Transportation to the Island

AIRLINES SERVING GRAND CAYMAN:

Grand Cayman has a modern airport (code GCM) that services over a dozen airlines. The Government-owned airline www.caymanairways.com manages all the counters for the respective airlines, as well as handles all baggage concerns.
 
 
American Airlines has 3-4 daily flights from its hub in Miami
 
Regular flights several times a week from Montego Bay and Kingston.
 
Twice a week from Toronto
 
Four flights per week from London's Gatwick Airport
 
Many direct flights each week (some seasonal) from Boston, Chicago, Tampa, JFK-NYC, Miami (MIA), Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Montego Bay and Washington D.C. (Dulles)
 
Direct flights from  Newark & Houston
 
Regular flights daily from Atlanta. Seasonal flights from JFK (New York).
 
Seasonal daily direct flights from Detroit and Minneapolis
Daily direct flights from Philadelphia, PA & Charlotte, NC. On Saturdays they have extra flights from Charlotte in the winter.
  • Other Airlines
Islena with service to Honduras, Cubana Airlines offers weekly flights to Havana. There are also many charter flights connecting Dallas, Toronto & Indianapolis as well as other cities with Grand Cayman.
 

GROUP AIRFARES

Many of the carriers flying into Grand Cayman offer group & wedding discounts in an effort to get all your business. Programs differ somewhat, but in general, you have to have 10 or more people traveling through the same connecting city to Grand Cayman. Your group can each start from different places in the country, but need to meet up as a group for the final leg. Additionally, many of the group/wedding departments will allow up to 20% of the group to depart within 2-3 days of the scheduled departure date as well. I have personally used US Airways, and have saved 15-20%. I recommend that if your group is large enough-- you at least make the call.

US Airways-  (Charlotte or Philadelphia) 877-874-7687
Delta-       (Atlanta) 800-337-4777
American-  (Miami, Houston, NY-JFK) 800-221-2255
Cayman Airways- (Miami, Houston, Tampa, St. Pete) 800-343-6565
Northwest Airlines-  (Detroit, Minneapolis)

800-645-9696
Continental Airlines- (Newark, Houston) 800-525-1700
 

Transportation on the Island

Rental cars/vans are highly recommended for larger families staying on the Northside & East End. The island is 7 miles wide and 22 miles long, and there is a lot to see.  You are going to want to drive to Seven Mile Beach at least once; and there is a lot to see on the Northside and East End.  Economy (345-949-9550); Marshalls (345-949-7821); Budget (345-949-5605) and Andy’s (345-949-8111) rent 9 passenger Hyundai passenger vans for large groups/families. All the major rental car agencies (including Hertz, National & Avis)  are located right across the street from the airport.

My personal recommendations are Marshalls and Budget. Budget also offers GCV&C guest unadvertised special rates (click here).

We do drive on the left side of the road here. If you make an on-line reservation for a rental car --MAKE SURE YOU CALL THEM TO CONFIRM IT. I advise calling after you e-mail.

If you are looking for BIG---Avis offers Ford Expeditions now ($$).

Andys (Alto, Sentra, Taurus, Sebring, Mercedes/Cadillac, Vitara, Explorer, Wrangler, Astrovan & Hyundai H-1)
Avis (Honda Civics, PT Cruisers, 2-door and 4 door Wranglers & Expeditions)
Budget (From tiny 2 doors and Ford Escapes to Expeditions and Hyundai H-1 Vans)
Coconut Car Rentals (Tiny altos, Suzuki Vitaras, Kia 9-seater minibuses)
Dollar (Compacts, PT Cruisers, Chrysler 300, Sebring convertible, Grand Cherokees, Dodge Durango SUV)
Economy (Hyundai Vans and Jeeps)
GT Leasing (BMWs)- email Stephen Gunby at gtauto@candw.ky
Hertz (Ford Focus and Jeep Wrangler)
Marshalls (Toyota Yaris, Mazda MPV, Hyundai H-1 Vans, Wrangler jeeps)
Thrifty Car Rental ( Yaris, Corolla, Taurus, Vitara, Hyundai H-1 Van)
 

Perhaps the best idea for the newcomer or evening flight arrival is to have McCurley’s Tours & Rental Cars (345-947-9626) – e-mail is Mccurley@candw.ky  meet your group at the airport.  McCurley Greene or his American wife, “B.A.” will pick you up in one of their their vans, take you by the grocery store/liquor store...and drive you to your Villa. McCurley will have your rental car(s) (they have lots of 4-door sedans &  three 6-passenger Suzuki mini-vans) waiting for you at the house! He is surprisingly reasonable (given the personal service), located on Northside (in case you have a problem)…and the best part...if your plane is delayed for some reason and you arrive after 10PM (when the rental car offices are closed)…they will know it in advance, and still meet you (1-345-947-9626 Office; 1-345-916-0925 for B.A. & 1-345-916-0640 for McCurley). 

Alternatively, if you have a late arrival or someone that just needs transport to the castle…Call  Frank Connolly (Cell 916-0235) and either may accommodate. Both run guests from the airport to the Reef or Morritts Timeshare resorts in the East End...so they are cheaper than McCurley for just transport (no rental cars). Group van sharing situation--but it is the cheapest way (other than waiting for the bus to come by).