Seven reasons to choose Grand Cayman for your next island vacation

I've just spent the past nine days in Grand Cayman, a tropical Caribbean island paradise. It's been more than ten years since my last trip to the Caribbean and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is for US Citizens to travel to the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory consisting of three primary islands: Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman (the largest and most developed.) Less than 500 miles south of Miami, Grand Cayman is an accessible and family-friendly Caribbean vacation destination offering natural beauty, more than 150 restaurants, duty-free shopping, abundant outdoor activities, every water-sport imaginable, plus nightlife and historic sightseeing. If relaxation is on your agenda, you'll find the relaxed island pace the perfect tonic to stressful and busy lives.

Besides all the obvious reasons that most people travel to Grand Cayman, here are seven of the top reasons that really resonated with me and my family:

1. Safety - Safety is a top priority when traveling anywhere, especially to a foreign destination with children. The Caymans are one of the safest island destinations and we felt safe there at all times - even driving on the outskirts at night. Tourism is the nation's second-largest industry (after financial services) and they take the safety of their guests very seriously. There was a large security presence at the hotels we stayed at, but we're told this is merely as a precaution.
2. All beaches are public - All beaches in Grand Cayman are public up the the high water mark. This means you can walk along the famed Seven Mile Beach and plant yourself and your sand toys anywhere. Of course hotel and condominium facilities such as beach chairs, towels and outdoor showers are for the use of registered guests only, but you can bask along the same stretch of beach as the guests at even the most high end properties as long as you don't pass the no trespass point.
3. The currency - Grand Cayman is a pricey island. Since nearly everything needs to be imported and the US dollar is not favorable in the exchange rate equation, plan on spending more here on food and other essentials than you might at other island destinations. But it's super easy to do business here if you don't want to deal with foreign currency exchange. US dollars were accepted everywhere and some establishments even gave change back in US dollars. Since our credit cards were charged in US dollars, we avoided the foreign currency exchange fee that our credit card company would have charged otherwise. In restaurants, our bill showed the prices in Cayman dollars as well as US dollars so we never needed to perform the conversions. Also, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to most services. Once you get used to the concept, it takes the guesswork out of tipping.
4. Public transportation - The public bus system is simplistic and safe. For $15 US, three of us rode from Seven Mile Beach to downtown Georgetown and back for dinner. We didn't have to deal with parking hassles or driving after an adult beverage or two. Busses are actually minivans that stop at designated bus stops around the island (marked by a circular "bus stop" sign) or you can just flag a driver down anywhere along the route. It was an interesting way to become immersed in the local culture since the residents often use this method of transportation. Taxis are also widely available, although a more expensive way to get around. Still, renting a car and exploring the father reaches of the island will add to your experience. Gas is expensive here (around $5.75/gallon in Cayman dollars which converts to $7.01 USD), but choose a fuel efficient rental car (most of them are) and even the most avid explorer won't spend much on gas.
5. Language - English is the most common language spoken in the Cayman Islands and British English is commonly utilized. Native Caymanians have a pleasing accent with many endearing phrases.
6. Weather - During our early March visit, every day was warm and mostly sunny. When the sun was out in full, it gets intensely hot. Evenings didn't dip below the mid-70's and we rarely needed even a light sweater. This is one trip that you can plan to leave the bulky clothing at home.
7. Casual - Aside from some fine dining experiences and maybe for those staying at the plushest properties (for example, the Ritz Carton requires guests to wear "resort attire" before entering the hotel from the pool area), Grand Cayman is a very casual island. For daytime beachwear is in order and in the evenings most men wore khaki-style shorts and polo shirts and the ladies wore shorts or casual sundresses. It's easy to avoid dressing up if that's your desire, which sure makes packing a cinch! We didn't wear half the clothes we packed and we only traveled with carry-on luggage. Unless you're hiking, cycling or pursuing activities that require closed-toe footwear, sandals and water shoes will be your footwear of choice day and night.