3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣Love: Do more of what makes you happy

I decided to return to one of my favorite places on the planet last month, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands to celebrate a few personal wins and wanted to honor that it was my 1 year anniversary in discovering Seafire, currently my Favorite Resort! No picture or video will do it justice. Go Sea for yourself. 

I visited KY for the first time May 2018. This was my 4th (and counting) trip. It’s unprecedented, for me, to return to a place so frequently, but they’ve shown me exceptional customer experiences and it’s where I want to return at this point whenever I want a few days in paradise to rejuvenate and rejoice!💖 Mission Accomplished! 

A few highlights I’ll be sharing in this post: 

• A few activities I’ve done before, but highly recommend doing them again because the experiences are unique! 
• I sprinkled in a few new foodie experiences in this trip. 

My greatest encouragement is to take time to listen to yourself. 

• Get to know what contributes to your happiness
• Get to know what fulfills you

For me, the only way I’ve gotten to know more is to put myself out there more... to explore more to discover more. Sure, it involves risk. Risks that could pay off in epic experiences or disappointments. Such is Life. 

I’ve found that with above average planning, which I invest the time and care in, my let downs are rare at this point in my Life. The risk of doing nothing is not one I will regret. No shoulda, coulda, woulda. 

Travel may not be for everyone. It is something I enjoy getting far from my comfort zone and opening myself up to new ways, new faces, new places. It broadens my horizons and gets me inspired that there so much more than status quo living. 

There’s so much more than just going through the motions. My best days are designed by Me! .....

1. Trip Prep - International Travel to Cayman Islands (KY)
2. Where to Stay
3. Where to Eat
4. Things to Know  
5. Adventure Gear

1. Trip Prep

• Cost Saving Basics: I recommend bringing basics like snacks, sunscreen, first aid kit (featured here is Live the Creed) etc. Things are way more pricey at airports and vacation places. That being said, depending on your hotel, some offer great amenities like if you forget your tooth paste tooth brush, razor, etc they’ll give it you. Do your homework when your there so you know before next visit. Some of the basic toiletries you may just decide to get at the hotel as part of these amenities, if they are offered!

• Airport: For Grand Cayman, you’ll fly into Owen Roberts International Airport (IATA: GCM). If you have a choice, I’ve found flying back into Charlotte NC far superior than ATL or Miami. 
• Travel Docs: I bring my passport for travel at this point. Best universal document I’ve found in travel. 
• International Travel: Be prepared to fill out an immigration and customs form of you’re not a KY resident. I’ve found their lines and processing at GCM smooth and quick. I don’t bring a lot with me since my trips are brief, so this probably had helped keep it simple for me.

• Travel Insurance: Highly recommend it for added peace of mind. I can afford it. I get it. I recommend you consider Allianz. Most of us go through Life thinking nothing bad will ever happen. Happy to say nothing bad has happened, but I’m not foolish to think it can’t. I don’t like not being prepared. For me, it’s a miss to be completely unprepared or oblivious. I don’t like or live a life of drama so I get this added coverage, especially on international trips. I’ve gotten this without issue, signing up easily via my smartphone, securing a policy and having easy access to it via their app. They’ve got handy features like US Embassy details, local emergency # etc.    
• Entertainment: I read 100 deadly skills before any epic travel. Great tips!! Bring a book, music or a headset to plug into the feed the airplane provides. I personally use the travel time to read books and listen to my music. When I solo travel I’m pretty much in the zone about the epic on my horizons. Chatting with random people isn’t a high priority. When I do occasionally chat, I collect intel from anyone who’s been there or share a few of my recommendations if it’s a cool person. I like to know what restaurants they enjoy, places/experiences they recommend, get referrals. It helps also validate spots when I hear a theme, like hearing about Czech Inn from multiple sources as great eats on the island. I can to attest to it now! If they’ve never been to KY and want recommendations I give them a ideas to consider. They usually light up with excitement when I encourage the stingray and USS Kittiwake experiences.
• On The Ground Transportation: I take cabs. You could rent a car but please know what you’re doing. Driving is on the other side than the US and conditions are not the same. You need confidence, a lot. 🤣 I met a couple who said they drove one day and turned their car in because they knew they were way out of their element. I respect that Wisdom. If you choose to drive, be on 100% defensive driver mode. Lots of roundabouts. Cab to Seafire from GCM, expect to pay at least $32 and do factor in some tip on top of that.

