Airplane: The Cayman Islands’ national airline is Cayman Airways. It flies between Grand Cayman and Miami, Houston and Tampa in the USA and Kingston (Jamaica). British Airways flies direct to Grand Cayman from London. Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss International fly to Miami from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in cooperation with other airlines, there are connecting flights to the Cayman Islands.
Within the Caribbean, the airlines Air Jamaica, Aerocaribbean and Cayman Airways fly to the Cayman Islands.
Other airlines with flights to the Cayman Islands include Air Canada, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
Airports: the main international airport in the Cayman Islands is Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM). It is located about 2.5 km east of George Town on Grand Cayman. From here taxis drive into the city, and rental cars can also be rented.
Gerard Smith International Airport (CYB) is located on Cayman Brac, 5 miles from the West End city. Taxis also depart from here.
Little Cayman has an airfield with a grass runway (Edward Bodden Airfield, LYB). An airport with a paved runway is currently being built here.
Ship: George Town Harbor is a popular cruise destination. Some of the shipping companies that have the Cayman Islands on their cruise programs include Celebrety, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America.
Most cruises from the USA last one to two weeks and also call at other destinations in the western Caribbean, for example Cozumel and Progreso in Mexico, Miami, Key West and Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
Cayman Islands Visa Requirements
According to ITYPEMBA.COM, the Cayman Islands are a British Crown Colony, but the same entry requirements do not apply as for Great Britain.
Passport
is generally required for entry to the Cayman Islands. The passport (or the temporary passport) must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned duration of stay on the islands. An identity card is not sufficient to enter the Cayman Islands.
Visa
Citizens of EU countries (with the exception of Romania and Bulgaria) and Switzerland do not need a visa for a tourist stay of a maximum of 30 days on the Cayman Islands. An extension of the stay on the Cayman Islands can be applied for locally at the immigration authorities.
When entering the Cayman Islands, a check may be made to determine whether a return or onward ticket is available and whether sufficient financial resources are available.
Entry with children
For accompanying children, the same visa requirements apply as for their parents. Every child needs their own travel document, which is valid for at least 6 months beyond the planned length of stay.
Germany: Own passport for children or child ID with photo. Child ID cards are no longer issued in Germany, existing child ID cards remain valid until the expiry date.
Austria: separate passport for children.
Switzerland: Children need their own passport.
Cayman Islands climate
The climate on the Cayman Islands is typically Caribbean: a tropical maritime climate, with a humid season in the warm, rainy summer (mid-May to October) and a dry season in the relatively cool winter (November to April).
From mid-December to mid-April, the average temperatures with relatively low humidity are a pleasant 24 ° C during the day and 20 ° C at night. During the off-season, temperatures reach an average of 28 to 29 ° C.
Best time to travel to the Cayman Islands
Mid-December to mid-April (winter) is the high point of the tourist season. During this time, hotel prices are much higher and beaches and accommodations are overcrowded. The summer is a good time for a vacation in the Cayman Islands. The weather is warm, accommodation is cheaper (up to 40%) and tourists are less frequent. There is more rain in summer, but in general there are downpours that stop quickly. While there is a possibility of a hurricane, the likelihood of a full blown cyclone is slim. Still, it is better to follow the weather forecast.
Cayman Islands – Important Addresses
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism: 6 Arlington Street,
London SW1A 1 RE, Great Britain
Telephone: 0044 20 74 91 7771
Opening times: Mon – Thu 9.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. and Fri 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Cayman Islands Tourist Department in Great Britain is also responsible for Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism: Regatta Office Park,
Leeward Two, West Bay Road, George Town, Grand Cayman BWI
Postal address: PO Box 67 GT, George Town, Grand Cayman BWI
Telephone: 949 0623, Fax: 949 4053
email: pr@caymanislands.ky or cscott@caymanislands.ky
Germany, Austria and Switzerland have no diplomatic missions in the Cayman Islands. The embassy responsible for Germany is in Kingston (see Jamaica – important addresses), the embassies responsible for Austria and Switzerland are in London, Great Britain.
The Cayman Islands are part of Great Britain and therefore do not have their own diplomatic missions. The interests of the Cayman Islands are represented by the British embassies, and any necessary visas can be applied for here.
