Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where are the Caymans?
A. The Cayman Islands are made up of three lush islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman; all surrounded by some of the bluest water in the world. Part of the British West Indies, the Cayman Islands are nestled approximately 200 miles south of Cuba. There is plenty of snorkeling, diving, sailing and boating to be done on all three of the islands.
Grand Cayman is the largest and most populated of the three islands. The island is approximately 22 miles long and anywhere from one to seven miles in width. The permanent population on the island is approximately 50,000.
The Cayman Islands are probably best known for being one of the world's top dive sites. Many tourists come down solely to explore the vast underwater life.
The Cayman Islands are a British Colony with a Governor appointed by the British Government. The capital is George Town, located approximately 26 miles from Cayman Kai. George Town is the "center" of activity on the islands. Duty-free shops, tourists, restaurants and off-shore banking are all abundant in George Town.

Q. How do I get to the Caymans?
A. Many airlines fly into Grand Cayman: Cayman Airways (from Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago); American (from Miami); US Airways (from Boston, Charlotte and Philadelphia); Northwest (Detroit, Newark, Minneapolis/St Paul); Delta (Atlanta, Houston and Newark); Continental (Houston and Newark); Spirit (Ft Lauderdale); British Airways (London); Air Canada ( Toronto).
Schedules change and some are seasonal so check before you book.  

Q. What’s the weather like?
A. Perfect! The islands are warm year round with cooling trade winds. The dry season lasts from December to April, with February and March the driest. May and October are the rainiest months. Total annual rainfall averages 46 inches. Temperatures range from a low in February of 78-82 F to a high in July and August of 85-90. The sea temperature is 78-82 in winter and 82-86 in summer.   

Q. Why should I stay at Rum Point rather than on Seven Mile Beach ? A.  Like most people we stayed at Seven Mile Beach (SMB) when we first came to Cayman nearly 20 years ago. It took several trips before we explored the island more and discovered Cayman Kai, “where the quiet life is”. Now that SMB has 7 storey condos and hotels, the peace and quiet of Cayman Kai is even more attractive.

Q. How do I get to Rum Point?
A. You will need a car while you are on island so rent one from the airport. We use Andy’s (www.andys.ky) - mention The Retreat for a 10% discount, but there are several others: Avis, Budget, Coconut, Economy. The new East-West Highway saves little time but the next phase may yield more significant savings when it is completed - but that's a few years' away! 

Q. What about grocery stores?
A. There is a very basic store, Chisholm’s, 5 minutes away, but most people stop at Hurley’s at Grand Harbor, 10 minutes from the airport, on their way through. Hurley’s is a full size, US style grocery store (supermarket). There is also a Foster’s in Savannah, 5 minutes closer to Cayman Kai with a somewhat smaller selection than Hurley’s ( and some say cheaper prices), and a Foster’s Express at East End which is smaller again, but still with a better range than Chisholm’s. GROCERY STORES ARE NOT OPEN ON SUNDAY! GAS STATIONS HAVE BASIC SUPPLIES.Hurley's offers a 10% discount on Wednesdays!

Q. Are there any restaurants?
A. Next door is the Rum Point Club, whose casual, on the beach Wreck Bar is open daily from 10 – 6. The upscale restaurant re-opened in December 2008 and serves dinner Tuesday-Friday with a beach BBQ on Sat. Also in Cayman Kai is the Kaibo Beach Bar & Grille, open daily from 11-11. Food ranges from burgers and steaks to lobster – and is very good. The Kaibo's  Upstairs upscale restaurant is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (when they serve the lunch menu downstairs). The Kaibo has a BBQ on Tuesday nights as well as other special events.
Down the road in Old Man Bay is Over The Edge which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Within 15-20 minutes of The Retreat are several other restaurants: Castro’s Hideaway at The Reef Resort (home of the Barefoot Man); Portofino; and The Lighthouse.
Pizza is available at Domino’s (near Foster’s in Savannah) and Pizza Hut near Hurley’s. Our advice: don’t try to have a pizza delivered! Pick one up when you are doing your grocery shopping and cook it yourself in the condo.

A. Next door is Red Sail Sports which rents all sorts of water craft and also arranges trips to see the world famous stingrays at Stingray City. Best of all – and free - are the beaches and the shallow water. Also free is snorkeling which can be done right off the beach. And, of course, many people come for the world class scuba diving!

Q. Is the Cayman depicted in John Grisham’s books true?
A. Absolutely not! The Caymans are a highly sophisticated major financial centre. It is a criminal offence NOT to report anybody suspected of illegal financial activities. As our attorney said: ”anybody stupid enough to try anything illegal WILL be caught”.