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There are so many elements that attract visitors to the Cayman Islands: the sun, the endless beaches, some of the best diving seas in the world, the seclusion and of course the absolute tranquility of the islands. The Cayman Islands offers visitors the opportunity to appreciate the beauty and the absolute simplicity of nature.
The Cayman Islands which are situated 290km (180 miles) northwest of Jamaica, consist of three islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. These three British-dependent islands are the limestone caps of the submerged Cayman mountain ridge which runs from Cuba in the direction of the Gulf of Honduras. Even though the islands are grouped together, each has its own atmosphere from the busy, commercial character of Grand Cayman to the more serene, laid-back feel of the two sister islands.
Amongst the devoted scuba divers and snorkelers, there is no argument about the exquisite underwater life that the islands beholds. 'Out of this world' is definitely a phrase to describe the experiences that range from diving off the shore reefs and vertical walls adorned with corals, to exploring numerous wrecks and finally to swimming with the stingrays at Stingray City. But, even if you are not a diver, the beauty below the waterline can still be appreciated from the Atlantis Submarine that descends 36m (120ft) down to explore the reefs.
There is little doubt that the Cayman Islands is the most perfect destination in the Caribbean. Not only is it one of the top dive destinations in the world, it is also known for the great fishing and the abundance of tuna, wahoo, bonefish, tarpin and blue marlin in its waters. But, even without these attractions, the pure physical beauty of the islands is enough to lure travellers from far and wide.
If you want to learn how to scuba, there’s no better spot than the birthplace of recreational diving. These three balmy isles in the British West Indies are ringed by more than 200 dive sites, but if you don’t want to take the plunge, you can get a good view of the briny blue from a boat (water visibility is 200 feet). Grand Cayman, the largest, is home to the eco-correct Cayman Turtle Farm, ethnic restaurants (Thai, Tex-Mex), the graceful Queen Elizabeth Botanic Park, and adventurous Stingray City, where you can touch, feed, and photograph the critters. Capital city George Town teams with duty-free shops, fine dining, and cute cafés. For deluxe resorts head to gorgeous Seven Mile Beach, the island’s showpiece. Also of interest is the village of Hell: favorite destination for buying T-shirts and mailing postcards.
On Cayman Brac, the second-largest island, there’s a massive 140-foot bluff (brac means “bluff” in Gaelic), pirate caves, nature trails, exotic flora, and outstanding bird-watching at Brac Parrot Reserve. The smallest sister is Little Cayman (12 square miles; population 150), home to mangroves, iguana-crossing signs, bike trails, and world-class fishing. Don’t miss its famous 6,000-foot dive site, Bloody Bay Wall. The Westin Casuarina Resort is a beaut: 343 sumptuous rooms (marble baths, balconies) smack on 700 feet of Seven Mile Beach. At its freshwater pool, the largest on Grand Cayman, there’s a fabulous swim-up bar serving funky frozen drinks like Swingin’ Monkey Cayman Swirl. The on-site Red Sail Sports outlet can arrange anything that has to do with the water, and the two restaurants and three lounges make for a relaxed nightlife. Doubles from $390; 800-937-8461 or westincasuarina.com. Located on the best, broadest, whitest stretch of beach on Cayman Brac, Carib Sands Beach Resort also overlooks a peaceful lagoon. Since it’s a condo-style hotel, the cheerful apartments (white wicker, tropical prints, full kitchens) feel utterly private, but you’ll get maid service upon request. Doubles from $185; 800-791-7911 or caribsands.com. Little Cayman Beach Resort is the island’s only deluxe resort, with spacious rooms opening onto a balcony or patio, some with spectacular ocean views. Book a treatment at the spa (try the “Skindulgence”), sip a planter’s punch at the beach bar, and dine alfresco at Bird of Paradise Restaurant. The dive shop offers scuba classes, but privacy-seekers should rent a kayak and paddle over to deserted Owen Island. All-inclusive doubles from $904; 800-327-3835 or littlecayman.com.
