Do you need to be a big spender to have a great time in Grand Cayman? Tropical vacations in other countries have reputations for being expensive. There’s no question that restaurants, direct flights, and hotel rooms can all add up to high costs pretty quickly. What about everyone’s favorite Caribbean island? Is Grand Cayman expensive?
Like all vacations worth your while, a Cayman Islands holiday comes with unavoidable expenses. However, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank to visit Grand Cayman Island. In this post, we’re getting candid about the cost of a Cayman vacation.
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We’ll also show you ways to make the most of your budget in Grand Cayman compared to other destinations. That includes sailing off to Stingray City or floating through the Bioluminescent Bay for elite travel experiences!
1) Know What To Expect: What’s The Average Price Of A Grand Cayman Vacation?
The website Budget Your Trip places the cost of a week-long Cayman Islands vacation at $2,274 per person or $4,548 per couple. It works out to around $300 per day.
Keep in mind that travel costs vary based on your style of travel. Additionally, traveling as a family can actually reduce costs overall because of shared hotels. Generally, the per-person budget is lower when two or more people travel together versus solo travel.
The single-biggest cost of visiting Grand Cayman is a hotel room. Hotel room pricing roughly looks like $300 to $360 per night for budget rooms, $700 to $750 for mid-tier rooms, and $1,200 to $1,500 for luxury rooms. Here are some tips for getting deals on local hotel rooms:
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Consider traveling outside of peak season. You’re more likely to find a Cayman Islands offer for cheap accommodations during the slow season spanning from September to November.
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Look for travel offers from Costco, AAA, or other establishments that provide all-inclusive deals.
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Consider booking a cruise that bundles travel and accommodations into one price to avoid the high cost of separating airfare and hotel prices. All major cruise carriers come to the Cayman Islands!
2) Get The Biggest Bang For Your Buck With Excursions
Is Cayman Islands expensive if you want to actually do fun things? You don’t want to be stuck twiddling your thumbs during a Cayman vacation because fun activities are out of reach. Yes, leisure time can be both fun and free. However, the only way to truly experience the thrill that comes with visiting Caribbean islands is doing things that can only be done here.
For most people, that means scuba diving, taking to the open water on a private boat, or having majestic encounters with local marine life.
Let us check all of those boxes for you with unforgettable Cayman Island excursions that don’t cost a fortune. Captain Marvin’s is the founder of the original stingray experience in Grand Cayman. Yes, we’re the company that brings you to famous Stingray City to swim among gentle stingrays! We actually offer 11 excursion options in total that include:
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Stingrays and starfish with caves
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Snorkeling tours at Barrier Reef or Coral Gardens
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Stingrays, snorkeling, and lunch
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Stingrays, starfish, and snorkeling
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Bioluminescent Bay tours
We work hard to keep our per-person rates reasonable while offering once-in-a-lifetime adventures for the whole family. We also offer group rates for groups of 10 or more. Every trip price includes all of the snorkeling gear and life jackets for guests ages 4 and up!
Are the Cayman Islands expensive? It depends who you book with! Don’t assume that an envy-inducing travel experience is out of reach just because it looks expensive.
Join the countless travelers who have absolutely loved our stingray tours and snorkeling excursions! Book your spot with Captain Marvin’s today!
3) Take Advantage Of Free Caribbean Beaches
One of the perks of tropical islands is that you can always enjoy the views for free! Grand Cayman is one of the best Caribbean islands for free beaches. In fact, all beaches in the Cayman Islands offer free access to the high-water mark. However, that doesn’t mean you can pass through properties belonging to hotels or condo associations to get to the beach. Look for access signs throughout the island to find paths that lead to the beach.
The main beach in Grand Cayman is Seven Mile Beach. This stunner has been named the “The Caribbean’s Best Beach” by Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine. This long, crescent-shaped beach on the island’s western end is covered in a blanket of coral sand. It takes roughly two hours to walk its full length. Of course, you can easily squeeze out a full day of sightseeing here when you stop along the way to take in views.
