Grand Cayman - (by Robbie Bush.) We left Lafayette using Delta Airlines to fly to Grand Cayman via Atlanta. Atlanta airport was not clearly marked with Gate information, and there was no gate information on our boarding pass.The airport in Grand Cayman was very small but there was a band playing upon arrival,which gave a tropical feel. The taxi fare to the hotel is a standard fee, about $25.00, but the drive through Grand Cayman was not as pretty as some Caribbean destinations.
We stayed at the Ritz and it was typical Ritz service. We had a more inexpensive resort view room but it was still nice – all except for the 7am leaf-blowing service…unfortunately. The hotel had several good restaurants and someone from the hotel escorts you to your room and explains the services, experiences and features provided. This is excellent if you enjoy full service resorts. The Ritz property is very large and the hotel beach is not private so it's extremely busy, not recommended if you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation. However, there is great service provided at the beach, anything you could ask for – and not much more expensive than anything on offer at a large hotel.
American Dollars are accepted there, as well as the local currency – exchange rate is approx $1.25 to the Cayman dollar. There are not many places that you are able to walk to and when there is a cruise influx, the town itself becomes crowded; this did not affect the Ritz and their beach but could be a problem closer to where the cruise ships dock. Grand Cayman has a number of excellent restaurants, as well as fast food options that Americans would be used to. It is not as visually pleasing an island as some of the other Caribbean destinations and it does not afford as many of the self-contained shopping opportunities as somewhere like St. John’s, for example, so you really need to be aware of what you are looking for from your Caribbean vacation to avoid disappointment.