At the end of my maternity leave, I wanted to go on our first vacation as a family of three and take Sofia on her very first flight. We thought going to the Caribbean would be a perfect place for a first international trip since they have short direct flights from the East Coast. We also wouldn’t have to worry about creating an itinerary with the baby since we can just stay and relax in the resort every day. We decided to travel to the Cayman Islands and stay at the Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman. This is one of best Grand Cayman family resorts! Even if you don’t have children, this is a great resort to stay at with your significant other or with a group of friends! My parents and sister also came and it was great having the entire family with us. We had such an amazing time! In this post, I will be sharing all the details on our family stay at one of the best Cayman Islands family resort.
The Cayman Islands
About The Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the western Caribbean Sea. They consist of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. These islands are known for their beautiful beaches like the famous Seven Mile Beach, luxury resorts, and crystal clear waters. The culture of the Cayman Islands is a mix of Caribbean, British, and American and the population is very diverse. The Kimpton Seafire Resort is located on Grand Cayman island and located on the beautiful location of Seven Mile Beach.
Best Time to Visit Cayman Islands
The best time to travel to the Cayman Islands is from December to April. You will get mostly sunny days with little rain. It’s the perfect temperature for swimming. However, you can expect larger crowds and higher prices for accommodations. The hurricane season is from June to October. If you are looking for a more affordable time to go, you can travel during the shoulder season of May and November. Temperatures are still warm and you might get occasional rain showers. We traveled in March and had great weather!
Traveling to The Cayman Islands
One of the reasons we chose the Cayman Islands is because of how easy it is to get there. They offer direct flights from the New York area that typically take about 4.5 hours. Once we got all of our luggage, it was only a 15 minute cab ride to the Kimpton Seafire Resort. We like the convenience of coordinating transportation with the hotel ahead of time so it was nice that we were picked up in a small shuttle bus that fit everyone. There are also plenty of taxis that are available if you decide not to book transportation with the hotel.
About the Kimpton Seafire Resort
We spent four amazing days at the Kimpton Seafire Resort and had a wonderful time! I thought it was the best place to stay in Grand Cayman that’s perfect for the whole family. Even though there are lot of things to do throughout the island, we spent our entire vacation at the resort – either relaxing by the beach or the pool. It was awesome that the resort was filled with so many things to do!
Check-In
When we arrived at the resort, we were welcomed with such friendly staff. At the front desk, they greeted us with a delicious welcome drink and Sofia even got an adorable turtle stuffed animal. The lobby is spacious and luxurious with multiple seating areas. They even have a pool table you can use while you are waiting to be checked in. Luckily, our room was ready pretty quickly so it was nice that we were able to get settled in right away.
On the way to our room, we were also given a tour of the property. It’s not a huge property, but it was still pretty impressive. The resort has two pools, multiple dining options, an on-site spa, and even a kids zone.
Kimpton Seafire Resort Rooms
The Kimpton Seafire Resort consists of 264 rooms and suites that offer an ocean view through floor to ceiling windows. They have different style rooms to choose from. Here is a description of each one:
Guest Rooms: The guest rooms at Kimpton Seafire Resort are spacious, comfy and stylish. Each one is decorated with a modern Caribbean vibe and it comes with either an ocean or island view. You can choose between a king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds.
Suites: The suites are super spacious and very luxurious. They have separate living and sleeping areas. You can book one or two-bedroom suites. Some even have dining areas and kitchenettes. There is even a family suite that has two bathrooms and a living area with bunk beds. You’ll get beautiful views of the ocean or gardens from your private balcony or terrace.
Bungalows: If you prefer a little more seclusion, Kimpton Seafire Resort offers beachfront bungalows that are just steps away from the beach and pool. This is a perfect if you traveling with a large group. The bungalows come with oceanfront or resort garden views, a luxury kitchenette, dining room for six, a spacious living room, and a private pool.
My family and I stayed in one of the guest rooms and we requested connecting rooms. When the baby was sleeping, it was nice that we were able to hang out in my parents’ room. The staff members were also so nice to have a pack n’ play ready for Sofia when we arrived to the room. Inside, they had a cute starfish stuffed animal, a swaddle blanket and even a bath set with body wash and lotion.
Restaurants
The Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman has a variety of dining options to choose from. There is something for everyone and children under five even eat for free! It’s great how much they cater to families.
Here are the restaurant options that you can find at the resort:
Ave
Ave is the main restaurant at the Seafire Resort. This is the breakfast spot where they serve a breakfast buffet with a nice selection of food options. They also have a la carte items. They also serve brunch here on Sundays from 12 to 3pm. For dinner, they transform into a Mediterranean inspired restaurant where you will find steak and fresh local seafood. I loved the mussels in a chardonnay cream sauce, beetroot tartare, and chargrilled octopus.
Avecita
Avecita is a smaller restaurant that is located within the main Ave restaurant that is only open for dinner. They specialize in Spanish inspired tapas and small plates. I loved the shrimp with toasted garlic, the braised beef short ribs, and the roasted mushrooms. For dessert, you have to try the lemon mousse! They also offer a Chef’s Table experience that includes five courses with drink pairings.
Coccoloba Bar & Grill
Coccoloba Bar and Grill is a casual beachfront restaurant that is located right on the beach. The menu features a mix of Caribbean and Mexican dishes. They serve chips and salsa, chicken quesadillas, tacos, salads, and a variety of entrees. Coccoloba is open for both lunch and dinner. I recommend going on Saturdays for their mariachi nights or on Thursdays for salsa night! Sofia loved listening to the music during salsa night!
You can also eat Coccoloba at the beach. On each beach chair, there is a menu where you can order food and drinks and eat at the beach.
