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Which
airlines offer
regular, direct flights
to
Grand Cayman from the
United States -- and from
which cities? |
There are daily flights from Miami (Cayman Airways, American Airlines), Tampa, (Cayman Airways), Atlanta (Delta Airlines), Philadelphia and Charlotte, NC (US Air). As well, there are direct flights from Houston (Continental Airlines) and Chicago (Cayman Airways and United Airlines). Cayman Airways offers three direct flights a week from New York (JFK). And, US Airways has announced a weekly direct flight from Boston every Saturday, beginning on January 12th 2008. JetBlue is to begin direct flights from Boston and New York in November 2012. On June 4th 2017, Southwest Airlines began daily, year-round direct flights from Fort Lauderdale. And on March 2nd 2019, Cayman Airways will begin twice weekly direct flights from Denver, Colorado. |
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Are there direct flights
from elsewhere in the
world (i.e., from
elsewhere
than the USA)? |
There are daily flights from Kingston,
Jamaica (Cayman
Airways). As well, there are a
number of flights a week from London (British
Airways, via Nassau), Havana,
Cuba (Cayman Airways), Montego
Bay, Jamaica (Cayman Airways), La
Ceiba, Honduras (Cayman Airways)
and Toronto, Canada (Air Canada and
WestJet). Cayman Airways began regular,
twice-weekly direct flights to Panama
in May 2012, but cancelled the route
shortly after. |
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How do we get to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman? |
Everyone
generally flies to
the Sister Islands (Little
Cayman and Cayman
Brac) and we don't know of any
accessible sea link -- unless you
charter a boat privately. Island Air
and Cayman Airways are your only options.
Another popular destination for a
"side trip" from Grand Cayman
is Cuba,
with several direct flights a week
on Cayman Airways.
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Do we need to
change money before or
upon arrival -- at a
bank? |
No, US cash, travellers' cheques
and major credit cards are accepted
everywhere on the island, and at the
same exchange rate as at the local
banks. The Cayman Islands dollar (CI$)
is worth US$1.25 -- US$1.00 is worth
CI$0.80. This is a fixed rate, not
subject to currency market fluctuations.
We suggest that you reconvert any
CI$ you have left into US$ before
departing, as not all banks outside
of the Cayman Islands will purchase
our currency. |
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What is the CAN$ worth
in Cayman? |
Consult our website money
converter for
Canadian, US and other
currencies. And,
keep in mind that
there's a slight
advantage in bringing
US$ travellers' cheques
rather than cash --
you'll get CI$0.82
(instead of CI$0.80) for
each US dollar, but only
at a local bank. |
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Do we need adaptors or
transformers for our
electrical devices? |
Not if you're from
the USA or Canada -- all
electrical outlets are
110VAC, 60 cycles. If
you're from elsewhere,
and your devices are
dual-voltage
(110VAC/240VAC), we have
a good selection of plug
adaptors at the Inn that
will work with local
outlets. We
can also lend you a
low-wattage transformer
with which you can use a
number of small,
220-240VAC devices
(e.g., electric razors,
toothbrushes, radios,
phone chargers, etc.). |
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Is it the same
time in the Cayman
Islands and the USA? |
Like the east coast
of the USA (e.g., New
York, Washington,
Miami), the Cayman
Islands are on Eastern
Standard Time (EST),
with no time difference
between October and
April. But, since we
don't adjust our clocks
for Daylight Saving
Time, there is an hour
difference between
mid-April and
mid-October. During
those months, it's an
hour earlier here. |
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Do US citizens have to
have a passport to enter
the Cayman Islands? |
Yes, they do.
Technically, you can enter with
either a sworn affidavit
prepared by a Justice of
the Peace (or Notary
Public), or a birth
certificate along with
photo identification.
But, since January 23rd
2007, the US Department
of Homeland Security
requires that all
travellers re-entering the
US from the Caribbean by
air, carry passports. As
such, unless you're a
legal resident of the
Cayman Islands, the
airlines will not let
you board your flight
from the USA without a
passport. |
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Can we bring alcohol and
cigarettes into the
Cayman Islands? |
To the best of our
knowledge,
all arriving passengers
aged 18 years or older
may bring with them up
to one litre of spirits
or four litres of wine
or one case of beer (not
exceeding eight litres).
They can also bring in
up to two hundred
cigarettes or one
hundred cigarillos or
twenty-five cigars or
two hundred and fifty
grammes of tobacco.
