It'Sugar!

A fun place to take your kids downtown just opened in Grand Cayman. The worldwide chain, "It'Suger" has opened the doors in downtown Georgetown at Harbour Drive and Fort Street. This location is right by the Royal Watler Terminal. It'sugar features chocolate, candy, and gelato. The It's Sugar motto is:

"A movement dedicated to the single-minded pursuit of everything frivolous, over-indulgent and delightfully naughty. Our mission is to disrupt the white noise of daily life with a bunch of stuff that serves no purpose whatsoever other than to elicit laughter, happiness and child-like euphoria. Rules are made to be broken, rewritten, then broken again-we take great pleasure in great pleasure."

"We believe in: Staying up late, cutting class, the tooth fairy, conspicuous consumption, & asking for forgiveness instead of permission."

This brand new spot in Grand Cayman features hundreds of different kinds of chocolates, candies, and the best gelato on the island. Some of the specially flavored gelato are "Jack Sparrow Rum Raisin", Stracciatella Chocolate Chip, Bacio (Chocolate Hazelnut), Amerena (Black Cherry Swirl), Coconut Rum, and dozens more. Visit their website for more information!!

In addition to the outstanding sweets, they have a large souvenier shop with Cayman Islands themed shirts, souveniers, and more! 

Next time you are on Grand Cayman, take your kids downtown to It'sugar. They'll think you are "extra sweet" for doing it!

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

When Did Mudslides Turn Into Milkshakes?

Over the years the Cayman Islands have been known for their tasty frozen drink, The Mudslide, that originated at Rum Point. This delicious day-time favorite for tourists consists of vodka, bailey's, and kahlua, blended together with crushed ice. This drink is even topped with kahlua poured down the straw so your first sip has a little extra kick.

Somewhere along the way, the traditional mudslide disappeared from everywhere but Rum Point. You now see imitation mudslides that are pre-mixed with ice cream and chocolate syrup. Don't be fooled. This is a milkshake, not a mudslide. This is how they are made in America and it's how they are made at far too many places in Grand Cayman now.

Do yourself a favor and head to Rum Point for an afternoon and order "The Original Mudslide". You will love your decision, but you better make sure you have a driver if you plan to drink more than one, because these tasty drinks are potent. Oh, and if you have kids, don't bother ordering a virgin mudslide, because at Rum Point, cups of ice are free!!

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

 

Royal Palms

One of the more popular spots in Grand Cayman is located right in the heart of Seven Mile Beach. The Royal Palms has something for everyone and is centrally located so it is walkable from most of our properties. It can be accessed from the beach or from the road. Whether you are looking for a spot to stop and grab a drink while walking down the beach (I recommend the "Nutty Banana") or a late night place for music and dancing, the Royal Palms has it all.

***The dirty nutty banana. Yum.

During the day, Royal Palms has a water activities stand set up that allows you to parasail, kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, and more. They also have a large number of beach chairs where you can lay and catch some rays. The beach is sandy and a perfect place for kids to swim. In addition to that, the bar is a full service bar with a grill for lunch. 

At night, the Royal Palms beach bar converts to one of the hottest hang out spots for locals and tourists alike to go listen to a live band. The atmosphere is very relaxed as it is an out door beach bar, but that doesn't make it any less fun. Wednesday nights are industry night with a DJ and typically it gets very crowded, which makes it a fun night to go. Also, they have added a "rehab" (take off of rehab in Vegas) on Sundays by their new pool. I've not been to Rehab yet, but have heard it is quite popular. While on the island you will want to find out the exact schedule for the week as it can vary seasonally.

Finally, on the same property is a very nice restaurant, Reef Grill, that is reasonably priced and features gas-fired pizza and seafood. The Royal Palms could be a nice night out because you can walk there, have a nice dinner, and then move out to the dance floor for drinks and music, then walk home. 

The best part about the Royal Palms Beach Bar is their philosophy of "no shirt, no shoes, no problem." After all, what would the Cayman Islands be without being laid back? Enjoy.

