Grand Cayman Topside Info Request

[SFScuba]

Hi all, we are planning a trip down to Grand Cayman in March and I was looking for some general advice, never having been down before and feedback from anyone that may have stayed at Treasure Island Condos (not to be confused with TI resort) or know where it is located relative to restaurants and other things to do. I've been told that the condos are about a 15 minute walk to Georgetown.

Is a car a must-have to get around the island? It sounds like most of the operators will pick us up at our condo/beach. We're mostly planning on lying on the beach the rest of the time. Are there taxis or shuttles that will get us up and down Seven Mile Beach?

We're still sorting through posts on the different dive operators so I won't bother with those questions until we've pulled together what's already on SB.

Thanks in advance for the help. SB has been a great resource in the past.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

TI Condos are toward the southish end of Seven Mile Beach. During days when cruise ships are in port, there are loads of taxis and busses heading back and forth. You can still find a ride if ships aren't in harbour, but there aren't quite as many.

I'd still recommend a rental car, at least for a day or two, to explore the island a bit. Public transport busses and taxis are pretty good for getting around the westside in the daytime, but aren;t do great for heading to the eastern districts.

There are several restaurants within a reasonalbe walk. Mezza is the closest one that comes to mind.

 

[diversteve]

We stayed at TICondo's summer 2004. Nice place, clean, well-maintained. But too far south from everything else on SMB. And a long walk from Georgetown, you'd be better off catching a shuttle bus as it goes by. You couldn't walk to the main market and back with food of any sort, it's past the GT turnoff and near the airport - probably 2-3 miles r/t.

When we booked there, we thought it was more accessible, but once we arrived there we realized that not renting a car was a big mistake. From the leftcoast, I'm guessing you're arriving later than we did. If it's too late to get a car, Andy's will pick you up the next day and bring you back to the rental office.

There's a Greek? restaurant 1/2 block from the condo entrance. Good food but pricey - not sure if it's "Mezza" I thought it was called Athena's. Other than that every other restaurant is a short drive away.

The beach at SMB is marginal, it's mostly ironshore with sand over it. Has the look of being man-made. If you look close at the aerial view, the darker brown areas all along the beach and in the center of the cove are ironshore. Right where the two rock jetties meet the beach are the only sandy entrance areas. And you can see the ironshore/coral offshore everywhere. We thought maybe we could shoredive there but it's too shallow.

100' south at the next condo property the beach was much nicer, I noticed several TI residents going there instead. Don't know what it's like now post-Ivan, the TI Diveop just 200 yds. farther south was destroyed, so their beach might be gone also.

Farther north on SMB most beaches have sandy bottoms that extend into the ocean.

Since just about every diveop will pick you up, I'd stay further north on SMB. I will if we go again. Somewhere south of the Hyatt.

If you do decide on TICondo's call them direct, we got a 2br condo for the price of a 1br without asking by talking to an agent directly. It wasn't an option on the website.

hth,

 

[SFScuba]

Thanks for the info. We already reserved at TI Condos, so we're locked in there for this first trip. I was able to reserve a car at Andy's for about 30% less than the larger rental agencies (there was a discount code from one of the other SB posts: CAG20 that got me an extra 20% off.) and thanks for the information on Andy's picking us up if they are closed. Our flight is supposed to get in at 9:20, but the location closes at 10. So, we're probably cutting it a little tight.

 

[diversteve]

If you're on time, you'll probably be able to get the car that night. Andy's is across the street from the airport. And it's a small airport - easy walking distance. We were through Customs/Immigration in under 15mins., arrived around the same time as you are.

As you drive out of the airport, the light blue building a 1/4 mile or so on your left is the main market on Cayman. (Hurleys?) Don't know if they'll be open that late though.

When you get near the water and the Georgetown/SMB "Y" go right(north). Heading towards SMB, the TI Resort lobby is on your left, the condo entrance is just past it, you don't see the condos from the street since they're on the beach behind the resort.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Actually, I'd think that Kirk's would be the closest supermarket to TI Condos. It's at the Junction of Eastern Avenue and West Bay Rd. The market to the left as you exit the airport is Foster's Food Fair. Cayman also has Hurley's as the third supermarlet company.

Athena's is/was at Treasure Island Resort. Seem to think it is closed now, or that a different restaurant is in that place. Haven't looked too closely the last few times I've been past.

 

[SFScuba]

Thanks for all the info.

Also, Drew, from your name, I take it you sail? Reason I ask, we were originally planning on a BVI bareboat charter before it fell through (some friends couldn't make it) and we opted for Plan B/Cayman. Are there any places we can rent a bareboat charter for a day-sail around Grand Cayman? Just looking to get some water time in if I can.

 

[CJ's]

Try Jon at Mainstay Sailing. www.mainstaysailing.com

 

[diversteve]

The beach at SMB is marginal, it's mostly ironshore with sand over it.

Meant the beach at TICondos is marginal...

I wish we could still edit posts past the first day.