Grand Caymanian: Almost like having your own private resort!
Written: Apr 15 '02 (Updated Nov 30 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Almost new property, peaceful, relaxing, beautiful ocean views, not on crowded Seven-Mile Beach
Cons: No swimming on the hotel's beach due to rocky conditions (snorkeling okay)
The Bottom Line: Relaxing and casual; plenty of activities and amenities for every taste; friendly, helpful staff, great food; plenty of room to escape from the crowds and unwind.
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| diverpam's Full Review: Grand Caymanian Beach Club |
I fell in love with the Grand Caymanian all over again!
Less than three miles from the hectic activity along Seven Mile Beach, the Grand Caymanian is nestled between the sparkling waters of the North Sound and The Links at Safehaven.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2006:
This property was built in 2000, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, but now is better than ever. It looks as if a hurricane never struck the resort. All new interiors, furnishings and decor and the addition of a gym and children's recreation area were some of the changes made. A huge 150 foot salt water pool/oasis is slated to begin construction in January 2007. They are also selling ownership in Phase 2, 2-bedroom condos, scheduled to begin construction next year as well.
More Like a Private Club
Small and quiet, this resort definitely has the feel and amenities of a private club. After winding your way past the golf course and waterways of Safehaven, you are greeted by the muted tones of the 2-story stucco building.
The tiled lobby area now includes the check-in area, a concierge desk, dive shop, gym, and library/computer room. There are several comfortable chairs and a small marble waterfall in the lobby area.
Check-in was very quick and easy. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, as always.
The Facilities
There are currently 56 villas in the resort. The villas include a master bedroom with king size bed, master bathroom with double sinks and whirlpool tub with shower, as well as a full kitchen, living room, dining area (for 6) and a washer and dryer. The second bedroom (studio) area includes a king size bed, dining area with table and 4 chairs, sofa, mini-kitchen with microwave, sink and small refrigerator, as well as a large bathroom with double sinks and whirlpool tub with shower.
You have the option of choosing the full two bedroom unit, just the one bedroom and living/kitchen setup, or the studio only. Since it was just the two of us, my husband and I opted for the studio unit for our first visit. We booked it as part of an Interval International Getaway package and it was very reasonably priced.
Our Studio
Our studio had plenty of room and included a balcony overlooking the ocean. Depending on whether your room faces north or south you will have an ocean or golf course view.
I was impressed with some of the extras that were included. The bathroom and kitchen both had marble counter tops.
The Bathroom
The vanity in the bathroom was large with several drawers and plenty of cabinet space. The countertop was spacious, with plenty of rooms between the sinks. The fixtures were two-toned gold and silver. There was a large mirror behind the vanity with a large "Hollywood" style lightbar across the top.
The kidney-shaped whirlpool tub was in the corner of the room with sliding glass doors. The doors were clear glass with frosted "modesty" stripes across them.
There was a full size ironing board and iron hanging on one wall of the bathroom. It made a great place to hand the bath towels for easy access when getting out of the shower.
Because this is really a timeshare resort, there were limited toiletries provided. There was facial and bath soap, but no shampoo or lotion.
There was a nice hair dryer included in one of the bathroom drawers.
The Kitchen Area
We had a counter top area with a small sink and under counter refrigerator. It was plenty large enough to store our snack food and beverages. There was also a small microwave under the cabinet. The unit included dishes and a small number of cooking utensils. It was quite nice having a blender to make those frozen tropical drinks!
Living/Dining Area
There was a round table with four chairs and a sofa in the area between the kitchen and the bed. The unit was laid out in open studio fashion. The sofa could be folded out into a queen size bed. There was a small closet with extra blanket, pillow, and a laundry basket included.
Bedroom Area
The four-poster king size bed and dresser were in a washed oak finish. There were ample drawers in the dresser and a small television sat on the dresser. It was visible from the bed or the sofa. It had cable with HBO, Cinemax and The Movie Channel, in addition to all the regular cable offerings.
The wall was glass with sliding doors opening to our balcony area. There were two chairs and a small table on the balcony. This was great for drying our dive gear, as we were on the second floor.
From the balcony we could see the restaurant, pool, and the beautiful waters of the North Sound. It was often windier on the side of the island we faced, so we could see white caps frequently and had a very comfortable breeze that kept the temperature almost perfect.
One-Bedroom Unit
We purchased a one bedroom unit on our second visit to the Grand Caymanian. The unit has a nice living room area with leather sofa and loveseat, as well as cocktail and end tables. There is an entertainment center with television, DVD player and radio/CD player. The sliding glass doors open into a nice patio area.
