Expert: Robert Clark - 5/20/2007

Question
Researching information, we would like reliable sources of information as to best recommended, and if possible moderately priced, "wedding and honeymoon ocean front (and FULL VIEW) type" hotel(s) to make arrangments for a beautiful BEACH wedding.  I have seen the Ritz Carlton online-looks nice but a little out of our budget.  Others that come close???  I have tried to find ones that offer beach wedding packages with booking the hotel too, but want to choose wisely. We also are trying for a  catamaran dinner reception, too, so recommendations for booking that would be appreciated as well.  Our wedding group would be under 25 people.  Thank you very much!

Answer
Cheryl
Moderately priced and Cayman don't really go together!

Major hotels in Cayman
Ritz-Carlton - top price, top of the range, but  big part of the hotel is across a main road from the beach (even though there is a bridge connecting the buildings).

Hyatt - on Seven Mile Beach, but currently only 57 rooms open as the main part of the hotel is closed following damage caused by Hurricane Ivan and an on-going dispute over the insurance settlement.

Marriott Beach Resort - situated towards the southern end of Seven Mile Beach and tends to have little or no beach because of storm erosion

Marriott Courtyard - formerly the Holiday Inn. Again the hotel is across a main road from the beach.

Westin Casuarina - the best situated of the big chain hotels, directly on Seven Mile Beach.

I would recommend the latter. I know that the Westin regularly arrange weddings, so am sure that they could help you out.  Their website is http://www.starwood.com/westin/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1095

For the catamaran, the biggest watersports operator is Red Sail Sports - http://www.redsailcayman.com/gc_index.html They have four catamarans that do various trips, so I am sure that you could either have a private charter or could block book a group of you on.  

There are a number of other watersports operators, some of whom offer sailing charters/packages - please see the list on my website at http://www.gotocayman.com or if that is not working, the old page at http://www.raltrad.net/gcmbuss.htm#WATS
If you do go with Red Sail, please tell them Robert Clark recommended you and maybe I'll get a free dive next time I am in Cayman!