Average humidity ranges from a low of 73% in March to 81% in October/November.
One of the consequences of this high humidity is that wet clothes can take
longer to dry than you were expecting; pack an extra set of swimming gear!
There are some general weather statistics at Cayman Islands Government - Weather Statistics page.
Peak tourist season is mid-December to May.
The rainy season runs from mid-May to November. It is not uncommon for it to
be raining at one end of the island, but have brilliant sunshine elsewhere, so
it can be worth going for a drive to see another part of the island and find
the sun. Usually when it rains, it rains heavily for a couple of hours and
then stays clear for the rest of the day. However, if a tropical depression
settles over the island, it can rain for days on end, with flooding causing
severe problems. The hurricane season runs from June to November -
it tends to be the hurricanes that start in the Caribbean waters
(at the end of the season) as opposed to those that develop of
Africa (earlier in the hurricane season) that cause most damage to
the islands. The most recent brushes with hurricanes which caused
some property damage, were Hurricane Gilbert in September 1988, which
passed 30 miles south of Grand Cayman, and Hurricane Mitch in
October/November 1998 passing about 200 miles to the south. Hurricane Michelle
in November 2001 caused considerable damage on the south and west sides from
South Sound all the way round to Northwest Point. (See my News from Cayman - November 2001 for more details.
Here are some links to weather sites/hurricane tracking information:
If there is a hurricane/storm in action, it is worth checking out Caribbean Hurricane Network
and click on the Cayman Islands link for local reports/photos.
US, British and Canadian citizens, and citizens of British
Dependent Territories do not require passports, but must present
proof of citizenship (passport or birth certificate and current
photo ID). Originals of documents must be presented; photocopies
are not acceptable. A driver's license or voter's registration card
alone is not sufficient. You must also have a return or ongoing
airline ticket. Visitors from all other countries require a
passport and return or ongoing ticket. Entry is granted for up to
six months. Resident aliens of the US who show a valid US Alien
Registration Card (green card) may be permitted to enter and remain
in the Cayman Islands for up to 30 days. You must keep the pink
Immigration slip given to you upon arrival! This is their
equivalent of a tourist identification card. Visitors should keep
it with their travel documents and present it when departing. Anyone
who wishes to extend their stay after arrival must visit the
Department of Immigration and obtain an extension and may be asked
to show proof of financial resources to permit an extension.
Visitors may have to prove they have sufficient funds to support
themselves and their dependents and have tickets to their next
destination. Visitors may be refused entry if their appearance or
behaviour do not meet the normal social standards of
Cayman.
Visitors may not engage in any form of employment without
additional authority (ie a work permit). Prohibited immigrants
include the destitute, health hazards to the community,
prostitutes, those living on prostitution, the previously deported,
anyone sentenced to over a year's imprisonment and others
proscribed as undesirable for moral or economic reasons.
In addition to personal effects for use while on vacation,
Visitors over 18 are allowed a duty-free allowance of one litre of
alcohol or four litres of wine or one case of beer (not exceeding
eight litres) and 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 250 grams of
tobacco. This limit should not be confused with the Customs forms
which state that returning residents are allowed CI$300 worth of
goods duty free. This privilege does not apply to visitors
There is a good description of the rules and regulations on
getting a job in Cayman at http://www.cayman.com.ky/jobs.htm,
and if you think you'd just like to live on the islands then check-out the
information on residency at http://www.cayman.com.ky/reside.htm.
Attorneys at law Myers & Alberga have a
comprehensive write-up on the topic at http://www.myers-alberga.com/features/residence.html.
The Cayman Islands government has just launched an Immigration web site at
http://www.gov.ky/immigration/immigration.home.
It is intended primarily for local businesses to help them through the new
immigration laws, but all of the Immigration Forms for Work Permit Applications
are available online.
Note that for any work permit applications for over 6 months, the prospective
employee should be off the islands whilst the permit is being processed.
The best bit of advice that I can give is to get a subscription to the daily
local newspaper - the Caymanian Compass. The rules mean that all jobs have to be
advertised to make sure that there are no Caymanians to fill them
before a company can is allowed to appoint an ex-pat. The paper is
published by the Cayman Free Press - they can be contacted on cfp@candw.ky, or by writing to them
at P. O. Box 1365, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands BWI,
Tel: (345) 949-5111, Fax: (345) 949-7033.
