We returned to Grand Cayman Marriott after more than 10 years and were really excited to be back. The hotel is in great shape, despite some ongoing (very quiet) renovations on the second and first floors. The new rooms are airy and comfortable. We understood coming into the trip that there was no longer direct beach access at the Marriott - in 2013 on our last trip, there was. This was disappointing only at the start, until we realized how easily we got in and out of the ocean, as well as all the extras the Marriott staff were offering by the pool each day -- popcorn, cotton candy, DIY crafts, and more. We could tell the staff were going above and beyond to make up for any potential lost points without the beach, but for us, there were none. We gladly took snorkeling equipment from RedSail for free and were able to keep whatever we borrowed each day until 4:30. I'd recommend swim shoes as the sea outside the hotel is quite rocky and the sea floor is very uneven, which took a bit of getting used to and creative swimming to get to the floating platforms, which we loved. Dehemah took care of us from our first meal until our last, remembering all of our names and our orders. She was exceptional, the best of the best, always greeted us with a smile. Everyone we encountered was pleasant, warm, friendly, and welcoming, especially the pool staff who eagerly helped us find and set up our chairs and umbrellas for the day (which also ensured guests were able to get seats by the pool - there was no seat-saving for more than 1hr, as there aren't too many chaises). This time, we took the shuttle for the Cayman Crystal Caves and got a tour from Oscar, who was fantastic. If you have any interest in seeing more of the island's natural history, and hearing more about how parts of GC were settled, this is a good recommendation. We got so much history just on the bus rides to and from. For food, we ate breakfast at Coconut Joe's across the street when we didn't feel like having the buffet downstairs. Coconut Joe's is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has great dishes and a wonderful atmosphere, plus live music and Caribbean buffet on Wednesday nights. Camana Bay is a wonderful shopping center with apparel stores, toy/book stores, and several good restaurants. We ate at Brooklyn (twice) and Waterfront, and we picked up food from Pane and Pasta. We ate also at XQS, which had a lot of options for everyone. And if you need something quick, Burger King and Pizza Hut are nearby, as are Subway and a number of other food joints like Chicken Chicken. For souvenirs, we shopped at Treasure Teez nearby. For groceries, Foster's in Camana Bay. There are so many walkable spots near the hotel, as well as public beach access if sitting on the beach is something you are looking for. We were sad to leave and are hoping to return to GC, it's a beautiful island and the staff at Marriott took great care of us once again. Thank you, and another shoutout to Dehemah, who was the best of the best.…
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.