Time
The Cayman Islands are five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The islands are on the US Eastern Standard Time throughout the year and do not change to daylight-saving time in April.
Tourist Offices
Travel inquiries can be made at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism on Grand Cayman.
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
The Pavillion
The Cricket Square
Elgin Avenue
PO Box 67
George Town
Grand Cayman
BWI
Tel. 1809-94-90623
Fax. 1809-94-94053
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has representatives abroad:
Cayman Islands Government Office and Department of Tourism
6 Arlington Street
London
SWIA IRE
United Kingdom
Government Office:
Tel. 44-0171-4917772
Fax. 44-0171-4917944
09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
Department of Tourism:
Tel. 44-0171-4917771
Fax. 44-0171-4097773
09:30 to 17:30 Monday to Thursday
09:00 to 17:00 on Friday
Cayman Islands Department of Toursim
Suite 2733
420 Lexington Avenue
New York
NY
10170
Tel. 1-212-6825582
Fax. 1-212-9865123
The Cayman Islands also has tourism offices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami.
Cayman Islands Department of Toursim
Travel Marketing Consultants
Suite 306
234 Eglinton
Avenue East
Toronto
Ontario
M4P IK5
Tel. 1-416-4851550
Fax. 1-416-4857578
Visas & Passports
A valid passport is required by anyone travelling to the Cayman Islands except US, British and Canadian citizens, who must show proof of nationality and a return or ongoing airline ticket to prove that they will leave the islands within a six month period. Passports must be valid for the total duration of the stay.
Any visitor travelling via the USA to the Cayman Islands will require a US visa, except participants in the Visa Waiver Scheme. A Caymans Island visa is required by all visitors except those from Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA, Japan and other EU countries. Other exceptions include nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, India, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Soloman Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Western Somoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visitors intending on conducting business in the Cayman Islands will not require a visa, but rather a temporary working permit.
There is a departure tax of USD10.00.
Customs
Visitors who are 18 years and over are permitted to bring in certain duty-free goods. These include either one litre of alcohol, four litres of wine or one case of beer which must not exceed eight litres and 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 225 grams of tobacco. Books and camera equipment are viewed as duty-free items.
It is illegal to bring into the Cayman Islands any kind of illegal drugs including marijuana (ganja). Anyone found to be in possession of such goods face arrest and prosecution by local authorities. Firearms, spearguns, live plants and raw fruit and vegetables are also prohibited.
Pets may only be brought into the country if the necessary permit has been granted by the Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture.
Money
The Cayman Islands currency is the Caymans Islands Dollar (CID). One dollar = 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of CID100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 and coins in denominations of 25 cents, 10, 5 and 1 cent.
The exchange rate between the CID and the USD is fixed. CID1.00 equals USD1.25 or USD1.00 equals CID.80. The US currency circulates freely in the islands and therefore there is no need to convert US dollars into local currency. But, when exchanged , the US dollar is exchanged at a rate of 80 cents (Cayman Islands). Other currencies such as the Canadian dollar and pounds sterling can be exchanged for the local currency at all local banks.
There are also several Automatic Teller Machines accepting VISA and Mastercard with Cirrus affiliation at the Cayman National Bank and other banks as well as at Owen Roberts International Airport.
Business Hours
Most shops and businesses are open from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. Shops and businesses are closed on Saturday afternoons.
Transport
Transportation within and between the three islands is excellent. Various flights connect Grand Cayman with Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Public transport is severly limited on the islands , but on Grand Cayman, there are plenty of motorscooters, bicycles, cars and taxis to hire. A person must be 21 years of age to hold a driver's licence. All driving takes place on the left hand side of the road and speed limits are strictly adhered to and enforced. When hiring a car or any other means of transport, a valid International Driver's Licence is required. The licence is issued when the visitor's driver's licence from their own country is presented and USD5.00 is paid.
Public Holidays
There are 13 public and religious holidays in the Cayman Islands. Often the public holidays are moved a day or two so that they fall on a Monday.
