We took off for Grand Cayman right after Christmas and stayed through New Year’s. After a lot of research we decided to stay in the less touristy (less busy) north end of the island in an area called Rum Point. It was a great decision. We stayed in a small condo development called Kaibo. It was right next to the Kaibo Beach Club which has two restaurants (one casual and one fancy) and a fantastic coffee shop. Our condo was very nice with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a nice kitchen, a screened in porch and a view directly out onto the water. There was also a pool but we didn’t bother with it as we were either lounging on the sand or I was floating in the bay.
We rented a car and drove all over the island on the “wrong” side of the road for us. Trey was a pro. We visited the Tortuga Rum Cake Factory and came home with several (six) little rum cakes. We visited 7 mile beach on New Year’s Day…the one day that it was super windy…looking for snorkel spots. After trying several well known spots that were too choppy we settled on Cemetery Beach. It was perfect. We also took an excursion to snorkel and see the stingrays at Stingray City. Very cool. One of us might have kissed one for good luck, supposedly. Rum Point, where we stayed, was very close to Starfish Point and we went there several mornings to hang out, watch the boats coming in and check on the starfish.
And now for the food…. Upon arrival a nice gentlemen at the car rental recommended Pepper’s Bar and Grill for great food and the best conch fritters. We had to check it out and it did not disappoint. Everything was good. We also had lunch at Macabuca Tiki Bar/The Cracked Conch. It was supposed to be Macabuca. We picked it because people snorkel there before/after they eat. The weather didn’t cooperate (this was New Year’s Eve-the windy day) and we couldn’t even actually eat at Macabuca because the waves were crashing and spraying/flooding the area where the tables were. Instead we went upstairs to the Cracked Conch. The food was average but they did have a good homemade ice cream sandwich for dessert.
We had lobster a couple of times. Once at a restaurant called Tukka West. We had a seafood sampler that included a lobster tail, delicious and worth the drive to the west side of the island. And again at our condo thanks to our generous neighbors. They had been out on a private fishing expedition and did not catch any fish. Their tour guides opened their lobster traps, cleaned some lobsters and sent them home with over a dozen jumbo tails. Our neighbor saw us cooking hot dogs (no shame, we like hot dogs) and brought over an extra tail. It was huge and so scrumptious. We ate some that night and I made lobster rolls for lunch the next day.
We really enjoyed Grand Cayman and would love to return! We would likely stay in the same area. The peace and quiet was lovely.