Key To Cayman

Currently in Cayman: Temperature: 69F/21C; Humidity: 73%; Wind Speed: 39Kph; Wind Direction: ENE;

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels Condos

DINING

Restaurants Clubs & Bars Sister Islands

Entertainment

Sunset cruises After Dark Cruising the strip Rhythm of the night

SHOPPING

Duty Free Galleries at a Glance Guy Harvey

REAL ESTATE

Cayman real estate 101 In the lap of luxury Off the beaten track Fractional and timeshare owner-ship

WEDDINGS

Tying the knot wedding locations Dream Weddings

Watersports

Windsurfing Cayman Atlantis Kayaking Parasailing Shipwrecks of the Cayman Islands Diving

ATTRACTIONS

Boatswain's Beach Botanic Park Hell

Adventures

Cayman Information The Sky At Night Festival Fun Go East National Trust Touring the districts

Sister Islands

Brac to the Past Brac Wreck Cave Hunting

Key RateS

E-VERSION





Cayman Information Words by Elphina Magona
What to expect No haggling Sundays Capital Religion Language Area and population Driving Government Airlines Business hours Climate Gratuities Health services Hire cars Hurricanes Liquor law Drugs Money and banking Postal services Public transport Radio and television Supermarkets Telecommunications Time Public holidays Utilities Working and Immigration Take your Key home Key contacts Emergency phone numbers Government numbers Marinas Places of interest Places of interest - Sister Islands Tourist information Useful phone numbers What to expect Cayman is one of the richest countries in the Caribbean and, along with wonderful weather and beautiful beaches, the islands are synonymous with style and sophistication. Designer stores, fine dining in restaurants equal to those in any capital city of the world and superior accommodation, make Cayman a destination favoured by the discerning traveller. It must be remembered, however, that although Cayman is one of the largest financial centres in the world, it also has a Caribbean laid-back pace of life. Things can take longer to accomplish than visitors may be used to but what, after all, is the hurry if you are on vacation? Islanders are renowned for their gracious hospitality and manners so don't forget to greet people before asking for something; a small pleasantry can go a long way. Back to top No haggling Unlike many other countries in the Caribbean, it is not common practice to haggle over prices when shopping. Cayman's many duty-free stores already offer substantially discounted goods and they are not in the business of bartering. Back to top Sundays Cayman is a Christian country and, as such, observes the Sunday Sabbath. Supermarkets are closed, along with most other stores so don't forget to stock up on goods on Saturday. It is also forbidden to dance on Sundays, and establishments are only permitted to play soft, background music. Bars are required to close early on a Saturday night and must be empty by midnight to observe the Sabbath. These customs all add up to make Cayman the unique place that visitors have enjoyed for years and a little understanding and cooperation will help everyone enjoy a truly memorable holiday. Back to top Capital George Town, Grand Cayman Back to top Religion Predominantly Christian Back to top Language English Back to top Area and population Cayman is made up of three islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - which are actually the peaks of underwater mountains situated to the south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea. The total area is 100 square miles and the population is estimated at approximately 52,000 of which half are Caymanian. The largest island is Grand Cayman, which is approximately 22 miles long and eight miles at maximum width. The highest point on the island is only 60 feet above the sea level. Cayman Brac occupies 14 square miles and Little Cayman 10 square miles. Back to top Driving Visitors are often surprised by the amount of traffic on Cayman's roads, especially during rush hour. Despite the long lines of cars drivers are normally courteous and patient. To make the most of vacation time, it is best to avoid going into George Town from West Bay and Bodden Town between 7am and 9am and out of town between 5pm and 6pm. However, if you do find yourself caught up in traffic, try not to get frustrated and under no circumstances drive in the middle turning lanes. Instead, why not stop at one of the many restaurants or beautiful spots to enjoy a refreshment or admire the scenery until the rush has passed? In Cayman, you drive on the left hand side of the road and always wear a seatbelt. You will need a visitors' driving licence, which can be obtained from a car rental agency on proof of a valid driver's licence from your country of residence and the required fee. Back to top Government The Cayman Islands is a British dependency with a British Governor appointed by the UK government. The 15-member Legislative Assembly and Executive Council, elected by members, is responsible for the daily administration of the country. The Governor must normally take the