Grand Cayman Marriott Resort — Hotel in George Town

This was our first time visiting Grand Cayman. As elite Bonvoy members, we tend to stick to Marriott properties and chose this Marriott after some research. As stated in the title, this property is great overall, from the condition of the resort to our room ( Junior King Suite ), to the service, to food offerings and quality. Please note that this resort isn't quite on seven-mile beach, but more off to the side. ||A few staff worthy of recognition: Jehanel from front desk, Ella and Khrestel from white lime, Dan from Veranda, Lalang, Prasath and Midhul from Anchor and Den, Jonathan from Housekeeping ( He cleaned our room within the hour ). These ladies and gentleman were all friendly and helpful, and made our stay enjoyable. ||There were nice touches throughout the resort that made an impression, including a water jug provided in our suite and a filtered water station on our level, fresh fruits by the juice place, real candles and plants around the common area. My personal favorite was breakfast offering Tea Forte and mini teapots. Food overall was good, the resort hosted different theme nights featuring cuisines from all over the world and they were nicely organized. I especially enjoyed the cocktail "Elixir". ||Some areas that fell short for us were the sink and shower water smelled a little like sewage, the shower water took a while to heat up, the lightning spot charging speed was slow ( use plug instead ), early morning hours were loud and filled with sounds of door slamming ( not sure if by guests or staff ), incredibly noisy and disturbing, breakfast area had enough tables but not enough staff to clean up, resulting in unnecessary lines, the complimentary breakfast system ( for elite members ) was confusing and slightly disappointing, as it only included the cold food and not the hot ones, and it also caused a lot of billing issues, the resort fee of KYD 49.20 that we could use as credit, turned out to only be 41 KYD instead of the full amount that we paid ( forgot the exact reason, perhaps due to exchange rate ), the paddle board yoga activity did not allow booking pre-arrival, but by the time we checked-in, it was already fully booked, only one class per week with very limited space. The next morning, we saw the class being conducted, and the class could only accommodate 7 students plus 1 instructor. ||Here comes the most frustrating part of our stay, and the reason that I gave this resort a 4-star: ||I believe this resort completed a renovation May 2024. However, the set-up and layout of the loungers around the pool area was less than ideal. First of all, not all loungers were plush sun loungers, it was roughly half-half, with the remaining half being the plastic ones that are way less comfortable. Second of all, only 20 of those plush sun loungers were in front of the pool with a direct ocean-facing view, the rest were spread across so they were of a more or less obstructive view. ||* The resort did have a sign that said saving of loungers is prohibited and belongings would be removed if left unattended for an hour * ||We observed for 2 mornings that by 7 am, all 20 front-row loungers were occupied with belongings but only 5 - 6 people were physically sitting there. We spoke to one of the pool staff and he said one morning he arrived at 6 am and all front-row loungers were already taken, however, there was no one in the ocean or anyone returning within a reasonable amount of time. While I appreciate the sign that the resort had already put out, meaning they too have observed similar behaviors, I did not think the staff actually enforced what the sign says. I can empathize with the fact that this is a tricky situation to handle but terrible behaviors like this created an unpleasant experience for other guests, who never got a chance also to enjoy the front-row loungers. We did not appreciate inconsiderate guests who hog onto the loungers while also get to enjoy a full breakfast inside, this definitely made a dent in our otherwise wonderful experience. One thing the resort can do, at least regarding comfort, the resort can consider upgrading all their other loungers to plush ones like the front-row ones, rather than only those 20 guests getting the best of everything, while other guests get uncomfortable chairs and obstructed views. ||Overall, this resort is great and we had a pleasant stay. Not quite a guaranteed return for us during our next visit since there are other options but we will keep this...

We stayed at the Grand Marriott from December 19th to 25th, 2024, conveniently located just 15 minutes from the airport. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Jose, who made us feel welcome with his excellent customer service and thoughtful touch of personally escorting us to the elevator.

Rooms: Our room was bright and spacious, with plenty of storage space. The bathroom featured a large backlit mirror, a bathtub with a glass door, and both overhead and handheld showers, perfect for families with kids. The king bed and sofa bed were comfortable, and the balcony was a nice spot to relax. Each floor had water, soda, and ice dispensers, which was a thoughtful touch for quick and easy access to drinks.

Breakfast: We had a breakfast voucher with various options, including a buffet, à la carte, or grab-and-go. The continental breakfast had a great spread of cereals, fresh fruits, smoothies, juices, breads, cheese, salad, and nuts. There was also a complimentary coffee station from 6:30-8:30 am, perfect for an early morning pick-me-up.

