Getting a luxury experience for less can be challenging. Many respond with an “earn and burn” reward points mentality and get less value in favor of convenience. Others work tirelessly to save a few bucks or opt out, considering the challenge impossible without overpaying. Between all these extremes is a “have it all” happy medium we call the Deal Method.
The Deal Method explores making the most of every purchase, to capture the most value while getting the best deals, including luxury travel. Here, we’ve applied that approach to enjoy a 5 star luxury experience at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa on Grand Cayman. Rewards space is readily available to book and it’s a revered “sweet spot” redemption booking.
We’ll help you save time while exploring the extensive benefits available to their guests. We then explore when to use cash vs points to book and how to take advantage of Platinum Elite IHG benefits.
Last, we’ll detail strategies on breaking your trip up to save on exploration costs and how to eat, drink, and buy souvenirs for less. The net value we’ve captured for the future by using this approach is immense. The synergy of all these savings is the Deal Method in action!
Kimpton Seafire Resort Review
Located on the western shore of the island, the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa is the northernmost of the large resorts on Grand Cayman.
Within its 264 rooms, it offers a luxury boutique experience with contemporary, flowing decor, relaxing music and attentive service.
The resort is adequately isolated from cruise goers but remains within walking distance to many restaurants, bars, and liquor and grocery stores.
- Spa offerings, cabanas, restaurant menus, and brunch details are at this link.
- Pictures and 3D tours of their guest room options are available here.
After staying here for three nights, I can see why many swear by the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa. As the #1 ranked best value and top rated resort on Seven Mile Beach, it delivers.
Here, you’ll feel welcome and pampered. Real-time communication with the staff can be had by text and they’re responsive and follow-through flawlessly.
How can you save money while staying at the Seafire Resort?
We used an IHG credit credit card that gave us discounts and benefits, signing up for this card solely for that purpose. In this way, we can accrue at least three nights of points (bumped to a 4 night stay as a platinum elite member benefit on rewards bookings from the IHG card).
We made the most of every amenity, leaving only for meals and limited excursions to relax to the max while there. Shopping, excursions, and exploring the island came at our second stop.
They run summertime promotions that offer 20-30% off of off season rates for standard rooms. I happened upon one under promotions and was able to cancel and rebook about 5 weeks out.
Priceline also offers Express Deal “opaque” bookings that include the Kimpton Seafire & Spa posted as a “5 star luxury hotel” at 23% off of retail. Confirm you’re getting the Kimpton with pictured decor (the magenta accented pillows give it away every time!). Booking through Priceline and you’ll save some, yes, but forego IHG rewards.
The real deal here is to bypass that in favor of an IHG premier credit card to rack up points for the future.
You can expect a similarly excellent experience at the Kimpton and Ritz Carlton as they offer many similarities. They’re both fantastic resorts.
The Ritz Carlton is more centrally located and has a more extensive pool complex with a 10 feet deep section and a lap pool. Their leisure sports offerings include a golf course, golf simulator, and tennis courts. They are also family friendly with a kid’s lounge and waterpark complex (though the Ritz’s is not covered from the sun like Kimpton). They offer 6 restaurants, including Blue by world-renowned celebrity chef Eric Rupert, and will also go above and beyond to exceed your expectations.
The Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa is just slightly more isolated from the tourist and cruise hustle. Reciprocity between two other Marriott properties in the area means the pool and beach in front of the Ritz is often a bit more hoppin’ and I prefer a reserved-refined experience the Kimpton provides. I prefer to stay a bit off the beaten path because I get more relaxation.
The Deal Potential is the main area in which they differ. The Ritz is about 10% more expensive than the Kimpton in cash, including fees. Rewards bookings are more expensive too, at 85,000 points per night. Bonvoy points are more versatile but it’s about twice as hard to earn points are likely to be devalued by Marriott, diluting the value of the points you work hard to earn. Free night credits have limits that preclude their use at higher end luxury resorts like the the Ritz.
No, the Kimpton is not all-inclusive. Wyndham’s Reef Resort on the east side of the island offers an all inclusive option. Reward booking availability on Wyndham points are scarce though.
No, I would have accrued less than half of the IHG points earned with the IHG credit card if, instead, the booking was funneled thru AMEX then transferred to IHG.
