Grand Cayman featured in England's Evening Newspaper "The Standard"

Beyond the beaches: how Grand Cayman is stealing us away from ‘flashy’ Jamaica and Barbados

By DOMINIQUE HINES From “The STandard”

GRAND CAYMAN’S UNDERSTATED LUXURY AND GLOBAL VIBE STEAL THE SHOW THE RITZ CARLTON/GRAND CAYMAN/VISIT CAYMAN ISLANDS

Grand Cayman had not topped my list of must-visit destinations. Actually, it was not even on the list.

This wasn’t personal. It’s just that whenever I heard “Grand Cayman”, a fleeting image of a generically pretty place would come to mind. And yet, hordes of visitors from across the globe flock to its sun-kissed shores every year: why?

After all, wasn’t it just the quiet and unassuming cousin of the more culturally-rich and obvious bunch, like Jamaica, Barbados and The Bahamas with their vibrant markets, food and music scenes? What was it about Grand Cayman?

THE FOYER OF THE RITZ CARLTON GRAND CAYMAN IS THE PATHWAY TO A ‘MINI-GLOBAL HUB’ OF CULTURE

So, I surprised myself when, without hesitation, I screamed: “Meet me with a rum punch at the airport!” when unexpectedly invited there.

While most Caribbean destinations thrive on deep-rooted culture often honed from centuries of African and Asian traditions from its once displaced people, with some European influence, Grand Cayman is a relatively new melting pot of cultures.

While foreigners outnumber native Caymanians, which has its cons, it does mean Grand Cayman is the only Caribbean destination with the most diverse and highest percentage of nationalities from every corner of the globe.

This is reflected in the overall vibe of the country, and especially in the food. I was in heaven as I tucked into Jamaican Ackee and Saltfish for breakfast, world class sashimi for lunch and Trinidadian roti and Malaysian curry for dinner, all made by the hands of chefs from that specific country.