There are also a couple of
commercial sites that may help you. Firstly, at http://www.hot-life.com/
you can subscribe to an on-line guide or buy a printed guide to help you find
a job and relocate to the islands. It features:
Employers and contact information for businesses and industries that hire
most from overseas,
Detailed and clear explanation of immigration rules and the work permit system,
Lists of required documents for employers and immigration,
Methods for finding a job in the Cayman Islands,
Starting salary and experience expectations for the most common jobs,
Housing information - including the cost of rent,
Transportation options and costs,
How to get there and what to bring,
Start-up costs,
Tips for saving money, and much more.
The online guide costs US$9.95. (Please mention you discovered their site
through Robert Clark's pages!)
There are a few Cayman jobs advertised at
IslandCareers.com, with links to jobs available in other parts of the Caribbean.
At TropicJobs.com
you can find jobs throughout the Caribbean. Subscription costs from US$35 for 30 days.
There are also some employment agencies that may be of assistance: Baraud Intl. Recruitment & Personnel Service Cayman Corporate Information System
Executive Services
An all-inclusive personnel recruitment and management agency offering services
including recruiting, work permit processing and payroll processing.
Specialises in professional, administrative and temporary staff.
IslandCarrers.com Island Offices HR JobInTheSun.com
Discussion board (you need to register), but includes postings of local job adverts K-International
who specialise in vacancies in the IT and financial sectors,
Kare Secretarial Services
kt@candw.ky Personnel 2000
Below are some approximate guide figures as to how much it would
cost to live on Cayman: (in CI$ per month). Allow about 3 months
costs for deposits
1 bed apartment: $700 - $1500
2 bed/2 bath apartment: $1,000 - $5,000
3 bed: $2,000 - ?
TV: $50 - (depends on package of channels)
Water: $120 - ?
Electricity: $200 - ? (for a 1-bed apartment, more if you run the AC)
Telephone: $40 - (mainly local calls, internet extra, $400 deposit)
Medical Insurance: $60 - (bare minimum - very limited benefits)
PO Box rental: from $75/year depending on size
Food: $450 (for a family of three)
Car: $2,000 + insurance ($300) + car tax ($180) (for a very basic runaround!)
Schooling (Government Run): $250 - $400/term plus $50-$150 book rental
Some discussions group encourage people to take their own
pre-packed (sealed) food to Cayman in freezer bags or ice chests.
The Tourist Board advise that visitors are allowed to bring meat
into the islands, but you may be charged duty if the value is over
US$35 per person, or the quantity exceeds what customs consider to a
reasonable amount for personal consumption. Meat should be
preferably be packed and sealed as sold in supermarkets, and may
have to be inspected by an official from the Department of
Agriculture. When I checked with the Department of Agriculture
ciagric@candw.ky
they sent me three Word 97 documents. The first was an application form for the
importation of plants and the other two were the rules and
regulations on the importation of plants and plant products and
meat and meat products. Here are the links to these documents:
There are now three golf courses on the island to choose from.
The Links at SafeHaven is a 6605 yard par 71, 18 hole
championship course, designed by Roy Case. It was awarded "1997
best golf course in the Caribbean" by Caribbean World Magazine.
Practice and learning facilities available. The Links restaurant
and patio bar are open daily. Approximate costs: US$110. Services: On-Site: Equipment Rental, Golf Carts, Golf Club
Rentals, Golf Lessons Available, Golf Pro, Golf Pro Shop, Driving
Range Contact details
P.O. Box 1311 George Town, Grand Cayman
Phone: (345) 949-5988, Fax: (345) 949-5457
For more information, visit their web site at http://www.safehavenlimited.com/content/GCHomePage.htm
although their rates page hasn't been updates since 1999
Jack Nicklaus has
created a masterful golf course for Britannia and the Hyatt
Regency Grand Cayman. Reminiscent of legendary courses such as
Royal Troon, Turnberry and Royal Birkdale on the other side of the
Atlantic. The Britannia course features grassy mounds, rolling
dunes, lakes and oversized bunkers. On the fifth shot hole, the tee
shot must carry over the Caribbean Sea while on the breathtaking
562-yard Hole 9, three different shots are over water.
