Cayman islands..ever been???

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RACQUEL

I haven't been to Cayman but if you are going to get a job there then that would be a good thing because their money is much more valuable than the US$.

jcm90000

I live here on sunny Grand Cayman working as an auditor.

anything you want to know specifically?

heres a brief overview:

Pros

Fabulous beaches and all the water sports you could want

It is a safe island

No neds/chavs etc

Friendly people

Some great bars and some of the best restaurants in the caribbean

The weather! humidity is high in summer and low in winter - temps in summer never drop below 27C (even at night) with highs in the low 30s and maybe topping 40C. Winter temps are usually about 21- 4C at night and 24C-28C in the day.

It is very well developed so all creature comforts are available with aircon everywhere (its needed!)

Huge expat population (we out number the locals) with a number of sports clubs on island as well

Ivan damage has mostly been restored

Trips to the US, Cuba, Jamaica, South/central America etc are a short flight away

Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are a 30 min flight away - true caribbean islands with no real development on them.

Cons:

The place suffers total gridlock (mon) at rush hour and is packed with ridiculous American trucks and SUVs (although there is a lot of road building going on creating a couple of new bypasses - one has opened and it has made a huge difference heading to/from West Bay).

It is expensive but its not bad if you live here due to local discounts and you learn where the good deals are (and it depends what job you will get here - if you work in the service industry you will be living with about 5 other people just to afford the rent. Professionals generally share two bed houses that rent for USD2000 to USD3000 a month. You can get one beds around for USD1200 - USD1500 a month as prices are now starting to drop)

The Seven Mile Beach area is way over developed

the seven year roll over policy that is helping no one

Everything is Americanised and it is not a good thing as the kids are growing up to be bone idle morons and means the supermarkets are full of rubbish american food (unless you are American then it will be great - a home away from home!)

Driving skills leave a lot to be desired due to there being over 100 nationalities on island with the majority coming from places with a very brief (or nonexistent) driving test

Crime is starting to appear due to a very small minority of individuals arriving on island thinking it is easy pickings.

Downtown Georgetown is full of cruiseshippers. Many are loud, brash and gaudily dressed and it does not make for a pleasant environment. I leave them to it and ignore them. they fall into three categories - newly weds, over feds and nearly deads.

all in all though i rather enjoy life here and have no intention of ever moving back to the UK!

Heres some links:

http://www.caymanislands.ky/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Islands

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/caribbean/cayman-islands/

http://cayblogger.typepad.com/my_weblog/ (to get an idea of some problems on the island - this is supposed to be satire but he is generally always right)

http://www.caycompass.com/ (local paper)

http://www.caymannetnews.com (other local paper)

Regarding the answer below - the cayman dollar is pegged to the US dollar at CI0.8 to 1 USD so it cannot be more valuable than the USD and the only place you can use CI is in Cayman! Everywhere accepts USD as well since visitors are mostly american.

As for money laundering, it happens everywhere, no matter what the polis and interpol etc try. this is now one of the most strictly controlled financial centres on the planet and is officially recognised as being so (although yes in the past if you had gold teeth, smoked 20 cubans a day and enjoyed banking using suitcases full of cash you were the governments friend!). And Rio (per below)? Do you even know where the Cayman Islands are? Muppet.

[TSB] The idiot Ferrett

Yes it is beautiful you have to go to Rio De Janeiro

COOL CYBERDUDE

Never, but I heard it's paradise...can I come with ya?

Norm

Never been

Eloise07

It's beautiful but extortionatley expensive

youngl_s

I went there on a cruise, so I only got to go on the island for a few hours. Definitely go snorkeling or scuba diving. One of the best places I have been. Some other friends I was with took a tour of the island and said it was very nice. Good luck!

voetbal

I "work" there, but I usually spend my time on the beautiful beaches.

However I may soon be fired if my boss finds out about what I just told a caller:

Here was a conversation I just had, "I'm sorry sir but I can't divulge information about that customers top secret account"

I shouldn't have said he was a customer
I definetly should have said he had an account
and
I DEFINETLY shouldn't have said it was a secret

kentata

Grand Cayman is very small, and very flat ... but warm with golden beaches.

I am partial to Hawai`i.

LadySingsTheBlues

Nope. But I'm going this summer.

CuriousHIC

nope

Jamaican Girl_19_Go Asafa&Bolt

I know alot of jamaicans go to the cayman islands. They are very American influenced i think...just like Barbados. Very Stable Economy unlike some caribbean islands. Has a very tropical, caribbean feel. nice beaches and that. But obviously not as beautiful as say...Jamaica.

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