Little Cayman Beach Resort - questions

[nwflyboy]

We're getting ready to book a week on LC in the spring of 20010, staying at LCBR. This will be our first time in the Caymans, and I had a few questions.

First, any recommendations about which specific room to book? I'm thinking the ocean front rooms look a bit nicer than pool view rooms. Other than being pricier, any disadvantage to the ocean view rooms? Any specific room to ask for (nicer view, less noise, newer renovation, etc.) - or to avoid?

I'm leaning towards the full package (all meals), assuming that there are few other easy options for food on the island...is that true? From what I've read, the food at LCBR sounds decent enough - are there any good reasons to look elsewhere for meals? They offer a 3 meal/day package and a breakfast + dinner package. Assuming we'll be doing 3 dives per day (2 tanks in the morning, one in the afternoon), how do they deal with lunch/surface intervals? Does it make any sense to pay for the full 3-meals-per-day plan? Or if you buy the breakfast+dinner plan, do you go hungry (or bring a snack) on the boat? Do they always bring you back to the resort for lunch? If you opt for the breakfast+dinner plan, are there reasonable options for a lunch or mid-day snack outside the resort?

Any other tips for optimizing your experience at LCBR? Many thanks in advance.

 

[Damselfish]

A lot of places oceanview and poolview rooms are the same and just location differs, that's not true here. While the view and location on the beach is nice, the rooms themselves are nicer and more private. They are much larger with patios or decks with lounges, while the pool rooms just open onto a walkway. There's an actual sitting area in the room with a couch etc. while the pool rooms have a little table and chairs jammed in by the window. Basically the poolview rooms are laid out like a inexpensive motel and the oceanview are a bit more resorty feeling. Also, sometimes people complain of noise from the bar (especially karaoke night) and the oceanview rooms are away from that.

There are 4 OF rooms behind the dive shop, and 4 on the opposite side of the complex (which not much further, the place is not that big!) I've stayed on both sides and upstairs and down, and could make an argument for any of them if I tried. But I don't really have a strong preference.

Get the meal package, I think pretty much everyone does. If you want to eat lunch, just get the full package. They always come back to the resort for lunch. (Once we did a whole day trip to the Brac and they just fed us at their Brac resort.) Besides the other resorts really there is only one standalone restaurant. I don't think you'd have time to go there for lunch and the grocery shopping on the island is pretty limited. Pirates Point resort is noted for it's food, but I don't know that it's worth the additional effort of eating there if you're not staying there. (Little Cayman has a way of making getting out of your hammock seem like an effort. )

On average they do a pretty good job of the food at LCBR especially considering the added difficulty of keeping supplied in a somewhat remote location. Sometimes it's excellent and occasionally there's a miss, but they always make it up with dessert. (good strategy that.)

 

[carriemak]

Our group prefers the pool side rooms as that is where all the activity is. The ocean side rooms are nice but since we don't spend a lot of time in the rooms, the extra cost makes it not worth it to most of our group.

The meals are great and are prepared by the resort chefs. The desserts are fantastic and make you want to eat only desserts sometimes. We have the 3 meals a day package as there isn't time to go to a restaurant at lunchtime if you are doing three dives a day. One person in our group summed up the meals at LCBR by saying, "It's worth the trip just for the food."

The dive boats have SI snacks such as fresh fruit, potato chips, cookies, etc. and water is always available. If you want something else, you will have to bring it with you.

One thing we have learned is to bring a drink container with a lid, like a thermal mug, to have with you on the boat. Then you can make lemonade or tea to take with you and you have your own drink container for the week.

When are you planning to go?

 

[mbs]

Just back (3 weeks ago) and we stayed in the ocean front rooms behind the dive shop. I tried to book poolside to save a few bucks, but it was fully booked! This was our first time there and we probably should have gone in to look at a poolside. We had a ground level room with a small deck and you could walk out to the beach... IF you wanted! 3 dives a day there really was not much time to enjoy it. After the afternoon dive you basically got cleaned up and hung out at the bar till dinner. That said as an insomniac I enjoy a little extra space in the room for me to spread out at night. I would think your only option if you skipped the lunch option would be to visit the store and make your own in your room. The food well exceeded our expectations! The first night I noticed that they did not have a fish option so I mentioned it to the front desk and they checked with the chef who said no problem to prepare me some fish (don't eat meat). The rest of the week Chubby looked for me to point out what did not have meat and make sure I was happy! I must say this worked out to be the perfect storm of dive vacations for us... No problems traveling (oh, reminds me to be prepared to NOT arrive with all of your bags and to send at least 1 bag ahead the night before you leave!!!), nice accommodations, good food, good boats, great dm's, great other guests on our boat and last, but not least really excellent diving! We will be back!

 

[fisheater]

I stayed in the poolside rooms and I had no complaints at all, nor envy of those in the ocean front rooms. I was diving, eating or lounging around the grounds with other divers. The only time I spent in the room was when I was asleep or in the bathroom. Who cares about a view in those circumstances.

Get the meal plan. The food was excellent, plentiful and varied. I'm a bit of food snob and I really was impressed by the meals.

 

[PhilC]

We stayed in a pool-side room and had no complaints at all, like others have mentioned we weren't in the room much at all except to sleep and shower so a larger room with a nicer view wouldn't have been much of a bonus for us. Food wasn't quite as good as it was at Brac Reef but still very good. Bar was fun, the magic show is actually quite good and I quite enjoyed playing street hockey on the tennis courts. Definitely well worth visiting.

 

[PatW]

We stayed at the ocean front rooms. We like peace and quiet so we were happy with the choice. Also the view is pretty good.

As for meals, there really are not many other options for eating on the island. I would suggest the full meal plan. The food is pretty good.

They bring you back after your first two dives. You have plenty time to have lunch and go out for the afternoon dive. It is not a long time, but time enough. I forget the actual interval. We never were rushed but you could not exactly poke around either.

 

[daniel1948]

Are there good and bad times of the year to go to Little Cayman? I'm thinking weather is one issue, and underwater visibility might be another issue?

Daniel

 

[tvictory]

Are there good and bad times of the year to go to Little Cayman? I'm thinking weather is one issue, and underwater visibility might be another issue?

Daniel

During the winter months there is a higher chance to get winds from the north which can make it difficult or impossible to get to the Bloody Bay/Jacksion Bight dive sites, which are all on the north side.

 

[nwflyboy]

Thanks for all the tips so far. I will probably go for the ocean view room (extra space sounds nice, the price differential isn't that much). I'm thinking we will ask for a room on the 2nd floor, since (I assume) the view would be a bit nicer (and I generally find upper floors a bit more quiet, and we like quiet). We will be going in March.

Any difference in the view or other factors when choosing between the rooms "behind the dive shop" versus those "not behind the dive shop"?

Thanks again.