http://www.caymanactivityguide.com http://backend.userland.com/rss092 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:14:51 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79567 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5721 Interesting update, considering the last post was over 6 years ago and did not specify sore diving. But I pretty much agree, except the new hot spot of Turtle Reef is at Cayman Turtle Divers. The area around the Cracked Conch and now even spreading to the Lighthouse area is contaminated with runoff from the dolphin parks immediately ajacent. Turtle Reef's condo is at the end closest to Seven Mile Beach and the water is much more clear, with far more sea life. I have been to all three areas within the last 2 years so this is pretty current information, or at least more current than the last post 6 years ago. LOL! Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:06:14 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79565 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2691 When we dove Babylon in 2010, we couldn't find the Queen's Monument. We had to ask some locals for help in finding the pull-off. Wow. What an incredible dive! Yes, it is a long swim, but absolutely worth it. Winter winds keep this dive site off limits most of the time. We dove it in April. Hoping to get a rare Nor wester in a couple weeks so we can get back there... Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:59:47 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79564 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10530 Thanks Char. Can't believe it has been 5 years since my last visit. Went 3 years in a row and then "LIFE" got in the way. Hope everything is as Wonderful as always. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:49:26 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79563 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10531 Both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac have excellent snorkeling..... and diving. Most of my snorkeling is done on the Brac, being that I live here on the north side of the island. Lately we've had a lot of heavy surf due to the persistent wind from the N and NE but the lagoon inside the reef on the south side is always calm enough to poke around in. Wife Bonnie and I like to go in at Carib Sands and snorkel down to Brac Reef resort, where we get a snack (or whatever) and walk back. When we go with friends we use two cars and have transportation back. This is about a 3/4 mile snorkel. There are many other places around the island with easy entry points. Keep in mind that both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac do not have as much sandy beach as Grand Cayman. The Brac also has many caves and nature trails for those interested. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:28:23 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79559 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10501 Next thing it will be Rabbit I think Elmer Fudd is out hunting wabbits right now...! Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:11:50 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79556 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10460 Don't forget Calypso Grill at Morgans Harbour. Call for reservations and ask for outside seating. It is on the ocean. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:23:22 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79555 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10529 I had a really hard time searching that out, too, but I think I finally found it. Looks like it's going to be May 2nd to May 6th, 2012. Looks like a fun time! Char Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:05:54 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79551 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9911 Thanks Noah....I did end up doing my trip report using photobucket...It seems to be easier than it used to be...I didn't even resize Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:49:44 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79539 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10509 It's okay as long as you can pull over so that you're off the road. The road is only 2 lanes there and there is not a lot of extra space, but I'm sure you can find a spot. If you're uncomfortable leave the car in the Kaibo parking lot. noted. Thanks so much!! Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:50:01 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79531 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10513 Welcome to the forum, SpacemanSpiff :lol:, Wow! Your vacation starts in just a couple of days! What fun! The fishing charters are very used to people asking to be paired up with someone else, so no worries there. Why don't you contact Oh Boy Charters.....the link to more information about them is here Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:42:54 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79530 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10510 Hi rafalko, Eden Rock is one of our favorite snorkel spots. You have to swim out quite a ways, and it will seem rather bland along the way. Then you get to the coral heads. Go all the way to the end of the coral heads. The drop (30 or 40 feet to a sand bottom) is great. You will see lots of fish, maybe a turtle or two, have never seen a shark at Eden Rock. If you go in at the Paradise restaurant, you will see lots of big Tarpon. They feed the fish at the restaurant, so the tarpon hang around there. You will also see lots of other fish just off of the entrance ladder. From the cruise ship entrance, if you go the other way around the bay, away from Eden Rock, you can go in the water over around Burger King. Out maybe 150 yards or so, there are buoys for boats to tie up. If cruise ships are in, there will undoubtedly be snorkel boats around the spot. This is a ship wreck that has lots of fish and other neat stuff to see. There is alot of debris on the bottom from the ship. If you are coming in on a cruise ship, don't buy a snorkel tour. There is plenty to see right around the port to stay busy for a whole day. You can also take a bus or taxi north along Seven Mile Beach to Cemetery Beach. This is a wonderful, shady spot with decent snorkeling. You need to swim out quite a ways. There are smaller coral heads, but lots of fish. It is easy to find, it is right behind the Cemetery that is right along the road, and everyone knows where it is. Our introduction to Grand Cayman was coming on a cruise ship eleven years ago, taking a taxi up to Cemetery Beach, and spending the day there. There are no concessions there, so take drinks and a sandwich. Hope this was helpful. Have fun. redoak2 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:45 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79529 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10414 Hurley's in Grand Harbor has an entire section of gluten free food now. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:55:33 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79527 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10512 What I've seen of the Jolly Roger pirate trip is different than the Pirate Encounter thru the ship. I like the kids swabbing the deck and walking the plank. Didn't see that mentioned on the Jolly Roger. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:55:32 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79526 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8655 Is there a Tortuga rum cake shop close to the cruise terminal that takes the discount codes? Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:46:43 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79514 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10508 Loved looking at all those photos!! What's the story about the flip flop (sandals) tree on the South Sound Road? I don't think I've ever seen that before, but I've been on that road lots of times....have to look harder this year! Char Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:03:36 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79512 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10474 We usually see fishermen on the beach area just north of the port. They have a table set up and they'll chop off what you want from their catch. I keep planning on getting some fresh fish but never get around to it. Next trip I will, for sure! DS Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:19:23 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79488 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4467 Yippee! Fixed is good! I look forward to your pix too Shelly :mrgreen: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:31:33 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79487 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10498 Ha Ha, Come Now Brakker my friend. How can we beat the Buffet show at the Marriott on Grand. I guess the closet we could get is having the General sing at the Reef during Happy Hour. Wow night life on the Brac? Come now ye tourists to the Brac and and try your hand at Kareoki one night followed by movie night the next. If that doesnt do it we've got the Submarine Races to watch up at the lighthouse on the east end. See Ya in March. Sorry we missed you in Dec. Swanny Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:03:29 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79477 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10502 If you want to go to the Lighthouse, definitely rent a car for the day. I'm sure it would be cheaper than taking a cab both ways. Then you would have to make some kind of arrangement for the cab to pick you up, because they are not hanging around out there. Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:38:31 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79472 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10503 In the Cayman Islands, the legal drinking age is 18. Although it is legal to have an open container on the beach, discretion is the better part of valor. If staying at a resort or other property that provides food/beverage service, they can prohibit outside food/beverages on their property, so it is advisable to check their policy. It is illegal to carry open containers of alcohol in your car or any public area that isn't zoned for alcohol consumption. Since many places will not serve glass by the pool or beach, please don't bring your own glasses/bottles to the beach. Most importantly, don't even think about driving while intoxicated, as the consequences to all can be severe. Hope you enjoy your vacation and be guided accordingly! :thumb: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:33:02 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79470 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10504 You can snorkel all the way from Discovery Point down to Cemetery Beach and it's decent. We have stayed there the last three years and have not been disappointed with the condo or the snorkeling. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:57:48 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79457 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4675 January 2012 Report on Grand Caymanian Resort. Had another enjoyable stay in a nicely-equipped one-bedroom at the GCR. The resort is reportedly moving out of the Wyndham family and losing the Ramada connection; management is looking at other branding/marketing options, possibly switching to become a Holiday Inn Resort. It is moving away from a timeshare model, more toward hotel and condo rentals. They are no longer actively involved in timeshare sales, just fractional and whole ownership in the new building, but I was assured that our timeshare contract is good for its long-term duration. They are offering assistance with resales of units. My unit this time was 1209A, which worked out well for me for the most part, although it was not among my list of choices in my request. It was kind of midway, without excessive noise from the restaurant exhaust fan that might be an issue in 11 or 13. I prefer to be closer to the water/dock/pool. Nothing has changed in the unit from 3 years ago, but I was told that there are plans to refurb the older units. They allow smoking on the balconies, so that was a small issue for me a couple of times, when the people below lit up stinky cigar-smelling things (which I could see they littered on the ground also). There were a couple of days that there was excessive noise from the room above (at least it wasnt late at night); for the most part, my two-week stay was quiet. The rooms in the new wing have furnishings that are a much better scale for the floorplan, so they are laid out somewhat better, i.e., 2 nightstands in the bedroom. Supposedly, the new units are not available in the timeshare inventory so I wont go into much about them, except that the studio side is a hotel room with two beds, with no studio kitchen (it has a coffee-maker). In spite of the black furniture, the rooms are attractive; the main unit has a full kitchen with stainless appliances. There is no longer a Kids Club, or activities like trivia games (no activity director). There was a small intro snack breakfast with some island info, but no owners update. The Welcome party had no entertainment on 12/26, and had a small band on Jan 2 -- no limbo/fire-eater, like they used to have. There was Karaoke one night (plus on New Years Eve, and they had some fun NYE fireworks). There is now a small convenience store next to the reception desk, and the dive shop is across in the former Kids Club location. There is a small gym (4 machines) next to the dive shop. The dive shop is still doing dive lessons in the swimming pool, and they help with some touring arrangement. They didnt seem to have a regularly scheduled stingray boat trip anymore, but will set people up with one. The jet-ski business does make regular runs out for snorkeling and stingray sandbar. There are a tennis court, volleyball court, bikes, board games, DVDS, books, etc. Full restaurant and bar. Access to island attractions requires having a rental car, using the shuttle, calling a taxi, etc. Most tours provide free pickup for their activities. It's about a 2-mile flat walk to the main drag and beach area (where there is a handy, cheap local bus system). The hot tubs are gone one location is now the new restroom area (a welcome addition) and the other is a charcoal grill set up; the propane grills are gone. I was pleased that there were 3 hammocks up even tho it was quite windy a lot of the time, I do enjoy hammock time. Got different answers about the likelihood of a second pool ever happening. They were putting effort into making a sandy water entry into the Sound, but it looks like a losing proposition. I did go in from the dock ladder, in order to photograph some starfish out there. The new shaded seating area by the dock is nice. The groundskeeping and housekeeping are excellent. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I had no issues that required addressing; everything worked and nothing was missing. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:31:11 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79455 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10496 first I've hear about whales here Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:42:39 -0700 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=79454 http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8370 We booked our car with Economy. They said the activity guide discount was inlcuded. It was lower than Andy's or any of the other places I checked. From reading the other reviews it seems the car rentals there change their prices frequently, depending on how busy it is. Wherever I go I usually get a couple prices from different car rental agencies, and usually find quite a difference between them.