Review - we rented a car 4/3

[therbst]

Grand Cayman

 

We visited on 4/3/07 off the Grandeur of the Seas

 

We rented a car through Avis. They picked us up at the Blue Iguana gift shop about 10 minutes after we called at 8:00 - 2 or 3 blocks from the tender dock - 3 stores past the Hard Rock Cafe. It was about a 15 minute ride out to the airport (traffic coming into town was ugly - and about 5 minutes of paperwork before we were on our way. Our first stop was the botanical gardens in the middle of the east end of the island - about a 25 minute drive from the airport. Entrance fee was $10/person. The gardens have about a mile of walking paths, mostly through brushy, not-very-attractive areas. We saw some blue iguanas in penned-in areas and one walking freely along the path. There were no insects, but it was very warm along the paths where we were shielded from the breeze, even at 9:00 in the morning.

 

We drove another 20 minutes to Rum Point where we found one of the last available parking spots - though later we saw people parked on vacant lots across the road from the main resort area. There were plenty of shaded areas as well as sandy, sunny beachfront spots. There is an outdoor restaurant and bar and lots of water toys available with launches to take people out to "Stingray City", a sandbar about ¼ mile from the point. There is also an extensive gift shop and restrooms and free changing areas with showers. Try: http://www.rumpointattractions.com/ for pictures and information.

 

We then followed the road around the East End shoreline, stopping occasionally to enjoy the ocean views, and back to the airport. There were many places along the way that looked like good snorkeling spots, well protected from the surf by offshore reefs. We were back into town and on the tender back to the ship by 2:00. Next time, if there aren't so many ships in port, we will try to get to the west end. Traffic there, we are told, can be a problem. On the East End, there was very little traffic outside of Georgetown.

 

We had a small car with the steering wheel on the right and had no problem staying on the "wrong" side of the road - just had a difficult time remembering which side the turn signal was on. We had no problem finding a gas station and using our credit card to fill on the way back to the airport.

 

The folks at Avis were very pleasant and efficient. They do go out of their way for the single day cruise rentals. The cost was $50 including the $7.50 one-day license fee and insurance.

[centralvalleymom]

thanks for the review. We're going on april 29 and planning on renting a car too. Did you reserve online? Do you have to call the rental company prior to the cruise to let them know that you needed them to pick you up? Thanks.

[therbst]

To reserve, you can email Lisa at:

avisgcm@candw.ky

Let her know you want the cruise package.