This year--financial crises, fuel prices, wildfires in California and general economic contraction in the USA have taken center stage. You only have just so many vacations each year and we want to keep Grand Cayman as an option. I wanted to take a moment to assure you that Grand Cayman is still doing well as an international destination. We have had very few (economy/job related) cancellations; and every single oceanfront villa and upper end condo on 7MB is rented for the New Years Week. A break from reading newspapers and watching the news will be welcome. The island is in great shape and the weather today was partly sunny and 82° F ( heat index of 92°). The water temperature is still 80°.

Airline flights to other islands have recently been scaled back-- but airline flights to Grand Cayman have been recently expanded. Cayman Airways now flies from Washington D.C. (Dulles) and New York (JFK) direct; as well as from Chicago. US Airways has 2 flights from Charlotte and one from Philadelphia on Saturdays. What we are hearing is that the "safety", general cleanliness, pure water, great roads, low crime rate and friendly people of Grand Cayman are attracting more visitors than other Caribbean islands. We are also one of the most accessible. You can leave the East Coast at 9:30AM and have your toes in the sand 5 hours later. Over 50% of cruise ship passengers say that their favorite island was Grand Cayman and that they plan to visit there in the future. Year-over-year airport arrivals are up 10% in Grand Cayman.

Some goods news with respect to renting villas--- Each villa is owned by an individual owner; it seems with the economic woes; the owners are more flexible on changeover days, additional services, amenities and sometimes rates! GCV&C is an agent for most of these homes-- and our job is to try to put your family in the right villa for an agreed-upon rate. Some villas are steadfast, but others are not. If you are considering returning to Cayman; please let us know how we can help.

If you are considering coming December 20-27 for the Christmas Week-- I still have 2-3 very nice villas and oceanfront condos at the Meridian (including their Penthouse #34)-- we may be able to waive the holiday surcharge as well.

The Rum Point Restaurant has been closed for public dining since Hurricane IVAN in September 2004.  While the restaurant itself was not too badly damaged, the restaurant was on lease to the 7MB Hyatt Hotel that was severely damaged and is still embroiled in litigation over its insurance claims. The (local) owners of the Rum Point Club terminated the contract with Hyatt last winter and began renovations of the restaurant and Rum Point Facilities.  The manager of the restaurant (Carol Boulton) expects the restaurant to reopen fro Friday and Saturday evenings. The schedule of services will expand with demand. It is anticipated that the holiday season will see plenty of business from villa guests, and the return of the winter residents will again be a staple of business for regular meals at the Rum Point Restaurant. Reservations can be made by calling Carol at 345-947-9412.