We have been to Cozumel 3 or 4 times and it was great but I really love the Caymans, but we usually look for less pricey and more diver-dedicated places to stay. On Grand Cayman we usually stay in a 1-bedroom apartment (on the beach, but not Seven Mile Beach) with a full kitchen so we cook some of our meals and prepare some of our own beverages.
On GC we rent a car and go snorkeling and shore diving, and also do some boat diving. On the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman we tend to stay at small, diver-dedicated, all-inclusive resorts with food and boat diving included. The Aggressor also runs a Cayman liveaboard dive trip and sometimes they will offer a discounted price.
But if you have found a great rate then this may be your chance to stay at a gorgeous 5-star resort in a beautiful location with great diving, then you should go for it - and Seven Mile Beach is truly beautiful.
But you should go into it with your eyes open, comparing the GC Ritz to a Cozumel dive vacation is "apples to oranges." You will be in one of the most expensive hotels on a very high-end island.
Even if you've found a great rate at the Ritz, it will still be pricey. There is likely to be a daily resort fee per person and if you are staying in a hotel room then you will have to eat out 3 times per day and that will really add up. You are from Boston so I am sure that you are quite familiar with very expensive hotels and restaurants, but keep in mind that the US dollar is only worth 0.80 cents in Cayman so that makes things even more costly.
Also be aware that although the Ritz is a gorgeous property - it's huge - and many of the rooms are not on the beach and some are in a building across the street. There is an overhead walkway so although won't have to cross the busy street you may have to walk a distance to get to the water.
But as others have said, if you plan to do more Caribbean diving then you are likely to visit Cayman sooner or later, so this may be a great opportunity for you. Have fun wherever you decide to go!
On GC we rent a car and go snorkeling and shore diving, and also do some boat diving. On the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman we tend to stay at small, diver-dedicated, all-inclusive resorts with food and boat diving included. The Aggressor also runs a Cayman liveaboard dive trip and sometimes they will offer a discounted price.
But if you have found a great rate then this may be your chance to stay at a gorgeous 5-star resort in a beautiful location with great diving, then you should go for it - and Seven Mile Beach is truly beautiful.
But you should go into it with your eyes open, comparing the GC Ritz to a Cozumel dive vacation is "apples to oranges." You will be in one of the most expensive hotels on a very high-end island.
Even if you've found a great rate at the Ritz, it will still be pricey. There is likely to be a daily resort fee per person and if you are staying in a hotel room then you will have to eat out 3 times per day and that will really add up. You are from Boston so I am sure that you are quite familiar with very expensive hotels and restaurants, but keep in mind that the US dollar is only worth 0.80 cents in Cayman so that makes things even more costly.
Also be aware that although the Ritz is a gorgeous property - it's huge - and many of the rooms are not on the beach and some are in a building across the street. There is an overhead walkway so although won't have to cross the busy street you may have to walk a distance to get to the water.
But as others have said, if you plan to do more Caribbean diving then you are likely to visit Cayman sooner or later, so this may be a great opportunity for you. Have fun wherever you decide to go!
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