Free breakfast for two and a $100 spa credit don’t make-up the difference. I’m a sucker for a good deal, and the IHG deal was far better as you’ll see below.
This is an option if you’re above 5/24 with Chase but it’s not the ideal.
These rooms view the interior island, including the adjacent road, neighborhood, canals and north sound bay that lies beyond. You can view pictures of these rooms here. The ocean soundtrack soundtrack is drowned out by the road and construction you don’t get from the oceanfront side.
We highly suggest you book one of these rooms but with a free upgrade.. IHG platinum elite status (included with the card we recommend) includes a free upgrade. This should edge you into something oceanfront without paying the extra premium.
Yes! It’s the number one rated best value property on the entire island.
~5 miles; not far from Georgetown | Owen Roberts International Airport | GCM. The resort can arrange transport but this costs $125-$155 while a Taxi is $40 USD. Transit takes 15 minutes.
You’ll need GPS if you rent a car. We recommend downloading offline Google Maps to keep your phone in airport mode. Otherwise you may loop the airport for a while.
Not up to the standard the island offers. To the right of Red Sail Sports are some shallow rocks with a few fish. You might see a stingray. If you swim about 750 meters from shore you’ll find decent snorkeling but taking a boat or leaving the resort will suit you better.
If convenient resort snorkeling is your aim, the Wyndham Reef resort is your ticket. You can sea turtles, tarpon, barracuda, etc.
Here, you’ll get more bang for your buck by getting a snorkeling cruise or heading to The Cracked Conch where you’re an easy ladder into a deep rocky reef.
From the resort, a trip to the Turtle Farm and the Cracked Conch or Macabuca Restaurant with snorkeling behind the restaurant is a quick accessible option.
No, but your trip must be authorized by the island. You can signup here. Signup is responsive and lasts for 60 days. You must be vaccinated against COVID-19 but no testing is required as of 08/22.
The signup may lead you to believe that travel insurance is required if not recommended but they didn’t ask for proof of my health insurance and I didn’t have travel insurance. I book flexible reservations to avoid needed this extra expense.
The fees and exchange rate add up fast.
Many Fees: The daily resort fee of $80 USD, an 11% gratuity charge, and 13% tourist tax aren’t insignificant. Levied in addition to your room charge they add up fast. Our per night room rate was $439.20 meaning that these fees tacked on an additional 42%!
Mandated Check Gratuity: With peak room rates between $1100-1600/night for standard rooms, our rate was a deal by itself, however eroded by the hefty fees. A further 18% Gratuity fee is added to each check with an open tip space for you to add more; I opted not to given the mandated tip already included. One might expect that if gratuity is included on every check that it wouldn’t also be levied on your room rate.
Exchange Rate: Our booking and fees were in USD but every other expense was quoted in Cayman Dollars, thus including an exchange kicker. The exchange rate adds an additional 20% converting to USD but the standard on the island is 25%. It adds up quickly and your final bill can sting. Knowing that each dollar billed equates to a slough of IHG points helps take the edge off.
Trip Planning
Should I Stay Here the Whole Time?
I highly recommend spending a couple of nights at Rum Point. Relaxing with a rustic, locals feel, you experience the “true” Grand Cayman vibe to contrast the touristy experience.
We booked an AirBnB with a sea kayak on Bioluminescence Bay, walking distance from the Kaibo Yacht Club.
This gave us a kitchen and convenient access to the North and East sides of the island. Less driving means more fun and relaxing!
This second stay elsewhere meant no bus or boat tour expense needed. We’ll save that for the family trip when we return.
Cayman Weather
The weather while we were there in early August was perfect. Temps in the mid-80s, it was sunny every day. We didn’t experience any rain or cloudy days.
Despite intense heat at the height of the day, the breeze made this tolerable. Had it rained, we would have jumped into the ocean or pool until it passed.
Sunday is a national day of rest in the Caymans – few businesses are open. This is a great day to spend at the resort or out on the water. Mornings or hot days are best for hiking as the forests are less forgiving.
Amenities
Their website proclaims confidently “We’ve thought of everything!” and I couldn’t agree more. This is paradise. Here you’ll feel right at home without the nudge to tip or upsell.
Valet Parking is included
An expansive gym, standard yoga mat, and fitness classes are included.
Few take advantage of classes while the resort is so quiet.
