How @#*#@*! Much?!?!?!
or
Grand Cayman on a Budget
Grand Cayman is a great place to dive, but it will
murder your Visa if you don't watch out. Here are a few suggestions to
try to reduce your vacation debt.
- Rent a Jeep. They are cheap and well worth the savings they provide
by allowing you to leave the hotel you are staying for dinner and such.
Make sure it has some type of cargo capacity so you can move tanks to
dive sites. Beware: In Grand Cayman, they drive on
the left. Driving on the left is far more psychologically draining that
you might expect. Negotiating the traffic circle in Georgetown could
require short-term therapy.
- There is NO TAX in the Cayman Islands. Enjoy it while you can...
- On a related note, bring a Gold Visa or Mastercard. There is some
type of protection offered on these cards that exempts you from purchasing
certain car rental insurance policies. Can save you a bundle.
- Don't worry about converting you cash. Some countries take US/Local
currency interchangeably, but you loose out of because of the exchange
rate. The CI is fixed at $1.25US. HOWEVER, if you desire, you may go
the local bank and check to see if the official rate is in your favor.
In this case you might be able to come out ahead a few bucks at the
bank.
- Do shore dives. Although GC is well
known for its spectacular wall dives, the shore dives there are equally
amazing. Turtle Reef, Seaview Reef, Eden Rocks/Devil's Grotto are all
well worth the effort. If you are going to night dive, many of these
places close at dusk, so make sure you bring your own tank.
- Rent a room with a fridge or kitchen. Although much of the dining
on the island is excellent, you can save a lot by buying stuff at the
supermarket which has pretty good prices.
- Grill out. It is cheaper than you think and many places you stay at
don't have kitchens. You can pick up a cheap grill for about 5 bucks
at the grocery store.
- Bring your own refreshments on dives. This serves two purposes. First,
a coke is usually 1.00CI(about $1.25US). Second, IMHO the water provided
at most establishments is kinda gross. The island desalinization process
leaves a particular taste in the water that is noticeable. Nothing personal,
I don't like the water at Myrtle Beach either. Pick up a gallon of distilled
water and a pack of lemonade. Drop it in a cooler or a thermos. Don't
be surprised if people are REAL nice to you if your on a boat dive.
=)
- Off-season is the summer. Prices are MUCH cheaper then.
- Go where the locals go. The trick is simply to check out the license
plates. Look for black numbers on a orange or yellow background. That's
what the locals drive and they know where the prices are lowest.
- If your going in a group, rent a cottage or villa. Four people can
rent an apartment for under $1000/wk off-season. Many agencies can be
found on the net search engines.
- Direct dialing the mainland from the island can cost $3.00 a minute.
Bring a calling card.
- Diver's Supply in Georgetown has the cheapest underwater camera rental
at $35.00/day and they will change the film for you for free. Make sure
that you check the camera for damage thoroughly before leaving the store.
We had a camera spontaneously decompose on a dive and were responsible
for the repair ;(
- Grand Cayman has a Burger King, Wendy's and a Pizza Hut. Price are
higher than home, but less than the hotel, guaranteed.
- Buy an issue of the Caymanian Compass. It lists several happy hours
and brunches that sometimes have free appetizers.
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