advice of the council, except in matters of defence, internal security, external affairs, police and civil service. Back to top Airlines The main scheduled airlines are Air Canada, Air Jamaica, American Airlines, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Cayman Airways Express, Continental, Delta, Northwest, US Airways and Spirit. Cayman Airways operates daily flights between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. Island Air offers domestic and international charters, and there is also a helicopter service available for charter flights. Back to top Business hours Most shops are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and business and professional offices from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Back to top Climate Temperatures are lowest in February, ranging from 60 to 86F, rising to a maximum in July. Relative humidity generally lies in the range 68 to 92 per cent. Rainfall is seasonal and also varies in different areas of the islands. Eastern districts tend to be drier and Cayman Brac generally has less rain than Grand Cayman. Typically, the rainy season starts in June with maximum rainfall in September/October. An updated weather forecast is available in the local daily newspaper, The Caymanian Compass, and on the website www.caycompass.com Back to top Gratuities Customarily, gratuities or tips are paid to hospitality industry personnel who render good service. The accepted norm is 15 per cent of the total cost for services. Some establishments add gratuity to the final bill. Back to top Health services Doctors are on hand should anyone fall ill while on holiday and hospitals on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac are well-equipped to deal with most emergencies. Emergency number is 911. Back to top Hire cars The public transport system does not cover all areas of the islands, so hiring a car is a good way to get around. There are several reliable rental companies as well as international companies which provide this service. Back to top Hurricanes All warnings of hurricanes must be taken extremely seriously. Advisories are issued by the government in the event of a hurricane threatening or approaching Cayman. Hurricane season is from 1 June until 30 November. Back to top Liquor law It is illegal in Cayman for anyone under the age of 18 to either obtain or consume alcohol in any licensed premises or public place. The law also specifies that no licensee, other than a hotel, restaurant or wine and beer licensee may sell liquor on Sundays, Christmas Day or Good Friday. Back to top Drugs Cayman authorities have a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs. The excuse of possession "for personal consumption" is not accepted. Persons found with illegal drugs will be arrested and taken to court. Possession of a small quantity of a "soft" drug (e.g. cannabis, known locally as ganja or marijuana) will usually be met with a fine of several hundreds dollars. Possession of "hard" drugs, like cocaine and Ecstasy, can result in imprisonment. Additionally, the criminal conviction may mean that you are not welcomed back to these islands again. Back to top Money and banking Banking hours are generally 9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday, and to 4.30pm on Fridays. Most banks are closed on weekends although some open on Saturday mornings. The exchange rate is approximately US$1.25 = CI$1.00. US dollars are generally accepted island-wide, although expect your change in CI. Automatic Teller Machines are available island-wide. Back to top Postal services There is no house-to-house delivery in the Cayman Islands. The central post office is in downtown George Town and there are several other sub post offices throughout the islands. You can buy postage stamps and use mail drop boxes at any of these locations as well as some grocery stores. Most post offices are open 8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Charges for postcards to the US are CI20 cents and CI25 cents, depending on the size of the card, and CI40 cents to the UK. Courier Services DHL Worldwide Express, FedEx, Skybox, Sprint Express Services and UPS all have offices on island. Back to top Public transport Most taxis in Cayman are minicabs and charge per person. The main taxi rank is in the centre of George Town but taxis can be hailed on most of the busy roads. Many of the taxi companies double as tour operators. The bus depot is next to the library in central George Town. The bus route covers West Bay and Seven Mile Beach, Bodden Town, North Side and East End areas. Fares range between CI$1.50 and $2.50. The bus for each district is marked with a different coloured circle: West Bay - Turtle Farm, Yellow. West Bay - Birch Tree Hill route, Green. Bodden Town, Blue. East End, Red. North Side, Orange (extended on request to Rum Point). East End - North Side, Red 5. For the daily schedule call the Public Transport Hotline on 945 5100. Back to top Radio and television Cayman has 17 FM radio stations catering for all musical