The Pantry
The Pantry is a small cafe that offers a selection of grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch and snacks. You will find an assortment of sandwiches, salads, pastries, and beverages. It’s perfect if you want to grab something to take to the beach, want to grab a snack, or if you want to pack lunch if you are going out to explore for the day!
Seafire Pool Bar
At the pool, there is a pool bar where you can order salads, sandwiches, and pizza. They also have a variety of tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, and fresh juices.
Library by the Sea
Library by the Sea is a cocktail library bar filled with comfortable couches and chairs. You can choose from their selection of wines, spirits, beers, and even non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and tea. They also have small light bites. Every Saturday night, you can enjoy live music with their dynamic duo of a pianist and vocalist.
My Thoughts on Food
I loved the food at Kimpton Seafire Resort. Breakfast was amazing and I loved how they changed the buffet items every day. I also really enjoyed all the different dinner options. However, I do wish they had more lunch options. Other than the pool bar, the only option was Coccoloba. However, even with limited lunch options, I tried different things on the menu each time and everything was delicious.
Things to do at Kimpton Seafire Resort
Seven Mile Beach
Kimpton Seafire Resort is located along the beautiful Seven Mile beach. This is one of the Caribbean’s most pristine beaches where you will find white sand and crystal clear water. Spend the day at the beach swimming in the water and lounging under an umbrella. In the water, they also have floating platforms where you can sit, lounge, or use for jumping.
Sofia does not nap well on-the-go so we loved that the beach was a short walk from the hotel room so it was easy to go back and forth between naps.
Seafire Pool
The resort has one large pool that is family-friendly and surrounded by greenery, comfy lounge chairs and private cabanas. I also love how they have a more shallow pool area for little kids. Sofia loved swimming in the pool! The staff also walked around serving snacks and fresh juices. My favorite was their frozen grapes! It was so refreshing on a hot day!
Spa
The Spa at Seafire has seven treatment rooms where you can book a variety of services like massage therapy, body treatments, facials, manicures, and pedicures. They even have a hair salon.
Water Sports and Beach Activities
If you are interested in doing water sports or booking an excursion, head to the Red Sail Sports booth on the beach. They have kayaking, sailing, paddle boards, water tricycles and jet skis. One of their most famous tours is the North Sound Eco Safari where you get to cruise on Grand Cayman’s crystal clear waters on board a catamaran.
Fitness Classes
The Kimpton Seafire Resort offers a range of fitness activities every day of the week. You can visit their fitness center where they have a variety of cardio equipment, weight machines, and dumbbells. They even have daily fitness classes like paddle board yoga, Boxfit, yoga classes on the lawn, and Beachfit. My sister and I signed up for paddle board yoga one morning and we loved it!
Camp Seafire
Camp Seafire is a kids-only zone for ages 5-12 that is located on-site at the resort. They offer daily, themed programs, educational activities, games, and outdoor fun. They even offer evening babysitting for children over two years old.
SPLASH at Seafire
SPLASH at Kimpton Seafire Resort is a vibrant water play area catered toward children 12 and under. It consists of 62 interactive features, three water slides, and 24 floor jets. It’s such a fun activity for younger kids.
Wine Hour
At reception, the resort offers daily wine hour where guests are invited to enjoy complimentary wine during this time, along with some kind of appetizer. They also have a selection of Capri Sun and fruit snacks for children.
Grand Cayman Excursions
For such a small island, Grand Cayman has a bunch of fun attractions. Here are some fun activities you can book and visit:
- Stingray City: This is a popular tourist attraction where you can feed, swim with, and even pet stingrays! You can stand in the waist-high water while the stingrays swim around you!
- Rum Point: Rum Point is a stunning beach with soft white sand and shallow calm waters. It is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There are several bars and restaurants here where you can eat delicious Caribbean cuisine and refreshing tropical drinks, including the famous Mudslide cocktail. Rum Point also is a departure point for boat excursions.
- Crystal Caves: Book a tour to explore the Crystal Caves and learn about the island’s unique limestone terrain. Perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers!
- North Sound Golf Club: This is a popular 18 hole golf course that is great for golfers of all skill levels that has a stunning ocean backdrop.
- Camana Bay: This is the ultimate shopping destination! It is filled with beautiful boutiques and fabulous restaurants. You can find everything from clothing, jewelry, skincare, home decor and more!
- Cayman Turtle Farm: This is a conservation and research facility that protects sea turtles. Visitors can take guided tours, explore the exhibits, and swim with sea turtles.
- Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park: Explore this beautiful botanical garden that is home to a great collection of native and exotic plants and flowers.
- Bioluminescent Tours: Take a boat ride through water that comes to life in electric hues of blue and green.
- Pedro St. James National Historic Site: This is a beautiful restored 18th century plantation house that turned into a museum and heritage site. This is considered the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands. You can explore the property and gardens and learn about the history of the Cayman Islands.
- Snorkeling: Check out Grand Cayman’s awesome coral reef! You can access some directly from the beach or book a boat tour!
- Scuba Diving: Grand Cayman has a bunch of great diving sites that are great for all experience levels!
My Review of Kimpton Seafire Resort
I highly recommend the Kimpton Seafire Resort if you are planning a Grand Cayman family vacation. It is one of the best Cayman Islands family resorts and luxury hotels. The resort was so clean and chic. The staff’s attentiveness exceeded my expectations. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. One morning during breakfast, someone even brought a pillow over for Sofia so she can be more comfy in her high chair, which I thought was so sweet. The staff really pays attention to details and makes sure that you are having an excellent stay. I would definitely come back to this Grand Cayman resort!
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