2. Where to Stay

My Top Pick -> Kimpton Seafire! 

Enjoy these pictures and read my past posts. Hands down one of the best resorts I’ve stayed. Exceptional customer experience that has compelled me to return multiple times in a year. A first for me and can’t wait to Sea them again.

I highly recommend booking an ocean view room. You will pay extra but I’ve found it with worth it. 

This one is the Spa Ocean view. Delighted to be treated to this upgraded room. This bathtub .. amazing!!! I enjoyed it every night!

Read up about the wonderful amenities and use them! You’re paying $70 a day. 

As part of Resort fees and services I’ve indulged in: 

• They offer beach chair service 
• Bring a refillable bottle. There is flavored water all over the resort.
• Morning coffee/tea self service in the lobby
• Happy hour wine and apps in the early  evening 
• Lovely evening turndown service 

I have yet try it out but you also have access to a variety of ocean toys (SUP, etc) as part of Resort fees.

3. Where to Eat

This trip I specifically planned to fly in Sunday to try out the brunch at Seafire I heard all about in previous trips. It was marvelous! This was on Mother’s Day so the layout was decked out. 

I definitely want to do brunch again and instead fly in Saturday so I could be one of the first in Sunday!

I’d like to try some other Sunday brunch spots like the Ritz on Seven Mike Beach (SMH) sometime. Each trip when I chat with someone who’s been to Grand Cayman or lives there, I get intel on recommendations to consider future trips. I love that part of adventuring, too. Learning more about various things.

My visit in January a friend took us to Czech Inn. That was one of my favorites but you will need a car. It was a drive away from the resort. They had Caribbean lobster. I love it prepared simplistic to enjoy its unique flavors! 

When I solo travel I tend to enjoy the resorts offerings. I focus on quality snorkeling activities, then spend the rest of my day enjoying the resort, primarily the beach and my ocean view balcony.

This visit I ate primarily at Ave, Avecita at Seafire. Coccoloba is great casual food. The beach view there... STUNNING! 

The Pantry is great for simple snacks or juices.

Below, pictures from the Chef’s Counter experience at Avecita. 10 seats and an informative, interactive fine dining adventure. I’ve enjoyed it twice now. Recommend it if you are a foodie and enjoy things like Iron Chef!😄

I did get a great cheeseburger room service which I enjoyed on my balcony after a day of ocean play with stingrays. I was tired and that convenience to refuel in my room enjoying the epic ocean view was winning!! 

4. Things to Know

Couple more random things I’d share:

• Use the concierge to help you identify activities to align to your interests. I never used to use concierge and now I do consistently. Make your life easier tapping into their wealth of local knowledge.
• Tip people who do a great job - hotel, snorkel activities, etc. 
• Take time when you’re back from vacation to write some reviews on Trip Advisors. In business, it’s a competive world. If they do a great job, share a few lines and pictures so they can receive the positive feedback, any areas to improve and other travelers can benefit from the insights. I know I research reviews when deciding. I have and continue to post my opinions, recommendations and fill out surveys sent, where possible.
• On a serious note, always remain vigilant. Always! Doesn’t matter if you’re in paradise, don’t be unaware evil is everywhere unfortunately. Remain alert. Read up on safety and local news in places unfamiliar. Don’t be dumb and leave valuable out or be flashy unless you enjoy inviting problems. Always let someone know where you are and establish a cadence for check ins, especially if traveling solo. Share itineraries and coordinates. Growing up on military bases plus reading various interesting things, be low key about wearing articles of clothing that advertise where you’re from and be mindful of what information you share. It’s just smart to stay safe and drama free, at least on vacation!!!:-) 

5. Adventure Gear

A few of my favorites this trip:

• Rashr rash guard. Made out of recycled plastics! Environmentally friendly.

