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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#166725
07/27/2018 01:27 PM
07/27/2018 01:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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You can pretty much book with the company offering the best deal for your needs. Check Expedia Kayak or Orbitz. Based on fluctuations in availability and fleet refresh, its difficult to say you has the nicer condition cars at any given moment. We generally use Thrifty, they've done us many solids over the years, but have also used Andy's, Firefly, Budget and Marshall's. Keep in mind if you don't obtain an International Driver's Permit (you can use AAA to obtain), you'll need to spend $20 USD on top of the quoted price to get a local visitor's driving permit. All insurance is optional, hopefully you have a no foreign transaction fee credit card that will cover the Collision and Damage waiver. If so, it would just be up to you if you want to purchase 3rd party liability. The drive to Rum Point is about 45 minutes from the airport. Cayman follows the British rules of the road with driving on the left, but speeds posted in MPH. Rental cars may have metric displays only, make on the fly speed conversion a fun task. Once you leave the George Town environs, it is pretty much one road and little traffic, but some folks get flummoxed at the round-a-bouts. If you do get lost or think you are lost, by all means stop and ask for directions. Most folks will be all to happy to assist. Just plan on getting lost, so you don't get too frustrated if you actually do. Google Maps is available for off-line, no data service needed, turn-by-turn navigation to just about any address or location on the island. Keep your phone in airplane mode or turn data services off and you can still get directions. Just search for "Grand Cayman" on the Google Map App and crop so that the entire island is selected for download. Here's the how-to: Andriod PhonesIphonesWe recommend buying groceries on your way to the condo at one of the bigger stores on the other side of the island. Please be advised, if arriving on a Sunday when the grocery stores are closed (all, except gas station mini-marts and Chisholm's mini-mart ), you may want to consider a shopping service who will stock the unit with items from the shopping list you provide. There are two smaller local grocery/convenience stores which are best for items you may have forgotten to purchase at one of the bigger stores or if you have run out of something. Some sights along North Side to check out are: Crystal Caves, Starfish Point, A Bio-luminescent bay tour, Sting Ray City.
Last edited by Testudo; 07/27/2018 01:36 PM.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#166938
07/31/2018 02:04 PM
07/31/2018 02:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Driving on the left side of the road but in the right (passenger) seat took some getting used to... Love RP and the North Shore, we also like going to the Reef to listen to the barefoot man - enjoy!
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#166939
07/31/2018 02:06 PM
07/31/2018 02:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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And the grouper BLT at the Wreck is great...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#166946
07/31/2018 02:42 PM
07/31/2018 02:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Sorry - the Reef Resort (now a Wyndham property) is located on the East End - https://wyndhamcayman.com/Barefoot Man is just a solo musician /songwriter we enjoy. He plays at the Reef on Thursdays, and also at the Wharf and Hemingway’s on SMB - http://www.barefootman.com/whassup.html
Last edited by crmoores; 07/31/2018 02:54 PM. Reason: Corrected link for BFM
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#166947
07/31/2018 02:44 PM
07/31/2018 02:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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And regarding the driving, whenever I wanted to turn on the turn signal the windshield wiper came on... Have fun!
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#167019
08/01/2018 10:59 AM
08/01/2018 10:59 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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Public FYI. Most "Grouper" in fish & chips and other sandwiches or fried preparations is really imported, farm raised Swai. The Wreck Bar's certainly is and Kaibo's may or may not be depending on the purveyor - they claim to have switched back to real Grouper after complaints, but I'd still question if that's true. Most waitstaff will tell you its Grouper, even when its not.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#167039
08/01/2018 02:22 PM
08/01/2018 02:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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Kaibo Beach bar has a Tuesday night BBQ featuring a band (usually Bonafide). While we like both Kaibo's beach bar and more formal Upstairs, the food at the BBQ is not a favorite. We usually plan on an early or late dinner back at our place and head to Kaibo's bar to enjoy the band.
The Rum Point Club has a beach BBQ Mondays featuring a one man band. While the BBQ food there is arguably a little better, the entertainment is certainly not.
If your visit should coincide with Kaibo's full moon Friday Luna Del Mar dinning on the beach, I would highly recommend you make reservations.
Besides Kaibo's dinning options, the Rum Point Club dinner restaurant is good, as are Tukka (frigate feeding for earlier dinniners) and the Lighthouse.
Over the Edge, Eagle Ray's, Kaboose, the Czech Inn and South Coast bar & grill are all good casual places. Depending on the day, some better than others.
Water taxi/ferry service is available to Camana Ba ly fro Kaibo, opening up the multiple restaurant options there, if you dinner early enough to make the last ferry back to Kaibo/Rum Point.
