Best Shopping in Grand Cayman

[travelling_txgal]

Any recommendations for shopping in Grand Cayman? We will be there in early February and plan to spend some time at Seven Mile Beach but would also like to spend a little time shopping. 

[Capt_BJ]

"best shopping"?  What is your metric for best?

 

location wise the tender landing is at the edge of downtown and the majority of your shopping is downtown - a very walkable area. It is the 'best' location.

 

So far as what's a 'best buy': NOTHING is inexpensive in GC. Everything is imported and the standard of living is HIGH ... higher than most of the US!  You won't find much in the way of 'local handicrafts'.  You will find Rolex and high end jewelry galore, but you won't automatically find great prices. I'd not recommend buying these items unless you KNOW your prices and make/model.

 

Most people settle for a Tortuga rum cake, even tho you can buy these at chain liq' stores in much of Florida or on line.  You might find some good booze prices depending on where you live but if you must fly home, this has its own issues.

 

One warning: most of the time prices are going to be in Cayman Dollars.  $1 CI is only 80 cents US

 

So if you hand the waitress a $20 US for your beer that is $6 CI ... you actually only handed $16 CI and will get change back accordingly.  Food and drink prices are high, and even higher when you forget the conversion factor.

 

An easy rule of thumb for food/drink prices where price is in CI but you will pay US (adding tip of course) ..... add 40% :  20% is the conversion factor then the additional 20% was tip (which is added automatically in many Cayman rest' / bar ... check the fine print)

[Duanerice1]

Agree with the above.  Grand Cayman is not a very good shopping port.  Most stuff is more expensive than any other island.  With that said, there is a decent amount of hopping at the port.  Keep you busy for an hour or so.  Other than cheap souvenirs, don't really plan on buying much - rum excluded - lol

[cb at sea]

Most of the "touristy" spots post prices in both USD and CI....takes the guesswork out of it!

 

[TravellingBritNY]

There is a small market close to the port where you can get locally-made goods.  Some are junk, some are very nice.  It's worth looking around and it doesn't take too long.

 

Caymanite is a local rock that they make into jewellry.  Some of those pieces are really nice.

 

If you are willing to rent a car, there are two locations out of town that I would recommend - Pure Art is a store with all sorts of art made by local artists.  Paintings, wall hangings, knick-knacks, you know the sort of thing.  This is just south of George Town.

 

Further out in Bodden Town is Beach Bubbles - a lady there (Nina) makes her own all-natural soaps and lotions which I and my friends think is amazing.  She does things with Neem and Moringa that are very nice.

 

And here is an off-the-wall suggestion - go to the Grocery store!  Kirks Market is north of George Town, to3ards the southern end of Seven Mile Beach and has all sorts of European goods, especially British.  You will also find Caribbean spices, marinades, sauces and mixes that you probably can't get at home.  You could get there by bus from the cruise terminal.

 

So there are a few suggestions.

[clean1owner]

On 11/8/2018 at 2:01 PM, Capt_BJ said:

"best shopping"?  What is your metric for best?

 

location wise the tender landing is at the edge of downtown and the majority of your shopping is downtown - a very walkable area. It is the 'best' location.

 

So far as what's a 'best buy': NOTHING is inexpensive in GC. Everything is imported and the standard of living is HIGH ... higher than most of the US!  You won't find much in the way of 'local handicrafts'.  You will find Rolex and high end jewelry galore, but you won't automatically find great prices. I'd not recommend buying these items unless you KNOW your prices and make/model.

 

Most people settle for a Tortuga rum cake, even tho you can buy these at chain liq' stores in much of Florida or on line.  You might find some good booze prices depending on where you live but if you must fly home, this has its own issues.

 

One warning: most of the time prices are going to be in Cayman Dollars.  $1 CI is only 80 cents US

 

So if you hand the waitress a $20 US for your beer that is $6 CI ... you actually only handed $16 CI and will get change back accordingly.  Food and drink prices are high, and even higher when you forget the conversion factor.

 

An easy rule of thumb for food/drink prices where price is in CI but you will pay US (adding tip of course) ..... add 40% :  20% is the conversion factor then the additional 20% was tip (which is added automatically in many Cayman rest' / bar ... check the fine print)

 

 

I think your math is a little  off. If $1 CI is 80 cents American. $20 American is $25 CI. Your $6 beer should cost $4.80 American. So if you pay with a US $20. your change would be $19 CI or $15.20 American. 

[Capt_BJ]

wrote it backwards again ...

 

$1US is .833CI is the official rate

 

rate is fixed and has been for years 

 

for simplicity you'll generally see .8 used as the rate so

 

rule of thumb: she may look 20 but that's 16 CI

Edited December 9, 2018 by Capt_BJ