Condo? Resort? Villa? Which Island?
Choose your accommodations based on your vacation lifestyle

Selecting the property that best suits your vacation lifestyle is the single most important decision you will make in ensuring the ultimate, rewarding and memorable vacation that you deserve. .We are here to help. Call us at: 345-947-5431 or email and we will be happy to offer recommendations based on your individual preferences and budget.

Selecting your type of accommodation and the specific area of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman or Cayman Brac is the single most important decision you will make in ensuring a perfect Cayman Islands vacation.

Matching your vacation lifestyle to the appropriate accommodation is tantamount to realizing the utmost satisfaction and value from your vacation. Selecting the correct of three Cayman islands and most appropriate accommodations to suit your particular vacation preferences will provide the greatest satisfaction for your individual preferences, thus ensuring the most perfect vacation experience possible.

We have already screened the properties for you so anything included in our Hotel Search is among the absolute best of its kind. Now We’ll try to help you decide which island and type of property is right for you, to ensure the utmost value and satisfaction from your precious vacation time and dollars.

Find the category that best suits your particular interests and overall vacation lifestyle and you will be well on your way to discovering your perfect vacation accommodations. We started with diving preferences because the Cayman Islands are among the top 10 dive destinations in the world. However, the order is random and the Cayman Islands offer something for everyone, regardless of what your individual preferences, needs, budget and vacation lifestyle may be.

I. Serious Dedicated Divers:
Most seasoned divers take pictures and choose a tropical destination to capture the maximum amount of the most diverse underwater images possible. Serious dedicated divers and underwater photographers who are coming primarily for the ultimate dive experiences and most spectacular underwater images will derive the greatest satisfaction by staying at Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman. If you’ve already stayed there and want to try something different, consider the Brac Reef Resort on Cayman Brac. Bar none, these options will expose you to the widest variety of the most consistently magnificent dives in all of the Cayman Islands, if not the entire Caribbean. Even beginner divers will realize the greatest satisfaction from the shallow wall tops starting in the 15 foot range, compared to the 40-60 foot average starting depths of Grand Cayman's walls. Besides providing much longer bottom time for taking pictures, even your safety stops will be prolonged periods of extraordinary diving and photo opportunities, all within the shallow depths of 10-20 feet.

The down side to Little Cayman is lack of diversity of activities, fine restaurants and diverse attractions, which can all be enjoyed on Grand Cayman. The perfect compromise being a vacation with time divided between two islands, providing the ideal "best of both worlds" Cayman Islands vacation experience.

II. Fairly Serious Divers:
Diving is very important but diversity of fine dining and other attractions are also essential considerations. You want to experience an abundance of outstanding diving but you or other family members also have varying priorities, such as diverse gourmet meals, land and water activities, shopping and sightseeing. For a central location, convenient to stores, restaurants, shops and closer to the main attractions, chose any of our Seven Mile Beach resorts or condos and book a dive package with one of our recommended dive operations. You will still experience dramatic wall dives, shallow reefs, shipwrecks and outstanding shore diving, while enjoying the fine dining experiences and diversity of activities and attractions that Grand Cayman offers.

III. Serious snorkelers:
You do not dive but snorkeling is a high priority. This leaves you with many options because there are so many wonderful snorkeling locations all around Grand Cayman. We hesitate to encourage you to make your decision based solely on what snorkeling conditions to expect at any single location because they often change; so let's break this down a little further.

1). If you want to be close to what is usually considered to be the best snorkeling along Seven Mile Beach and a few rocks along an otherwise expansive white sand beach shoreline do not bother you, then Treasure Island Condos, George Town Villas or Grandview Condos would all be the perfect choice. Besides being in prime Seven Mile Beach snorkeling locations, they are walking distance to both George Town and many of the shops and restaurants along Seven Mile Beach. They have beautiful white sand beaches but the conditions are slightly rocky as you first enter the water - this is precisely what makes the snorkeling conditions so favorable; the reef is very close to shore and there are lots of places for fish and other marine life to inhabit. Seven Mile Beach is also in the free pickup area for all of our recommended dive operations, Stingray City tours, Snuba, Helmet Diving, Atlantis Submarine Adventures and an array of other recommended tours and activities that offer free pickup and drop off.