• GoPro - Love capturing the footage to enjoy when I leave paradise 
• Selfie stick for GoPro - Catch rad angles. Here you see the stingrays and USS Kittiwake. Book a trip with Red Sail. I did through Seafire concierge. Sunrise rooftop yoga... AMAZING! Highly recommend all these activities.

• Saltgirl - I love the sea Emily reversible bikini 

• Oakley polarized with Deep Sea lens RadarEV

• Exofficio travel vest - LOVE this vest to hold my key items securely!

• Baby G-Shock - A watch built for all kinds of adventure 

• Badger sunscreen - Better option for the environment designed with higher quality than the mainstream brands that hurt the ocean creatures / coral. I choose to spend a little extra if it means my footprint in the ocean is less damaging. 

There’s only so much dreaming you can do... nothing will compare to a dream. 

GO see this beautiful place for yourself. 

Eager for my visit 5. 

5 is my favorite number so it’s sure to be Epic. 

5 x 5💖

3s a Charm! 19.3519° N, 81.3830° W I’m digging it.

Third visit in January 2019. I really enjoy Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands so much that it has become my frequent Go To pick lately. 

Enjoyed a few days in paradise with my Adventurer BFF. We both have January birthdays and decided to meet up at one of our favorite places in the world to celebrate. 👉🏻 Kimpton Seafire Resort!!

For this trip I arranged for us to be booked the fantastic Stingray City tour. My 3rd time, her second. This is so fun!!! In addition, booked us a snorkeling trip to USS Kittiwake. My second time, her first. LOVE both of these excursions through Red Sail. Highly recommend both experiences! I plan to do these 2 snorkeling trips every visit. The ocean ever changing, these experiences are unique each time I have the honor to indulge!

Great food at Seafire Resort. So when not adventuring, I’m enjoying the resort. Resort fees cover a lot. Take advantage of it! This includes ocean toys, beach yoga, exercise, wine & appetizers happy hour, coffee & tea in the morning and more! Check their site for more on amenities. https://www.seafireresortandspa.com/

I simply cannot wait for my next trip. This place gives me a lot of Joy!

Marvelous Seven Mile Beach 

Wonderful welcome for our Birthday Celebrations 

Fun excursions by Red Sail. Stingray City & USS Kittiwake are a MUST!

Stunning sunrises and sunsets!

Ocean view is divine.

Where the wild things play!

USS Kittiwake. Amazing sight!

Better than a dream. Sea for yourself!

I doubled checked and can confirm Paradise coordinates are 19.3519° N, 81.3830° W Seafire Resort on Grand Cayman!

Second time. I’ve returned from a soul-enriching solo trip to the stunning Grand Caymans! Beautiful island and international crowd. I highly recommend a visit. I left upgraded! 

Here I share some highlights for you to consider. I’d love to hear your tips. Feel free to share in the comments. 

Happy Adventuring!

WHERE TO STAY

General Info

Kimpton Seafire is a stylish resort situated in perfection called Seven Mile Beach. 

In my initial research, this spot caught my eye. I heard someone I respected frequented Grand Cayman, so made a point to reach out and gather intel!:-) She raved about Seafire and gave me excellent tips for other things pertaining to my stay. After my visit, I knew she was spot on! Seafire was perfect for me.

This is such a classy experience. You’re welcomed in with smiles and offered a cold glass of champagne or juice. I opted for bottle water and juice. They set you up with WiFi if you need it. Just a smooth overall process of welcoming IMO, which I appreciated. 

