Cayman Islands
| General Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
ATMs Not all ATMs in the Caribbean operate like those in your home country. Some may only accept a four digit PIN number, so if yours is longer you may want to change it before your trip. Ensure you keep your travel money in your primary chequing account as some ATMs default to this account and will not allow you to choose another. Withdrawal fees are generally much higher outside your home country.
The main banks are Butterfield Bank (tel 345/949-7055), Cayman National Bank (tel 345/949-4655), Fidelity Bank (tel 345/949-7822), FirstCaribbean International Bank (tel 345/949-7300), RBC Royal Bank of Canada (tel 345/949-4600) and Scotiabank (tel 345/949-7666).
Butterfield ATMs accept Visa and any bank card on the Plus network and dispense Cayman Islands dollars, as well as US dollars. They are located on Grand Cayman at their three branches (One Butterfield Place, 7 Main St; Compass Centre, 19 North Sound Rd; and West Shore Plaza, 508B West Bay Rd), as well as at Butterfield House (Fort St), Bayshore Mall (on the waterfront in George Town), Hurley's Marketplace (Shamrock Rd, Grand Harbour) and The Ritz-Carlton. Note: As of August 2007 the West Shore location relocates to Governors Square and as of October 2007 the George Town branch relocates to Butterfield Place.
Cayman National Bank ATMs accept MasterCard, Visa and any bank card on the Cirrus and Plus networks and dispense Cayman Islands dollars. On Grand Cayman, ATMs are located at their branches (54 Edward St, George Town; Cayman National Building, 1st Fl, 200 Elgin Ave; Buckingham Sq, 720 West Bay Rd; and Centennial Towers, 2454 West Bay Rd), as well as at Foster's Republix (West Bay), Foster's Strand (Seven Mile Beach), Texaco Star Mart (Savannah) and in George Town at Kirk Supermarket, Foster's Airport Centre (Airport Rd), Owen Roberts International Airport and Texaco Star Mart (Walkers Rd). On Cayman Brac they have an ATM at their branch (tel 345/948-1551) located at 14 West End Cross Rd.
FirstCaribbean ATMs accept all major credit cards and any bank card on the Plus network and dispense Cayman Islands dollars, as well as US dollars. They are located at their three branches on Grand Cayman (Main St, West Bay Rd, and Plaza Venezia at 1B North Sound Way, Georgetown).
RBC ATMs accept MasterCard, Visa and any bank card on the Cirrus, Maestro and Plus networks and dispense Cayman Islands dollars. The ATM on Shedden Rd also dispenses US dollars. ATMs are located on Grand Cayman at their two branches (24 Shedden Rd and Queens Court Plaza, West Bay Rd, Seven Mile Beach).
Scotiabank ATMs accept MasterCard, Visa and bank cards on the Cirrus and Plus networks and dispense Cayman Islands dollars, as well as US dollars. They are located at their three branches on Grand Cayman (Foster's Airport Centre, Airport Rd; Scotia Centre, 6 Cardinal Ave, George Town; and West Bay Rd, The Strand).
BANKING HOURS Butterfield Bank: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm (Main St open until 4:30pm on Fri)
Cayman National: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm Fri 9am-4:30pm Sat 9am-1pm (Edward St and Centennial Towers only) - Exceptions: Centennial Towers, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Little Cayman, Mon-Thurs 9am-2:30pm
Fidelity Bank: - Marquee Plaza: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-1pm - Dr Roy's Dr: Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm
FirstCaribbean: - Main St: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm, Fri 9am-4:30pm - North Sound Way and West Bay Rd: Mon-Thurs 9am-3:30pm, Fri 9am-4pm
RBC Royal Bank of Canada: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm Fri 9am-4:30pm
Scotiabank: - Dorcy Dr and West Bay Rd: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm - Cardinal Ave: Mon-Thurs 9am-4pm, Fri 9am-4:30pm
CHURCHES/RELIGIONS Mostly Protestant, including Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, Jehovah's Witness, Methodist, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist, United Church and Wesleyan. Baha'ism, Roman Catholic and Re-Organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also represented.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS The local currency is the Cayman Islands dollar (CI$ or KYD). Paper money runs in denominations of CI$1, CI$5, CI$10, CI$25, CI$50 and CI$100 bills, and coins in 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ and 25¢ pieces. US dollars, traveller's cheques and major credit cards, except Discover Card, are widely accepted.