Exercise schedule for classes is as follows:
Three separate pool areas surrounded by picturesque palm trees and relaxing music await you.
Lawn Games were very popular
An Indoor Poor Table was also available in the lobby.
Pristine Beaches include:
– No Sargassum grass
– Lounge float pads and platform floats with soaking pools
– Sea kayaks, paddleboards, two-person sailboats, and water tricycles
– Snorkeling gear and free lessons
– GoPro Underwater Cameras with WIFI
Jet skis ($95 per half an hour) are available to rent and boat cruises pick up at the beach behind the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa.
Bikes are also provided
Morning Beverages
Free Coffee and Tea are available between 6 and 10 AM daily
Social Hour
Unlimited wino-approved wine, both red and white, and finger foods are available between 5 and 6 PM daily. Be sure to take yours in plastic cup if headed to beach or pool.
Example food selections were Tsaziki toast bites, miniature pies, and frittata bites.
Local Beers, juices boxes, and fruit snacks were provided for the kids as well.
Family Amenities
While we didn’t bring our kids, we were blown away by how kid friendly the resort was, and will bring them next time.
Kid’s eat free before their 5th birthday!
This includes Foodie Events:
-Brunch Buffet at Ave (Contemporary Mediterranean) on Sundays between 12 and 3
-Chef’s Table at Avecita (Spanish-Tapas, currently closed other than this and private events).
-Taco + Tequila with Live Music Tuesday Nights
These are all splurges, but free kids may take the edge off.
Splash at Seafire “Waterpark” is more accurately called a splashpad with waterslides. The awnings are a nice touch if you need a break from the sun.
It appeals most to 4-12 year-olds.
Camp Seafire is a kids centric lounge which doubles to offer a parenting escape for an extra fee.
Babysitting is available for kids 5-12 at a rate of $130 full day, $75 per half day, and $44 per evening (Friday and Saturday).
Banana Boat Rides are available for an extra fee as well.
Hidden Value and Conveniences
Pets stay free!
We saw several on the grounds and many more local rovers enjoying the resort beach.
You can browse room type options here. In your Room:
- Microwaves are available free of charge upon request
- Nespresso machines with unlimited pods also, upon request
- Sliding doors open 2/3 room width to let in the breeze and ocean soundtrack
Turndown service includes mood lighting (as pictured), extra towels, ice refills, bottled waters, and cookies.
All nice touches.
Kimpton Seafire Resort Spa An IHG Hotel
- If a spouse or family member is using the spa for a paid service, they will grant you complementary access to the shower, sauna, and jacuzzi room for the day.
- Anyone paying for spa services is encouraged to come early and/or stay after to relax to the max!
At the pool’s edge and beach there’s:
Fruit-infused iced water, swim diapers, sunblock, aloe, and hand sanitizer.
These are all nice touches both to ease the need to bring them and alleviate expenses you would otherwise have.
If you’re celebrating a special occasion, notify the concierge.
They’ll surprise you with a little something to commemorate the occasion: chocolate-covered fruit in our case.
Mentioning the secret password “stay cool” got us a free can of sparkling rose for the room. Others report getting a free beach bag. Thanks social media! Every little bit counts.
Are IHG Premier Cards worth it?
This card gives you 26x for each dollar spent with IHG. That’s a killer combo for any IHG property with nightly rates over $750.
Introductory offers of 140,000 points with a free nights stay are nothing to scoff over. They include Platinum Elite status. Points and free nights can rollover as long as you hold this card.
Many use that as a springboard to reach diamond elite aiming for 40% extra points, free suite upgrades and free daily breakfast. Spending $40,000 (!!) or staying for 70 nights grants you this outright. This isn’t feasible for me.
Hertz gold circle five star status is included within diamond tier. This gets you a free upgrade where available but otherwise isn’t enticing.
In this instance, 100%.
The $95 annual fee is easily negated by signing up for global entry for $100. I completed my interview in customs as we got back in the US and I’m now covered for 5 years. TSA Precheck is included for free.
It’s debatable whether this benefit is obsolete if you already have TSA Precheck (which global entry includes) The FREE Mobile Passport Control app covers many of the same bases.
Global Entry helps you avoid baggage searches if flagged and required search/interviewing. After this happens, MPC travelers return to the common line rather than the expedited one.