2.) If you prefer a more remote location with generally superb snorkeling nearby and prefer relaxation to a large variety of nearby activities and fine restaurants, a private home or condo in Northside may be a better option. This would also place you close to Rum Point, Botanical Park, Blow Holes and many other popular Northside and East End attractions. You will receive discount rates for all the finest Northside and East End private homes and condos through our Hotel Search.

IV. White Sandy Beach:
Many people simply want a beautiful spacious white sand beach with either condo amenities or the luxury of a resort. The general rule of thumb is if you want to cook most of your own meals and need a little extra space, a condo is best suited to you. If you want to be completely pampered and eat out at some of the finest restaurants in the world, a resort experience in Grand Cayman will provide exactly that.

1.) If you have decided that a condo is best suited to your vacation priorities, the next step is choosing the right location and price range. For Seven Mile Beach, we have broken the condos down into three distinct categories – each representing the absolute highest condo value, after performing an extensive analysis of every condo on Seven Mile Beach.

2.) If you prefer a quiet, remote, peaceful vacation with beautiful sandy beaches and planning on spending most of your time at or near your resort or condo, use our Hotel Search and select one of our recommended condos at the north end of Seven Mile Beach: Discovery Point or The Anchorage; or a private oceanfront home or condo in East End or Northside by selecting CaymanVillas or Northside Properties. Either of these locations will provide the ultimate tranquility, much like an island unto itself. If you also plan on percolating in a few activities and doing a few dives, then you may be better off on Seven Mile Beach; even the north end properties of Seven Mile Beach are within the free pickup zone of many of our recommended dive and activity operations.

3.) If you prefer to be close to town and experience the least traffic and doing a wide variety of activities and dining at the most highly valued restaurants possible, stay at our recommended north Seven Mile Beach condos: Grandview, George Town Villas or Treasure Island Condos.

4). If you don't mind a little congestion and possible construction noise, you can experience the best of both worlds at either the most luxurious and upscale or most highly affordable properties on the island. Stay in central Seven Mile Beach at the ultra modern Meridian or the very affordable Villas of the Galleon.

V. Resort Options:
If you have decided that a resort is best suited to your vacation priorities, the next step is establishing a budget and location. For the most affordable resort options, consider Comfort Suites, Courtyard Marriott or Sunshine Suites. Comparably priced, they offer completely different experiences.

1.) Sunshine Suites: Located directly across the street from the beach, but still close enough to offer ocean-view rooms. They offer very reasonable rates with full resort amenities and a complete Sunday brunch and dinner show once a week. The rooms are fairly large and very clean. They have a large pool in a beautiful garden setting. The building is only a few years old and very modern with easy parking. Their beach is not a cruise ship drop off point so you are assured of tranquility. This resort is near central Seven Mile Beach, making it is walking distance to many recommended restaurants, clubs, bars, lounges, etc.

2.) Courtyard Marriott: Situated directly across from the beach but so close that most of the rooms provide a full ocean front experience. They offer very reasonable rates with full resort amenities and a complete Sunday brunch and dinner show once a week. Their daily and Sunday brunches are among the most popular and affordable on the entire island. They also offer live music several nights of the week featuring some of the most popular musical acts in the Cayman Islands. Their rooms are fairly large and very clean. They have a spacious beautifully landscaped pool in a beautiful garden setting and a beach bar with full beach amenities. The building is only a few years old and very modern with easy parking. This resort is near the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, making it too far to walk to many establishments. However, they are close to many of the most popular and highly rated West Bay dive sites and restaurants and are within the free pickup zone of our recommended dive, snorkel and other activity operators.

3). Comfort Suites: Located in the heart of Seven Mile Beach, directly on the beach, however most of the rooms are not ocean-view. Their beach is not crowded and located about 50 yards away. Although they do not provide beach services, the Marriott is immediately adjacent and allows outside guests to use their many beach facilities. They offer spacious rooms with kitchens and full resort amenities. Stingers is their pool bar, home of the famous Stingers Luau show and many drink and food specials nightly. They offer a free continental breakfast daily, which many rave about, especially the do it yourself fresh batter waffles. There are many recommended restaurants, stores and things to do within walking distance. The entire resort was recently remodeled so everything is virtually brand new.

In summary of the three most affordable, Courtyard Marriott and Sunshine Suites have more of a resort feel, while Comfort Suites has the advantage of larger rooms and cooking capability. You will not find any better resorts in the Cayman Islands in these price ranges with your Hotel Search discount so it is completely a matter of your personal needs and preferences.