I called days earlier to see if I could get an early check in. Was glad they could accommodate! Last time they were unable as we asked upon arrival. They still make it easy for you to check your bags and change for the beach until your room is ready.

Just like with other things in Life, it’s not just the looks that are important. The heart of making things special is how it makes you feel. 

The customer experience here the 2x I’ve stayed, my first in May and second visit a week ago, both have been exceptional I came wanting a much needed recharge and rejuvenation. 

Fabulous talent throughout the property. The professionalism, warm smiles and goodwill made the special difference. 

Best Beach Bar  

Definitely go to #Coccoloba after you check in.... BEST beach bar I’ve lived yet! 

Great talent work there like Arpi, Mei, Carina and more. The vibes so good and view, pure perfection!

Beach More

Caribbean Sea is nothing short of mesmerizing and STUNNING! If you can secure an ocean view room, I highly recommend it. 

I love watching the occasional storms pass and how vibrant the colors of the sea get in defiance to the darkness. Of course, sunny days are a divine sight!

The balcony comes in handy to lay out wet clothing and gear to dry out or simply nap or chill and take in the view.

Lounge chair service in the beach is part of your resort fee. Fruit infused flavored is available. Stay hydrated. They also make available suntan lotion to keep your skin protected.

I visited the ocean every morning of my stay. Heavenly! 

It’s not required, but I recommend you bring some dollars and tip throughout the resort, including the beach lounge staff. I feel why not if they help make your stay pleasant. 

Eats

Ave 

They had a special 345 menu. Included local foods. I liked this menu as you could choose a starter, entree and dessert from a set of selections.

Avecita

EXCELLENT Chef’s Table experience I highly recommend to anyone who appreciates quality, fine foods! 

Only 10 seats in set days, so make a reservation. 9 of the seats were booked by island locals with fine tastes. Spoke to me about the demand of this quality experience. 

I enjoyed seeing the care and precision in the Chefs preparation of each meal. I felt like I was on the set of Iron Chef! Chef Alejandro and Josue explained the details as each fine creation was presented. Menu changes every month.

I will definitely do this again. Delicious, delightful and very memorable.

https://instagram.com/p/BmtC6wTARUB/

The Pantry

Casual spot in the hotel to pick up snacks, drinks, salads, gelato and more. I got fresh fruit, fresh beet + other veges juice, a club sandwich and free newspaper. Convenient spot to pick up light eats/drinks.

Complimentary coffee & wine

Coffee & tea is available, self service from 530a - 10ish. I got my coffee every am. 

I hear they have a wine hour in the evening, but I didn’t make them. A nice feature! 

Activities

Fun

Since I was solo traveling I preferred to book everything through the concierge. They’re going to only pick the options already vetted. I was booked to do the North Sound Eco Safari ~ stingrays, coral reef snorkeling, starfish point and a mangrove tree educational tour. 

https://instagram.com/p/BmtA7cXgY-9/

Also, booked the USS Kittiwake and coral reef snorkel trip. Both were through Red Sail. Highly recommend!! 

The Safari was a door to door van pick up/drop off. The USS kittiwake was a catamaran pick up on the beach 💖🙌🏻Excellence!!

https://instagram.com/p/BmtHnMkgoKV/

Both adventures gave me priceless memories and personal growth. I look forward to doing more my next visit!

Fitness 

There’s much available onsite. A pool (I don’t pool when the ocean is paradise, but it is an option), different activities like morning fitness, SUP yoga, and more. Check with the front desk/concierge for what you’d need to sign up.

Travel Medical Insurance

When I travel and go to far off adventures I’m responsible for Me. I recommend considering medical coverage if your basic insurance or travel package doesn’t offer it. Full disclosure: No I don’t work for this company 🤣 

That being said, Allianz is one I’ve gotten a few times and will keep in mind on future trips. Allianz helped me live to my fullest ensuring I was covered with a solid travel policy. Something I insist to have personally. 