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Cayman Islands Water Activities

There are so many things to do in Grand Cayman, such as snorkel trips, stingray city, shopping, dining, and relaxing. Sometimes one of the more simple things, taking a long walk down Seven Mile Beach gets lost in the shuffle. Sometimes this can be the most relaxing and cheapest way to spend a day. However, if you are looking to spend a little money during your walk, there are numerous water sport activity stands along the way. You can parasail, jet ski, kayak, ride on the banana tube, water-bike, and now you can even paddleboard. The prices of these activities vary by stand and season so it will be up to you to figure out the best rates when you get down there, but they all offer fun activities.

People that have taken the jet ski have been known to see huge sea turtles on the surface of the ocean, while going for a thrilling ride along 7 Mile Beach, stretching from downtown Georgetown, all the way to West Bay.

When taking the parasail trip (you can do this alone or double), you get high enough to be able to see the entire island of Grand Cayman, creating breath-taking photograph opportunities.

The newest activity on the island has grown quite popular in the United States in the past 2 years, paddleboarding. This activity is attainable by people of all ages, but it can be quite a workout. Be prepared to feel the "paddling" in your arms and shoulders the next day. 

The banana boat is a popular activity for kids, as it is like "tubing" behind a speed boat, but the tube is long, like a banana and seats 5 people. It is quite difficult to stay on, so be prepared to get wet. Several times. But it is a lot of fun.

So if you are looking to put a little fun into your walk down Seven Mile Beach, stop and check out an activity stand and find the perfect water sport for you! Don't worry about exerting too much energy while on a relaxing vacation. There will be rum punch waiting for you when you get back to your condo.

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Bus Taxis Can Save Big Money

As someone who has been going to Grand Cayman for 31 years, I must admit, I've been giving bad advice for the past few years. Since we have a car on the island, I've never really had to worry about transportation around the island. I've always told people to either rent a car, or more likely just grab taxis. I always thought this was the simplest and most affordable option.

I have been notified by someone who just returned from the island that they stumbled onto a bus taxi and found out that is the easiest and most affordable way to get around the island. So I took it upon myself to do some research and sure enough, it sounds pretty slick.

The Grand Cayman Bus Service began in 1998 and is a popular form of transportation for locals to get to and from work, but recently more and more tourists have been using it to get around the island in lieu of taxis. There are 38 mini buses that serve 8 routes. The most useful line extends from downtown Georgetown all the way along 7 Mile Beach. 

There are bus stops all over the island, including one right in front of the condo office at Treasure Island (Sunset Cove) Condominiums. The route runs from 6:00 AM until Midnight in both directions. They look very similar to the regular taxis. They aren't like the city buses you are used to seeing in the U.S. 

The real advantage is that they only charge $2.00 per person per trip regardless of your destination. If you want to go to Kirk's Supermarket just down the road, it will cost you $2.00. If you want to go all the way to the other end of the island to the Turtle Farm, still $2.00. With 38 minibuses servicing the island, the longest you will ever have to wait for one is about 5-7 minutes. Also, the real convenient thing is that you don't even have to be at a bus stop to get on one. If you see one driving down the road, just flag it down and they'll pick you up anywhere.

So next time you visit the Cayman Islands and decide to save money on renting a car, look for the taxi bus instead of the regular taxis and you will have some extra spending money for the good stuff, like rum punch and mudslides.

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Camana Bay: Cayman's Newest City

The newly built town of Camana Bay covers over 500 acres stretching from Seven Mile Beach all the way to the North Sound. This contemporary town features some of the best dining and shopping on the entire island. It's proximity to all of the Cayman Condos properties makes this a very easy spot to visit during your stay on the island. 

The town consists of residential neighborhoods, gardens, public parks, a market, shops, restaurants, sports facilities, a day spa and a movie theater. It is rapidly developing into the most popular area on the island with an influx of new restaurants and shops creating a new spot for fashion, entertainment, food, and fun.

The shopping featured in Camana Bay has something for everyone, includins jewelry, sunglasses, souveniers, and an organic market to pick up fresh food. The dining features several new resturants, including the most popular, Abacus, which features some of the best seafood on the island. Some of the dishes you can find at Abacus are blackened red snapper, ginger soy glazed seabass, lobster & crab ravioli, seared yellow fin tuna, steak, chicken, pasta, and more.

