Area: 100 sq miles

Population: 39,335

Capital city: George Town on Grand Cayman pop 16,000

People: Mixed African and European descent

Language: English

Time: U.S. eastern standard time is in effect year-round; daylight saving time is not observed.

Religious Denominations: United Church, Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic

Government: British dependency

Major industries: Tourism, banking, insurance and finance

Major trading partners: USA, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan

Weather:

Average Temperatures:

	High	Low
January	86F	67F
February	86F	67F
March	86F	68F
April	87F	70F
May	87F	72F
June	89F	74F
July	90F	73F
August	90F	73F
September	89F	73F
October	88F	73F
November	87F	71F
December	87F	69F

Very warm, tropical climate throughout the year. High temperatures are moderated by trade winds. The rainy season is from May to October but showers are generally of short duration. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens and a light raincoat or umbrella for the rainy season. Slightly warmer clothes may be needed on cooler evenings or in air conditioned areas.

Sunburn or sunstroke is a major health risk. A long-sleeve shirt, a hat, and long pants or a beach wrap are essential on a boat, for midday at the beach, and whenever you go out sightseeing. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, especially if you're fair-skinned, and apply it liberally and frequently on nose, ears, and other sensitive and exposed areas. Make sure the sunscreen is waterproof if you're engaging in water sports, limit your sun time for the first few days, and drink plenty of liquids, monitoring intake of caffeine and alcohol, which hasten the dehydration process.

When to Go:
mid-December to mid-April winter is the peak tourist season, when rates are substantially higher and beaches and lodgings more crowded, it's best to go in the summer. There is more rain in summer, but it tends to come in downpours that clear as quickly as they arrive. Business Hours: Normally, banks are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm, Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2: 30 to 4: 30pm. Shops are usually open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Money

ATMs:
ATMs are readily available, particularly on Grand Cayman.

Exchanging Money:
Although the American dollar is accepted everywhere, you'll save money if you go to the bank and exchange U.S. dollars for Cayman Island CI dollars.

Taxes:
At large hotels, a service charge is generally included and can be anywhere from 6% to 10%; smaller establishments and some villas and condos leave tipping up to you. There is a 10% government tax added at all accommodations and a departure tax of $12.50. Otherwise, there is no tax on goods or services.

Tipping:
Although tipping is customary at restaurants, some automatically include 15% on the bill, so check it carefully. Taxi drivers expect a 10%-15% tip.

Passports & Visas:
Entering the Cayman Islands - U.S., U.K., and Canadian citizens should carry a valid passport. Citizens of all other countries need a valid passport, and all visitors must have a return ticket.
Passport Offices - The best time to apply for a passport or renew is during the fall and winter. Before any trip, check your passport's expiration date, and, if necessary, renew it as soon as possible.

Currency:
The legal tender is the Cayman Islands dollar CI$, valued usually at about 25% higher than the US dollar. Canadian, U.S., and British currencies are accepted throughout the Cayman Islands, but you'll save money if you exchange your U.S. dollars for Cayman Islands dollars. The Cayman dollar breaks down into 100 cents. Coins come in 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢. Bills come in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, and $100 there is no CI $20 bill. Most hotels quote rates in U.S. dollars. However, many restaurants quote prices in Cayman Islands dollars, which might lead you to think that food is much cheaper. The cost of living in the Cayman Islands is about 20% higher than in the United States. Documents:
Citizens of the United States and Canada should carry a valid passport or else a birth certificate with a raised seal along with a government-issued photo ID we always recommend that you bring a passport. Citizens of the United Kingdom should have a valid passport. All visitors need a return or ongoing ticket.

Electricity:
110 volts AC 60 cycles, so American and Canadian appliances will not need adapters or transformers.

Emergencies:
For medical or police emergencies, dial tel. 911 or 555.

Hospital:
There's a hospital on Grand Cayman, and another small one on Cayman Brac. Language:
English is the official language, and it is spoken with a distinctive brogue that reflects Caymanians' Welsh, Scottish, and English heritage. For example, three is pronounced "tree," pepper is "pep-ah," and Cayman is "K-man." The number of Jamaican residents in the workforce means the Jamaican patois and heavier accents are also common other Jamaican influences are tales about the duppy : pronounced "puppy" : a scary night creature that haunts the Caymans.

Arriving & Departing

By Air
Flights land at Owen Roberts Airport GMC Grand Cayman, 345/949-5252, Gerrard-Smith Airport CYB Cayman Brac, or Edward Bodden Airfield Little Cayman. Call Owen Roberts Airport for flight information.

Flights from New York to Kingston or Montego Bay, Jamaica, take about 4 hours; those from Miami, about an hour. Nonstop flights from London and Paris to the Caribbean are about 7 hours. Once you've arrived in the Caribbean, hops between the islands range from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

Transfers Between the Airport and Town:
Upon arrival, some hotels offer free pickup at the airport. Taxi service and car rentals are also available.

By Bicycle, Motorcycle, or Scooter:
When renting a motor scooter or bicycle, remember to drive on the left : and wear sunblock. Bicycles $10-$15 a day and scooters $30-$35 a day can be rented from the following vendors:

Bicycles Cayman 345/949-0608.
Cayman Cycle 345/945-4021.
Eagles Nest 345/949-4866 specializes in renting Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Soto Scooters 345/945-4652.

By Car
The Cayman Islands are relatively flat and fairly easy to negotiate if you're careful in traffic. Just remember : driving is on the left, so when pulling out into traffic, look to your right.

Road Conditions
Island roads are often potholed, bumpy, and narrow. Drive with extreme caution, especially if you venture out at night. You won't see guardrails on every hill and curve, although the drops can be frighteningly steep. And pedestrians and livestock often share the roadway with vehicles.

Rules of the Road :

Be prepared to drive on the left. Speed limits are low because it's often hard to find a road long and straight enough to safely gather much speed.

Air: The main island of Grand Cayman is connected to Cayman Brac by internal flights run by Cayman Airways and Island Air and to Little Cayman by Island Air only. Island Air also operates a service between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

Road: A good road network connects the coastal towns of all three main islands.

Bus: Public minibuses operate from George Town to West Bay every 15 minutes, to Bodden Town every 30 minutes and to East End and North Side every hour The bus terminal is located opposite the public library on Edward Street in central George Town. Service is normally from 0600-2300 until midnight on weekends for most routes. There are 38 minibuses operated by 24 licensed operators. Routes are color coded with colors marked on the front and rear of the buses. Public buses have blue license plates and standard fares are displayed inside.

Mopeds and scooters: Available for hire on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Riders are required by law to wear a helmet at all times.

Bicycles: Available for hire on all three islands. On Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, most hotels have bicycles available for complementary guest use.