Plantation Village #20 by Cayman Vacation

Snorkeling just off the beach was excellent, and the location of Plantation Village is decent. Those were the only positives for us. The unit felt badly neglected and very outdated: broken blinds, holes in the walls, a fridge that didn’t work, and half the bathroom bulbs out. The beds were some of the most uncomfortable I’ve slept on, with loud squeaks every time we moved, making it hard to get a proper night’s sleep. The website gives a misleading impression of the place as a “resort” with expansive access to Seven Mile Beach. In reality, there’s only about 25 feet of beach frontage, which was underwhelming compared with what we expected. Between the condition of the unit, the inaccurate website description, and the lack of basic upkeep, this wasn’t the vacation we hoped for, and I can’t recommend Plantation Village.

The grounds had two pools, both fairly empty and quiet. My favorite was the one by the ocean, where you could hear the waves. There was plenty of space for the price, a screened patio, and a kitchen, though a smaller one. The room was much more than I needed, but would fit a family. This felt more like a timeshare unit than a hotel. The person at the “front desk” didn’t recognize the address, so it took a while to sort things out. She gave me two room numbers and said a keycard should be under the mat. I tried one room, which looked empty, and left a message saying I’d dropped off my bag. It turned out to be the wrong room, but the occupant kindly moved my bag to the right one. The space wasn’t very modern or recently updated. There was a small beach, really only big enough for three people, and no beach to walk along. From the gates and stairs, it looked like there’d been a lot of erosion, which is unfortunate. The kayaks and SUP boards were chained up and didn’t look to be in great shape, though I didn’t ask to use them, and the ones I saw may have been for different users. It’s a bit of a way from downtown. I walked about 30 minutes to the beach and a coffee shop, though there are a few restaurants nearby. I ate at Coconut Joe’s for dinner and thought it was pretty good. Overall, the room, grounds, and pools were nice, and it could be good for a small family staying a few days. I wasn’t sure about the extras since I didn’t ask about using them.

The resort is clean and very well maintained. There’s only a tiny beach, unfortunately, and it isn’t as nice as the rest of 7 miles Beach, which is a short walk or ride away.

Our three-bedroom, two-bath condominium was just right, and there was plenty of parking. The complex was great, with a lovely view of the beach and easy access to get out onto it. Bring water shoes.