A Grand (Cayman) Adventure: Where We Stayed
At any given moment, I am planning 15 -20 potential trips, some of which may never happen. A trip to the Cayman Islands has been floating around my Notes app since 2016 when Kimpton opened their first international resort - Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa on Grand Cayman Island. Kimpton hotels have long been a favorite of mine and this stunning resort on a gorgeous stretch of Seven Mile Beach was immediately added to my list. It would take years, but we would eventually make it in May 2023. Of course when you approach something with years of anticipation, there is always the possibility that it won’t live up to those long held expectations. In this case, I had nothing to worry about. I’ll dive in to how I used points to book this resort (and the insane amount of money I saved doing so) in a future budget post, but for now, I’m going to share more about our time at the Kimpton Seafire Resort and also where we stayed during the second half of our trip, the equally wonderful Botanica Luxury Cottages.
Kimpton Seafire Resort
International travel can be exhausting. The day before arriving on the island, we had spent the day flying all the way from the west coast to Charlotte, North Carolina. We had some generous friends who took us out to dinner and hosted us overnight before our final flight to Grand Cayman the following morning. Although it was far from the most stressful travel day and we got to enjoy the final leg of our journey in business class, it was with relief that we arrived on the island. But then there is still the long lines of customs and immigration (who very kindly let families with young children move to a much shorter line) and getting luggage and picking up a rental car and then finally driving (on the “wrong” side of the road) to an unfamiliar resort.
After all this, all one can hope for is a moment when you think, yes, this was worth it. For me, on this trip, that moment was basically the very moment we arrived at Seafire. The friendly faces who greeted us, bearing cold towels and welcome drinks, quickly eased us into vacation mode.
We were upgraded to a Premium Oceanfront room, which gave us some extra space and, best of all, an unbeatable view from our balcony. Even if the rest of the room were terrible, that view would have been worth it. Fortunately, the rest of the room was far from terrible. At over 700 square feet, the room was so well-designed. There was a well-stocked mini bar, spacious bathroom, and the room was just generally beautiful with plenty of space to spread out. And did I mention the view from the balcony?
This attention to detail was carried throughout the resort. There was sunscreen and aloe vera always available, the afternoon happy hour included treats especially for children to accompany the wine and canapes for adults, and the service was impeccable. Although we didn’t have a chance to take advantage of all of the amazing amenities, what we did enjoy was consistently amazing.
Perhaps our favorite amenity was the splash pad, which was so fun for Harrison and was also surrounded by cabanas where parents could relax and order drinks while the smaller members of the family played until they were exhausted. Harrison asked to go here multiple times per day. The beach was also gorgeous and the pools were never too crowded with shallow and zero entry options, which were perfect for a young child.
Another cool perk was that kids under 5 eat free at the onsite restaurants. This was great because everything here was very expensive, even for an already expensive island. There was also a kids club for an additional fee per day or half day, although Harrison wasn’t quite old enough to participate. It looked really fun, though. There were included fitness classes (SUP yoga!) and fun surprises like afternoon popsicles by the water. The staff also helped us celebrate my birthday with a beautiful and delicious dessert plate and a handwritten card that accompanied dessert during my birthday dinner at Ave.
It’s no surprise that the dining options here are fantastic. My birthday dinner was a memory I will treasure. We also enjoyed a few meals at Coccoloba, either dipping our toes in the sand at a table on the beach or ordering food and beverages to our beach or pool chairs. I don’t think there was a single dish or drink that I didn’t enjoy.
It should be clear that I LOVED this resort. If I had to choose a con, it would be the expense of everything. This probably isn’t an issue if you are paying to stay here (because if you can do that, you probably aren’t worried about how many $15 coffees you’re consuming), but if you are staying here because you know how to maximize points, then 4 days was plenty for our budget. However, if you know that going in and are prepared for the expense, then I cannot recommend a stay here enough.
Botanica Luxury Cottages
It was somewhat of a relief to move from the resort experience of the first half of our trip to the more relaxed stay at the cottages where we spent the final three nights of our trip. We all felt so at home and, if I absolutely had to pick between the Seafire and Botanica, this would easily win (although I think doing both was the perfect balance). Botanica was literally everything I love - an airy coastal style, a comfortable indoor space, and outdoor spaces that make you never want to go inside. If you’re looking for a place to stay on Grand Cayman, this is it. Don’t let the distance from the beach deter you - it’s a quick drive away and you’ll have all the accessories you need for a beach day in your cottage - chairs, an umbrella, even a cooler and beach toys. We stayed in a King Cottage - there was a separate bedroom for the adults and Harrison had his very own queen size sleeper sofa in the living room, which was more comfortable than some actual beds I’ve slept on.
You know I’m not cooking on vacation, but I still appreciated the full kitchen which at least made morning coffee and Harrison’s breakfast easier. We were greeted by a basket of local goodies and a cheese and charcuterie box to help us celebrate my birthday; this made for a perfect beach lunch the next day. And the pool? Seriously, how amazing is this pool? Some of the other inclusions, like the full size washer and dryer and a small desk (which was surprisingly handy when I had to do a little work one day) were also so appreciated. And with all this, the best part was the staff. This place was lovingly created by Caymanians to reflect what they love about this island - it was truly a treat. When we called about an early check in to accommodate nap time, they went out of their way to make a cottage available and everyone we encountered made sure we had everything we needed. As we sat outside in the garden, it truly felt like a home away from home.
Although I know this is not true for everyone, for me accommodations are an important part of any vacation. This time, on this trip, they were absolutely perfect. If you want my recommendation for Grand Cayman, you can’t go wrong with this: 2 or 4 nights at the Seafire to enjoy the luxury resort experience and then spending the remainder of your time at the equally luxurious but more homey Botanica. From both places, we were able to explore much of what Grand Cayman has to offer and to visit many of the destinations recommended for first time visitors. In my next post, I’ll share our weeklong itinerary that was perfect for a family with a young child.