To ensure hassle-free purchases during your trip, you may want to contact your credit card company and let them know you will be travelling abroad.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS American Express: lost or stolen card, 336/393-1111 (call collect); lost or stolen cheques or cheque cards, 800/828-0366 Discover Card: 801/902-3100 MasterCard: 800/307-7309 Visa: 410/902-8022 (call collect) Western Union: - Bodden Town: Foster's Food Fair, 943-5155 - East End: Foster's IGA Express (Queen's Hwy), 947-2826 - George Town: Fidelity Bank (36A Dr Roys Dr), 949-7822; Foster's Food Fair (63 Dorcy Dr), 949-5155; Hurley's Market Place (Grand Harbour Red Bay), 947-8488; Kirk Connell Supermarket (Eastern Ave), 949-7022 - West Bay: Foster's Food Fair, 949-3214 (Republix Plaza) and 945-4748 (Seven Mile Beach)
DEPARTURE TAX A departure tax of US$25/CI$20 is included in the price of your airline ticket.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A passport is required for entry and it must be valid for at least six months past your date of departure from the Cayman Islands. Canadian citizens can also use, instead of a passport, an original birth certificate with a raised seal (copies must be notarized) and official photo identification, such as a driver's license. All visitors should also have an onward or return ticket and sufficient funds for the duration of their stay.
Nationals of countries other than Canada, the UK and US may require a visa, even if only in transit. Consult your nearest British consulate/embassy or the Cayman Islands Immigration Department at 345/949-8344.
Note: As of January 23, 2007, all persons travelling by air, and as of January 1, 2008, all person travelling by land or sea (including ferries) to the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico and Bermuda will require a valid passport or other documents as determined by the US Department of Homeland Security to enter and/or re-enter the United States in accordance with the US Government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information visit the US Government's Bureau of Consular Affairs website at www.travel.state.gov.
Some countries require single/lone parents or other adults travelling alone with children to provide documents showing evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights, and/or documents authorizing consent from the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court for the children to travel. Parents of adopted children, particularly those of a different nationality, should carry the proper documents.
NEAREST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION British Governor's Office: 244-2434 or 244-2401 (George Town), 876/510-0700 (High Commission, Jamaica) Consulate of Canada: 949-9400 (George Town), 876/926-1500 (High Commission, Jamaica; and for after-hours emergencies), 800/387-3124 (toll free to Ottawa) US Consular Agency: 945-8173 (George Town), 876/935-6044 (US Embassy, Jamaica)
EXCHANGE RATES
As of July 17, 2007
US$
CI$/KYD
British pound sterling
2.05092
1.70910
Canadian dollar
0.95846
0.79872
European Union euro
1.37994
1.14995
Japanese yen
0.008201
0.006834
Swiss franc
0.83331
0.69442
US dollar
--
0.83333
HEALTH STANDARDS There are two hospitals on Grand Cayman: the newly expanded and renovated Cayman Islands Hospital (tel 949-8600), which has a hyperbaric chamber, and the private state-of-the-art Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital (tel 949-6066) on Walkers Rd. Both are in George Town. Cayman Brac has the Faith Hospital (tel 948-2243) in Stake Bay, and Little Cayman has the Little Cayman Clinic (tel 948-0072 or after hours 948-1073).
Some procedures and serious cases may be transferred to Miami, Florida in the US. With no national healthcare service, medical treatment is expensive and doctors and medical facilities may require immediate cash payment for services. Your home medical program may not provide payment for medical services outside your home country. Obtaining adequate medical/travel insurance, including air ambulance coverage, and consulting a physician or travel medicine specialist six to eight weeks prior to your trip to determine health risks and necessary vaccinations is recommended.
There are a number of pharmacies throughout the island, including those located at the hospitals and private medical centres. Health Care Pharmacy on Walkers Rd (tel 949-0442) in George Town is open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm and Sun and holidays 10am-5pm. Its location in the Grand Harbour Shopping Centre (tel 947-8900) is open Mon-Sat 8:30am-9:30pm. West Bay Pharmacy (tel 945-0777) in Centennial Towers is open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm. Foster's Food Fair pharmacies at Foster's Airport Centre (tel 949-0505) and The Strand Plaza (tel 945-7759) are open Mon-Sat 7am-10pm.
The Grand Harbour Dental Clinic (tel 949-7645) is open 9am-9pm and offers emergency service as does The Strand Dental Clinic (tel 949-3367) on West Bay Rd. Cayman Dental Services (tel 945-4447) on North Sound Rd in George Town also offers emergency after-hours service (tel 949-3437).
For all emergencies dial 911.
ILLEGAL ITEMS Cayman Islands' law imposes harsh penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs; firearms and ammunition offences; and smuggling or engagement in smuggling of prohibited goods. Strict regulations apply for importing any live animal, bird, fish, plant, plant product and meat product.
Prohibited items include any controlled or illegal drugs or utensils; obscene publications and articles; any goods or items depicting or bearing any reference to ganja (marijuana) or the plant; unless they are transit goods, the export of lobster, conch or conch meat in any form; the import and export of turtles, turtle meat and other turtle products; firearms, ammunition, bullet proof vests and gun powder are prohibited unless accompanied by an import permit and license signed by the commissioner of police; bows, pellet guns, catapults or other manually operated weapons that are capable of projecting arrows or other missiles are prohibited unless accompanied by an import permit and license signed by the commissioner of police; spear guns, Hawaiian slings and parts etc; any other goods that are prohibited under any other law or that may be prescribed by the Governor in Cabinet from time to time.
