Grand Cayman Marriott Resort

Stay at Palm Heights, not here! We expected a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Grand Cayman Marriott Resort, and as active people, my husband and I were especially looking forward to the amenities included in the daily resort fee. We were disappointed enough to leave early. The biggest issue was that all scheduled amenities and daily activities were canceled for weather during our entire five-day stay. We understand the hotel can’t control the weather, but there were no alternatives, backup plans, or suggestions for guests, while the full daily fee was still charged. The gym was also a letdown, extremely small, like a shoebox, and not what we expected from a resort of this caliber. We asked staff where to bike since bicycles were listed as an amenity, and were told there wasn’t really anywhere special to ride and no bike paths. That made it feel more like a marketing bullet point than something useful. On the one day we had partial sun and wanted to relax outside, gardeners ran very loud leaf blowers for nearly two hours, making it impossible to enjoy the pool or tropical atmosphere. The trip fell far short of what we expected.

The regular employees were fantastic, from housekeeping and the pool, spa, and towel staff to the restaurant crew. But there is no beach here, and there are places farther up Seven Mile Beach that actually have beaches, so I’m not sure we’ll return. The resort rarely gives room upgrades, if ever, even when many rooms are empty. I recently stayed five nights using points and paid an extra 100,000 upgraded points for a better room. I also tried to use Marriott’s “Suite Upgrade Awards” and couldn’t. There were several empty oceanfront rooms, but none were made available to me.

The food at the resort was excellent and well priced, and there are lots of other good restaurants nearby. I liked being a bit away from town. We had plenty of space for two couples, lots of privacy, and a very clean unit. The staff were all friendly and accommodating. There’s a lovely beach right by the resort, with some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever enjoyed. The patio chairs were extremely uncomfortable, and there were too few beach chairs. We still enjoyed spending time outside, and it was a wonderful weekend. I absolutely loved my time here and will certainly return.

The staff made this stay memorable. Elvis, one of the housekeepers, greeted us each morning, and by the third day we were on a first-name basis. His joyful spirit was a lovely way to start the day. Aina at the front desk was kind, attentive, and communicative. She quickly helped recover a blanket with sentimental value that had gone with the dirty sheets, thanks to her thoroughness. My partner and I stayed five nights at Grand Cayman Marriott Resort and couldn’t recommend it enough. There are on-site restaurants, beach access nearby, friendly staff, and activities for all ages. Sylvia made check-in quick and easy, and Junita was patient and sweet while helping with activities like bracelet making and temporary tattoos. The ceviche class was a highlight. I wish I remembered the host’s name, but he knew his stuff, and the ceviche was delicious. The Women’s Day brunch was beautifully put together and tasted just as good. Our courtyard-facing room was wonderful, and the views outside were even better. The sunsets by the pool are absolutely stunning. Thank you, Grand Cayman Marriott, for having such incredible employees!