Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and
Cayman Net News,
published Tuesday and Thursday. Available at
most hotels,
What's H ot
is a fr ee monthly magazine gear ed to ward
visitors. Copies of
The M iami H erald
and the
International H erald
Tribune
are available at the big resorts and at most major ne wsstands
in George Town.
PASSPORTS
See “Entry Requirements,” p. 21. Also, see www.from-
mers.com/planning for information on how to obtain a passport.
POLICE
Call
&
911
if you need the police.
SMOKING
Smoking is not r egulated as car efully in the Cayman
Islands as it is in cer tain cities of the U.S. H owever, most hotels, at
least the big ones, set aside some r ooms for nonsmokers. Restaurants
often lack sections set aside for nonsmokers. When being shown to a
table, inform the captain or waiter that y ou want a table as far away
from the smoke as possible.
TAXES
A government tourist tax of 10% is added to your hotel bill.
A departure tax of CI$20 is collected when y ou leave the Caymans,
and this tax is included in y our plane fare. There is no tax on goods
or services.
TELEPHONES
For information on calling the Cayman Islands and
placing international calls while ther e, see “S taying Connected, ”
p. 51. Telephone, fax, and telex ar e offer ed b y
Cable & Wireless
(
&
345/949-7800
) at Anderson Square in George Town.
TIME
U.S. Eastern S tandard Time (EST ) is in effect y ear-round;
daylight saving time is not obser ved. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
is 5 hours ahead of EST, so when it's noon in the Cayman Islands, it's
5pm in London (GMT) and 2am the next day in S ydney.
TIPPING
Most r estaurants add a 10% to 15% charge in lieu of
tipping, so check y our bill car efully. H otels also often add a 10%
service charge to your bill. Taxi drivers expect a 10% to 15% tip .
TOILETS
Public restrooms are found along S even Mile Beach on
Grand Cayman. P ublic facilities can be found at most beaches,
though they ar e few and far betw een and often unpleasant. Visitors
usually use the facilities of the r esorts, although y ou should techni-
cally be a guest or customer (you can always just purchase a soft drink
or a bottle of water).
VISAS
See “E ntry R equirements,” p . 21. Consult
www.cayman
islands.ky
for additional visa information.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisory:
&
202/647-5225
(manned 24 hr .); U.S. Passport Agency:
&
202/
647-0518;
U.S. Centers for D isease Control International Traveler's
Hotline:
&
404/332-4559.
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