| Shopping, Cayman Islands Style |
| Travel & Vacations - Things To Do: Tours, Attractions, Activities |
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Stroll the storefronts of George Town and you'll find some of the best duty-free shops anywhere in the Caribbean. You'll find a good selection of traditional duty free items such as watches, china and crystal, perfumes and fine jewelery-including authentic treasure coin jewelery - on Grand Cayman and at a few stores on Cayman Brac. Prices on perfume, watches and select luxury items may be as much as 30% cheaper here. Be sure to check out the amazing array of quality luxury goods, including merchandise from brands like Versace, Cartier, Tiffany, Gucci, Bacarrat, Lalique and more.
Planning to visit Grand Cayman by Cruise? Grand Cayman has long been one of the most popular ports of call in the Caribbean. All ships calling at George Town, Grand Cayman, have to anchor offshore and ferry their passengers ashore by shuttle boats (tenders). Passengers disembark in Georgetown, right in the center of the Grand Cayman shopping district. Georgetown is the capital of the Cayman Islands and offers the very best Duty free and souvenir shopping with a vast selection of items to choose from. Many duty free stores are also now located within walking distance of the cruise terminal for your shopping pleasure. Several restaurants and cafes are also nearby, so there is no need to worry if you need a bite before returning to the cruise ship. As you walk around Georgetown taking in the sights and shops, please be sensitive towards our motorists as you cross the streets in search of duty free shopping deals. Occasionally, the Royal Cayman Islands Police have officers on patrol in the Georgetown harbor to direct traffic and also for the benefit of frequent cruise ship visitors who venture to look the wrong way. Next to the northern cruise terminal in Georgetown is a telecommunication center with internet access and pay phones if you want to let your family know that you're arrived, as well as the Georgetown Post Office where you can send postcards back home. Taxis and tour buses are easily accessible and the average cost of a taxi per hour is approximately US$40.00 for four persons for island tours. Many tour buses and short island tours at reasonable prices can be found just outside the cruise terminal. Tours can also be pre-booked on the ship but may actually cost more than if purchased once you arrive. This is because the cruise lines factor in a markup for themselves on the price of the tour. Beware of the 'Cruise Line Recommended' slogan when considering where to shop. 'Cruise Line Recommended' simply means that the merchant has paid the cruise line a fee for advertising his business on board the ship, and the products purchased at these stores are usually no better than in any other store. In fact, you may pay more at a 'Cruise Line Recommended' store to cover the cost of that advertising. Shopping in the Cayman Islands has unique appeal. Downtown George Town, where you'll find Grand Cayman's retail center, retains its old world charm and relaxed, easy pace, yet it affords shopping opportunities which would be difficult to find in even the most sophisticated European capital.
At your leisure (particularly on days when the cruise ships are not in harbor), you can walk within a radius of a few hundred yards in the center of George Town and, with the shops almost to yourself, you will find contemporary, cutting edge designs, alongside the classics, from the most prestigious labels around. In addition, you'll find the quirky and the quaint, unexpected treasures which make wonderful souvenirs and gifts to take home. Look out for these unusual items, too, in the small shopping centers dotted around all three islands.Aside from its ease and accessibility, shopping in Grand Cayman is compelling for another reason: duty-free and tax-free, prices in Cayman represent huge savings on prices found in the US and elsewhere. High-end luxury goods are available at offshore prices that onshore retailers find impossible to match. Quality timepieces, leather goods, cosmetics, crystal, jewelry and more, all vie for your attention. And, importantly, while you are on vacation, away from the high-pressure lives we all lead, you will have the time not only to shop at leisure but also to enjoy the experience... |
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Cayman Islands Weather
| Friday 12.03.2010 | |||
 |  | 80.6°F | 9.6m/s 0.0mm |
| Saturday 13.03.2010 | |||
 |  | 78.8°F | 3.1m/s 0.6mm |
| Sunday 14.03.2010 | |||
 |  | 78.8°F | 4.4m/s 0.0mm |
| Altitude : | 4 | ||
| Latitude : | 19.3 | ||
| Longitude : | -81.3833333 | ||
| Country : | Cayman Islands | ||
| Timezone : | America/Cayman | ||
| UTC offset : | -300 | ||
| Last upd. : | 2010-03-11T01:59:56 | ||
| Next upd. : | 2010-03-11T15:00:00 | ||
| Get Full Cayman Islands Weather forecast | |||