Blessed by Seven Mile Beach and a reputation for luxury accommodations and excellent diving and watersports, Grand Cayman is home to a collection of top resorts mixing unique local properties with upscale global brands. Here are our picks for the best resorts on Grand Cayman, the most popular destination in the Cayman Islands.
The terraced buildings of this five-star resort step down to the sands of Seven Mile Beach, its twin wings sheltering a freeform pool edged with cabanas and featuring the Starfish Cay water park. The recently renovated resort is home to the out-of-this-world Blue by Eric Ripert, and features spacious top-floor Seven Seas Suites among its accommodations. It’s also home to a Greg Norman design that’s easily the best nine-hole golf course in the Caribbean.
Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa
Elevated above Seven Mile Beach but still just steps from the shore, The Kimpton Seafire has 264 guest rooms and suites with sunny decor and private balconies, including beachfront bungalows and a private Beach House. The spa and fitness center also have ocean views, and the resort’s trio of restaurants offer a variety of foodie events each week.
The first and only all-suites boutique hotel on Seven Mile Beach has a collection of one- and two-bedroom suites, all with ocean views. Resembling a wedding cake, the small hotel looks out onto Caribbean over a small forest of distinctive yellow beach umbrellas, and four distinctive dining options feature locally sourced Caribbean cuisine, sushi, pizza, and upgraded beach bar fare.
Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa
Blue rooftops match the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea and the sparkling swimming pool at the Westin on Seven Mile Beach. Arched balcony doors add a touch of elegance to the hotel’s rooms and suites, with decor and designs inspired by the sea. The Beach House restaurant features small-plate dining for grazers and in-the-sand dinners for couples.
The Marriott’s West Bay location is decidedly unlike the experience of staying on Seven Mile Beach: here, there’s no sand but rather stairs that lead from the bulkheaded resort property right into the sea. On the other hand, the Marriott is close to Stingray City, Grand Cayman’s most popular tourist attraction, rooms all have balconies with ocean views, and the Veranda restaurant is a prime spot for waterfront dining. The Botanika Union spa offers an immersive atmosphere for wellness and treatments and classes to nourish both body and mind.
When you seek the vibe of a beach house rather than a hotel room, consider the Caribbean Club. This small resort has a collection of 37 one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas with fully stocked kitchens, beach cabanas are reserved for guest use, and resort amenities include a pool, fitness center, and the Luca restaurant serving three Italian meals daily plus Sunday brunch and room service.
Grand Cayman’s “hotel for divers by divers” has been guiding visitors to Grand Cayman’s exceptionally beautiful reefs and wrecks since 1958. Located on a ledge overlooking the Caribbean, the hotel has a swimming pool and one of the island’s top beach bars, My Bar. A fleet of six dive boats sets out daily for scuba and snorkel trips, and courtyard and ocean-view rooms are typically booked as “stay and dive” packages.
Rum Point has always been a different side of Grand Cayman, a cool counterpoint to the luxury digs on Seven Mile Beach. The Rum Point Club, with its infinity pool and villa accommodations, may rightly bill itself as a “luxury boutique hotel,” but it’s still closely connected to the laid-back Rum Point community with its diverse dining, attractions, and amenities. The resort’s 31 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom residences provide comfortable sanctuary, while the lobby bar serves as a restaurant, watering hole, and gathering place.
Set on a long stretch of sandy beach on Grand Cayman’s east end, the Wyndham Reef combines the pleasures of an oceanfront resort with a sense of seclusion. The resort has studios and one- and two-bedroom accommodations with the option of choosing an all-inclusive package that includes three meals at hotel restaurants, all drinks, and use of amenities like kayaks, snorkel gear, and the fitness center.
A cluster of three Spanish colonial style buildings house eight apartments and 10 condo united at this chill beach resort. Located in quiet Bodden Town, the inn offers the opportunity to integrate with the local community that’s rare at bigger resorts, such as the opportunity to dine at local jerk shacks and explore the Mission House in the former capital of the Cayman Islands.
Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman
This Seven Mile Beach hotel is the best budget-friendly option if you want to access one of the world’s beautiful stretches of sand. The Hampton Grand Cayman property boasts a host of resort amenities, including a pool, fitness center, and a poolside al fresco restaurant.