There are two courses at the Britannia/Hyatt; a 9-hole and an
executive 18-hole. The course being played changes each day, so
best to check with the club-house. Approximate cost: US$50-100. Services: On-Site: Golf Carts, Golf Club Rentals, Golf
Lessons Available, Golf Pro, Golf Pro Shop Contact details:
P.O. Box 1588 George Town, Grand Cayman
Phone: (345) 949-8020, Fax (345) 949-8528
The newest course is the
Sunrise Family Golf Centre off Hirst Road in Newlands. This
new, moderately priced and family oriented golf centre has green
fees at US$21 (junior, US$10). It's a nine hole Par 3 course, with
all grass tees maintained to championship course standards. The
centre includes a full-length driving range, practice chipping and
putting green, golf shop, clubhouse, and open-air patio. Rental
clubs, pull carts and instruction by certified PGA Professional are
also available. Contact details: Phone: (345) 947-GOLF, Fax: (345) 946-0508,
E-mail: ambc@candw.ky
The legal age to drink on the islands is 18 - you may be asked
for identification. The legal age to drive is 17, but be aware that
nearly all of the car rental agencies will only hire out vehicles
to drivers over the age of 25.
The rules on importing pets (and cats and dogs in particular)
are very strict - The Department of Agriculture has a brief Word
document that is available at CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE IMPORTATION OF DOGS AND CATS INTO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.
Note that the rules and regulations are likely to be changed some time later this year.
The Department of Agriculture Vetinary Officer can be contacted on
agrivet@candw.ky
Because of an agreement between Cable & Wireless and the
Cayman Islands Government, some access to services provided by
other telecomms companies, etc are restricted. Because of this, it
may be difficult to get dial-up access to MSN or AOL, except by
dialing the US, which would count as an international call. For comprehensive
details of Cable & Wireless's Internet Services, check out their web site at
http://www.cwinternet.ky/
There are a number of Internet Café's on the Island;
PD's Pub, CyberCOMP
(on the third floor of the AquaWorld Duty Free Mall overlooking the harbour),
Shooters Billiards Lounge and Internet Cafe,
Café del Sol by the Cinema in West Bay Road,
Dickens Coffee shop in Galleria Plaza, Chelsea's Sports Bar in Queens Court,
Big Daddy's on West Bay Road and the West Bay Polo Club. If you aretaying in
the East End area, then The Thirsty Surfer
located in the Reef Resort plans to have anInternet Café up and running
ready for December 2002. Cable & Wireless also
have an office in George Town across from the harbour where you can access the
internet, and the
Island Offices CyberCentre claims to
have the cheapest rates in the Cayman Islands. However, the cheapest internet access I have found is two terminals
in the "Coffee and Bite" store just behind the Post Office in George Town; CI$6/hour.
If your ISP is a member of the iPass scheme,
then you should be able to use Cable and Wireless; see the details
at http://www.candw.ky/ipass.htm.
Cable and Wireless have also set
up an Internet Service for visitors staying at some hotels; details
can be found at http://www.candw.ky/Tourist/internet/intetour.html
Visitors can access the Internet by dialing 976-4638 or 266-6328 and
connecting with username "easy" and password "access". The rate is CI$0.12
a minute which will be charged to your phone bill. See http://www.cwinternet.ky/solutions/visitor/index.html
for details
Remember that they drive on the left in Cayman! Seat belts must be worn by the driver
and all passengers. Visitors must buy a temporary Cayman driving licence (for
each driver) from the Police Station or Rental Agency Desk at CI$5.00. You
have to be over 21 to rent a car in Cayman, but some agencies won't insure
renters under 25.
Traffic to/from George Town can be very heavy in the morning and evening rush hours.
Whether you need a car for your whole trip will very much depend on where you
are staying; if based in the Seven Mile Beach area you may want a car for a day or two to
explore other parts of the island, but if you are staying somewhere remote
(North Side), then you'll need a car to do your shopping etc.
There are a wide range of cars available, and they can be in a range of
combinations of left/right hand drive and automatic/manual (shift stick). If
you have a preference check with the rental agency in advance and make it
clear what combination you require. There have been occasions reported when
there are no rental cars available at any agency (this is especially true in
peak season), so at these times it is probably best to book in advance.
Having said that, there have been a number of reports on the TravelTalk Cayman
message board where visitors have got a walk-in rate better than anything
advertised. If you are prepared to be flexible and don't need a vehicle for your
whole trip, this may be the best option.
There are various rental agencies with a presence on the islands, see the list
on my Businesses/Organisations page.
Some visitors believe that if they book the car hire on their credit card it
gives them the legal and insurance protection they need; please check the
conditions of use of your credit card carefully as often these perks only apply
when hiring a vehicle in your home country and not when you are abroad on holiday.
Taxis are available at the airport and the fares from there are regulated -
check with the dispatcher at the kerbside (should cost about CI$20 to most
hotels/condos). Note that hotel vans are not allowed to collect visitors from
the airport. There are taxi ranks outside the main hotels and at the cruise
ship dock.
