On this trio of coral-fringed Caribbean islands, life moves in rhythm with the swaying of the palm trees. Although its nearest neighbours are Jamaica and Cuba, the Cayman Islands have an undeniably different flavour — the British Overseas Territory is a place where the Queen features alongside parrots and tropical fish on the colourful local currency, and where bottomless brunches and golf courses meet mangroves and barefoot beach barbecues.
Its sister islands, meanwhile, each hold their own appeal: ten-mile-long Little Cayman really lives up to its name as a tiny, unspoilt hub for scuba diving; while Cayman Brac is renowned for its hiking trails, caves and imposing limestone bluff. And don’t forget the surrounding waters: transparent, turquoise shallows teeming with reefs, starfish and stingrays, begging for you to grab a snorkel and dive in.
1. Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, Seven Mile Beach
Best for spa lovers and families
The Kimpton shook up Grand Cayman’s hotel scene when it opened in 2016 with its refreshingly rustic yet luxurious sense of style, combining natural driftwood chandeliers, polished coral and prints by local artist Dready. The spa’s Moorish blue-tiled hammam is also easy on the eye, and you can opt for a coconut-infused treatment and feel the stress melt away. For children there’s a kids’ club with popcorn check-in station and evening activities, meaning parents are free to enjoy some me-time, too. At nine floors, this is the island’s tallest building, but it also stands head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to sustainability — it was the island’s first LEED Silver certified resort.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
3. Le Soleil d’Or, Cayman Brac
Best for foodies
It’s said that pirate gold awaits discovery in the limestone caves and shipwrecks of Cayman Brac, but the island’s real treasure is this elegant luxury resort. Self-billed as a Caribbean “farm inn”, its low-rise buildings sit in 20 acres of botanic gardens — there’s a choice of two private villas or four en suite guest rooms in the main building. And best of all, these grounds provide a bounty of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs that go straight into the farm-to-table restaurant. Two miles away, you’ll find La Soleil d’Or’s beach club, which combines an oceanfront swimming pool and thatch-shaded loungers on the white sand. This place feels like its own private island.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
4. Locale, Seven Mile Beach
Best for friendly atmosphere
Muscling in among the big-name American brands, Locale is one of the few boutique hotels on Seven Mile Beach. This new kid on the block has opted for Scandi-inspired simplicity in its 42 light, airy rooms and lofts, each of which has its own kitchenette. Downstairs, the alfresco saltwater pool and gym make the most of Cayman’s balmy climate, and the service here is equally warm. Pull up a chair at the hotel’s craft cocktail bar, or tuck into a wood-fired pizza at Bonfire Urban Kitchen.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price ££
5. The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach
Best for old-school indulgence
Extending for some 140 acres, the grounds of this resort are so large that guests can stroll from the white sands of Seven Mile Beach to the Greg Norman-designed golf course on the island’s opposite shore without ever leaving. And now this grande dame of Cayman luxury resorts is getting a makeover: guest rooms will reopen in December 2021 with a sleek, contemporary new look, following a $50 million renovation. Of the hotel’s five restaurants, seafood-focused Blue by chef Eric Ripert is a must for serious gourmands, while nature lovers should head to the hotel’s Jean-Michel Cousteau-backed eco-tourism centre for a guided kayak tour through the mangroves.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
6. Marriott Grand Cayman, Seven Mile Beach
Best for attention to detail
With a dedicated sunglasses concierge ensuring your shades stay smudge-free and evening campfires with a stargazing guide and s’mores, this beach house-themed Marriott hotel stands out from the crowd with its thoughtful touches. Anchor & Den is its beating heart, a sleek lobby bar serving mouthwatering craft cocktails and farm-to-table, globally inspired dishes. Whether you’re by the pool or on the sand, you’ll be well looked after — there’s even a sunburn-relief station with sliced cucumber and aloe vera for those who’ve overdone it. Keen to check out the tropical surroundings? A fleet of complimentary Linus bicycles awaits.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
7. Little Cayman Beach Resort, Little Cayman
Best for scuba diving
On the tiniest of the Cayman Islands, this 40-room oceanfront resort is the top pick for scuba divers — this is Cayman’s No 1 resort for reef diving, with bucket-list sites like Bloody Bay Wall beckoning. You can also hop onto one of the hotel’s free bicycles to circumnavigate Little Cayman, or try your hand at kayaking, beach volleyball or night-time tennis. Seeking a slower pace? It’s easy to while away days lazing on a beachside hammock or by the freshwater swimming pool, a chilled Caybrew (the local beer) in hand.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price ££
8. Palm Heights, Seven Mile Beach
Best for design
You’ll find a design-conscious crowd sipping cocktails under Palm Heights’ sunshine-yellow parasols, lazing on the vintage furniture and enjoying rooftop yoga classes. At this hotel, which first opened in 2019, creative director Gabriella Khalil has seriously raised the style stakes along Seven Mile Beach with an Insta-friendly aesthetic inspired by the Seventies in the West Indies. Meanwhile, chef Gerardo Gonzalez takes care of the foodies, having upped sticks from his New York restaurant to work with local ingredients and flavours inspired by Jamaica, Mexico and Asia.
Spa Y
Pool Y
Price £££
9. Sunset House, George Town
Best for sundowners
Situated just east of Grand Cayman’s capital, Sunset House is a far cry from Seven Mile’s showier resorts. Instead, here you’ll find a low-key clutch of rooms which are firmly angled at the diving crowd; rent equipment from the on-site kiosk, and you can plunge straight off the hotel’s jetty for a sensational shore dive. Its thatched, waterfront restaurant and bar also happens to be one of the island’s finest sunset-watching spots; come five o’clock, order a fruity rum punch and hunker down to watch the flame-coloured skies.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price ££
10. Caribbean Club, Seven Mile Beach
Best for home comforts
For those wanting to spread out in a spacious apartment-style set-up, Caribbean Club comes up trumps with its trio of family-friendly options. The three-bedroom Pool View Suites and Beachfront Villas put the powdery sands of Seven Mile (regularly voted one of the Caribbean’s best beaches) only steps away, while the Tower Suites give the loftiest views over the island. Private balconies and well-stocked, granite-topped kitchens come as standard — but, with one of the Caymans’ finest restaurants on site, you might be tempted to down tools and head for an Italian-inspired feast at Lucca. Guests can also treat themselves to in-room massages, work out in the on-site fitness centre or hole up in one of the chic oceanside cabanas.
Spa N
Pool Y
Price £££
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/destinations/caribbean/cayman-islands/best-hotels-in-the-cayman-islands