While alcohol is more
pricey here, cigarettes
are actually less costly
on Grand Cayman than in
most US states. |
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Are public holidays the
same in Cayman as in the
USA? |
Although some are the
same, like Christmas,
and of course New Year's
Day, etc., many are
not. There's no
Independence Day,
President's Day, etc.
You can find the official
list of holidays at
the website of the
Cayman Islands
government. Supermarkets
are closed on Christmas
Day, New Year's Day and
Good Friday. Opening
hours are limited on all
other public holidays,
from 9:00am to 6:00pm
(instead of the normal
7:00am to 11:00pm. |
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Do you recommend renting
our own
vehicle
a car
or jeep? |
We're certain that
you'll get more out of
your vacation with your
own vehicle -- and save
money as well! There's
really no other way to
fully explore the island
and have access to the
full range of
restaurants, including
the more
reasonably-priced ones.
Grocery shopping at the
supermarkets is
difficult without a car.
And, renting one for
pick-up right at the
airport is simple and
affordable, given the
discounted rates we've
negociated. Other than
the fun of open-air
driving, there's no need
for a jeep -- roads are
good, there are no
mountains, and driving
on the beach is illegal. |
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Do we need a
local driving permit? |
Yes, but getting one
is just a formality. The
car rental agency will
issue you a temporary
driving permit for about
US$20.00 (per driver),
simply upon presentation
of a valid driving
permit from your home
country. It's valid for
six months, and no
driving test is
required. |
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Anything to rent
on two wheels, like a
moped, scooter, or bike? |
Yes, they are
available. We don't have
rates posted at our
website and don't
recommend them because
of safety concerns --
there's a high incidence
of serious accidents
involving tourists on
scooters. And, although
we have had guests
who've arrived with
their own bicycles and
survived some
long-distance biking on
the island, there are no
cycle paths, quite a bit
of truck traffic, and
most roads have just one
lane in each direction. |
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Are taxis a viable
alternative to renting a
car? |
Taxis are available,
particularly at the
airport, but phoning for
one from elsewhere can
be frustrating. And cab
fare is very pricey. At
about US$45 fare from
the airport to the Inn
(one way), renting a car
for the whole day will
cost you considerably
less during low season
-- and a couple of
dollars more during high
season. |
Is there
regular bus service on
Grand
Cayman? |
Public
transportation is fairly
efficient during working
hours, with buses
usually every 30 minutes
and a bus stop right
next to the Inn. The bus
from the Inn will take
you to the central
terminus in George Town,
with a transfer and
additional fare required
to go on to anywhere
along Seven Mile Beach.
But service is limited
to the island's main
road, and sporadic
during evenings and
weekends, with no
service to the airport. |
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Can we be
picked-up
at the airport? |
We regret that we can't.
Hotels are prevented
from picking up guests
at the airport by local
regulations adopted to
protect island taxi
drivers. And, the public
transportation system
does not include the
aiport. Other than a
taxi, the only option is
a rental car. |
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Can we use our own cell
phone while in the
Cayman Islands? |
Some guests with a
wide-range roaming or
satellite-based service
have been able to use
their phones, but you're
best to check ahead with
your cell service
provider. If it doesn't
work here, you'll have
to go to a local phone
company for connection
and buy a "Pay as You
Go" phone card sold in
various denominations.
Of course, your best bet
is to leave your phone
at home -- and check out
our "World Phone" plan
(see link far left). |
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Does a vacation in the
Cayman Islands have to
be very expensive? |
Although Cayman does
tend to be a more
"upscale" tourist
destination, you don't
have to be wealthy to
vacation here. Once
you've shopped around
for affordable airfare, choose
reasonably priced
accommodations with a
kitchen (like our Inn).
Even if you dine out in
the evenings, you'll
save a lot on
breakfasts, lunches,
drinks and snacks. If
your holiday period is
flexible, check out our
"Package Specials" and
"Late Summer/Fall
Rates". |
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What's the weather like
on Grand Cayman what about hurricane season? |
The weather here is
typically sunny, warm
and beautiful, all
year round. It's
hottest between mid-July
and mid-September, and
it's rarely below 80°F
during even "winter"
days, when evenings can
drop as low as 70°F.
There's usually little
rain, even during the
rainy/hurricane season
(June 1st to October
31st). With a couple of
(serious) exceptions,
hurricanes this century
have been very rare. If
visiting between August
and October, you might
consider travel
insurance, to cover the
cost of both airfare and
hotel. |
