Staying in Northside or East End - Important Things to do Beforehand

Newbie Joined: 08 Mar 2009 Posts: 9 Location: PA

[color=Does anyone have any suggestions of items that hubby and I might need to pick up when we arrive at the airport before we go to our hotel on the East End? I'd hate to get there and wished I'd had picked something up. This is all a little new hubby and I have been married with children for 27yrs and this is our first trip alone, I just want it to be perfect[img]images/smiles/icon_smile1.gif[/img]Thanks][/color]

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject:

woodyisland52,

We usually stop at one of the larger grocery stores on tehe way out of town and stock up on whatever is appropriate for the kitchen facilities we will have in the lodging we've reserved. We also pick up incidentals such as sunscreen if we haven't packed them.

There is a mini-mart right near the Reef, as well as a mini-liquor store, too, for anything you run out of.

DS

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

Welcome woodyisland52 - I just want to add that you will save a fortune on your liquor and rum cakes by taking a few minutes to stop at Tortuga's main facility right next to the airport.

You will find Tortuga's main facility clearly listed on our George Town Map when you arrive or you can view it online whenever you like.

Have a wonderful vacation!

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject: First Time East Enders

What a great forum to find but unfortunately to close to our trip. We arrive in your great paradise from our cold NC Outer Banks coast on Easter Sunday. I was wondering since we are staying on the East End at Marrott's and renting a car if there were any suggestions on scheduling our activities. Bringing the 5 and 8 year old with their new snorkeling equipment and boy are they excited about the stingrays. I just don't want to miss anything. Also someone told me that the grocery store across from our resort is closed on Sundays. Is that true. Thanks.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

bstrickland,

Welcome to the CAG forums!

At least you found this before you left. There is still time to take advantage of the recommendations and savings.

As for things to do, check out this link to the CAG's List of Cool Things To Do. I've creatively named it, "CAG's List of Cool Things To Do"...CAG's List of Cool Things To Do. Wink

I would place money on the fact that the store on the East End will be closed, especially since it is Easter Sunday.

Feel free to scour the forums for other ideas. The trip reports are always a good source of ideas, you can find them here...Link to Trip Reprts.

As always, please take photos and post a trip report. We rely on them to get us through the all too long periods between our Cayman Trips!

DS

Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

bstrickland,
Staying at Morritts? We are arriving from NC on the same day for a week at Morritts with our 8 and 10 year old boys. It will be our second trip with the kids and we did alot the first time. Take a look at my post (TheJackson4) or respond through the forum. Hope to see you there!

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:50 am Post subject:

Wow! What a coincidence that is! You'll probably be on the same plane!

bkstrickland, here is thejackson4's other post that she/he was referring to -

Thought I'd make it easier for you to find......it's on the fourth page of that topic.

Char

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: A few more questions

I was wondering if anyone has heard of Red Sail Sports? Morritts has them on their website for snorkeling trips to SRC. I have read a lot on the forum about SOTOs but they are on the other end of the island. I wondered if it was worth hauling the whole family over to SMB to go with SOTOS instead of the folks at our resort. I looked at the cruise ship schedule and the only good days for us is the end of our trip on the 17th and 18th when no ships are in port. We want to go to Boatswains and spend the day as well. Any other good spots on the East or North End for snorkeling? And last question for now - good places to eat out for us with the kids? Read good things about Lighthouse and Portofino. Thanks for all your help. I know there will be more to follow before we leave.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Welcome bstrickland,

I'd go with Soto's they come highly recommended! I have a family of 5, my choices would be Coconut Joe's, Aqua Beach or Eats. They are great and affordable. The list could go on and on!!!

Tracy "Island Girl"

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

Brian and Jeanine,

It might be a nice trip to plan on spending the day on SMB and in George Town and doing SRC with Soto's. If you're gonna drive into town, you might as well maximize your effort and get in several things!

If my memory serves me correctly, Soto's has a very good safety record, better than some other operators. Especially with the children that'd be a definite plus. I'll paste below an excerpt from an earlier post by char speaking about this.

DS

"I think what you say about Red Sail being notorious for packing their boats and not really counting heads when the people get back on board is probably true....last year, when we went to Sting Ray City with Soto's, the crew told us that they pick up stranded Red Sail snorkelers ALL the time.....they were joking about how common it occurs.

As far as this latest unfortunate incident......it sounds like the trip was along the 7 Mile Beach on Wednesday. We actually had to cut our vacation short, due to a family emergency back home, and so we came home on Wednesday. We walked the beach in the morning, and the seas were still pretty rough.......must have been some tough snorkeling for anybody. A Nor'Wester had come through the day before, and Wednesday was definitely calmer, but not great. The dive boats had been down on the South Side for three days and were hoping to be diving west on Wednesday, but we didn't see any on our walk.

Even if the water was calm enough that day to go snorkeling along the 7 Mile Beach, it must have been so churned up from the day before, that there wouldn't have been much to see.....

Char"

Newbie Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

You are smart to look at the cruise ship schedule Wed on looks good. We did SOTOs on our last visit with the kids and I would recommend - they made SRC fun. You will definitely need to spend time all over the island - this site will give you good snorkeling locations. We are excited about trying one right off Morritts and look forward to seeing you there-
Diane and Andrew Jackson

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:06 am Post subject:

Don't forget that the docks on the east end resorts are excellent snorkeling opportunities. Many schools of fish and a few barracudas and tarpon make them their home.

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