Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman

Hotel Information: A tranquil haven on Seven Mile Beach (actually 5.5 miles long), the Westin attracts discriminating guests seeking lots of beach room to enjoy the sun, uncrowded access to the warm Caribbean, exceptional dining, and the pampering of a Euro-style health spa.

Amenity highlights: Lined by tall, graceful Casuarina trees (willow-like, with long, slender pine-like needles), the resort's 700-foot-wide beachfront runs 150 feet to the turquoise Caribbean, providing uncrowded sunbathing on lounge chairs. A formal, palm-graced courtyard contains a large twin-sided pool spanned by a bridge that leads to the beach. Completing the mirror-image courtyard are eight-person, blossom-shape spa tubs raised at pool ends.

Insider tip: The health spa includes a couple's room containing a large spa tub, twin tables, and tea candles.

The Westin offers 343 air-conditioned guestrooms in a five-story building colored dove-gray with pitched turquoise roofs and matching balcony railings. Rooms feature Westin's signature comforts: a Heavenly Bed and a Heavenly Bath. The multi-layer bed includes a custom-designed, foot-thick, pillowtop mattress and a gold-checkered down comforter topped by five pillows (two goose down/feather, two hypo-allergenic, and a decorative "boudoir" neck roll pillow). The spacious bath features a dual showerhead with multiple spray options; curved shower rod for extra room; bathrobes; oversized towels; and designer toiletries.

Other features include balconies or patios, ceiling fans, and minibars. High-speed Internet access (surcharge), voice mail, and cable/satellite TVs are among the additional amenities.

Smoking is not permitted inside hotel rooms.

Caribbean

Grand Cayman Resort

Adventure Guide to the Cayman Islands

Price: $15*
(eBooks)

To the outsider, the Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman and Little Cayman - are almost always equated with watersports and glorious beaches, plus offshore banking opportunities.

Merchant: eBooks