options for inexpensive beach breaks

[ksjmom3]

Single mom traveling to GC for spring break with my 3 kids ages 16,15 and 5 (but will be 6 the day we get to GC). Trying to save some money but want to do a nice beach break to celebrate my baby's birthday. Suggestions on places to go/tours to use?

[bookbabe]

My recommendation would be to take a taxi to the Calico Jacks/Public Beach area of Seven Mile Beach.

 

Seven Mile Beach is the main tourist section of the island. It's pretty well-developed. The quietest sections you're going to find there will be places like Cemetary Beach (farthest section from the port area) where there are no facilities. (Facilities = people) All of the sections of SMB are easily accessible by taxi or public bus from the port area.

 

Outside of George Town there are numerous nice beaches that may (or may not) have fewer people. The quietest ones will again be those that have no facilities such as restrooms, food, drink, etc. Those beaches will all require either a rental car, or in the case of some of the closer ones, a taxi with a prearranged return time.

 

Cayman doesn't have the type of private and/or all-inclusive beach resorts that some other islands do.

 

In general, along Seven Mile Beach, there's three types of beach access spots.

 

Hotels:

- very, very rarely sell day passes or allow cruise ship visitors to use their facilities, as they are often fully booked with stayover visitors and it's just not worth the hassle for them

 

Beach Clubs (for lack of a better term):

- these are really just bars/restaurants along the beach, with nice facilities they allow people (cruise ship visitors, locals, stayover visitors, whoever) to use in hopes that those people will spend money on food and drinks...and they don't allow outside food/drinks to be brought in, so they've got a pretty good chance

- popular spots include Royal Palms, Calico Jacks and Tiki Beach

 

Public Beaches:

- these are sections of beach that may or may not have any facilities, and are generally reached by a path from the road marked "beach access"

- popular spots include Public Beach (next to Calico Jacks), Governor's Beach and Cemetery Beach (both named after the landmark beside it)

 

Technically, all beaches are public (and therefore free) up to the high water mark. Nothing is fenced in, and you can walk the length of the beach along the water without being charged any admission fees.

 

In order to put your towel down on the sand above that high water mark, you either need to be at one of the public beach sections or at one of the beach clubs that has specifically encouraged people to visit.

 

You can't (legally, anyway) put your towel down in front of a condo building or hotel complex, or use their facilities, without permission of the owners/management.

 

There's really not that much difference between the various 7MB locations when it comes down to it. It's really personal preference. Most spots are free/cheap. All have restrooms and outdoor showers, and will have lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent. Most have a watersports operator there or nearby for rentals. None are the type of huge AI beach clubs you'll find in other ports like Cozumel. The biggest differences I've noticed are distance from the port area and the restaurant menu, plus the couple of notes below.

 

In order of distance (closest first) from the port area:

 

Royal Palms - http://royalpalmscayman.com/

- has an adults-only pool and rental beach cabanas

- doesn't do cruise ship excursions, has a $2pp entry fee

 

Public Beach/Calico Jacks/SeaGrape - https://www.facebook.com/CalicoJacksGrandCayman

- not really a commercial beach club like the others, it's the actual public beach area with a restaurant next door

- has a playground nearby, and has public picnic shelters (free, first come first served)

- sometimes has excursions, no entry fee

 

Tiki Beach - http://www.tikibeachcayman.net/

- beach is a little narrow compared to the other spots (at least the last time I was there)

- most popular location for cruise excursions

- some have reported a high entry fee (incl chair & drink) but that isn't consistent

[cb at sea]

Hop on the public bus ($2.50 pp) and head anywhere along 7 Mile Beach. The entire beach is public, with chair/umbrellas and restrooms up and down the beach. There are food/drink spots and watersport rentals, also...Seagrape beach is one of those spots.

 

When you're ready to leave, walk up to the road (which isn't but a few steps!), and hop on the next bus heading toward port! Very easy!

[ksjmom3]

Has anyone ever done Turtle beach and the Cayman Turtle Center?

[bookbabe]

Has anyone ever done Turtle beach and the Cayman Turtle Center?

 

 

Turtle beach? Never heard of it

[drew sailbum]

Point to take note of. Seagrape beach is now the property of the new Kimpton Seafire hotel. The hotel has only recently opened. Not sure how open they are treating the beach with regards to cruise tourist. If you are eating and drinking at their beach bar Coccoloba then I would imagine you would be welcome to stay and enjoy your meal and drinks beachside.

[bookbabe]

Point to take note of. Seagrape beach is now the property of the new Kimpton Seafire hotel. The hotel has only recently opened. Not sure how open they are treating the beach with regards to cruise tourist. If you are eating and drinking at their beach bar Coccoloba then I would imagine you would be welcome to stay and enjoy your meal and drinks beachside.

 

 

 

Thanks. When I did the copy/paste I forgot to edit 'Seagrape' out of the mix. Initial reports are that even when eating at the beach bar, the beach and loungers are off limits at Kimpton.