The dining room has a large, glass-topped dining table with six chairs. There is an open bar area to the kitchen.
The kitchen has granite counter tops, dishwasher, full refrigerator, electric range, and over the range microwave. There are plenty of cabinets and comes complete with cookware, dishes, and silverware, as well as storage bowls, bakeware, blender and coffee pot. You can save a ton of money by doing some of your own cooking here.
Other Amenities
The restaurant is housed in a separate building from the lobby and villas. There are brick walkways and sand lined paths throughout the sand garden area. The restaurant, The Blue Iguana, opens at 7am every day and has a variety of food and cocktails.
You can dine inside in the tropical themed restaurant, or you outside overlooking the pool area.
Pool Area
The large pool is very clean and well-maintained and the depth ranges from 4 to 6 feet deep. There is a separate shallow kiddie pool and two hot tubs adjacent to the pool. There is also a walkway that goes over the pool.
There is a handy shower, as well as a gas grill and a charcoal grill for use by guests.
You will frequently see Bingo games, trivia games or ice cream socials around the pool area.
The dive shop offers free "test dives" in the pool, as well as resort dive courses and check dives.
Grounds
The grounds are almost entirely sand and foliage. There are many flowering plants as well as palm trees. Many colorful hammocks hang between the swaying palms -- a wonderful way to relax in a peaceful setting. There is also a volleyball area for those not content to lounge in the tropical breezes.
Lighted tennis courts are on the property and racquets are available at no charge to guests.
Beach Area
This area of the North Sound is rocky so the beautiful sand ends at the shoreline and you can see the rocks through the clear water. There is a private dock area which is a great place to truly enjoy the North Sound.
My husband and I always enjoy the dock. It is a very tranquil setting to watch the ocean and hear the waves lapping beneath us.
Dive Shop
Divers Down is located in the hotel lobby and they have comparable prices to other dive operations on the island. The van picks up divers for morning and afternoon dives on the South side or West side of the island. There are also two boats that are used for Stingray City diving and snorkeling. North Wall dives go out from the resort -- very convenient for divers who love going to the North Wall. Diving locations vary daily depending on wind direction and speed.
The famous Stingray City is really pretty close to the Grand Caymanian. Jet ski trips are available to Stingray City and Rum Point, leaving from the resort.
Internet Access
The resort offers owners free Internet access in their rooms. Non-owners can connect for $7 per day. If you don't bring a laptop, there are two computers available in the lobby area for a charge of $3 for 15 minutes.
Local Transportation
The resort provides shuttle transportation to a nearby grocery store as well as to Georgetown for shopping expeditions.
There were regular trips made to/from Seven Mile Beach (about 2.5 miles from the resort).
The charge for shuttle service for a week is $10 and there is a published schedule. (I much prefer having a small car to scoot around the island as we please.)
Group Events
There was a free welcome continental breakfast on Sunday morning with an island orientation. Monday evening there was a manager's welcome cocktail reception with rum punch and hors d'oeuvres.
The weekly schedule of events includes dinner specials -- Wednesday night you can get a cheeseburger, fries and a beer for $10.95 CI -- good price for Grand Cayman. We were also treated to a deejay with a Name that Tune activity.
The entertainment also includes island music, limbo dancing, and fire-eating! There are various activities and dinner specials each week.
The prices for food on Grand Cayman are very high. The dinner packages we purchased were very reasonable for the island and all the food was excellent. The service was very good and the staff members very polite.
We spent most of our time diving or exploring the island on our own, except for the group dinners. Some of our favorite outings were Rum Point and the Cayman Turtle Farm (which is now part of Boatswain's Beach).
The Links Golf Course at Safehaven
The golf course is right next to the resort and affords some nice scenery.
As of December 1,2006, the driving range and putting greens will be open for members only. There's still work to be done to get the course ready to open in March 2007. The grass has been replaced, but there are no cart paths or carts yet.
Important Note
Because it is primarily a timeshare most people arrive and depart on Saturdays. Check-in time is 4pm and check-out is 11 am. Full maid service is provided only on Saturdays and Wednesdays, but towels and other necessities will be brought to your room upon request.
You can request additional days of full service for a fee, but we had no need to do so.
Daily maid service is provided at no charge for rental guests.
Overall Recommendation
I highly recommend this resort for the comfort, value, activities, and service. It was very clean and well-maintained and offered many extras. It has a very casual, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The amenities of a fine hotel, without the stuffiness, the proximity of Seven Mile Beach, but with the tranquility of a secluded getaway on the North Shore.
Please let me know if you have any questions about this resort. (diverpam@aol.com) I may be able to hook you up with a great price for a week's stay through the owner referral program.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 351 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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