Grand Cayman, at 78 square miles, is the largest of the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands. It is also the most populated and developed.

George Town is the capital of Grand Cayman and is fairly quiet, except on cruise ship days when every square inch of pavement seems to be occupied. Cruise ships arrive two to three times a week and can arrive as many as four ships at a time. If you’re booking a trip to Stingray City or Rum Point, it’s best to avoid these rush hours.

Like its sister islands, Grand Cayman has a museum, the Cayman National Museum. This building has had a varied past, before it became the home of the museum, it was a courthouse and jail, as well as a place of worship. In fact, the old jail is now the gift shop.

Seven Mile Beach is the main place to be when it comes to most tourists. It is a wide stretch of powder-soft white sand that follows the contours of the west side of the island between George Town and West Bay. This beach is combined with generally calm and clear waters. There is a barrier reef that protects the beach from strong waves and currents, making Seven Mile Beach the ideal place to learn to swim, as it also has a gentle slope that goes into the sea.

Most of the resort hotels can be found on Seven Mile Beach, and while it’s popular, it never seems crowded. But if you want a little more peace and quiet, walk along the beach until you get away from the hotels and condos. This beach is public, so any property built on it must allow people access. This is usually done by building alleyways between hotels and other buildings. Although if you want a sun lounger, you had better be a hotel guest or a client of one of the beach bars!

The other big attraction is Stingray City, which is located on the North Sound. In about 12 feet of warm, clear water, you can get up close to the South Atlantic rays. These fish were attracted to the area as fishermen used the area to clean their catch. This was helped by local divers who offered them snacks. Now they know that a boat means food. If 12 feet seems daunting, they can also be seen at the nearby sandbar, where you can stand waist-deep in water.

Grand Cayman can be reached by direct flights from Heathrow Airport, flying with British Airways. Although the flight is ‘direct’, there is a landing in the Bahamas.

If you need help planning your vacation to the Cayman Islands, contact John Guinn at Holiday Hut. As a trained Cayman specialist, he will ensure that you get the most out of your time there.