Peak Seasons
The Cayman Islands has a warm, tropical climate throughout the year with very brief rains falling from May to October. It is therefore the hurricane season that detemines the peaks travelling seasons. The hurricane season is from July to November and it is advisable to avoid visiting the islands during these months. The peak season is consequently from December to June.
Post & Telecommunications
All telecommunications are supplied to the country by Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited which is under government franchise.The Cayman Islands is linked to the rest of the world via cables and satellite. At the moment IDD connects the islands to North America and Europe. The dialling code for international calls is 0 and the country code is 1809.
Fax facilities are available from most hotels and banks. A few businesses will have public fax facilities.
Telex facilities are available from the Cable and Wireless office and most hotels and apartments. The telegraph office is open from 07:30 to 18:00.
There are no private mail boxes in the Cayman Islands. All mail is delivered to numbered PO boxes. Poste restante services are available and all such mail should be addressed 'General Delivery'.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 110 volts, 60Hz. The plugs used are American style 2-pin plugs.
Disabled Travellers
The Cayman Islands is only fairly equipped for the disabled traveller. Unfortunately, only a few hotels have special facilities for the disabled, such as first floor rooms which are easily accessible for the disabled, the correct doorways, bathroom amenities and even light switches. It is therefore advisable for visitors in wheelchairs to contact the hotel well in advance.
Both the Robert Owen Airport on Grand Cayman and the Gerard Smith on Cayman Brac have the following handicap facilities: walkways, ramps on all levels, curb cuts at pedestrian crossings, weather protected level loading areas near the entrance of the airport, automatic doors at the entrances and exits to the airport, wide corridors, elevators, fitted restrooms and adapted telephone booths.
Two attractions also have facilities for the disabled:
The Atlantis Submarines have ramps onto the submarine, but water conditions often lead to difficult boarding for wheelchairs. It is a prerequisite that all disabled passengers be able to hold themselves upright in the seat. If necessary, a family member or friend must be there to assist.
Red Sail Sports offers disabled visitors the unique opportunity to learn to scuba dive.
For further information regarding disabled facilities, it is advisable to contact the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism before arriving in the country.
Budget Travel
The Cayman Islands is an expensive destination and may not fit into a student's or youth's budget. There are no hostels in the Cayman Islands.
History
The history of the Cayman Islands has been linked to all types of characters from black-bearded pirates who lived on the then untamed, lawless and inhospital islands to European explorers who constructively shaped the future of the islands.
Officially, the history of the Cayman Islands begins in 1503 when Christopher Columbus sighted the uninhabited islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The only sign of life that Columbus saw were the abundance of turtles. He promptly named the islands, Las Tortugas. For the next 150 years, the islands known as Las Tortugas were avoided by the European explorers for two important reasons: the journey to the islands was far too long and dangerous and once there, the interior of the islands were most inhospitable. The hard, dramatic terrain of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, and the swampy land of Grand Cayman, did not hold much potential for explorers. Another reason for the lack of interest in the islands was the fact that there were no indigenous people to enslave or even just exploit. But, because of the abundance of sea turtles, the islands were a convenient supply stop for some European explorers.
Yet, for the 150 years from the first sighting to the first settlement of Europeans, the islands were inhabited by pirates such as Sir Henry Morgan and the first Blackbeard, Edward Teach, who used the islands as hideaways while they attacked French and Spanish ships. One of the few other inhabitants who happened to thrive on the islands were crocodiles or as they were known caymanas.
The first European settlers arrived in 1655 as deserters from Oliver Cromwell's army stationed in Jamaica. In 1670, a number of international agreements occured which placed both Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the hands of Great Britain. Since the discovery of the Cayman Islands by Columbus, the islands had been under Spanish rule. Now, as a dependency of Jamaica, the Caymans were a British Crown Colony. Soon after and for the next century, the population of the island grew to 933. At the time Little Cayman and Cayman Brac were uninhabited. Although most of the population were slaves they were gradually incorporated into the population of Grand Cayman after their emanicipation by Britain in 1835. The slaves and later their descendants blended in well with the other residents of the islands to create the harmonious indigenous society that exists today.
