August 2003
My family were guests at The 7 Mile Beach Resort on (surprise) 7 Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island from 15 February 2003 until 23 February. We had a great time and would return.
It is a fairly small resort and is not directly on the water. Do not let this deter you. It is a two minute walk down a sidewalk to the beach which is very nice. But the best part of the resort is the ambience and the people. Everyone was very attentive and the resort had a very good activity schedule including a dive shop on the premises.
My 9 year old daughter took the SCUBA introductory course just for kids. It is only in the pool (which is very nice and all units face it) and they get a comprehensive ground school and a dive every day for 4 days and also a night dive. They make the learning really fun and my daughter just loved it.
We arranged a day trip to snorkel with the sting rays at Sting Ray Bar. Anyone can do this and it should not be missed.
The resort is very well situated and many restaurants and shops are close by. We had a rental car (pretty expensive, but nice for touring) and it is a five minute drive to downtown Georgetown where all the cruise ships come in and hence many shops.
The Cayman dollar cost 1.25 US dollars and prices in stores are about the same as in the US so most everything costs about 25% more than in the US. The up side is there is no poverty stricken areas, no pesky beach vendors and no hands out on the streets. The suites are showing their age but are well maintained. It is not premium construction, but there is a renovation program starting. It might be a good idea to check on construction activity before going.
We drove out to the Morritt’s resort on the East end of the Island and walked through it. It is magnificent with several pools, one with a swim up bar and the beach is nice. It is the better part of an hour’s drive from Georgetown and there is not a lot out there although it is building. If you don’t mind remote resorts, it is definitely an option. We can’t speak for the units themselves.
But getting back to the 7 Mile Beach Resort, your vacation there can be about anything you want it to be. Lots of activities and night life or hang by the pool or beach and veg out. Enjoy.