I don’t expect anything to happen. Who does? Still things can happen and I Adventure Stronger eliminating concerns if things did happen what I’d do. I have a plan. I’d recommend you consider it, too. I know I don’t need to be in a foreign country wondering what my coverage is. 

Do your research and figure out what works best, or just roll your dice going nothing happens. Your choice! 

Immigration & Customs

Entering Cayman

If you’re not from Cayman Islands, you’ll fill out an immigration form to enter and exit the country. Straight forward. 

Tips:

• Have your addresses and #s ready, hotel or wherever you’re staying.
• Have a pen. Amazing how many people aren’t prepared with basics and no the airplane doesn’t have to supply you with a pen.
• When you’re approved in the country, they leave a paper in your passport. It’s not stapled in so be sure to keep it secure and not lose it. You’ll need it when you leave country. They’ll collect it.

Exiting Cayman 

At the airport, they’ll collect the exit country card. I recommend you allot enough time you aren’t stressing at the airport. I noticed this time a Ton of planes exiting around 1-2pm this time of year. Very crowded, but upside it is a small airport so you shouldn’t get lost!

Entering USA

Experiences vary depending on where you enter, but for me this time it was ATL. This is never a smooth experience. Crowded, long lines. I’m glad when I finally got up to the window, my chat went quickly so I could be on my way.

I travel light which is a plus, especially with this immigration step. Less baggage means less stress to hurry up and pick up bags, then have to recheck them in before running to your connection flight gate after you clear immigration.  

Be Prepared 

When traveling to international destinations, I’d recommend you have handy the Embassy info. Again not something I’d expect to use but I don’t want to not have the # and address available if I need it. 

In addition, respect you’re a guest in the country and do some research about highlights to be aware. 

Action Cameras

GoPro Hero 4 Session

I love my footage after a trip. GoPro is quality if you have an aptitude toward learning these tech toys, I recommend this one because the footage and the app is quality. 

Fast downloads. Ability to get quality pics from video footage. The app itself is intuitive and the UX is smooth. If I need help, I can get it through youtube videos. 

DragonTouch

Did good, but the app isn’t great IMO. I used some YouTube to upskill. I have a high aptitude with systems, apps and tech toys. So this wasn’t hard for me. I feel it could be hard and frustrating for those who aren’t savvy with tech. 

Quite frankly, so will the GoPro so if this isn’t your strength I recommend you plan to spend time to train yourself on how to effectively use it or hopefully you’ll know someone in the trip, like Me, that this stuff comes natural.:-)

Accessories 

A few random suggestions:

• If you’re playing in the water and plan to bring your phone, secure it with a life proof case. Never know when a waterproof bag will malfunction. Mine did😲 I’m fortunate my iPhone lived!
• Waterproof bags - I got mine from Dick’s sporting goods. You can order all this on Amazon. Test your gear before you need it and know nothing is 💯 Be prepared for the worst with added measure (see bullet above) if you want to go above and beyond.
• Selfie stick - I recommend securing it your wrist. I almost lost one of my camera. It’s a miracle it was retrieved 🙌🏻 That won’t happen again for me. I’ll be ensuring extra security measures next time to avoid that stress!

Books & Music 

I’m not a reader lately, but this book was a great self-improvement / self-reflection piece. Good food for thought and occupied me on the plane.

Music on the plane and in my hotel room was a plus! A few songs & artists that enhanced my vibe.

In Conclusion 

I hope some of this information helps you make a decision to check out this wonderful island! 

Share any comments you have on places to check out my next Cayman Islands visit or cool adventure gear you’d recommend! 

Highlights on this trip!

https://instagram.com/p/Bm0jA8yF58p/

I look forward my next adventure chapters, including returning to Grand Cayman for more adventure.

Follow me on Instagram AeroEms to see more pictures and videos of paradise.💖🙌🏻

Adventure Strong! Live it up!