In 1962, Jamaica chose to receive its independence, but the Cayman Islands remained a British Crown Colony.
Throughout the next century, the Caymanians sustained themselves through boat building and roof and basket making. Goods were often traded for rice, flour and sugar. Coconuts, the major crop grown on Cayman Brac was also traded for other food. But a devasting hurricane of 1915 completely destroyed the plantations. So, in desperation, the locals turned to the sea with many Caymanians working for fleets owned by other nations. But due the shipping slump in the mid 1960s, work on foreign-owned ships declined drastically and the country turned to two developing areas of the economy, tourism and offshore finance.
The tourists had already started arriving in the 1950s when the roads were in a terrible condition, the insects were plentiful and the electricity supply was never constant. So from the 1960s, to boost the economy, efforts were made to focus on tourism and offshore finance. These efforts showed progress in 1966 when a legislation creating tax-investment havens definitely favoured offshore companies and trust companies where the top management team realised the potential of the Cayman Islands as a holiday destination. As a result a tourism board was established in the same year with its chief goal to improve the standard of service the hotels supplied to its guests. Success was near, with at least 400,000 people, mostly from North America, visiting the islands a year.
Economy
The economy of the Cayman Islands relies heavily on two pillars, tourism and offshore financial services. As the Cayman Islands has no direct taxation, it has become an important tax haven. Tourism is responsible for a remarkable 70% of the GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. With little or no agricultural production, at least 90% of the food for the population and tourists and other manufactured goods has to be imported. There is only a minor production of fruit, vegetables, livestock and turtle farming. The main exports of the islands is turtle products and manufactured consumer goods with the US as the central market. Overall, the Caymanians have one of the highest outputs per capita and most importantly, one of the highest standards of living in the world today.
Population
At the end of 1995, the population of the Cayman Islands was estimated to be 33,600. 40% of the population are of a mixed race, 20% are white, 20% are black and the remaining 20% are made up of various ethnic groups. The ethnic groups have their roots in a number of countries including Jamaica, the United States and the United Kingdom. 25% of the population is of European descent, 25% is of African descent and 50% is of mixed descent.
Government
The present constitution of the Cayman Islands was introduced in 1972. The first amendment was made in 1994. The highest official in the Government is the Governor, who is the appointed representative of the chief of state, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Presently, the Governor is His Excellency Mr John Wynne Owen, M.B.E who succeeded Mr Micheal Gore on 16 October 1995. The Governor presides over Executive Council, who are the ruling body of the Cayman Islands. The Governor's term is four years.
The Executive Council consists of three official and five elected members. The official members, who are civil servants, are appointed by the Governor. They assume the positions of Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary and Attorney General. The elected members are selected from the 15 elected representatives of the Legislative Assembly. The official members have seats in the Legislative Assembly.
To spread his control to the two sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, the Governor has representation in the form of a District Commissioner.
As the Cayman Islands is a British Crown Colony, the United Kingdom has control over its foreign affairs.
The last elections were held in 1996 with the current government assuming its rule on 20 November 1996. Elections are held every four years.
Language
Even though English is the official language, there are a few minority local dialects spoken.
Religion
Christianity is the only religion with Presbyterian being the dominant denomination. Other denominations include Anglican, Roman Catholic, Church of God, Baptist on Cayman Brac, Seventh Day Adventists, Pilgrims, Jehovah's Witnesses and Bahai minorities on Grand Cayman.
Art & Culture
The Cayman lifestyle, past and present, and the history of the islands is well documented and presented in the two museums on Grand Cayman and one small museum on Cayman Brac. The Cayman Maritime and Treasurer Museum on Grand Cayman has some striking exhibits of Cayman life today and how it has been in the past, right from the time of Columbus to the pirates as well as some interesting facts of treasure hunting. Also on Grand Cayman is the Cayman Islands National Museum which has displays concerning the history, culture and basically the natural life of the islands. The Cayman Brac Museum is an ideal location at which to learn about the history and heritage of the islands seafaring people.
