bposhphoto@me.com We had such a great time this year in the Cayman Islands! We used American Airlines (on miles) and stayed at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort (on points). My husband travels so much during the year, it is such a blessing that those hard days alone are erased by a trip with family togetherness. I heard great reviews on this resort from a mom with kids. The staff was so nice and playful with our kids. The hotel was full of other families. It felt like home with a tropical vibe. And you can’t beat Christmas in the sand.
The area felt very safe and modernized. Everyone spoke english and the menus were all in English as well. We rented an SUV and took little trips (less than a mile or 2) to some local food spots- Jessie’s Juice Bar and Island Naturals. Some of the things I look for are when traveling are- does it have a fitness center/ or studio close by and does it offer healthy food. It makes a HUGE difference to me since this is part of my lifestyle. I don’t like feeling like a blob- especially in a bathing suit! ha! I know that’s not what everyone envisions for “vacation” but that will ALWAYS be what you can count on seeing in my travels.
They have daily and nightly events- like different restaurant gatherings, menu tastings, drink mixing, yoga on the beach, and kid activities like braiding hair, making crafts, and a whole kids club area (that we actually didn’t even venture in like we thought!).
Also, key.. is kids room adjoining ours.. not a deal breaker, but sleep is so crucial to enjoying trips! We’ve definitely had our share of endless nights, early mornings, and we are ready to leave the next day because we are drained- our kids are fussy and we are too. BUT, this one was actually our best. I think because we stuck to our home routine– early bedtimes (like by 6:30/7pm). We missed out on night time activities like s’mores on the beach, but in this season, we choose to miss out on activities for the sake of not being exhausted and actually ENJOYING each other and enjoying NOT having anything on the agenda. We spent our whole day at the beach then at the pool. The anchored floats in the water were a plus! And we remembered to pack Lennox’s floaties!
The restaurants at the hotel had a lot to offer too. They had a made to order juice bar in the morning, a buffet that even served gluten free options, and healthy salads. The decor is like I would style my home- black, white, and wood. Even the store in the Lobby had the same vibe. I’m a sucker for branding and everything was just SO my style. I got the cutest weekender bag that says “endless summer” and some new flip flops. It was nice to buy some souvenirs that would last.
We had so much fun and I definitely recommend this as a family destination!
