I will never turn down the chance to explore an island. No such thing as too much sun, sand and water for this gal! My tropical experiences have included Mexico, Jamaica, Thailand, Greece, Malta, and the Cayman Islands. This post is dedicated to my most recent island adventure in the Cayman Islands.
The most famous part of the Cayman Islands is Seven Mile Beach on the west end. Its popularity is in part due to its close proximity to the airport and therefore you will be sharing the beach with many other people. While this is not always a bad thing, if you are looking for true relaxation and rejuvenation, venturing out to the eastern end is the way to go. Getting a cab was very easy and the ride took about 45 minutes and cost around $70. Yes, that is a little steep, but you are going to the other end of the island. Side note: this tropical destination is on the more expensive side versus say, Mexico, so budget accordingly.
I spent the week of Labor Day on this beautiful part of earth at the Wyndam Reef Resort. I had time to kill before I started my current job, so of course I needed a getaway! Your choice of hotel is always important, but even more so when you are going to be vacationing on a beach as you usually spend more time on the hotel grounds than if you are in a city. The Wyndam delivered on all fronts and looked exactly as it did online. When I arrived, I was greeted with their signature rum punch welcome drink (of which I would consume many more over the next 6 days!)
I saw about 15-20 guests over the course of the 6 days I was there. Never did I have to fight for a lounge chair or wake up at the crack of dawn to reserve one. There were PLENTY to choose from! The beach was serenely quiet, aside from the crashing waves.
Since the eastern end is away from all the hustle and bustle of seven mile beach there isn’t much nightlife nearby, but I was here with my mom and wasn’t interested in a big scene. This location is ideal for couples, families, solo travel, and a mother-daughter trip. The food at the hotel was pretty was good and the servers were all friendly (I may have eaten the quesadilla more times than I would like to admit!) The grocery and liquor stores across the street helped us curb costs. Our room had a mini kitchen so we prepared some meals on our own. We left the hotel twice to go to a quaint restaurant called Tukka. If you arrange it through the hotel, they will come pick you up and drive you back afterwards. Nice perk! The joint is owned by a couple hailing from Australia and Canada, who met in the Cayman Islands in 2006! I recommend trying the conch fritters and guava glazed salmon.
Our room had a porch and the beach was literally 5 steps away. Waking up to that view was quite the treat! We would drink our coffee each morning watching the waves roll back, hoping the day would never end.
The resort offers snorkel equipment for very reasonable prices. They have a great snorkeling spot right off the dock. I saw so many beautiful fish. We also booked a jet ski tour with the activity center onsite. This is when I truly saw how incredible the water is. Some spots were so crystal blue, it looked fake! We saw the ruins of a shipwrecked boat that crashed into the reef barrier long ago. Our guide also showed up a sunken yacht. It was so eerie to see this large boat right underneath us. On the last night we went on a sunset booze cruise, a perfect way to say goodbye.
Let me know if you are planning a trip here and have any questions!
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 