To use global entry, though, you must check-in at the kiosk (MBC users don’t have to) and share the line with MBC users who can seamlessly submit from their phone and skip you.
Elite Status Benefits
We were greeted with flutes of sparking rose,’ received a free room upgrade (ocean view, worth $95/night), and $15 Raid the Bar and $30 spa credits. We saved a total of $330, though I would have paid for the ocean view either way.
The free night can’t be redeemed here, it’s useful to have around. I like to use these for quick airport stays to avoid paying parking. Holding the card after your first years anniversary will get you another free night credit.
Last, Awards night are reduced to 60,000/night +$60 within the last month. Combined with 4th night free, that’s a savings of 100,000 points for award bookings here while having this card.
Breakfast for two is also included for diamond elite members at Ave. The buffet for two equates to around $75/day. The food is delicious.
Late checkout moved to 2 PM was also a nice touch. My wife’s massage was scheduled during checkout time and this took the edge off of the deadline.
The lower levels of elite status are attainable for families and infrequent travelers by holding a credit card alone.
So, how much did I really save?
- Hoopla Doopla offers 3% cashback off IHG properties but NOT Kimpton, unfortunately.
- Platinum Elite upgrade and benefits detailed above – $330 +
- 20% Summertime Promotion – $312.93 +
- Global Entry – $100 (net $5 considering annual fee)
- Can of Rose’ and Chocolate Covered Fruit, Let’s say $20 = $762.93
How Many Points did I Earn?
I’m awaiting the final calculation, but expect at least 203,000. Enough for a future 4 day stay.
Redemption Comparison
Below we consider the value differential between two very different bookings at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa: off-season and peak season over Christmas. Most sources calculate the value of IHG points at around a half a cent but that is an oversimplification. In truth, that depends entirely on how you spend them. Many discard the potential of IHG in favor of competitors because that number is comparatively lower.
In the calculations below, we don’t consider taxes and gratuity nor resort fees.
Off Season Booking
Above represent peak season rates during Summer. I have seen these as low as $374/night.
Four nights cash (upgraded to Ocean View free) equates to $2086.20
Rewards Equivalent would cost 180,000 points + $180; with the 4th night free equates to 1 cent per point at the low end of pricing. Thats double the expected value most websites cite – not bad. Let’s see how it compares to a peak booking.
Peak Season Bookings
Above represents peak season rates at Christmas Time. New Years rates are even higher at $2090/night (pictured below). Rewards are widely available.
Four nights cash (upgraded to Ocean View free) would cost $7093.32.
The rewards Equivalent would cost 180,000 points + $180. With the 4th night free, this equates to 3.84 cents per point. Thats more than seven times the expected value of IHG points!
So there, you have it: The ultimate deal is made on a cheap cash booking generating a slough of points to redeem for peak season. This is the high end of the price range. Choosing to go during peak season delivers as much as an additional 2.84 cents per points or $5,112 for a four day stay.
That covers the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, what about saving on the rest of the trip?
Deal Strategy
Cheap Flights
We recommend that you secure cheap flights before you work on reservations at the Kimpton Grand Cayman or a rental car. This is prudent unless you have an abundance of points you don’t mind burning to get your trip across the line. Choosing a Deal-driven destination allows you to go where the deals are available, building the rest of your trip after your flight is ticketed.
We LUV Southwest. Everyday low prices, free bags and seats, family boarding, the companion pass, and fixed point redemption make this our go-to for the Caribbean.
In our case, three out of four legs were delayed; They made this right with vouchers to cover the cost of our flights. Twitter was a seamless passive way to contact them to request these. All is well that ends well and they’ll take care of you.
At 1.5 cents/point with immediate transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards, there’s good deals aplenty with flexibility from the Eastern and Central US. Southwest’s low fare calendar makes browsing for deals an efficient process. Subscribe to our email list to be notified when their running promotional codes.
Be sure to sit in the very front or back of the plane on the way to Grand Cayman to exit fast for first dibs on expedited customs processing.
Cayman Airways
Flying out of LA, Denver, New York, Tampa, and Miami, this is a reasonable option for nonstop to grand cayman.
Connecting flights to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, this is best used as an inter Caribbean option IMO.
This is another everyday low price option but their comfort and experience reviews are mediocre compared to Southwest.