4). The Marriott Beach Resort: The absolute best resort value in a mid-level price range. Please take a minute when you have time and look at the pictures and reviews for this incredible property. They offer every conceivable resort amenity at a much lower cost than most comparably equipped resorts. The entire resort is brand new as of 2005 and right in the heart of Seven Mile Beach. For anyone considering a mid-level resort option on Seven Mile Beach, there is no comparison.

5). Cayman (formerly Hyatt) Beach Suites: The ultimate resort option. Everything is first class, from their beach to their swim up bar to their world class award winning restaurants. All rooms are full suites with kitchenettes and you will be pampered with every conceivable amenity. They are designed in such a way that every room offers a stunning ocean view and located right in the heart of Seven Mile Beach. Give them a try, you will be surprised at how affordable a truly luxury resort experience can be.

VI. Limited Budget:
Although the Cayman Islands are not generally recognized as a budget destination, there are options available for the well informed visitor traveling on a very tight budget.

1). Turtle Nest Inn: The lowest priced resort on the island. Although not a full resort with spa and room service, it does have somewhat of a resort feel and an extremely friendly staff. They are situated in tranquil Bodden Town, directly on the ocean beside a fresh water sea side pool. The grounds are well landscaped and away from all of the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach. They have an extremely dedicated repeat clientele and it is not uncommon for them to be fully booked for up to six months in advance. If budget is your primary concern, you should contact them at your earliest possible convenience through our Hotel Search.

2). Shangri-La: Bread and Breakfast extraordinaire! For as little as $119/night you can enjoy a room in a peaceful lakeside retreat and that even includes a complete breakfast. Only 3 miles from the west end of Seven Mile Beach, you are in an island unto itself, yet only a very short drive to many of the finest restaurants and attractions located in West Bay. With rates already too low to discount, Activity Guide members receive a free welcome gift. This property is also ideal for wedding parties and other groups booking far enough in advance to secure the entire property for themselves, thus turning a quaint Bread and Breakfast into an affordable private lakeside mansion!

No matter what your vacation needs, preferences or budget, The Cayman Islands have something to fulfill them. Matching your vacation lifestyle to your accommodations is the single most important factor in insuring a perfect vacation; once you have done that, you are well on your way to the most rewarding and memorable vacation you have ever experienced.

Activity Guide members receive special discounts and perks at Cayman's finest properties
Note: FREE forum registration required for special group discounts

Activity Guide's Extensive Property Evaluation Process

Like everything recommended by Activity Guide, we go to great lengths to offer our readers and members only what we consider to be the absolute highest valued properties in the Cayman Islands. Selection criteria is entered into a database where each property is assigned a point value for every important parameter. We then sort the most highly rated properties into a diverse range of sections to derive the highest ranked properties in all areas of the island in varying price ranges. This ensures the broadest possible selection of the most highly ranked properties.

Our evaluation parameters include:

1. Air Quality
   Ceiling fan placement
   Air conditioning temperature range
   Dehumidification capabilities
   Exterior environment
   
2. Sound Quality
   Insulation of adjacent units
   Environmental sound levels
3. Water quality
   Water pressure
   Purity of water
   Number of faucets
   Temperature and availability of hot water
   Bathing and showering options
4. Construction
   Age and overall integrity
   Design and convenience of layout
   Available space per specified number of occupants
5. Location
   If secluded, amount of neighboring dwellings and local congestion
   If central, number of establishments within walking distance
6. Beach
   Availability of beach amenities
   Amount and quality of sand
   Ease of access to ocean
7. Snorkeling
   Quality and distance to reef and sea life
8. Rates
   Overall value compared to similarly priced properties
   Cancellation policy
9. Staff
   On site management
   Attentiveness to guests needs
   Accuracy of book keeping
   Response time during booking phase
10. Cultural Appeal
    Uniqueness to Cayman Islands
    Overall feel of representing the culture and heritage of the Cayman Islands
11. Landscaping
    Beauty and design
    Capturing the essence of the Cayman Islands natural environment
    Shaded areas
    Wildlife
12. Security
    Availability of security staff
    Integrity of window and door locks
    Exterior lighting
    Alarms, cameras and other deterrents
13. Food
    Quality of food and room service; or
    Walking distance to grocery store

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