tastes. RADIO CAYMAN 1 (89.9 in Grand Cayman and 93.9 in the Sister Islands) and BREEZE FM (105.3 in Grand Cayman and 91.9 in the Sister Islands) are government-owned; CAYROCK (96.5) plays classic and contemporary rock; Z99 (99.9) broadcasts top-40 music 24 hours a day; HEAVEN 97 (97.7) is a Christian station that broadcasts contemporary Christian music; GOSPEL (88.7) broadcasts traditional gospel music; VIBE (98.9) plays music with a local flavour along with reggae; SPIN (94.9) R&B and calypso; ROOSTER (101.9) broadcasts country and western tunes; OCEAN 95 (95.5) plays an eclectic variety of favourites; HOT 104.1FM plays reggae, soca and R&B; KISS 106.1FM plays contemporary and gold track music from the 70s, 80s and 90s; X107.1FM plays contemporary and alternative hits; 107.9 is a low-power station transmitting government weather information and ICCI 101.1FM broadcasts for the International College of the Cayman Islands. There are two local television channels, CITN (Cayman Islands Television Network) and CCT (Cayman Christian Television). Cable television provides a wide variety of international programming 24 hours a day. Back to top Supermarkets There are three major supermarkets on the island - Kirk Supermarket, Foster's Food Fair and Hurley's Marketplace - where you can buy provisions (but not alcohol, which can be bought at liquor stores). Back to top Telecommunications Telcom providers in Cayman are Cable & Wireless and Digicel. Direct dialing is available to anywhere in the world. Check with your service provider in your home country to see if your cell phone can roam in the Cayman Islands. Back to top Time Cayman is on Eastern Standard Time and does not observe daylight saving. Back to top Public holidays The following dates are public holidays in the Cayman Islands in 2008: Tuesday, January 1 - New Year's Day Monday, January 28 - National Heroes' Day Wednesday, February 6 - Ash Wednesday Friday, March 21 - Good Friday Monday, March 24 - Easter Monday Monday, May 19 - Discovery Day Monday, June 16 - Queen's Birthday Monday, July 7 - Constitution Day Monday, November 10 - Remembrance Day Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day Friday, December 26 - Boxing Day Back to top Utilities Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycle (same as the US and Canada) Water: central supply of desalinated water from George Town to Pease Bay, Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. It is safe to drink but bottled water is also readily available from stores around the island. Back to top Working and Immigration Many visitors who come to Cayman fall in love with the islands and want to move here permanently. The prospect of almost year-round sunshine, a tax-free income and a relatively safe place to live make it an extremely desirable location to work. There is, however, a strict immigration policy in the Cayman Islands and anyone found overstaying or working without a permit is likely to face deportation. In order to get a work permit you must first find a job for which you are suitably qualified. The company employing you will then file for a permit and you will only be able to start work when it has been approved and paid for by the firm that is hiring you. Cayman is in an unusual situation of having more jobs than there are people on the islands to fill the positions. However, preference will always be given to suitably quailified Caymanians. Back to top Take your Key home You can keep up-to-date with all the visitor attractions in Cayman by checking out Key to Cayman's website www.keytocayman.com, which is updated regularly. Another great source of island information and entertainment is the monthly What'shot magazine available at supermarkets and malls across the islands. Back to top Key contacts Back to top Emergency phone numbers Police/Fire/Ambulance 911 Police Station 949 4222 George Town Hospital 949 8600 Cayman Brac's Faith Hospital 948 2243 Little Cayman Clinic 948 0072 Dentist 949 8602 Crisis Hotline 943 2422 Diver's Chamber 911 Back to top Government numbers Administrative Building 949 7900 Customs 949 4579 Immigration 949 8344 Library 949 5159 Port Authority 949 2055 Post Office 949 2474 Public Transport 945 5100 Vehicle and Driver Licensing 945 8355 Back to top Marinas Harbour House Marina 947 1307 Back to top Places of interest Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park 947 3558 The National Gallery 945 8111 The National Museum 949 8368 The Mastic Trail 949 0121 Pedro St. James 947 3329 Boatswain's Beach and The Turtle Farm 949 3894 Back to top Places of interest - Sister Islands Cayman Brac Museum 948 2622 Little Cayman Museum 948 1033 Red-Footed Booby Bird Nature Reserve 948 1010 Back to top Tourist information Cayman Islands Tourist Association 949 8522 Department of Tourism - Central Office 949 0623 Department of Tourism Sister Islands Cayman Brac Office 948 1649 Back to top Useful phone numbers Useful phone numbers 844 Directory Enquiries 411 Local Operator 0 Overseas Operator 010 Chamber of Commerce 949 8090 Back to top