American Airlines and Others
At any given time you can find which routes are on sale to Grand Cayman at(sign up here–>) Scott’s Cheap Flights.
These deals are typically American Airlines in my experience. If you’ve signed up before, go here to check current deals from the US to Grand Cayman.
A drive or positioning flight can assist cheap arrival.
To Rent or Not to Rent
Taxis from the airport are $40 but the island is large.
It’s easy for the cost of seeing it to eclipse rental fees. We rented (and would recommend renting).
As an island in the British West Indies, you’ll likely rent a car with a right-sided steering wheel and drive on “the wrong” side of the road. This is actually what you want to remind you it’s all backwards.
This was less nerve-racking than I envisioned. Don’t let this detail deter you: comfort driving “English” is a useful skill to develop. Didn’t interfere with the relaxation much and the freedom to explore was golden.
The roundabouts are where you might get caught-up, though, and they’re everywhere! I looked both ways and took my time until I learned that everyone’s coming from the right.
Which Rental Agency Should I Choose?
Hertz and Andy’s are by far the cheapest and most popular rental options on the island. Hertz cars are newer but cost double compared to Andy’s. Unfortunately, the usual Hertz Gold member “skip the line” for your prepared pickup doesn’t apply here. Other familiar brands are about 20% more expensive than Hertz but don’t involve the 45 minute wait we endured.
There’s a Hertz Desk Onsite at the Kimpton. If you aim to stay here your whole trip, you can save by consolidating your explore days and getting the car for those select few.
This will save you the 45-60 minutes waiting for your car to be ready at the Airport location.
Autoslash consistently unlocks the cheapest rental rates and tracks and notify you if your rates drop so you can rebook them. This is a wonderful, underutilized service. Easy 20% savings for our rental with our Chase Sapphire Preferred, a Visa Signature Card.
Autoslash doesn’t book with Andy’s.
We saw a ton of Andy’s rentals on the island. The concierge will book this for you. Andy’s will pick you up or drop the car off if you prefer. They cost about half of a Hertz rental but with a $20 licensure fee. The larger car you rent, the more you’ll save.
We’ll give them a try next time given the overall savings.
Traffic on the island is very slow and rental cars are labeled. Speed is limited to 30 or 50 mph.
Locals know to avoid tourists and are more defensive around them. Overall, driving was a little tense but felt very safe.
Is Supplemental Insurance Worth It?
Neither US car insurance nor umbrella insurance work here with few exceptions. The rental agency will work HARD to convince you that you NEED this.
Whether or not you actually do, depends on your risk tolerance. Paying with my chase sapphire preferred card meant that I had some basic coverage and that was enough for me. They put a $1500 hold on my card and there were no further issues.
Many shot a video of the condition of the car
Best Cheap Eats of the Islands
This challenging piece of the deal puzzle requires that you leave the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa. Aside from pastries at the coffee shop to accompany your morning coffee, food at the resort, though delicious, is quite expensive. The best value for your money is away from the resort.
Oxtail, Cayman-style beef, curry goat, turtle steak or soup, and conch are the highlights of the local food. Jerk shacks hail from Jamaica but are popular throughout the Caribbean and ever present here.
Tripadvisor has compiled an excellent list here but with many afar from the resort, visits are more amenable to explore days. You can get a quick pulse on the culinary scene on Grand Cayman here
West Bay (Near Resort)
Seven Mile Burger
This is an easy one mile stroll along the beach to the second public beach. Burgers and truffle fries are amazing, and will rival gourmet burgers you’d get stateside. They have chicken sandwiches, wings, and seafood as well.
This place was full of locals, the best rubber stamp out there, that the food is good and a good value.
The Tortuga liquor store next store is the cheapest place to buy rum cakes on the island. Stock up on liquor for the hotel room. Cheaper wine is available elsewhere.
Eats Cafe
Eats Cafe is convenient to Seven Mile Beach located across the street from the Westin.
A reasonably priced diner with local interpretations of comfort classics and international dishes, this is a great option for cheap breakfast and lunch open daily.Large portions, good service.
Much variety to keep you coming back and satisfied. Just upstairs are Legendz Sports Bar and Yoshi Sushi operated by the same company; expect more of the same.
Tomfoodery Kitchen
The jerk brisket burger was the best jerked meal I had on Grand Cayman. A short drive or bike ride away from the resort.
