restaurants for the rest of my trip, so I started looking at places within walking distance of the hotel. Seven Mile Burger is a burger spot in Governors Square, across the street from the Westin Resort. The cheeseburger was pretty tasty and much cheaper than buying food at any of the restaurants at the hotel.
Later that evening, I took a 10-minute walk to Sunshine Grill’s restaurant. Sunshine Grill is not in plain sight as it sits behind a motel with a pool in the front. Another restaurant I tried is directly across the street from the Westin, Legendz Classic Bar & Grill. Lastly, I stopped by a small souvenir shop to pick up a few things to remember my trip.
The few hours I had left consisted of lying out on the beach or the back patio of my room. I enjoyed visiting Grand Cayman Islands and look forward to returning!
Grand Cayman Facts
The British Overseas Territory of The Cayman Islands comprises Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. They drive on the left! The currency is the Cayman Islands dollar, worth 1.2 US dollars. US dollars are widely accepted, and ATMs, which give out both US and CI dollars, are plentiful. With a population of 70,000 people, Cayman is home to more than 125 nationalities. Three leading supermarkets are Foster’s, Kirk Market, and Hurley’s. George Town is the capital and is also a major cruise ship port. The best time to visit is between December and April.
TIPS:
- Make sure any credit cards that you have have Zero Foreign Transaction fees.
- Airports usually have free WiFi, so use it before you leave the airport to access anything requiring an internet connection.
- If you don’t have a cell phone plan with international benefits, turn your cellular data off or keep your phone on airplane mode to avoid roaming charges.
- Always check to see if the country you’re visiting accepts AMEX, VISA, Mastercard, etc credit cards or your home currency.
- Before leaving your hotel, download offline maps of the area you are in and intend to visit so that you can find your way back to your hotel if you can’t quite remember. (This comes in handy when you’re on foot.)
- Buy an AirTag or tracking device for your luggage.
- Don’t forget your SUNSCREEN!
