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Visitor
Information and Tips
Language
 English
is spoken on all three islands. The dialect of Caymanians
is somewhat of a mixture of American southern drawl, English
slur with a Scottish lilt to punctuate.
Money
The local currency, the Cayman Islands dollar, is equivalent
to US $1.25. American currency is generally accepted as
are major credit cards. Banking hours are 9 am to 2:30
pm Monday through Thursday, and 9 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm
to 4:30 pm on Friday. The departure tax when leaving Cayman
is US $12.50.
Taxis
Taxis are available at Owen Roberts International Airport
on Grand Cayman and offer a fixed rate per vehicle or
per person to all points on Grand Cayman. This information
is available from the taxi dispatcher at the curb. Hotel
vans cannot provide courtesy arrival  pickup
at the airport. Taxis are also readily available from
all resorts .
Bus Service
The bus terminal is located adjacent the Public Library
on Edward St. in downtown George Town and serves as the
dispatch point for buses to all districts. Daily service
starts at 6 a.m. from the depot and the schedule is as
follows from George Town to:
West Bay - every 15 minutes, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday
- Thursday; 6 a.m. - midnight, Fri. & Sat. Fare is
CI$1.50 each way.
Bodden Town - Every 30 minutes, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday-
Thurs.; 6 a.m. - midnight, Fri. & Sat. Fare is CI$1.50
each way.
 East
End and North Side - Every hour, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sunday
- Thurs. and Saturday. On Friday, buses will operate until
after Midnight. Fare: CI$2 each way.
Rental Cars
Driving in the Caymans is on the left side of the road.
The law also requires mandatory wearing of seat belts.
In order to rent a car, you must obtain a temporary drivers
license from the police station or car rental agency,
easily granted upon presenting a valid drivers licence
from their home state, county. The fee is US$7.50. You
must be 21 to rent a car in the Cayman Islands, and some
rental agencies' insurance will not cover renters under
25. Check with your rental company in advance to determine.
Many major rental car companies are located in Cayman,
as well as a number of local agencies. A variety of models
of rental cars are available, most with right hand drive.
Rentals are also available on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,
mostly jeeps and 4 wheel drives.
Sopeds/Scooters
Mopeds and scooters are also available on Grand Cayman
and Cayman Brac. Riders are required by law to wear a
helmet at all times. Remember to stay on the left. Average
daily rate is US$25 which includes helmet and permit.
Shopping
 Cayman
is a duty-free destination which means many exciting opportunities
for you to save on such things as watches, china and crystal,
perfumes and fine jewelry on Grand Cayman and at a few
stores on Cayman Brac. Prices on perfume, watches and
select luxury items may be as much as 30% less expensive
here.
In addition to traditional duty free selections, varied
and interesting shopping--from chic European fashions
to outstanding local art--delights visitors in speciality
stores, hotel boutiques and shopping plazas.
You'll find a small variety of Caribbean crafts and products
including crochet work, paintings and sketches of Caribbean
scenes, thatch work, pepper sauces, Caymanite (the islands'
own semiprecious stone), jewelry, sculpture and wood carvings.
Most of the items are made in Jamaica, not in the Caymans.
Antiques and treasure-coin jewelry attract an enthusiastic
clientele, though these items can be expensive. You may
see items made from black coral and sea-turtle products,
but we urge you not to buy them: Both the coral and the
turtles are endangered, and each sale encourages more
of these rare species to be harvested (the gathering of
black coral is done in the waters of other countries --
it's prohibited in the Caymans). Turtle products are illegal
in most countries.
 Tipping
Many of the hotels and restaurants automatically add a
10% to 15% gratuity on to the bill, others do not. Be
sure to examine your bill.
Drinking Age
The legal age for alcohol consumption is a minimum of
18 years old. It is a serious offence to drink and drive.
The legal limit is under .01.
Dress
Most restaurants require shoes and shirts, and shorts
instead of long pants are generally acceptable. Some of
the upscale restaurants may require slacks for evening
dinner. Please do not wear bathing suits or "skimpy"
beach wear beyond the beach or cruise ship. Note that
there are no nude beaches in the Cayman Islands and that
public nudity and topless bathing are prohibited by law.
Electricity
The Cayman Islands use the same electrical standards as
the USA - 110 volts, 60 Hz.
Water
Public water in the Cayman Islands is safe. All hotels
and condos, and most restaurants and private homes are
connected to the city water supply. The water is pumped
from the sea and then purified by reverse osmosis.
Medical Facilities
Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac have a full complement of
modern medical facilities, including government run hospitals.
Private medical centres are in Grand Cayman with a 911
emergency service. Medivac services to the U.S.A. can
be arranged when necessary. Vaccinations are not mandatory.
Time Zone
The Cayman Islands are on Eastern Standard Time all year
long.
Cayman Islands Tourism Offices
Canada
234 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 306
Toronto ON M4P 1K5
Telephone: +1 416 485-1550
Telephone: 1 800 263-5805 toll-free in Canada
Fax: +1 416 485-7578
Email: info-canada@caymanislands.ky
Grand Cayman
The Pavilion, Cricket Square, Elgin Avenue
P.O. Box 67
George Town, Grand Cayman, BWI
Telephone: +1 345 949-0623
Fax: +1 345 949-4053
Germany
Marketing Services International GmbH
Johanna-Melber-Weg 12
D-60599 Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: +49 69 60 320 94
Fax: +49 69 62 92 64
Email: msi-germany@t-online.de
UK
6 Arlington Street
London SW1 1RE
Telephone: +44 20 7491-7771
Fax: +44 20 7409-7773
Email: info-uk@caymanislands.ky
USA
Doral Centre
8300 NW 53rd Street, Suite 103
Miami, Florida 33166
Telephone: +1 (305) 599-9033
Fax: +1 (305) 599-3766
Email: info-usa@caymanislands.ky
9525 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 160
Rosemont, IL 60018
Telephone: +1 (847) 678-6446
Fax: +1 (847) 678-6675
3 Park Avenue, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: +1 (212) 889-9009
Fax: +1 (212) 889-9125
Two Memorial City Plaza
820 Gessner, Suite 170
Houston, TX 77024
Telephone: +1 (713) 461 1317
Fax: +1 (713) 461 7409
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