Many upscale shopping options at Camana Bay adjacent to the Ferry to Rum Point. Nice outside table setting around the bay with a live music stage.
Chicken! Chicken!
Well reviewed jerk chicken option. Not the best you’ll try but a good value.
We intended to go here but landed at Tomfoodery instead.
Jerk Shacks
They’re everywhere but quality varies widely – ask the locals wherever you are and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Food tours are a great way to get a feel where the local flavor, ranging from 40-100 USD per person.
The closest to the Kimpton is at the public beach just next door to the South. Just to the near side one of the new resorts in Grand Cayman. You might get a contact high picking up your grub so don’t bring the children.
Door No. 4
This is a new tapas and cocktail bar that looks a good value.
Often I focus on that instead of cheap because that’s a rarity on Grand Cayman outside of jerk shacks.
Their menu is locally inspired and innovative. Reasonable prices allow you to sample and share. Reservations recommended.
Coccoloba:
This is the resort’s beach bar, serving the food and drinks you get lazing around.
Tuesday nights are live music nights. Coccoloba made the best Pina Coladas we had.
We came here for lunch and heard good things about the live music for Tacos+Tequila Night. Worth a splurge to enjoy the drinks and music.
Rum Point, Old Man Bay
Kaibo Yacht Club & Espresso Bar
If you can make it to Rum Point on the days they’re open, Wed-Sunday, a low-key, beachfront meal and more reasonably priced drinks await you at the Kaibo Yacht Club.
Jerk BBQ pork and coconut fish were good. The truffle and s’mores pizzas are fantastic.
Don’t let the name fool you, this place is laid back. Upstairs is fancier and opens later if you want to get dressy and have a fine dining experience.
There’s a sand soccer field, giant Jenga set, and a wading pool for the kids.
Grand Cayman Ferry can get you there by boat if you’d like to spend the day and see starfish point
Over the Edge
Great local seafood joint with deck of tables overlooking the ocean ~6 miles drive from Rum Point. Meet your animated Pedro St James tour guide, Tricia for drinks and giggles here if you wish.
Fantastic conch fritters, grilled Wahoo, turtle steak (I’m told) and ocean views.
The Caboose
Get your grouper and curry here! Takeaway options cost $7-15, sides included!
As a former Floridian, its not a beach seafood experience without locally inspired grouper. Most restaurants offer red snapper, swai, or branzino. Grouper is where it’s at.
Cheap Souvenirs, Excursions
The Deal Method, reduced to its simplest principles are relative modesty with a touch of restraint.
Many souvenirs are imported from Asia and less emblematic of the Caymans. In Georgetown and other touristy areas, the prices are inflated and cruise goers deplete stocks in a matter of hours unpredictably.
Aside from the Guy Harvey Gallery and the Artifacts stores, both of which were rich for my blood, everything we found in Georgetown was overpriced and overhyped. There are some good restaurants there but few deals to be had.
Government-run gift shops were a fantastic find because they sell at minimal, if any, mark-up. Caymanite and Conch Shell Jewelry were the most unique representative souvenir we found. We also bought shirts, rum cakes, and liquor to take home.
Pure Art Gallery
This is a great one stop shop for most peoples souvenir needs. It’s a drive away from the resort, near the southwestern point of Grand Cayman.
Support local artists with a vast, aggregated collection of clothes, art prints, jewelry, shells, soap, candles, etc. Duplicate items elsewhere are more expensive.
Many say this is cheapest source of Caymanite on the island. We bought ours (Conch Shell jewelry, too) at Pedro St James. The slimmer selection there allowed us not to be overloaded.
Pedro St James
Better than expected history experience with emphatic tour guides. Buy the self-directed tour and you might be invited to a guided experience as we were.
They have an antique mahogany chair/bedpan/birthing chair thats worth the trip alone.
Plan for a half day, and make sure to enjoy the understated fantastic gift shop with bar and restaurant.
Botanical Garden
Great gift shop in the center of the island on the way to Rum Point.
Blue iguanas unique to the Caymans roam the grounds and are raised in cages you pay extra to see. Worth the extra scratch. They’re aggressive and spit so keep a safe distance.
Plan for a couple hours, ideally while swelling on the east or north side of the island.