Food & Drink
Places to eat and drink are in abundance on Grand Cayman with more than 100 restaurants, fast-food outlets and snack bars offering the opportunity to dine elegantly or within a tight budget. Typical Caymanian cuisine boasts curry and other spicy seasonings from Jamaica. The local seafood, including lobster and conch, is very popular, and is served in various ways and is often complimented with breadfruit, yams, rice, peas, coconut, cassava and side dishes with a West Indian influence.Turtle steaks, turtle soup, red snapper, sea bass, conch chowder and conch salad are specialities of the islands.
There is also a variety of other restaurants with origins from around the world. Mexican, German, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian and Japanese cuisine are just as popular as the Caribbean and Central American cuisine. Of course, typical American fast food chains which serve hamburgers, tacos, chicken, pizza, subs and salads are plentiful.
There are five restaurants on Cayman Brac as well as two hotel restaurants. Even though they are small, they provide an opportunity to savour Caribbean cuisine.
On Little Cayman there is one restaurant. But visitors can also dine at the resorts and lodges on the island.
Both bars and restaurants have an solid supply of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that is readily available in both Europe and America.
Entertainment
Entertainment and nightlife on Grand Cayman is limited to the few nightclubs that feature live international acts from the US and dancing, and the array of bars and restaurants along Seven Mile Beach. Almost every night, shows are held at the various hotels boasting some of the best local talent.
Local watersport operators often organise sunset and dinner cruises, some of which are aboard a replica pirate ship and others aboard a 19th-century ship.
Even though Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are very tranquil, dances are held by the local bands on weekends in the hotels. Occasionally, a community event may slightly disturb the peace. There are two indoor and two outdoor theatres on the islands. Some hotels have film shows for their guests.
But, for those seeking some form of entertainment, What's Hot, a magazine that is freely distributed on the islands, is the best source of information about the night-time happenings and special events.
Sport
Amongst the locals, rugby, soccer and cricket are the most popular sports. Triathlons and other sports competitions are held throughout the year. But for the visitors, the sporting opportunities seem endless. Besides the numerous watersports that visitors can indulge in, such as scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, fishing and sailing, there are many other sporting activities available. Golf, tennis, volleyball, squash, walking, hiking, jogging and cycling are but a few on offer. There is also an excellent selection of health clubs and martial arts training centres. As far as diving goes, the Cayman Islands offers some of the best and most varied dive sites in the world with over 20 dive operations. Dive sites range from shallow shore dives near reefs to the virgin sites off Cayman Brac and the most famous North Wall dive just off Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands is also the only place in the Caribbean where vistors can fish all year round.
Shopping
The Cayman Islands is a duty-free port with a wide selection of duty-free items including traditional island handicrafts and jewellery as well as watches, perfume and china. There is a variety of shops and modern shopping centres on Grand Cayman, especially along Seven Mile Beach where visitors can find most goods from clothes and furnishings to traditional art such as crafts of black coral, sculptures and tortoise and turtle shell jewellery It is important to remember that it is illegal to take turtle products into the US.
For those visiting Cayman Brac, there are a couple of shops on the island.
Shows & Festivals
Throughout the year there are a number of festivals and tournaments that take place. The Caymans Island's major seasonal events include:
The Annual Mardi Gras Parade on Little Cayman in February.
The Batabano Festival on Grand Cayman the weekend before Easter. The festival is a two-day costume parade and carnival.
The Annual Easter Regatta. The regatta is a sailing race around the three islands.
The Annual Million Dollar Month Fishing Tournament in June. The Cayman Islands held the first of these tournaments in 1984 and in doing so placed themselves in the position of leading international game fishing resort.
The Annual Pirates Week Festival in October. The week is full of parades and parties on all three islands.
Halloween on 31st October.
Parks & Reserves
Out of recent concern about the effects that the island development would have on the natural environment, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands Law was established in 1987. The trust was solely responsible for the conservation of the Cayman Islands' natural features, maritime beauty as well as the islands' historic, natural and maritime heritage.