Restricted items include counterfeit coins and notes; and instruments and appliances for gambling.
For more information call the Customs Department at 345/949-4579.
LANGUAGE English
POSTAL SERVICES The General Post Office is located in downtown George Town (tel 949-7001). On Grand Cayman, branches are located at the airport (tel 945-6875), Bodden Town (tel 947-2250), East End (tel 947-7546), Hell (tel 949-1171), Northside (tel 947-9551), Savannah (tel 947-1518), Seven Mile Beach (tel 949-4177) and West Bay (tel 949-3311). They are generally open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm (some may open a little earlier and some close between 12 noon and 1pm) and Sat 9am-12:30pm. Postal agencies are located at Old Man Bay (tel 947-1171) and Gun Bay (947-7537). They are open Mon-Fri 8:30-11:30am and 2-4pm and Sat 8:30am-12 noon.
On Cayman Brac, branches are located in Creek (tel 948-0213), Spot Bay (tel 948-0354), Stake Bay (tel 948-2222), Watering Place (tel 948-0242) and West End (tel 948-1422). They are open weekdays 9-11:30am and 1:30-3pm (3:30pm on Fri) and Sat 9-11:30am, except for Stake Bay, which is open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm and Sat 9-11:30am, and West End, which is open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm and Sat 9-11:30am.
The branch on Little Cayman (tel 948-0016) is open Mon-Fri 9am-12 noon and 1:30-3pm and Sat 10:30am-1:30pm.
Blue mail boxes are located around Grand Cayman. Airmail to North America can take one to two weeks and to the UK, two to three weeks. Courier service is also available.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Jan 1, New Year's Day Jan (fourth Mon), National Heroes' Day Mar (varies), Ash Wednesday Mar/Apr (varies), Good Friday Mar/Apr (varies), Easter Monday May (third Mon), Discovery Day June (mid month), Queen's Birthday July (first Mon), Constitution Day Nov (mid month), Remembrance Day Dec 25, Christmas Day Dec 26, Boxing Day
SHOPPING HOURS Shop hours vary. Generally they are open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Those in high-traffic tourist areas may stay open as late as 9pm.
TAXES Hotels add a 10% government tax to bills.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS The phone system in the Cayman Islands is modern and cellular and Internet services are available.
The country code is 345. Local phone numbers have seven digits. For directory enquiries dial 411 and for the operator and international call bookings dial 0. For calls to the US and Canada dial 1 + area code + local number. For calls to other countries dial 011 + country code + area code + local number.
Cable & Wireless/C&W (tel 811 or 949-7800, Grand Cayman; 948-2213, Cayman Brac) provides telecommunications services. Public pay phones accept coins, C&W Smart Calling Cards and major credit cards (for international calls only). Insert the card into the slot on the pay phone and dial the number you wish to call. The charge for your call is automatically debited from the phone card or charged to your credit card. C&W World Talk prepaid calling cards can be used for both local and international calls from any phone. If using a pay phone, do not insert the card into the slot. Dial the toll-free number on the back of the card and follow the instructions. C&W prepaid calling cards are available at C&W business offices and most gas stations and grocery stores.
To charge an international call to a major credit card from any phone dial 1-800-744-7777 and follow the voice prompts. You can also dial 1-800 CALL USA to use US calling cards, major credit cards or to make collect calls.
For more information see the section in FAQs: Can I use my calling card from here?
C&W and Digicel (tel 623-3444) provide cellular services. Check with your service provider to see if they have a roaming agreement with one of these companies. You can rent a mobile phone at the C&W retail stores located at Anderson Sq in downtown George Town or at the Galleria Shopping Mall in Seven Mile Beach.
C&W's Grand Cayman Communication Station, located next to Colombian Emeralds International by the George Town Harbour, offers fax, printing and photocopying services; Internet access; and 32 pay phones that accept phone cards, credit cards, coins and most calling cards. It is open Mon-Sat 8:30am to 5pm.
Wi-Fi hotspots are located around the islands, including Cayman Brac and Owen Roberts airports, C&W Galleria and Brac offices, Tortuga Rum and West Bay communication stations, Mike's Esso, East End and George Town libraries, and a number of post offices, cafés, restaurants and a few retail outlets. Prepaid HotSpot cards are available at C&W business offices and most gas stations and grocery stores.
TEMPERATURES Temperatures vary between 70°F and 90°F. In winter the average temperature is 75°F and in the summer it is 85°F. The rainy season is mid-May through October.
TIME ZONE The islands are on Eastern Standard Time year round, which is five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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