Seven Mile Beach has multiple access points along Grand Cayman’s West Bay Road. For cruise passengers, the beach is a 10-minute drive from the port in George Town.
While Seven Mile Beach is by far the most popular beach here, it’s far from the only free beach in Grand Cayman. Some other absolute winners for views and relaxation include:
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Spotts Beach: Best for seeing sea turtles
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Barefoot Beach: Best for white sand and postcard-worthy views
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Rum Point: Best for all-day relaxation with quick access to restaurants and shops
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Starfish Point: Best for a remote beach experience by boat
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Old Man Bay Beach: Best for remote scenery on a rocky beach
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Colliers Public Beach: Best for cabana access
4) Make The Most Of Local Transportation In The Cayman Islands
Many people are surprised to learn just how reasonable rates for rental cars are in Grand Cayman. Car rates defy the high cost of living just a bit! Of course, rates can vary based on availability when you visit. However, lower-than-average rental car rates in the Cayman Islands are due to competition between local rental providers. It’s possible that you could save money by renting a car instead of relying on pricier cabs.
Visitors should know that Grand Cayman does not have Uber, Lyft, or other ride-sharing services due to a government ban. Only cabs are available. Many people who have vacationed in Grand Cayman recommend renting a car because driving to beaches, shops, and restaurants can be much more enjoyable than walking in the island heat! If you’re flying to Grand Cayman, you’ll find several rental car agencies inside or surrounding the airport in George Town.
If you prefer to avoid the potential for high costs by relying on local transportation, you’ll be glad to hear that the island has a public bus system. Grand Cayman’s mini-bus transport system serves all districts. Passengers can look for bus numbers in colored circles to identify routes. The system features 11 routes with 125 stops in total. Unlike some of the city buses you may have traveled in before, Grand Cayman’s buses are actually vans that can carry between 15 and 25 passengers. While relying on buses isn’t perfect, it can get the job done if you don’t plan to rent a car.
Just be aware that road travel can’t take you everywhere in the Cayman Islands. For example, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are only accessible by private helicopters or direct flights out of Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM). Both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located about 90 miles off the shore of the main island.
5) Avoid The High Cost Of Food And Necessities With Some Tricks
Like many other Caribbean islands, Cayman has a cost of living that’s higher compared to mainland living. This is owed to the fact that many items need to be shipped in. As a result, the food that you’ll find at restaurants can seem pricey. Even some of the “basics” that you might buy at local stores or hotel gift shops can seem substantially more expensive compared to what you’d pay at home. Here are some tricks for saving money in the Cayman Islands by beating the cost of living:
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Bring sunscreen and similar items with you to avoid marked-up prices
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Pack powdered drinks that can be mixed with water to enjoy tasty hydration without buying drinks
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Ask local restaurants about happy hour or weeknight dinner specials when you’re deciding where to eat
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Eat some meals at buffets and grocery stores that offer cheaper meals compared to sit-down spots
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Fill up on meat patties from convenience stores
Mixing and matching big, fancy meals with cheaper items from grocery stores is a great way to ensure you don’t feel like you’re choosing between spending a ton of money and missing out on great island cuisine!
Pro tip: Finally, don’t forget that some of the boating excursions offered by Captain Marvin’s actually include meals. You won’t have to worry about where to eat once you get back from your excursion.
Cutting Travel Costs In The Cayman Islands Is Possible
While the cost of living on Caribbean islands can sometimes be a shock for mainland tourists, you can make this trip work for your budget. One of the many benefits of choosing the right excursion company is that you’ll get the best value possible. When you book with Captain Marvin’s, you also get the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll get a full refund if your trip doesn’t take place due to weather or another circumstance beyond our control.
The cost of living doesn’t have to make an incredible vacation impossible. We are here to provide an incredible value with our stingray, scuba, and cave trips. Just be warned that our tours are in high demand. Book your spot on a Captain Marvin’s tour today!