Several National Trust properties, parks and sites were created on all three islands.
A few examples on Grand Cayman include the Pedro St. James Historic Site, the Bodden Town Guard House Park, the East End Lighthouse Park, Fort George, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park and Salina Reserve. The Pedro St. James Historic Site is an historically perfect replication of the original 1780 Great House near Savannah.
On Cayman Brac there are two reserves, the Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve and Trail and the Cayman Brac Parrot Reserve. The Parrot Reserve was established in 1990 to protect the breeding ground of the endemic and endangered Cayman Brac parrot. Currently there are estimated to be 400 of these splendid birds.
On Little Cayman there is one reserve, the Booby Pond Nature Reserve which is home to about 3,500 nesting pairs of Red-Footed Boobiesand 200 pairs of Frigate birds. The saltwater pond and surrounding mangrove habitat in the reserve makes a perfect rookery for the birds.
Climate
The Cayman Islands has a warm, tropical climate throughout the year. Even though the rainy season is during the summer months from May to October, the rains are very brief. Relief from the high temperatures in summer are provided by the trade winds.The winter months from November to April are cool and dry. The humidity levels vary from 68 to 92%. The Cayman Islands lie in the hurricane belt, with the hurricane season falling between the months of July and November.
February is the coolest month with temperatures ranging from 64 to 72°F (17 to 22°C) at night and 72 to 86°F (22 to 30°C) during the day. During the summer months of July and August temperatures can easily reach 85 to 90°F (29 to 32°C). The water temperature remains pleasantly warm throughout the year.
Geography
The Cayman Islands lie in the Caribbean, approximately 290 km (180 miles) northwest of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands consists of three islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman which are limestone mountain caps of a submerged mountain range, the Cayman Ridge. These three peaks rise 7,680m (25,196ft) from the valley floor.
These British-dependent islands are divided into two groups, Grand Cayman which is the senior island and home to the capital, George Town, and the twin cays of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are characterised by a flat landscape with minimal surface drainage. Cayman Brac differs slightly by the fact that it has a central limestone plateau which rises to 42m (138ft). Cayman Brac is known for its beaches and sailing and Little Cayman for its world-renowned fishing. All the islands are surrounded and well-protected by the Barrier Reef.
Even though the three islands are quite unimpressive on land with dry, scrubby vegetation and swamps, their beaches lined with palm trees are said to be the best in the Caribbean and their waters boast some of the most astounding marine life in the Caribbean.
Health
Unlike most destinations around the world, it is not essential that visitors arriving from areas that are infected with cholera or yellow fever produce an international vaccination certificate.
If you are healthy before you start travelling, the greatest health risk in the Cayman Islands is the sun. A sun block with a high SPF factor is therefore important. With the particularly high humidity, people tend to perspire alot, so be sure to drink plenty of liquids and take plenty of salt in the form of salt tablets. An insect repellant is useful to fight off the mosquitos and sandflies.
Even though most travellers from the developed countries will have had the necessary vaccinations against certain diseases it may be a good idea to have booster shots against typhoid and polio. Vaccinations against cholera and malaria are not necessary.
No precautions are necessary regarding the food and drink.
There is a 52-bed hospital in Grand Cayman which is well-equiped for emergencies. There is also a small hospital on Cayman Brac called Faith Hospital which has 18 beds.
Diving is also associated with health risks and safety. Make sure that before travelling, you have a medical checkup with your doctor or upon arrival at your resort.
It is always important, when travelling, to have some form of travel insurance policy that will cover theft, loss and medical problems. A medical aid kit is also an essential item when travelling.
Safety
Whenever you are travelling, it is important to keep your valuables such as your passport, tickets and traveller's cheques in a safe place, whether it be in a money belt or a deposit box at your resort. Do not leave valuables in your room or sleep with a open or unlocked window or door that is accessible from the outside. Even though the crime rate in the Cayman Islands is low, it is always necessary to be aware of your surroundings and valuables. |