Considering a VRBO on Grand Cayman

[KathyV]

I have been going to Cayman since 1980 I have owned on island for over 10 years if I want any info Kathy is the most knowledgeable one here with precise up to date accurate info......I defer to Kathy.

Thank you! But there is a lot that I don't know about the islands, like family activities; but like everyone else here, I am happy to share what I know - and I am looking forward to learning more stuff through personal experience!

 

[KathyV]

As @Trailboss123 mentioned, the weather on the north side and northeast side can get a bit rough in late Oct/early Nov. We come down for a week every year at that same time (for a condo owners' meeting), and I have never been able to get to the north side to dive during that time. Diving is usually limited to West Bay or South Sound (which works if you stay in Boddentown).

When we first starting coming to the island, we rented condos on the north end of SMB up towards West Bay (anything from Harbour Heights north - e.g., Christopher Columbus, Discovery Point, Bonnie's Arch) , and as a couple of people have mentioned, it's relatively quiet, you have some places with nice beachfront, you are near Turtle Reef and Lighthouse point shore dives, there are a few restaurants, a couple of dive ops, and a Fosters supermarket near by, and you are a 7 minute drive to SMB if you decide you want more activity, and another 7 minutes past that to Georgetown. And you will pretty much be able to get out to dive the west side every day. And the other thing I like about diving west, is that you are only a 5 to 10 minute boat ride to the reef/wall.

I think that these are good suggestions, the condo properties you mention are on the 7MB but north of the most touristy areas - so the OP's wife will have access to a world-class beachfront. The area can be a bit pricey but they are going during the slow season so that will help a lot. It is also an easy drive to the shore dives further north on the west side, and to the West Bay Marina which is the departure point for a lot of dive boats. The dive shops operating on that side can go North, West, or South to find good diving after only a short boat ride.

 

[mi000ke]

I have been going to Cayman since 1980 I have owned on island for over 10 years if I want any info Kathy is the most knowledgeable one here with precise up to date accurate info......I defer to Kathy.

Definitely agree - but you've been a pretty good source of info as well!

 

[KathyV]

Definitely agree - but you've been a pretty good source of info as well!

Agree! And I've learned a lot about the Caymans from @EastEndDiver, @mi000ke, @Trailboss123, @scubadada and many others, and @drrich2's recent reports for his Cayman Aggressor trip were loaded with great info!

 

[MarkH]

I just got back from a week on Grand Cayman. We stayed at Eldimire's Home - ELDEMIRE'S TROPICAL ISLAND INN.
It's a nice, quiet, quaint family-run place a couple of blocks from Sunset House South of Georgetown. I rented a car and did several shore dives using tanks and weights rented from a dive shop on the main road in the 7-mile beach area. The hotel was the most inexpensive on the island and was out of the way enough to be peaceful, but close enough to Georgetown and 7-Mile beach to be in the action if that's what you want. For shore diving, it seemed to be all around the Western end of the island (West Bay, Georgetown, South of Georgetown). The rest of the island has a barrier reef about 1/2 kilometer (500 yards) offshore. Inshore of that, it's very shallow, which can make for some good, protected snorkeling, but it's a long swim to get to reasonable diving depths.

 

[tkaelin]

Thanks. Interesting option. Did you dive or dine at Sunset House and if so how did it work out for someone just walking in and wanting to dive and dine? I wonder if you could get a locker. TK

 

[MarkH]

Thanks. Interesting option. Did you dive or dine at Sunset House and if so how did it work out for someone just walking in and wanting to dive and dine? I wonder if you could get a locker. TK

We ate there once. They have a nice outdoor restaurant/bar for watching the sunset. It's open to the public. You don't have to be staying at the resort to eat there. I wanted to try shore diving their house reef, but they don't allow public access unless you are doing business with them (renting tanks, hiring a guide, etc.). It would be easy enough to rent a tank from them and do the shore dive, but they enforce tropical rules like no solo diving. That wouldn't work for me so I skipped it and dove at spots where the accesses weren't owned by dive operations.

 

[Alucard]

I think that for a variety of shore dives close by, West Bay is hard to beat. Bonnie's Arch (2 BR, mostly) and Coconut Bay (2 and 3br) both have onsite shore dives (for Bonnie's Arch you would need tanks from somewhere like Divers Supply on West Bay Road (not in West Bay, note).

You also have Paradise Pointe condos - one bedroom and that is close to the West Bay Dock which is where a lot of the dive ops up that way leave from. It's also a shorter boat trip to get to the Kittiwake.

Lighthouse Point may be quite expensive - it was last time I looked.

If you stay elsewhere, you have shore dives from Cobalt Coast, Lighthouse Point, Turtle Reef (aka Macabuca) and Coconut Bay - all have tanks on site.

You are also about 10-15 minutes from some of the best parts of Seven Mile Beach, without having to pay the premium for beachfront accommodations. And all the restaurants and bars down the SMB strip, and in Camana Bay are pretty easy to get to as well.

I think that West Bay gives more options, from a dive perspective without being too far away from the on-land "action", without the premium prices.

 

[LandscapeDiver]

We just got back from Grand Cayman and stayed at Sunset Cove condos behind Margaritaville and loved it. Saturday 14th - 18th

Sunset condos has a pool. You also have access to Margaritavilles pool and swim up bar.

We had three couples in a 3 bed 2 bath condo. Our condo was on the beach which was great. The beach was not nearly as rough as the beach was on up north on 7M when we walked it on Tuesday afternoon.

For three couples:
Condo :$2334
Van: $350
Food and Alcohol: $526
Total 3120.00
Each Couple paid $1,040.00 for food, drink, and condo. Our air fair was $850 from Oklahoma. Overall we all thought we came out with a great deal since we split all the basics by three.

We cooked our own for two nights on the outdoor grills provided by the pool and went out to eat for two nights which ended up being about $100 per night per couple. We did XO Pizza and Tukkas on the east end.

We did a 2 tank dive one morning with Off the wall and had a great time.

I definitely have gotten my dive friends hooked on Grand Cayman.

Cant wait to get back.

 

[caydiver]

At @KathyV 's suggestion my wife and I are considering a visit to Grand Cayman for some relaxation and a few days of diving. There are actually quite a few VRBO condo rentals around Rum Point but many others as well all around the island. We are planning to stay 7 nights and dive probably 3-4 days. Is Rum Point a good area for a quiet, ocean front visit with good access to diving or should we concentrate on staying in another area of the island? The condo's get good reviews for beachfront and quietness but diving is not mentioned a whole lot with the exception of Red Sail Sports. I have no experience on Cayman so need your expert input.

We don't need a whole lot of nightlife. Just a quiet beachfront place with cooking facilities and access to a little local culture not too far away. Looking for recommendations before we book. Will likely be going in August or late October/early November.

@KathyV , we are checking out Sunset House as well.

I wouldn’t pick Rum Point as a base for a dive holiday in GC. Stay on the East End unless its winter or on the west side where there are tons of choices. Rum Point means too much to driving and too little time diving.