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Jul 05 2016

4 Exclusively Caribbean Adventures On Grand Cayman

The Mar Caribe, or Caribbean Sea, is one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth, filled with sights and phenomena that can be found nowhere else. With a long and colorful history, filled with pirates and war, romance and adventure, and dotted with exotic islands surrounded by crystal clear blue waters and white sand beaches, it’s one of the most visited places in the world. And the Grand Cayman Islands are among the brightest jewels in this tropical paradise.

Every Caribbean destination has its own culture and environment, offering something just a little bit different from its neighbors. Here are four must-see Grand Cayman destinations to consider for your next visit to the Caribbean.

Exclusively Caribbean Adventures On Grand Cayman

Stingray City – Just a short boat ride off of Seven Mile Beach, within the barrier reef, there’s a place where sea life loves to gather, and most especially schools of wild stingrays. Most people think these creatures are dangerous, and in some situations they can be, but for the most part they’re very friendly, and the rays that hang out here are used to swimming with the humans. You can swim and dive with them, and play with and feed them. Back on shore there’s a sea turtle farm that allows you to have the same experience with those curious sea denizens. A truly amazing experience and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park – A visit to the Grand Cayman Islands just wouldn’t be complete without taking the opportunity to experience the unique flora and fauna that inhabit the islands, and this park allows you to see it all in one beautiful place. The Queen herself opened this park in 1994. Stroll through gardens filled with native plants and flowers, and watch the antics of the Cayman Blue Iguana, which thrives in this area. Many other birds and animals that live in the islands can be viewed here too.

Cayman Crystal Caves – One of the newest attractions available to visitors is also the oldest geological formation in the islands. Located in the lush jungle of the Northside, these caves were formed from the limestone strata over millions of years, creating huge underground rooms and breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite structures. The caves once served as hideouts for pirates and as hurricane shelters for the inhabitants. The caves are also home to bats, and guano was mined here for fertilizer. Professionally guided tours are available.

Pedro St. James National Historic Site – Back in the 18th century, when commerce and trade to the islands was at its height, a wealthy Englishman built this magnificent three-story mansion. It has been completely restored to its original glory, with period furniture and art. A step back into another age. There are many other attractions on the site to see also.

There are many more exclusively Caribbean adventures on Grand Cayman Islands to be enjoyed. Choose the one that’s right for you and have a wonderful time. That’s what Grand Cayman is all about.

Here are four must-see Grand Cayman destinations to consider for your next visit to the Caribbean.

Jun 21 2016

Which Caribbean destination is your personality?

It is easy to see why countless people from all over the world are drawn to the different destinations in the Caribbean. Enjoy the crystal clear azure color of the Caribbean sea, and the smell of the salty air. Experience the calming feel of soft breezes emanating from trade winds that cool the tropical air. They are powerful enough to lure anyone away from a busy city, or a remote rural town, as they dream of basking in the radiant sunshine of a tropical paradise.

How is it possible for one tropical Caribbean paradise to fit a variety of personality types? It is when the location is one that offers so many different amenities that the sheer variety of things to do, activities to enjoy, and the variety of exceptional tropical and native Caribbean dining choices and entertainment to experience all come together on the three islands that make up the British Dependent Territory known as the Cayman Islands.

The Adventurer

If you are looking for a destination that will allow you to spread your adventurous wings on or in the water, the Cayman Islands will let you explore everything. You’ll find an array of unique diving experiences that include marine habitats that have developed in the remains of sunken ships or surveillance vessels, the chance to snorkel with Stingrays, some of the world’s best reefs to explore and much more.

Water Sports

Whether you want to swim in a heated pool near the ocean, or in the Caribbean Sea, explore the salty water along the Seven Mile Beach via a kayak, a parasail, or a sailboat, you can do all of that and more when you visit the Cayman Islands.

The Beach Bum

Can you imagine a more spectacular place to be a beach bum than on the southern edge of the world-famous Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island? Inhale the salty air as you chase away the stresses of a chaotic life, relaxing on a beach with the whitest sand you’ve ever seen. This is the life that visitors of the Cayman Islands enjoy every day as long as they’re there.

Family Friendly Accommodations That Encourage Family Togetherness

Stay in a villa that gives you access to amenities like a pool and fitness center, but that also offers the flexibility you can only get when you’re not bound to a meal or activity schedule. Work out in a fitness center or swim in heated pool. Wade in the ocean and gaze at fish.

