Since we became timeshare owners, we have come to expect a certain level of excellence in our accommodations while on vacation. There are the tangibles that make our housing so much more convenient than a hotel room, like a full kitchen for preparing meals, a coffeemaker, microwave, and, if we're lucky, a dishwasher, washer/dryer, and icemaker.

But then, there are those things that are subtle. Such things as having a separate bedroom, having room to spread out, having a picnic by the pool.

We found all these things (well, except the washer, dishwasher and icemaker - but who cares?!) and more at Morritts Tortuga Club on Grand Cayman Island. Morritts is far away from the hustle and bustle of the Seven Mile Beach visited by the cruise ships and most of the tourists who come to the island. You will be on the magnificent, unspoiled East End, where life moves a little slower, and people are a little nicer.

Our suite was ready a half hour before the designated check-in time. We had been confirmed for a studio unit, but were informed that we had been upgraded to a 2 bedroom unit. Not ANY 2 bedroom, mind you, but an oceanfront unit! We were ecstatic!

There were 3 full bathrooms. One was downstairs, along with a living/dining room area, kitchen, and balcony. The other two were upstairs, serving each of the bedrooms. Our master bedroom had another oceanfront balcony, and wall-to-wall sliders. We could watch the sun break the horizon each morning, ushering in a glorious day.

Units were kept immaculately clean, and you are treated to daily maid service, something which normally costs you extra in timeshares.

The property has two pools. The main pool is free form, with an "island" in the middle, and swim-up bar at one end. There is also a jacuzzi by this pool. Our first couple of days, it was kept quite warm, which is a welcome relief after a morning of diving. It's also a way to warm up after night dives.

Unfortunately, the heating did not work for the rest of our 2 week stay. Although we informed the front desk, they didn't get it up and running until the day we left.

The second pool is a more prosaic, rectangular affair. We actually preferred this one for most of our stay, since there were rarely kids in it, and the adults there were very quiet. Few people seemed to use it at all, so most of the time, we had it all to ourselves.

There is a restaurant on the premises, for which we can't vouch. David's looked very elegant, and many guest had good comments, but we cooked in, as is our custom.

The second week, we got the one bedroom that RCI had confirmed for us. The management kindly saw to it (after a little prodding) that it was close, because packing up and moving in the middle of your stay is no fun. We were given a unit two doors down, on the same floor (2nd). The one bedroom is exactly half the size of the 2 bedroom we had. A bathroom connects the living area with the bedroom. We had the same glorious view, obviously, but since the bedroom was in the back, we had to go to the living room to see it. A deck adjoined the living area, again, with floor-to-ceiling glass sliders.

Morritts is beginning to show its age. Most of it is pretty subtle, such as the decay of the dry wall around the windows, sliders that don't slide well, etc. For the most part, however, it's still in fairly good shape.

The beach is quite lovely. It's long with powdery, white sand. There is a gazebo which has been built at the end of a dock where some folks fished now and then. More commonly, the resident dive operation, Tortuga Divers, picks up and unloads their passengers (MOO!!). We opted not to dive with them, because after a few days of observation of the crowds off and on, this was just the type of cattleboat operation we detest. Furthermore, the guy running the shop (who said he was the owner), had an attitude, which was a serious turn off.

Snorkeling under this gazebo and dock, by the way, is excellent. In fact, Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine rated this one of the top "shallow dives" (3 feet!) and snorkel places in the Caribbean. You see thick schools of tarpon, some up to 7' long, regularly. We found a scorpion fish and a puffer there one day. Lots to see, and an excellent way to get an initiation in snorkeling, without the expense of a boat trip.

There are several grills on the beach, however, they are not of the gas variety. Be advised that you will have to pay for charcoal and lighter fluid in order to use them. Better yet, head to the lumber yard in Georgetown and buy a big back of Match Light - best price on the island!

The big grocery stores are in Georgetown, or just outside. However, there is a little store a few miles away from the resort, called "L'il Hurley's" (Hurley's is a major store in Georgetown). They had most things there that we needed. Be prepared to pay 2-3 times what you would in the States for each item.

A man named Dennis lives up the road a little way, and brings his volleyballs almost every afternoon at 3:30 - 4:00. My husband and son got to the point where we had to stop what we were doing in the afternoon so that they could make the beach volleyball game! I walked out to the gazebo dock and swayed in the hammock while watching them get all sweaty and sand-covered. As Moliere once wrote, "How lovely it is to do nothing..."

There is a little gift shop on the premises. We got a mini bag of Match Light there, a one shot deal, for $6.50 (that's Cayman Island dollars. Caveat emptor! One dollar CI = $1.25. Always ask if prices are in American, or CI, or you could be in for a nasty shock!).

The Cayman Islands are an expensive place to vacation, plain and simple. However, you can help contain your costs by getting a timeshare here, taking advantage of cooking in as often as possible, and just relaxing in a hammock while feeling the lovely ocean breezes dancing over your limbs.

Morritts has a policy of allowing you to trade in only once every four years. Come 2004, I know where we're going to be vacationing...



Recommended: Yes