Local jerk and fish fry stands are good and the view from deck at the White House in Bodden Town is worth stopping by for drinks or lunch.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#167077
08/02/2018 09:00 AM
08/02/2018 09:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Public FYI. Most "Grouper" in fish & chips and other sandwiches or fried preparations is really imported, farm raised Swai. The Wreck Bar's certainly is and Kaibo's may or may not be depending on the purveyor - they claim to have switched back to real Grouper after complaints, but I'd still question if that's true. Most waitstaff will tell you its Grouper, even when its not. I can’t comment on that but it was great - fried fish on a BLT! We’ve had a variety of fish as “replacements” for grouper in different destinations, with it served this way, as long as it is a mild white fish it’s all good... So many great restaurants in town and along SMB, we liked Casanova’s for the lobster ravioli, and I like their limoncello which is free after dinner...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: crmoores]
#167124
08/02/2018 03:45 PM
08/02/2018 03:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160 Texas
Testudo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 160
Texas
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Public FYI. Most "Grouper" in fish & chips and other sandwiches or fried preparations is really imported, farm raised Swai. The Wreck Bar's certainly is and Kaibo's may or may not be depending on the purveyor - they claim to have switched back to real Grouper after complaints, but I'd still question if that's true. Most waitstaff will tell you its Grouper, even when its not. I can’t comment on that but it was great - fried fish on a BLT! We’ve had a variety of fish as “replacements” for grouper in different destinations, with it served this way, as long as it is a mild white fish it’s all good... So many great restaurants in town and along SMB, we liked Casanova’s for the lobster ravioli, and I like their limoncello which is free after dinner... Sorry, certainly not trying to infer it was not a tasty sandwich. I just hate when I get a substitute fish and it is repeatedly falsely marketed.
Snorkel air just tastes better than canned air...
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: Testudo]
#167141
08/02/2018 08:03 PM
08/02/2018 08:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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[/quote] Sorry, certainly not trying to infer it was not a tasty sandwich. I just hate when I get a substitute fish and it is repeatedly falsely marketed.[/quote] Sure, no worries ![wink wink](/images/graemlins/default/wink.gif) The mudslide is pretty tasty as well!
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#167142
08/02/2018 08:07 PM
08/02/2018 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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We may go to the SMB area once or twice but we have a tendency to stay away from the big crowds as much as possible. In fact I always keep an eye on the cruise port schedule so I can plan my trips to areas like SMB on days when there are minimal cruise ships in port. I enjoy those types of area but I try to maximize my enjoyment by limiting the crowd size. Cruising also introduced us to many beautiful destinations before we started enjoying land-based vacations. We’ve enjoyed staying on GCM, and even considered a retirement home on the east or north end but we opted for another destination. But enjoy your first land-based visit, GCM does offer the busy and not so busy experiences...
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#172658
10/15/2018 08:53 AM
10/15/2018 08:53 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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Yes the planning and anticipation are a big part of the overall experience, especially on a first visit and it’s hard to be patient! Great time of year to go.
Not sure if this was brought up earlier, do you buy trip insurance? I always get it for the medical and medivac coverages, we’ve never needed that which is good. But we have missed connecting flights with no airline reimbursements, and our claims far exceed what we paid for the coverage...
Happy Planning!
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#172789
10/16/2018 07:14 PM
10/16/2018 07:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460 Finger Lake Region
crmoores
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,460
Finger Lake Region
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So you already have primary medical and medivac coverages when outside the US? Or you rely on your US health insurance? Our US insurance covers us for some emergencies (in most areas, not all) when outside the US and her territories, but we are basically on our own without travel insurance if something happens. For < $100/couple I feel much better with $150k med coverage and $1 million medivac, but that’s us. We also do not purchase extended warranties in the US, esp. when using a cc, but in other areas it is very important to accept it. Just depends on where you are...
So many gorgeous and friendly Carib islands and countries to choose from. We have our favorites, are your interests similar? Gorgeous, uncrowded beaches, great cuisine and entertainment, friendly residents?
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” -Anthony Bourdain
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Re: Vacation Booked
[Re: mprevo]
#172802
10/16/2018 09:45 PM
10/16/2018 09:45 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,682
LBI2SXM
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,682
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A few places we have been to, the BVI's, Bahama out islands, Anguilla, Grenada, Grenadines, Culebra, Isla Murejes (sp), St. John and Curacao. These islands have the peace and tranquility we enjoy. Uncrowded, not many cruise ships, perfect vacation spots.
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