Packing and Car rental advice for Grand Cayman

[Wolfie]

both my auto insurance and CC benefits carry over insurance to the islands. It does not carry over to 4 wheel drive vehicles- so no jeeps or suv's. would cover a minivan though. the three of us rent a "mid size" car and there is plenty of luggage in the passenger compartment on the way to the hotel. It's pretty quick and not a big deal. So yes the mid size does feel like a mini but it should be ok with 3. If it's 4 people, I don't see how a mid size would work.

 

[Mark Derail]

I'm a DAN member but haven't bothered yet with travel insurance. After paying 300$, because my credit card & personal car insurance did NOT cover me in Grand Cayman, seems like a DAN phone call is in order.

 

[billinwilliamston]

AMEX no longer automagically covers rental cars (unless you have a very fancy AMEX card), but they do have a program where you pay around $25 and it covers your rental car for up to a month when you book the car using your AMEX.

 

[Mark Derail]

I checked too, and if you're from a country that drives on the other side of the road, you won't be covered.

Next year I'm going to call DAN and find out of full trip coverage will also do 100% insurance of the car.

 

[Testudo]

Can anyone clarify what is meant by "full coverage"? My credit cards (Fancy AmEx Platinum, etc...) all cover for collision damage and loss of use, but none offer any liability coverage. The AmEx "Premium Insurance" which is the $25 optional coverage mentioned above (that anyone can buy), also does not have coverage for liability. If I want full coverage, like back home in the States, I still need to purchase 3rd party or SLI in the event I injure someone or cause damage to a 3rd party. Would love to find a card that covers it all.

 

[BubbleBlocker]

I checked too, and if you're from a country that drives on the other side of the road, you won't be covered.

My credit card makes no distinction between whether you drive on the right or left side of the road. That's definitely a new one on me. That said, some companies do not provide international coverage of any sort.

Although I wouldn't rely exclusively on this information, here's a chart that summarizes some companies' coverage: Chart: Compare credit cards' rental car insurance policies

 

[Mariellen Klick]

We (wife and husband) just completed a trip to Grand Cayman. We rented from Hertz at the airport location. Matt Izzi and Juan Rubio (both Americans) took very good care of us. Hertz cars are in excellent condition. They are clean and well maintained. We highly recommend your consideration of Hertz for your trip. Hertz's toll free number from the US is 855.212.1713.

In prior years we've rented from other companies, and they simply do not compare with the service provided by Hertz.
We wish you a great trip and great diving.

 

[Testudo]

How was the service at Hertz so much superior to their longstanding competitors? Nothing against fellow Yanks, but the Caymanians (expat Jamaicans and Filipinos too) at the rental agencies have all been great.

 

[Doctorfish]

I never dive without a small knife or scissors. Every now and then there is a fishing line tangle you need to cut out of. If you are worried about current, I agree with Drew that it can be treacherous on the East End shore dives. The shore diving at the Northwest of the isalnd at Turtle Reef and Lighthouse Point is excellent. It's a fair drive but if you have a vehicle, worth the trip. Gasoline is expensive on GC so I would not go too big with a car. We usually rent the second smallest category from Andy and can fit 3 people, 3 suitcases and backpacks in on the ride from the airport. It's a little tight but for the rest of the trip the size is adequate for 3 divers, gear bags and tanks.

If you are boat diving, Ocean Frontiers is the premier operator in the East End.

---------- Post added September 19th, 2013 at 08:55 AM ----------

I always get the full extra insurance from the car rental company. It's expensive but you walk away at the end of the trip without hassle. I've rented from most of the named car rental companies on GC and they all provide more or less the same service. I've had new clean cars and clunkers from all of them. Luck of the draw. Andy's seems to be the cheapest recently.

---------- Post added September 19th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ----------

I must say we look like a clown car at the circus while driving away from the airport

 

[EastEndDiver]

We (wife and husband) just completed a trip to Grand Cayman. We rented from Hertz at the airport location. Matt Izzi and Juan Rubio (both Americans) took very good care of us. Hertz cars are in excellent condition. They are clean and well maintained. We highly recommend your consideration of Hertz for your trip. Hertz's toll free number from the US is 855.212.1713.

In prior years we've rented from other companies, and they simply do not compare with the service provided by Hertz.
We wish you a great trip and great diving.

Please tell us the other companies you used and what makes Hertz so much better.

I have used Avis,Hertz and Andys and they all are good.

Wow just noticed you are a member since 2002 and first post.