Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Accommodations with kitchens are available on all the islands. Some
are individual cottages, others ar e condo complex es with swimming
pools, and some are private homes that owners rent out while they're
away.
In the simpler rentals, you do your own cooking and laundry and,
in a few cases, your own housekeeping. This may not be your idea of
a good time in the sun, but it saves money—a lot of money. The sav-
ings, especially for a group of three to six people, can range from 50%
to 60% of what a hotel would cost. G roceries are sometimes priced
35% to 60% higher than on the U.S. mainland, as nearly all food-
stuffs have to be imported, but even so, preparing your own food will
be a lot cheaper than taking all y our meals at restaurants.
Most villas, condos, and cottages hav e a staff , or at least a maid
who comes in a few days a week, and they also provide the essentials,
including linens and house wares. M any places (though not all)
include maid ser vice and fr esh linens in the price. Condos usually
come with a r eception desk and ar e often comparable to a suite in a
big r esort hotel. N early all condo and villa complex es hav e pools
(some more than one). Like condos, villas range widely in price and
may begin at US$750 per w
55
eek for a modest one and go o
ver
US$50,000 a week for a luxurious one.
You can also r ent a lavish priv ate home. You'll spend a lot of
money, but you'll be staying in the lap of luxury in a prime beachfront
setting, usually with maid ser vice (though y ou may need to arrange
this in advance).
Approach all these r ental properties with a cer tain sense of inde-
pendence. There may or may not be a fr ont desk with someone to
answer y our questions, and y ou will most likely hav e to plan y our
own waterspor ts activities and ex cursions. Always ask when y
2
ou
book.
Make your reservations well in advance. We've listed a few agencies
that rent condos, villas, and private homes throughout the Caymans.
You can also ask each island 's tourist office for suggestions on r ental
agencies. B elow ar e some additional r esources for condo and villa
rentals throughout the Caymans.
•
Cayman Villas,
177 Owen Roberts Dr., Grand Cayman (
&
800/
235-5888
in the U.S., or 345/945-4144; www.caymanvillas.com),
is a booking agency that specializ es in renting more than 100 pri-
vate beachfront homes and condos on all three islands. The proper-
ties range fr om cozy studio cottages to large villas that hav e as
many as fiv e to sev en bedrooms. Some properties have the added
luxury of a priv ate pool or a maid, and sometimes ev en a cook.
Most of the rentals have kitchenettes, Internet access, a washer and