Romantic Horseback Riding Along the Beach

What can be more romantic than a horseback ride along the crystal clear turquoise blue Caribbean Sea? Nothing, unless you’re enjoying that ride as the sun comes up or starts to go down. The color of the sky is changing, and the reflection of those colors on the water is a sight like nothing you’ve ever seen.

If you enjoy golfing, then the Cayman Islands will give you a one-of-a-kind golf experience as you play on what will arguably be the most beautiful golf course you’ve ever seen. The mild Caribbean climate is ideal for the type of grass that grows there. The lush green carpet looks as luxurious as it feels.

No matter what type of personality you have, there are so many things to do and see, places to go, new foods and drinks to experience, that you’ll never wonder where to go when you’re planning your dream vacation again. The Cayman Islands offers something for everyone, no matter how young or old they are.

Jun 14 2016

Dive one of the worlds most spectacular underwater worlds

Grand Cayman is known for many things, so it’s not surprising that it’s one of the most desirable vacation destinations for people who want to escape the adverse weather, active schedules, and most of all, the hustle and bustle of the city, suburban or a chaotic life that never slows down. The pristine white sand that covers the famous seven-mile beach is a destination that draws beach lovers from all over the world. The Cayman Islands offer some of the Caribbean’s best scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities, with a range of diving locations and depths that are suitable for everyone from first-time divers to experienced scuba enthusiasts. Each island has unique diving venues that allow divers to experience every type of marine, plant and invertebrate life that lives in the calm, warm waters surrounding all of the islands.

Popular Diving and Snorkeling Sites in Grand Cayman

Snorkeling at Stingray City

Stingray City gets its name from the fleet of southern stingray fish who hang out close enough to the shore that people can look at the clear azure-colored water below as a group of two dozen fearless and friendly stingrays swim around them. Though not domesticated, these majestic looking fish have adjusted to the presence of people, so they aren’t afraid.

Kittiwake

Kittiwake lies 15 feet below the water’s surface at a depth of 64 feet. The former Chanticleer Class Submarine Rescue Ship was actively used between 1945 and 1994. One of its most heroic rescue missions involved assisting the U.S. Coast Guard and other branches of the U.S. military in recovering the Space Shuttle Challenger after the tragic explosion.

It’s trip to the Cayman Islands was an eventful and perilous one that took 9-days as the ship that towed it traveled through a dangerous ice storm. In a ceremonial tribute that included a three canon-salute, the Kittiwake bade farewell to the world as it sank to the bottom of the sea, soon to become a marine habitat for a variety of unusual and colorful creatures who make their home at the Northernmost tip of Seven Mile Beach. Divers can swim through the five decks, enjoying the site (without touching anything) of rare and colorful sea sponges, squirrelfish, sea urchins, and Goliath groupers.

Diving Sites in Cayman Brac

The newest diving attraction in Cayman Brac is the Russian-built ship that was formerly a Cuban naval frigate. The 330-foot vessel known as the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts sank off of the Northwest Coast of Cayman Brac in September of 1996. In the time since it sank, it has already become a habitat for a variety of marine life that enjoys the waters off the coast of Cayman Brac. The M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts is the largest of three dive wrecks that sank off the coast of Cayman Brac.

World-Class Diving Sites in Little Cayman

This island may be known as Little Cayman, but don’t let its name fool you. It is legendary among the world’s diving destinations for some of the most breathtakingly beautiful underwater marine life and coral gardens found anywhere. At Jackson Point and Bloody Bay wall in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, visitors will be awestruck at the site of a sheer coral wall that starts at 20 feet below the surface and plunges to an extraordinary depth of 6,000 feet. The diving site features a huge variety of tropical fish, sea plumes that waver with the water’s moving current, and gorgeous underwater coral gardens.

The mild year-round air and water temperatures, world-class beaches, the variety of water sports and activities along with luxury accommodations and amenities make the Cayman Islands an ideal destination for a family vacation or a romantic honeymoon.

Jun 07 2016

Renew, Heal and escape in Cayman

You vacation in Cayman so that you can luxuriate in all the glorious sun, sand and surf that the island is famous for. Augment those experiences by treating yourself to luxury accommodations that leave your every need anticipated and met — almost before you even know what you want. Staying at the South Bay Beach Club improves your vacation experience while also allowing you to renew, heal and escape while you are in paradise.

Why Stay at South Bay Beach Club?