There are eight minibus routes in operation each with a distinctive
colour (coloured circles on the front and back with the route number) and
blue license plates. The routes are: 1 (yellow) & 2 (lime green) go to West Bay with
service about every 15 minutes and operates from 6am to 11pm. Route 3 (blue) goes to
Bodden Town, (service every 30 minutes from 6am to 11pm). Route 4 (purple) goes to East End,
5 (red) goes to East End and North Side, 6 (dark green) goes from North Side to West Bay
(service every hour from 6am to 9pm. Route 7 (dark green with white numbers)
operates in the George Town area and 8 (orange) runs to Hutland in North Side.
Maximum fare is about CI$2.
All routes run to/from/via the depot in George Town situated beside the library.
There are a few designated bus stops, but just stand my the side of the road
and wave one of the buses down as they approach.
Cayman runs the same electricity system as the US/Canada - 110/115v with 2-pin
plugs.
Most of the water supply comes from the de-salination plant and is perfectly
safe to drink. In some more remote areas of the island, well water is
sometimes used for the toilets and washing - it apparently tastes quite
brackish but makes a lovely cup of tea when boiled!
Cayman uses US-style telephone sockets.
Cayman isn't renowned for it's night life; there are a limited number of night
clubs (Sharkey's, Legendz, The Matrix and BoBo Iguanas in the Islander Nightclub).
there are links to some of these on my Businesses/Organisations page under the
Restaurants/Bars and Food-related links.
Also worth checking out: Royal Palms on the Friday or Saturday night (island music/reggae/soca),
Sunset House for Friday Happy Hour (popular singles bar), Bed, Lonestar Bar
and Grill, Hard Rock Café.
For something more laid back, check out Barefoot Man at Royal Reef Resorts
in the East End.
Buy the Friday issue of the Caymanian Compass; at CI$0.75 it may be your cheapest
expense on the island. The Friday edition has lots of adverts for Happy Hours and
Sunday brunches.
Other notable events include Treasure Island Open Air Bar (at check-in) around
5:30 or 6:00 every Monday night. For years, they have thrown an appreciation
party with free appetizers as well as free rum punch starting around 6:30.
Also included is a 20+ piece steel drum band.
There is some general info about nightlife at http://www.caymanislands.ky/to_do/nightclub.asp
The Cayman Islands have their own currency - the Cayman Islands Dollar (CI$). However,
the US$ is accepted everywhere at the standard exchange rate of US$1 = CI$0.80.
The official bank rate (if you want to bother queuing up to change your money) is
US$1 = CI$0.82 - you will only be able to do this when on the island as most
banks in the rest of the world won't hold Cayman currency. Some shops also
offer this rate (notably Kirkconnell's supermarket). You will usually be given
your change in CI$.
I once tried to change GB Sterling into CI$ on the island;
the bank first of all converted my Pounds into US$ at the current market rate,
and then from US$ to CI$ and then charged me two lots of commission! Moral of
the story is to bring US$ only!
The main ATM networks have machines on the island - as most of the banks are in
the George Town/Seven Mile Beach area, this is where the majority of machines
are located. You may also find machines outside some of the bigger supermarkets.
The Caymans used to be famous for their mosquitoes. 36 different species
have been recorded on the islands, and back in 1971 a record of 600 bites per
minute on one are were recorded (I pity the researcher who volunteered for that!).
Mosquitoes tend to be a problem around sunrise and sunset. At these times it
is probably best to stay indoors, or make sure that as little skin as possible
is exposed if you are out and about, or use Deep Woods OFF! spray or similar.
An alternative is to take a daily dose of 500mg of vitamin B1, starting two
weeks before you go on holiday and continuing throughout your stay; this will
stop the mosquitoes from biting you.
Where you stay on the islands and the time of year you are visiting also has a
bearing on how bad the problem is. The Seven Mile Beach area isn't as bad as
some parts of the interior or around Rum Point, West Bay or East End. The
problem is worse during the rainy season (May to November)
Many of the open-air bars/restaurants burn Citronella candles to keep the
mosquitoes away.
The Cayman Islands Government's Mosquito Research & Control Unit
http://www.mrcu.freeservers.com/)
is responsible for carrying out preventive sprayings using their two crop-dusting
planes and a number of vehicles. Their web site also contains details of the
mosquito breeds, where they breed, insecticides used in spraying, etc.