Camana Bay also features Cafe del sol, which is Cayman's version of Starbucks Coffee. As you can see Camana Bay has a little something for everyone. So during your next visit, make sure to check it out. In the meantime, here is a link to their website where you can find all the happenings and what's new, including cookouts, live music, and more.

http://www.camanabay.com/

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

 

Change is Good: From Treasure Island to Sunset Cove

One of the most popular properties of Cayman Condos is about to undergo a very exciting change. Treasure Island Condominiums are excited to announce they will be changing their name to Sunset Cove. Once the beach restoration project was complete in the Fall of 2010, the name change made sense. With the beautiful cove finished, there is no better sunset setting on the entire island. The beach in front of the condos becomes a popular gathering place during Happy Hour because everyone wants to enjoy the breathtaking sunset. Because of this, the owners of the Treasure Island Condos decided that the name change would reflect the property in a more accurate away.

In addition, there had been much confusion among guests due to the hotel being named Treasure Island as well. Despite sharing the same property for years, the Treasure Island Hotel and Treasure Island Condominiums are completely independent of each other with different owners and management teams. The timing seemed right to create an identity that our guests can relate to.

So effective immediately, the condos formerly known as Treasure Island Condominiums will now be called Sunset Cove. For our long time guests, this may take some getting used to, but we are confident that with time, Sunset Cove will be one of the most recognizable names on the island. After all, what better spot to take in a gorgeous sunset than at Sunset Cove?

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Experience the Deep Sea

There are many great snorkel and dive spots in the Cayman Islands to experience the corals, colors, and fish of the Caribbean Sea. However, you can't get to 100 feet deep with a simple mask and snorkel. The Atlantis Submarine in Grand Cayman can get you to depths of the sea that you will never see with from the surface. The Atlantis XI is an advanced submarine that can allow passengers the opportunity to brilliant sea life from 100 feet deep.

This submarine was specially designed for underwater sightseeing excursions, led by knowledgable marine guides who provide information during the entire trip. The submarine is comfortable for passengers as it is air-conditioned and maintained at sea level pressure, so there is no effect on your ears.

The submarine was developed in Australia and features large, clear windows optimal for viewing the spectacular sights of the sea, with numerous photo opportunities. There is even a moment when a trained diver enters the water and begins feeding thousands of colorful fish right outside the windows.

You will be blown away by the amazing clarity of the water as well as the colors of the coral and fish. During the 90 minute trip passengers often experience sea turtles, corals, shark, eel, and stingrays. Oh and if you feel like you've seen all these things before, but are too scared to snorkel or dive after dark, the Atlantis offers night tours too, which gives you an entire different perspective of night life, when you see shrimp, lobsters, and other night time sea creatures come alive.

Next time you are in Grand Cayman, make sure to make a visit to the Atlantis Submarine for some breathtaking views that you will remember forever. To book your submarine tour for $79, you can visit this website:

https://www.caymanislandssubmarines.com/

Unfortunately, I don't have any under-water photos of the submarine to post here, but if you visit the website above or do a simple google image search, you will see plenty of great photographs to give you an idea of what this trip is all about.

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to write about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Good Karma

The Cayman Islands have always been known for their vast dining options. With great seafood and wondeful people readily available on the island, most restuarants are great. However, a new restaurant recently opened up on the island, called Karma. This restaurant and lounge is located in the Westshore Centre on Seven Mile Beach. It offers a unique dining experience and features sustainable products. Most of what you eat at Karma was either grown right on the island or came from local fishermen.

Their menu features sushi, seafood, salads, noodle dishes, and steak. In addition to their excellent menu, they offer a wide variety of specials and events. From 4:00-7:00 on Mondays-Fridays they offer Cayman's hottest happy hour. This includes $5 Tappas, $3.50 Beers, $6 Wines, $4 Shots, $7 Martinis, and $5 Well Drinks. Wednesdays offer a Live DJ from 8:00-11:00 and $1 Oysters. Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 is an Asian-style outdoor BBQ, called "Karamaque", featuring baby back ribs. Friday nights in the lounge you can find all the hottest music with a live DJ from 8:30-12:30. Finally, on Saturdays you can get taken back in time with a live DJ playing hits from the 70's and 90's.