South Bay Beach Club offers you amenities that you simply will not find anywhere else. At the end of West Bay Road, lies a quiet cul-de-sac. It is there that you will find the paradise that is the luxurious South Bay Beach Club. Situated on the southern end of the world-famous Seven Mile Beach, these villas are fully serviced on a daily basis (with the exception of Sunday) and offer residents and guests exclusive access to an immaculate and powdery-white sand beach that is 175 feet long and 65 feet deep. Chaise lounges and lounge chairs with umbrellas dot the beach, inviting you to enjoy the sun or relax in the shade while still allowing for plenty of room to cavort in the water or walk along the shoreline. A barbeque area nestles invitingly beside the heated pool that lies along the oceanfront.

Villas That You’ll Never Want to Leave

Coupled with the impeccable, friendly and knowledgeable service exhibited by the staff is the wonderful opulence afforded you by the villas at South Bay Beach Club. Each villa offers luxurious appointments to make you feel pampered, relaxed and able to escape the worries of everyday life. Beautifully and tastefully decorated, there are 30 choice villas available at the South Bay Beach Club. Gourmet kitchens, spacious and airy rooms and an open floor plan are amenities shared by all villas.

The lower level villas allow you to enjoy instant access to the heated pool and the crystal-blue ocean waters with its array of tropical fish swimming along the shoreline. Or relax ocean-side in one of two hammocks swinging gently beneath graceful palm trees.
Upper level villas feature screen systems that have been custom-engineered in Germany to allow you to enjoy a seamless experience from your open balcony to a screened enclosure. This unique system allows guests to enjoy expansive views of Seven Mile Beach and the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Sky Yard patios provide guests who stay in the exclusive upper level villas with a unique opportunity to choose between an exhilarating open sky terrace experience or one that offers an enclosure that is fully screened.

Staying in a villa at the South Bay Beach Club during your vacation also offers you easy access to the vibrant city of George Town that lies only five minutes away. There you’ll find entertainment options galore in the form of restaurants, water sports, local shops, night clubs and more. Relax, heal, rejuvenate and escape when you stay at the South Bay Beach Club.

May 31 2016

Golf Courses in Grand Cayman Are Waiting for You

Grand Cayman Island, located just south Cuba and about a 90-minute flight from Miami, is the largest of the Cayman Islands. While the island is best known for its sparkling Seven Mile Beach, its delicious turtle soup recipes and its excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, Grand Cayman is also home to a number of challenging and scenic golf courses. If you’re headed to the Cayman Islands this season, make sure to allow a little time to test your golf skills on one of these island courses.

Best places to play golf on Grand Cayman Island

There are three primary golf resorts on Grand Cayman Island, each with its own unique style and challenges.

Britannia Golf Club. Located along Seven Mile Beach at the Grand Cayman Beach Suites (formerly the Hyatt Beach Suites), the courses at the Britannia Golf Club were designed by Jack Nicklaus and include a nine-hold championship course and an 18-hole, par 57 executive course. The setting here is lovely and the courses feature a number of natural water hazards including the spectacular 5th hole on the championship course, where your tee shot must carry over a portion of the Caribbean Sea. Amenities at the Britannia Golf Club include a bar and grill and a pro shop.
North Sound Golf Course. The only 18-hole championship golf course on Grand Cayman Island, the par 71, 6,605-yard North Sound Golf Course features water views, coconut palms, iguanas and those challenging Tradewinds that always keep play interesting. Amenities at the North Sound Golf Club include a full service practice facility, an open-air bar and a pro shop.
Blue Tips Golf Course. Located at the Ritz Carlton resort, this nine-hole, Greg Norman-designed course hugs the Caribbean coast. This course is reserved exclusively for Ritz Carlton guests and residents, but it might be worth staying at this Seven Mile Beach resort in order to play the challenging course. Amenities and services here include a golf shop, a caddie concierge program and a 19th hole bar and grill. This course also offers a program to encourage young golfers. Those age 15 and younger can play for free during non-peak times in the afternoon when they are accompanied by a (paying) adult. Children can also get free golf instruction at the course pro shop.

To make the most of your Grand Cayman golf experience, it’s a good idea to book your round during the week, when the courses are less crowded. Many courses also offer discounts to resort guests and all provide rental equipment, so you don’t have to lug your clubs with you on vacation. It’s also important to reserve your tee times as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. This is especially true during the peak season between December 15 and April 15.