Turtle Nest Inn Review

Location

My sweetie and I stayed at the Turtle Nest Inn for a week and we had a wonderful time. The Turtle Nest Inn is located on the south side of Grand Cayman, in the small town of Bodden Town. The location of the inn is not near the main attractions, such as Seven Mile Beach or Georgetown, but the Turtle Nest Inn offers other advantages.

First, Bodden Town is a quiet, safe and peaceful place to stay. When you are at the Turtle Nest Inn, you are home. It is cozy and warm, inviting and placid. At the Turtle Nest Inn, you will not hear elevators whirring or kids running down the hall screaming.

Second, the Turtle Nest Inn offers a good deal on the rental of a car. We rented a very nice Ford Taurus with left hand steering which worked perfectly for all our travels during our stay. When you have the car, Georgetown is about 20 minutes from the Inn, and Seven Mile Beach is about a half hour away from your door.

I’ve read some comments about the beach in front of the Turtle Nest Inn. My personal opinion is that you stay at the Turtle Nest for the peace and quiet and atmosphere, and you go to Seven Mile Beach for the snorkeling. I did not snorkel at the Turtle Nest Inn.

Accommodations

The accommodations at the Turtle Nest Inn are very nice. In our unit, Ocean Front Unit 4, we had a full kitchen with a refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, toaster and coffee maker. There was plenty of cabinet space. There were plenty of pots, pans and utensils with which to cook our meals. The unit also had very colorful and cheery furniture, and a nice table that seats four comfortably. Our meals in the Inn were always good, and easy to prepare. While eating meals at the Turtle Nest, you could look out the window and see the ocean at all times. Our unit also had an outdoor table and chairs on our deck, just in case we wanted to eat outside and take in more of the view. On top of that, there was also another place to eat outdoors, with several more tables. The Inn has a Weber gas grill which is available to all guests for outdoor cooking. Everything at Grand Cayman is very expensive, so to save money, we decided to buy groceries and have dinners at home. This worked out very well. Donna suggested that we buy groceries at Fosters Food Fair, which was just down the road from Turtle Nest.

The entire apartment was spotless and kept clean each day by the cleaning staff. They provided plenty of fresh soaps and shampoo, along with fresh towels in the bathroom. Fresh bed linens were provided daily, except for Sunday, since maid service is provided six days per week, excluding Sunday.

The bedroom was comfy, and the bed was soft and roomy, with extra pillows included. The view from the bedroom was nothing short of spectacular, with a view of the ocean that takes your breath away. We were able to listen to the ocean at night, and see it each morning out the window when we woke up. I did have some trouble with the sliding door in the bedroom, but Alain helped me resolve that problem.

The apartment comes equipped with a small television and a stereo system that plays radio and CDs. There is a combination DVD / VCR in the apartment, and a full library of tapes and DVDs available for guests to borrow and enjoy.

There is a laundry room available for guests to use, which we found very helpful when we wanted to wash our clothes half way through the week. However, be warned, it costs $6.26 USD per load of laundry. There is also an ironing board and iron available in the laundry room as well.

Staff

The Turtle Nest Inn is not just a business. It is a labor of love. The owners built the Inn themselves, about ten years ago. They make every effort possible to assist and accommodate their guests. Alain, Marleine and Donna were always courteous, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.

When my snorkel mask was leaking, and driving me crazy, Alain immediately found a mask for me, had me try it out for size, and let me borrow it for the rest of the week. When we wanted to pack a lunch so that we could picnic on the beaches during our stay, Alain got a cooler for us, with an ice pack, and told us to keep it for the week while we were there. When I needed to know where to go to see the fish while snorkeling, Alain went over my map with me and pointed out the good spots. When I wanted to know who to go with for my first scuba diving experience, Alain set me up with a good dive shop. He also set me up with Captain Dexter for a trip to Sting Ray City and gave us a discount on our trip to the Turtle Farm. When we came back to the inn late, at the end of a long day, and wanted to borrow a DVD after hours, Alain stepped back into the office, got out the book of available titles, and patiently helped me pick out a few titles, even though it was late at night.

The innkeepers at the Turtle Nest Inn did whatever it took to make our stay relaxing, enjoyable and memorable.

Activities

When staying in Grand Cayman, beware of the currency exchange. $20 USD is only equal to $16 CI (Cayman Dollars). So, for example, if you, your spouse and two children go out to dinner, and the cost of each meal is $32 CI, your actual total bill will be $128 CI, which is equal to $160 USD. There is a kind of double whammy in Grand Cayman, as prices of goods are already high, and then the currency exchange for American Dollars pushes the price still higher. With that in mind, let’s look at some activities you can enjoy at Grand Cayman

1) Turtle Farm. It’s great fun to see the turtles at the Turtle Farm, but if you do, buy only the limited package. Don’t go for the whole turtle farm package, because there is not that much to see beyond the turtles. When we went, we made the mistake of swimming in the lagoon with the fish at the turtle farm, and we regretted it. There were few fish, but lots of algae. Stick to the basics here, see the turtles, then be on your way.

