My latest travels took me to the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman – a gem of a tropical destination best known for famous Seven Mile Beach, warm and friendly locals, and a fantastic dining and shopping scene. While I was there, I spent some time as a guest at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman, which lived up to every expectation I had about the property.

The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman has long been a flagship five star option in the region and has taken itself up a notch further with a major renovation last summer of many of the public areas.  The hotel is set on 144 acres stretching ocean to ocean from one side of the island to the other and offers just about any sort of amenity a guest could dream of wanting. A 20,000 square foot La Prairie spa, 6 restaurants (including Blue, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the Caribbean), a family water park and Ambassadors of the Environment kids club, private dock, great boutiques, a new golf bunker (only the 4th to be built in the world!) and prime beachfront space on Seven Mile Beach all make this hotel a top choice for the luxury Caribbean traveler.

The 365 rooms, suites and residences at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman mean there’s a wide range of accommodation options for guests to choose from.  The two main locations on property (resort side tower or ocean side tower) are cleverly connected by a pleasant walkway lined with an array of local art for sale. The decision about whether to stay on the resort side or the beach side is different for each guest, so I work closely with my clients to guide them on the best location for their stay.

I booked a Club Oceanfront room for myself with direct views of Seven Mile Beach. It’s been my experience time and again that Club level at Ritz Carlton properties is worth every penny. Between the five different food presentations daily, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, private lounge for relaxing and the helpful concierge staff, it’s a wonderful thing to be a Club level guest at any Ritz Carlton around the world (and the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman was no exception)!

Seven Mile Beach is of course a popular spot for guests, and the wide array of watersports available for their use (all included in the resort fee) is definitely impressive. From sunup to sundown, Ritz Carlton guests can be found enjoying everything from standup paddleboards to water tricycles to kayaks to snorkeling (and more). There’s also a sizable waterfront pool with lively Bar Jack restaurant poolside serving up great food and drinks.

After my stay at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman, I can definitely say that it deserves its reputation as a leading luxury player in the Caribbean and within the entire Ritz Carlton collection of properties. Brownell is part of the Ritz Carlton STARS agency program, which means I can add the following complimentary amenities to my clients’ reservations:

• Daily breakfast buffet for two in our restaurant, SEVEN
• Customized welcome amenity
• Room upgrade, upon availability at check in
• Priority check in, upon availability
• 4pm checkout, upon request