Cayman Islands Vacation and Travel Tips
When to go
The simple answer to this is - anytime! There are two principal seasons; the ‘rainy’ season, or summer (June – November) and the ‘dry’ season, or winter (December - May). It is generally more humid and wetter in the rainy season; although there are periods when the island is the perfect temperature and completely rain-free. The rainy season also encompasses the months when hurricanes and tropical storms have a greater chance of forming and possibly hitting the islands. Do not be fooled in to thinking that the dry season will be completely rain-free! There is always a chance of rain, but it seldom lasts more than an hour. Water temperatures are also slightly cooler in the dry season. In terms of the tourist trade - the dry season is the high season.
What to take
Considering the size of the islands almost everything you could possibly want or need is available, so bring your flexible friend. The main things to remember are: beach paraphernalia, swimwear, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Unless you are planning to attend a particularly smart event the dress code is smart-casual with an onus on ‘wear what you feel comfortable in’. It is a good idea to pack a light sweater as indoor restaurants and bars can blast the a/c. All sport supplies are catered for on the island and the dive shops are particularly good.
Health and Safety
The Cayman Islands are safe and relatively crime free; take the usual precaution against opportunist crime and you will have a safe and happy holiday. There are very few ‘touts’ that will try to coerce you and as the expression goes, ‘the natives are friendly’.
Important Cultural Information
Christian ministries founded much of the culture of modern Cayman and the islands retain a distinctly Christian ethos. While holidaymakers will always be welcomed to these shores, drugs and weapons of any kind are not tolerated. Get caught with narcotics and your stay here will not be the one you had in mind. Women are required to wear a top to sunbathe and please respect your host nation by wearing appropriate clothing when walking around the streets of George Town. Would you really wonder around the central business area of your hometown in a string bikini with a soggy towel draped around your waist?
Money
The Cayman Islands operate a dual-currency; the Cayman Dollar (you will see it written as C.I but the banking code is KYD) and the US Dollar. The two currencies maintain a fixed rate, $1 Cayman Dollar is worth $1.20 US or $1US is $0.80CI. Both currencies are valid everywhere on the three islands, although change is usually given in C.I. currency. The US dollar is accepted throughout
the islands and as an example, a US$20 note converts to CI$16. Banks do NOT give a better rate of exchange and the rate does not fluctuate! MasterCard, VISA and American Express cards as well as travellers checks are widely accepted. Canadian dollars and pounds sterling can be exchanged for CI dollars at local banks. Automatic Teller Machines accepting VISA and MasterCard with Cirrus affiliation are located at most banks and at the airport. Regular banking hours are 9:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Travelling alone
Travelling alone is a viable option here and will enable you to do what you want to do, when you want to do it.
Families
For a family vacation, it would be hard to make a better choice. There is a huge range of activities for everyone to enjoy and the safety, both on and off the water, will ensure you have a hassle-free vacation and be able to relax and reconnect as a family. Most of the hotels and condos can arrange child-minding services enabling the adults to have a late (or romantic) night out, safe in the knowledge that the children are in capable hands.
Couples
The Cayman Islands are blessed with innumerable romantic spots for couples, whatever your shared or individual passions. Hold hands, take photos, savour the moment but do remember; this is a Christian country and heavy petting is not acceptable in public.
Women Travellers
Unlike some islands in the Caribbean, women travellers are safe. By dressing scantily away from the beach you may attract some unwanted male attention and comments; but if you tell someone to go away, they will. The dancing in clubs can be raunchy and you may have men trying to ‘bump and grind’; again, if they are bothering you - tell them so. In the unlikely event they don’t respect your wishes, appeal to nearby people or bar staff who will come to your immediate assistance. In general, the men in the Cayman Islands – wherever they originate from – are courteous to women. However, this is the modern world and you need to take the basic precautions and leave home armed with common sense. Never put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation and tell people where you are going.
Gay and Lesbian travel
When coming to the Cayman Islands keep your ‘gaydar’ on low, and if you are travelling as a couple you will need to be completely discreet. As a fundamentally Christian society, and not an overly progressive one, homosexuality here is illegal and not tolerated. There are no gay-friendly hotels, resorts, bars or clubs.
Weather
Warm and humid, showing little seasonal variation, the average day
in Cayman is tropically pleasant. Prevailing tradewinds are delightfully
cool in the winter months, and a light sweater may be necessary in those
evenings to remain comfortable. The Cayman Islands lay in the far Western
Caribbean, closer to the equator then some people realise, lying between
latitudes 19° and 20° North. When enjoying outdoor activities,
the sun can be HOT and best advise is to always to wear sun screen,
a shady hat and sunglasses. Please take the sun in small doses to avoid
sunburn.
As a guide, the following outlines our range of temperature through
winter and summer.
Winter - November to April
72°F to 86°F during the day.
64°F to 72°F at night
Water temperature ranges between 78°F & 82°F
Summer - May to October
85°F to 95°F during the day.
73°F to 85°F at night
Water temperature ranges between 82°F to 86°F
Relative humidity varies from 68% to 92%.
The Rainy Season
The rainy season starts in May and lasts through October, the two rainiest
months being May and October and March and April are usually the driest
months. The average annual rainfall is about 46 inches.
The hurricane season runs from June to November and usually peaks
in September and October, but of course, no one can accurately predict
if we'll get a hurricane in any given year. The last hurricanes to directly
impact the Islands were Hurricane Gilbert in September 1988,
Hurricane Michelle in November 2001, and Hurricane Ivan
in September 2004. View our Cayman
Islands Weather section for more details..
Time Zone
The Cayman Islands are in the Eastern Standard Time zone year-round
and do not observe Daylight Savings Time.
We are 5 hours behind Greenwich
Meantime.
Dress Code
Most restaurants require shoes and shirts, and shorts instead of long
pants are generally acceptable. Some of the upscale restaurants may
require slacks for evening dinner. Please do not wear bathing suits
or "skimpy" beach wear beyond the beach or cruise ship. Note
that there are no nude beaches in the Cayman Islands and that public
nudity and topless bathing are prohibited by law.
Voltage
The Cayman Islands use the same electrical standards as the USA -
110 volts, 60 Hz. Most of our electronics and appliances are imported
from the USA, and any travel items such as blowdryers, electric razors
and travel clocks will work.
Taxes
A mandatory Government room tax of 10% is standard and is added
to your room charge. A departure tax of CI$20.00 or US$25.00
per person is normally included in the cost of your airline ticket.
Otherwise, the Cayman Islands do not have: capital gains tax,
Corporation Tax, withholding tax, property tax, payroll tax, or income
tax payable by employees.
Liquor Law - Drinking Age
The legal age for drinking alcoholic beverages on the Cayman Islands
is 18 years. A licensee may lose his license or be fined for serving
alcoholic beverages to any underage person.
Gratuities and Services Charges
Many restaurants will automatically add a charge of 15% to your
total food and drink bill. In this case tipping is not required and
you should check your bill before leaving extra. This 15% is not a legally
enforceable charge and may be declined by you if you feel that the level
of service received was unacceptable. Your food and beverage server
receives only a portion of the gratuity, and you may tip them extra
at your discretion.
Drinking Water
The piped water in the Cayman Islands is completely safe to cook with
or drink. All hotels and condos and most restaurants and private homes
are connected to the city water supply. The water is originally pumped
from the sea and then purified by reverse osmosis. |
