Where to Stay on Grand Cayman - Cayman Islands - page 64

64 hotel in the Cayman Islands so effectively evokes Europe in the trop-

ics. At its best, this is a richly decorated, sedate, and v ery expensive
architectural fantasy that 's run by a bright, har dworking, and polite
staff. A t its worst, it is bone-chillingly expensiv e, with hidden fees
everywhere, as many visitors are apt to discover upon checkout.
You expect—and get—accommodations with elegant and tasteful
furnishings that remind you of a hotel in an expensive neighborhood
of London. All the r ooms are blissful, but the R esidential Suites are
an especially luxurious collection of two doz en oceanfr ont condos
with large living and dining ar eas and wide terraces.
West Bay Rd., Grand Cayman, B.W.I. & 800/241-3333 or 345/943-9000. Fax 345/
943-9001. www.ritzcarlton.com. 365 units . Winter US$459-US$959 double , from
US$1,100 suite; off season US$299-US$499 double , from US$599 suit e. AE, DC,
MC, V. Amenities: 5 r estaurants, 2 bars; bab ysitting; childr en's pr ograms; c on-
cierge; golf c ourse; health club & spa; 2 out door pools; r oom service; extensive
watersports equipment/rentals. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, movie librar y, CD pla yer,
hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi (free).
The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa Kids After the Ritz,
this is the best-accessoriz ed, most elegant, and plushest r esort in the
Cayman I slands. Well chor eographed and tasteful, this fiv e-story
blockbuster is, b y anyone's standards, a v ery fine and w ell-managed
property. Set directly astride the sands of Seven Mile Beach, the Wes-
tin is filled with ar tfully landscaped gar dens; plenty of facilities,
including a div e shop; and a beautiful o val-shaped swimming pool
that, until it was surpassed in size by one of the pools at the Ritz, was
the largest on G rand Cayman. M ost of the bedr ooms hav e French
doors that open onto priv ate balconies, and conser vative but attrac-
tive furnishings. Units are a bit small for such a luxur y hotel, but are
well equipped and very comfortable; bathrooms are a bit less upscale,
considering the overall elegance of the hotel, but all have marble trim
and oversize tubs. Thanks to the building 's layout in the form of a
giant U, about two-thir ds of the units hav e sea vie ws, a higher per-
centage than at the Ritz-Carlton, although the others simply look out
on the par king lot and West B ay R oad. Ask questions when y ou
reserve to avoid the view of your rental car.
West Bay Rd. (P.O. Box 30620), S even Mile Beach, Grand C ayman, B.W.I. & 800/
937-8461 in the U.S., or 345/945-3800. Fax [phone]. www.westincasuarina.
com. 343 units . Winter US$390-US$550 double , from US$1,050-US$3,150 suit e;
off season US$309-US$529 double, from US$735-US$1,390 suite. AE, MC, V. Ame-
nities: 3 r estaurants, 3 bars; childr en's pr ograms; c oncierge; ex ercise r oom;
outdoor pool; room service; spa. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi (US$13
per day).

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