2) Atlantis Submarine. This is a fun trip, which I recommend. Cost is about $90 USD per person, so it is pricey. But it is a fun experience and you will see fish, sea turtles, and more on your trip. We went during the day but there are also night trips as well.

3) Stingray City. A must see. We went with Captain Dexter, a very nice man who provided sodas on the trip. He also let’s you hold and feed the stingrays. His first mate takes digital photos of the trip and you can then buy them. You review the pictures on the computer and buy the ones you like. Cost is $35 USD per person, plus $10 USD for each picture you decide you want. Or you can pay $40 for all the pictures taken on your trip to Stingray City. So for me and my sweetie, the cost was $35 x 2 = $70 + $40 for the pictures. Total cost for Sting Ray City: $110 USD.

4) Scuba diving. An experience. If you are confident of your swimming skills, I recommend it. Cost, $100 USD for training and your first dive, which lasts 30 to 40 minutes.

5) Hell. Skip it. Basically a bunch of strange looking rock formations with a shack where they sell shirts, postcards and knick-knacks to tourists.

6) Rum Point. A major disappointment. Rum Point reminded me of the New Jersey Shore, but with added alcohol. It was crowded, there were no beach chairs available, the kids were noisy and screaming. And there were prominent signs that declared “NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR BEVERAGES ALLOWED”. I was hoping that Rum Point would be a quiet and peaceful place, but it was just the opposite. Skip it.

Pulling into the lot at Turtle Nest Inn is like discovering a flawless sand dollar on a surf swept beach. It’s crisp white exterior lovely against a bright Caribbean landscape. But, it gets better! When you walk through the front doors, past the charming tiled entrance and the delightful island mural your breathe is literally stolen away. The double doors at the back of the Inn are usually open and the ocean vista is heartbreakingly beautiful. Boy, talk about first impressions!

The Inn lived up to those impressions and more. It’s staff were unerringly helpful, pleasant and knowledgeable. Our apartment delighted us with its brightly upholstered furnishings and it’s fully appointed kitchen. Morning coffee accompanied by an ocean sunrise on one of our two balconies could not have tasted better! The local paper awaited us outside our door.

The Inn is located centrally on the island but away from the rush and bustle of seven mile beach. The authentic Cayman neighborhood with, of course, a few chickens and an occasional crowing rooster completed the charm of the location.

The Turtle Nest Inn provided one of the most soothing, restful times we have had in years. We cherish our time there and dream of our return as we will surely want to revisit this special oasis. Our thanks to everyone at the Inn for making our stay the delight that it was and for creating memories that we revisit often and fondly.

We booked our stay directly through Turtle Nest Inn. They were very helpful throughout this process as we had to change our dates.
When we arrived we were greeted by Marilene. She showed us around and made us feel comfortable right away. My husband, our boys, and I all enjoyed a welcome drink.
Donna was always around if you needed anything. She is a lovely person and is always quick to smile.
The Inn supplies flippers, snorkeling equipt., rafts, a kayak, life jackets (if needed), beach chairs, etc.
We arrived just in time for the Thursday night dinner. It was a wonderful way to meet some of the other guests. The food was terrific and Alian explained each course as it was being served.
The Inn is located in such a central location that it made travel easy. We loved snorkeling Eden Rock which is located at the Paradice restaurant in George Town. It is best to go there on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday as cruise ships are at port from Monday thru Thursday. You can also snorkel the wreck of the Callie from the restaurant called Rackems which is just down a bit from Paradice. Of course you can snorkel right from Turtle Nest. I would pick a day that doesn't have too much wind as it can be rough otherwise. It is a fun-filled experience as it is like being in an aquarium.
Rum Point was beautiful as was Seven Mile beach.
If you decide to visit, don't miss going with Captain Dexter to Sting Ray City. He and his helper John make the day very enjoyable.
The food is expensive whether you eat out or go to the grocery for it as so much is shipped in. If you plan for it, it should not be a problem.
We plan to visit Turtle Nest again.

The previous reviewers have said it all! Everything about Turtle Nest Inn is absolutely wonderful! You feel like you are coming home when you enter the front door. We stayed 7 nights in Apt. 6 and celebrated our 9th anniversary here. We couldn't have asked for more. Waking up to the sound of the ocean every morning can't be beat. Turtle Nest Inn is a comfortable, clean, welcoming and enjoyable place to spend a vacation. I have two pieces of advice. 1) Don't miss Thursday night dinner!!! & 2) If you are from the USA, reserve a car with the steering wheel on the left - driving on the opposite side of the road is hard enough! Ask my husband! (smile)