Don't forget for dessert to order the homemade ice cream that they make right at your table by using liquid nitrogen, while mixing it for 3 minutes causing fog and steam to engulf your whole table. This is a unique dessert experience only found at Karma.

So the next time you visit Grand Cayman, don't hesitate to visit the hottest, newest Restaurant that Cayman has to offer. It might just give you some good Karma for your trip.

Pirates Week 2011 is Underway

Every November, the Cayman Islands have a celebration that turns the island upside down. It is the annual Pirates Week Festival. When the event kicked off on Thursday night, it was the 34th consecutive year that Grand Cayman celebrated Pirates Week. The event spans 11 fun packed days including music, parades, contests, fireworks and more. With an 11-day celebration, there is something for everyone of all ages. 

Thursday saw the celebration kick off with a Pre-Pirates Week Happy Hour at Breezes by the Bay, a Miss Festival Queen Costume Contest, and a Pre-Pirates Week Kick off Party at the Wharf with a live band.

Friday included Happy  Hour at the Hard Rock Cafe, a 5K Run starting at Bayshore Mall, a Pirate Costume Contest, Fireworks at Harbour Drive, Pirates Week Song Contest, and a Street Dance and Food Festival on Harbour Drive that started at 9:00 and ran into the wee-hours of the morning.

Saturday was the day for a 5K sea swim, a float parade, another street dance, and a Teen Disco.

Sunday kicked off with a Lion fish culling competition at the Public Beach, a Children's Fun Fair Day, an underwater treasure hunt in West Bay, a boat cruise, and a turtle release in Safehaven.

Monday is Bodden Town/Savannah Heritage Day. Tuesday is Georgetown Heritage Day. Wednesday is East End Heritage Day and also live music at Hard Rock. Thursday is West Bay Heritage Day. Friday is North Side Heritage Day, near Kaibo. 

Finally Saturday is a culmination of an excellent week with walking on water competition, paddle board race, cardboard boat race, snapper cook-off, trial of the pirates, and an extraordinary fireworks display. Saturday night ends with a Street Dance Finale and another teen disco.

So whether you've never been to Pirate's Week or been there many times, you can see that there is plenty for everyone to do. It might be too late to get down to Pirates Week 2011, but it's not too late to start planning a trip to the 35th annual Pirates Week in November of 2012.

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to wrtie about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.

Halloween: Cayman Style

Ever wonder if the Cayman Islands celebrate Halloween? That question can be answered with a resounding YES! Treasure Island's Monster Bash Halloween Party is a celebration unlike any other. Thousands of people gathered together last Saturday night for a Halloween celebration complete with drinks, music, dancing, and oh yes...costumes. 

Starting at 7:00, Treasure Island's lobby is the only place to be for the biggest Halloween costume party on the island. With several prize packs sponsored by Tortuga Rum and free flights on Cayman Airways presented to the best male and female costumes, this party has it all.

The event is sponsored by Grand Cayman's flagship radio station, Z99, which provides the music for the night. There are even drink specials, such as 2-for-1 Jager shots. If you happen to be on the island over Halloween, I highly recommend checking out the lobby of Treasure Island for the biggest, baddest, Halloween bash around. 

However, the party didn't stop there. Friday night there was another great party at Karma, a recently opened sushi restaurant and bar, located in West Shore Plaza. This event was also complete with a costume contest, DJ, and dancing on the bar floor.

Finally, on Monday (the actually date of Halloween), there was another party at Elements, a night club located near Foster's on Seven Mile Beach. So clearly, the spooks, ghosts, and goblins that are prevelant in the United States are just as common in Grand Cayman. The island is full of Halloween tricks and plenty of treats so don't hesitate to book a fun trip next year over the Halloween holiday. 

This blog posting was brought to you by Cayman Condos. For information on any of our blog postings or to inquire about booking a condo, please contact our office at 800-999-1388. Something you love about the blog? Something you hate? Something you want me to wrtie about? Let me know: joe@cicondos.com.