Last, Jacques Scott offers the best deals on duty free liquors in the airport before departure. We got a bottle of Seven Fathoms Cayman rum and aged Appleton 12 year estate rum. They charge a couple bucks for packaging but, at about 15% off compared to the DF Tortuga store, that pays for itself.
Shells (& Starfish) at Starfish Point
The shallows here were the least picked over for shells, most concentrated south of the sandbar point.
Tourists are permitted to take home up to three conch shells if interested. Those are easily found at beaches adjacent to reefs and diving spots. Don’t buy loose or conch shells in stores – they’re everywhere for free!
Lessons Learned
- Sit in the back of the plane to exit quickly, pass through customs at the head of the line. Save 45 minutes.
- Take a taxi to the resort, walk, bike, and use boat tours and diving trips to access excursions from the convenience of the resort. Save another 60 minutes not waiting with a crowd for a Hertz car, offset $40 taxi fee with shorter car rental.
- Splurge on a Jeep at Andy’s Rental for consolidated explore days or pickup rental at resort with Hertz
- Make reservations 2+ weeks in advance via the concierge for in-demand foodie events (we missed out on the chef’s table tasting at Avecita)
- Set aside more time for the spa around the massage to enjoy their amenities
- Shop grocery for stays on other parts of the island in Georgetown or Boddentown: Kirk’s or Foster’s. Goods cost twice as much at Chisholm’s in Old Man’s Bay. Bacon was $15 Cayman!
- Mind the grass, which is quite bad (and stinky) on the east end of the island
- Use Mobile Passport Control, carry on bags to save on time. I knowwww, rookie mistake here!
- IHG offers 1/2 off sales for points. At a rate of .006 cents per point, you can buy the remainder if your trip duration while under the high accrual modifier.
Step-By-Step Deal Tutorial
Southwest at lowest price for your routes, often compounded with promo code savings, with companion pass is the best deal we found to get you there.
Book through IHG directly here. Charge to IHG card for 10x IHG points and platinum elite status. Hoopla Doopla works for other IHG properties. =(
Summer seasonal promotions can save you an extra 20-30% and provide 2x-4x extra points for elite members.
Make sure you spend $3,000 under the IHG umbrella somehow or bridge with spending elsewhere. Note that you’ll get 3x instead of 10x for those bridging purchases.
Consider staying on North Island for a more local, rustic experience. AirBnbs were cheaper than VRBO options and about half the cost per night compared to the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa rate if you aim to limit your splurge.
Send a brief email introducing yourself and mentioning celebratory occasions so they have a chance to commemorate them. Requests for reservations should happen 2+ weeks out for Foodie Events to ensure you get a spot at the table; the earlier the better for large parties.
Resources above should assist in planning day trips are most useful if you rent a car.
App available here. Download and add family details prior to or while awaiting departure. Open app as the plane lands and taxis to the gate. It only takes a couple minutes to generate the QR code forms. Look out for the Global Entry Line which you’ll head up and tell others about this awesome FREE app that few utilize.
This will save you international roaming charges. Guide here.
You’re going to paradise!
If you’ve saved and enjoyed yourself or have suggestions to save , please let us know via an email!
The Bottom Line
The Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa provides a premier luxury and family-friendly experience worthy of your bucket list and repeat visits. They’ll surpass your highest expectations, even when they’ve only a short stay to impress.
The Deal Method challenges the idiom “you get what you pay for” as we find strategy and a keen eye for deals can unlock unbelievable benefits. “Get more, pay less” is our mantra.
It’s steep to charge an 11% gratuity premium on your room rate along with an $80 resort fee and an 18% service gratuity on each cheque. It’s the standard of luxury resorts on the island, however. It gave me license to tip extra sparingly, considering the big picture.
By choosing a summer, off-season stay booked through IHG directly, charged on a shiny new IHG premier card card, you can capture enough points for four subsequent nights at this resort or a high-value IHG equivalent.
If you don’t yet have this card, fear not. Bookings are easily canceled to change payment methods as long as you book through the hotel directly. The math above demonstrates the potential to save over $5,000 for four free nights at Christmas or NYE. while spending a mere $3,000 for 3-5 nights to meet the card’s minimum spend. Global entry is free with this card but the Mobile Passport Control App renders that perk unnecessary for most.
