Why Grand Cayman over other Caribbean Islands?  

• The Cayman Islands are a “Crown Colony” (like Bermuda) that enjoys the political benefits, protection, language, law and tradition of the British Monarchy. We get royal visits and observe British holidays.

• Grand Cayman is a SAFE Island. They have a prison and use it. They have a strong government and enforce the laws. The RCIP constable's residence in the East End District is next door to the Castle Guesthouse.

• Convenient airline flights. There are eight major (and 3-4 other) airlines with 30+ daily direct flights to Grand Cayman. No need to change planes outside the U.S. The most flights are on Saturday, so that is one reason why I try to roll my guests on Saturday. The second reason is that I get my best maids on their day off as well.

• Because of its economic vitality, Grand Cayman enjoys the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. It has the highest GDP per capital, the lowest unemployment rate, and the highest literacy rate in the Caribbean. This all results in a very low crime rate, with no peddlers on the beaches. Prison terms are very harsh for drug trafficking. Handguns are forbidden. Grand Cayman is the 5th largest financial center in the world; behind New York, Tokyo, London and Hong Kong. The foreign people who work here would not tolerate substandard utilities, water, hospitals, telecommunications and grocery stores. Cayman Islands is the richest Country per capita in the Caribbean.

• Grand Cayman is very family-oriented. There are no casinos or “gentleman clubs” that I know of; and I have never even heard the word “prostitution” on the island. You cannot buy a "Playboy" magazine on the island. This results in a safer environment for your family, as those distractions tend to attract “undesirables” from poorer countries.

• A large number (40+) of excellent restaurants located all around the island (www.caymanrestaurants.com)

• Many modern supermarkets that carry a wide variety of items shipped in daily.

• Beautiful beaches/water for snorkeling/diving. Consistently ranked in the top 5 in the world for dive destinations. The island even has 2 competing submarine tour companies (Atlantis & Nautilus), a helicopter tour operator and will have a "Dolphin Interaction Experience" in 2007.

• Many activities. From horseback riding to deep-sea fishing, Grand Cayman offers many activities to its visitors. The Queen’s Botanical Park is a real treat, as well as the mandatory catamaran trip to “Stingray City”, or you could try either a helicopter tour OR a (deep submersible) submarine ride to 1000 ft!!

• The climate varies only 10 degrees (on average) from Winter to Summer, and the constant trade winds keep the humidity low. July/August; while oppressively hot in the eastern U.S.; are very popular months in Grand Cayman, because the high temperatures are in the low 90s, with reasonable humidity and a pleasant breeze! Also; rainfall on the North and East coasts are only about 20" per year, compared to Georgetown, which gets over 40"/year (something about the clouds picking up a lot of evaporative moisture from the mangrove swamps as they travel over the island).

• Personal conveniences include 110V power, US$ acceptance (no currency exchange) and efficient airport customs processing. Additionally, there are at least 10 rental car agencies adjacent to the airport (unlike Bermuda or other islands where you can’t rent a car, and must either use a dangerous moped or expensive taxi). We do, however, drive on the left like the British (easier than you think).

• Modern healthcare facilities. In addition to two modern hospitals in Georgetown staffed predominantly by doctors from Canada, Australia and the U.S.; there is an emergency clinic on the Northside of the island. The clinic also has an ambulance. The hospital also has a hyperbaric chamber (and a back-up) for decompression sickness.