There is another MRCU site at http://www.gov.ky/mrcu/ which includes
tips on prevention and avoiding bites, plus aerial and ground spraying schedule
Sand flies
Sometimes called no-seeums (You don't hear em and you don't see em), but
you'll know when you're being attacked as you'll feel lots of itchy bity
things on your scalp, arms, legs, etc. They are tiny, easily go through
window screens, and love to bite. Again tend to be bad at sunset - take the
same precautions as with dealing with mosquitoes.
NOTE: It appears that because of budget problems, the level of sprayings/treatments
carried out by the MRCU have dropped, and the incidents of mosquitoes/sand
flies seems to be on the increase.
Cockroaches
You may be used to these at home, but out in the tropics they are BIG! As one
of the oldest species on the planet, they can make their home just about
anywhere. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate dirt as I've seen them on
a building site for a new home.
Thimble Jelly Fish/Sea Lice (Sea Itch)
Sea Itch is caused by the larvae of the Thimble Jelly Fish (Sea Lice) and
is an intensely itchy red rash which affects exposed areas of skin. Found
in Caribbean waters from March to September, it is especially bad in
Cayman waters around April/May. At these times it is best to wear a full skin
wet suit when in the water and cover exposed skin with suntan oil or one of the
specialist oils/preparations including Lands End Oil, WipeAway Jelly Fish
Sting Medicated First Aid Gel and Sawyer Products Itch Balm Plus (all of these
should be available from good dive shops).
Because the larvae are so small,
they often manage to work their way under swimming costumes/wet suits. When the
swimmer leaves the water, their garments press against their skin, causing the
stingers to fire. Remove said garments as quickly as possible when leaving the
water and rinse it thoroughly - preferably in warm water and detergent.
Aquatic Wetsuites make a special Sea Lice wetsuit that has dry suit seals at
the wrists and neck and special hood with a "neck dam" which further prevents
water from flowing in with sea lice. If using a normal set suit another
suggestion is to apply vaseline around the wrists and neck and the hairline at
the back of the neck where they get trapped into your hair.
If you get stung, the standard treatment consists of application of steroid
creams to the skin and taking antihistamine tablets. However, these tablets
can cause drowsiness, so there is an increased risk of nitrogen narcosis if
diving. Alternative remedies include calamine lotion, rubbing alcohol, amonia
spray, vinegar or urinating on the affected areas!
Cruise ship passengers
Definite nuisance if you are trying to get around George Town. On some days
there can be up to five ships disgorging up to 15,000 passengers. You can check
cruise-ship movements at the Cayman Islands Port Authority web site at
http://www.caymanport.com/
Tourists
Invariable look the wrong way when crossing the roads, or drive on the wrong
side of the road. Ask residents daft questions like "Do you live here, or do
you fly in every day?".
Local residents
Clog the roads to/from George Town in the morning (7am to 9am) and afternoon
(4pm to 6:30pm) rush hours. A journey that would normally take 10 minutes can
take an hour at these times.
Firstly, everything below the high water line is "public" under
Cayman law. However, that doesn't count for much of the beach
area, so cruise ships will sell you packages to make use of the
beach facilities at a number of hotels/resorts. Some of the
hotels seem to patrol their areas asking if you are a resident,
or other proof of your right to be there - this is especially
true if the beach area looks crowded!
I think you have in effect three options:
1) go with the cruise package
2) gate crash one of the bit hotels (the Hyatt or the Westin
have goodbeach facilites. Avoid the Marriott as it has next to
no beach). Take your own towels, as they will ask to see your
room key or get you to sign against a room number for any hotel
towels.
3) go to Public Beach. This is an area about half way along
Seven Mile Beach. It has rest rooms and there are usually a few
stalls selling food, but obvioulsy there will be no beach beds,
so bring your own towels.
Best way to get to any of these is to use the Public Minibus
service - see the FAQ under Public Transport.
![[sir turtle]](sirturt.gif){kind=small}
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)![[crlf]](trans1x1.gif){kind=small}
![[separator]](rainbow2.gif){kind=small}
![[hit]](greenbut.gif)
Cayman Islands Government - Weather Statistics page.
![[hotlife]](hotlife.gif)
![[Executive Services]](execserv.gif)
![[miss]](redbut.gif)
have not been tested, or failed to respond![[space providers home page]](logo.gif){kind=logo}
![[home]](home.gif){kind=small}
Return to Robert's home page
![[main bookmark]](larr2.gif){kind=small}
Return to Robert's main bookmark![[top]](uarr2.gif){kind=small}
Go to top of page
View My Guestbook![[mailbox graphic]](mail.gif){kind=small}
robertsclark@yahoo.com
