4 hr layover in Grand Cayman - what to do?

[CamaroChick]

So for my upcoming trip in June, I'll have a 4 hour layover in Grand Cayman before my flight leaves for Little Cayman. Is that enough time to leave the airport and check out a local attraction - maybe Margaritaville? Is it worth the hassle? It would be on a Saturday afternoon from 1 - 5 pm.

I'm not sure how enjoyable it would be to sit in the airport for 4 hrs when there is beautiful island scenery just outside...

[cowgirldiver]

I'm wasn't that impressed with the Margaritaville or the view from there. We had most of a day between the time they kicked us off the boat and when our flight left. We hung out at the Sunset House. They have a nice outdoor restaurant/bar that is right by the water.

[Damselfish]

Personally for 4 hours I wouldn't bother leaving the airport. By the time you get off the plane, go through immigration, get your luggage, go through customs, check in for your interisland flight, and go through security again, it won't seem that long. The airport's not a bad place to wait as airports go anyway. There's a half decent restaurant, and you can always go find a bench outside, or go up on the observation deck.

Aside from having to lug around carryons, you may be stuck with your checked luggage too. Depending on the timing you may not be able to check it in for your inter-island flight right away.

If I did go someplace I sure as heck wouldn't go to Margaritaville. I agree Sunset House would be a much better place to hang out.

[mtnplayva]

We stayed at Sunset House so it was easy to spend the day of our flight at the bar/outdoor patio. It is a very relaxing place and the food was good. You can walk down to the "dock" and "diving pool"

[3rdEye]

Originally Posted by Damselfish

If I did go someplace I sure as heck wouldn't go to Margaritaville.

ditto on that....I'd say walk around, and get lost for a while...and a beer or two along the way would make it all the more enjoyable

[mselizann]

yeah- Margaritaville isn't all that fantastic..........4 hours isn't all that long....
are you taking a taxi? I would say Hammerheads, Paradise, or Sunset House- but you'll have just enough time to order, eat, and leave.....

[CamaroChick]

thanks for the info guys! I'm thinking we will just stay at the airport then, since you're probably right about the hassle of lugging the bags around plus I wouldn't want to risk missing the flight to LC. Since its a somewhat popular destination, there is probably more to do at the airport than I'm used to on the smaller islands.

[mselizann]

There is a restaurant, a snack bar, and several duty free stores- so maybe you can eat and shop a little?

[cowgirldiver]

Well, I wouldn't say there is more to do....as damselfish said, there is an observation deck. It faces the front of the airport. I saw it both leaving and coming back to the airport but never took the time to go try to find it. Sounds like you'll have that time. Also, the line to go through the scanner/immigration (on the way into the airport) was longer than I've seen at some places (immigration was longer going out too). On the way back in there was a very scary lady yelling at her husband about her Swiss scissors and how they weren't going to make it through the scanner (she had already gone through-he was on the other side-if I were him I would have just turned around and decided to live in the Caymans). Sure enough, I'm sitting on the plane and I see her walking right towards me (little prayer going-please, please, please don't let her sit by me-wooh, big sigh of relief as she sits on the other side 2 seats back). Her husband on the other hand was seated on the other side of the aisle from me-probably happy to be sitting by himself....

[Damselfish]

If you're hungry, eat before going through security. The restaurant is before security, upstairs near the deck. There's (slightly) better stores in the departure area but just a bar/snack bar. None of the stores are worth writing home about but it's a way to kill a little time.