Activities: The hotel offers a fantastic range of activities, from complimentary options that are walk-in friendly to those requiring reservations, some of which may have an additional cost. The weekly activity schedule provides a great overview, and the staff conducting the activities were welcoming, approachable, and full of creative ideas. The hotel also provided complimentary kayaks and bike rentals, a spacious swimming pool, and a jacuzzi. The pool area had sunscreen and aloe gel stations, and the beach had a trampoline and floating bed. On either side of the hotel, there were small beach areas, with the right side past the Veranda Restaurant being the best spot for kids to play due to fewer rocks and gentler waves. Additionally, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to the public beach with an hourly schedule.

Review of Hotel Staff: Antinique: We had a wonderful experience with Antinique, who always greeted us with a warm smile and engaged with my toddler. She provided great local tips, including using the public bus and beach recommendations, which helped us save money while enjoying a safe and convenient beach experience. Jose: Jose made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. He went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable, even helping us with room arrangements despite the hotel being fully booked. Milton and Prasad: Milton and Prasad provided exceptional service during breakfast. They greeted us warmly every morning, remembered our favorite orders, and ensured we had everything we needed, making our breakfast experience truly special. Gesta and Junita: The recreation staff, Gesta and Junita, were amazing throughout our stay. They came up with creative activity ideas and were always welcoming and patient with my 5-year-old. They gave her the independence to enjoy the activities while still guiding her when needed. My daughter always looked forward to the activities they organized, and I truly commend their honesty and integrity. Yuvraj: The head chef of Veranda, Yuvraj, accommodated our vegetarian needs and arranged for a special dinner beachside, making our dining experience truly memorable.

Why We Chose Marriott: Great Location: The hotel is ideally located, offering easy access to nearby attractions. Modern & Spacious Rooms: The rooms were well-designed, comfortable, and spacious, making for a pleasant stay. Variety of Activities: Although the hotel didn’t have a beach, it offered a range of fun activities like floating beds, ensuring a great time for all guests. Delicious Breakfast: A good variety of breakfast options to start the day off right. Exceptional Customer Service: The staff went above and beyond to provide an outstanding experience, enhancing our stay. Proximity to Camana Bay: Just a short distance away, Camana Bay is a beautiful spot to walk, unwind, and enjoy a meal. Overall, Marriott offered the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and...

There were some serious ups and downs with this property which is why I'm still giving it a 3 star. It has potential, but I want potential guests to know what I know before booking. I'll start with the negatives so we can finish on the positives: . Negative 1- For this large of a hotel the pool and surrounding seating area is just too small. You are not allowed to save poolside seats, but I never saw this actually enforced resulting in us having to get down to the pool early just to have seats with a view (i'll get to the view in the Pros).

Negative 2- There is one set of 3 elevators for guests to use, and they are SLOW. Because the elevators are closest to the lobby (furthest from the water) everyone who has full oceanfront has a good walk from elevator to room. We ended up taking the stairs down just to save time every time.

Negative 3 - THERE IS NO BEACH! I was told by staff there used to be a large, nice beach but that went away a few years ago and left a small beach. Hurricane Ian took out the small beach, resulting in most entrances to the beach (now water) being closed off. This means the showers and foot wash stations that are typically well placed are now nowhere near the "new" water access point at the SW corner of the property, resulting in sand all over while people walk across the pool deck to get to the nearest shower station.

Negative 4- Because there is not enough sand you have to walk through water between knee and thigh deep to "walk" down seven mile beach. Better to go out the front of the hotel, turn left, and go to the second public beach access if you're looking to stroll the beach on the sand.

Now the good parts! Positive 1- For the price this was a great hotel if you don't mind not having the beach. I was fine lounging on the pool deck overlooking the water, as it is really a beautiful view (even without the beach). I've attached a picture for reference.

Positive 2- Somehow we were provided a $75 per day food & beverage credit, and the restaurant downstairs in the hotel is great to use it at. Sure it's a little pricey, but when the food is good I'm ok with that.

Positive 3 - Walking distance to Camana Bay (very nice multiuse district with amazing food and shops). Very nice walkway too, off of the road.

Positive 4- When you've used up your food and beverage credit there are three establishments within walking distance that are pretty fun. Check out Peppers, Fidel Murphys (irish bar with karaoke), and the Bird (little more younger, livelier scene with dancing).

Positive 5- Resort fee of $49 per person per day included most of the gear you would need to go snorkel/sail/kayak/float/bike/etc. There are a few things that are extra, but these activities alone are great especially with the artificial reef right off the hotel. I sailed the Hobie Cat every day and it was lovely.

Positive 6- The staff were extremely responsive to any issue we had. For example, our AC was rattling like crazy when we first got in there. Took the maintenance guy two times to fix it, but he was diligent in making sure the issue would be solved which is great. Rey at the front desk was also a major help with any questions/issues we had. The service alone brought this up a Star.

I would come back to this place at the right price, but will definitely go in with different...