Cayman Islands Archives | Affinity Cayman

Rum Point Barefoot Beach BBQ

Friday night in the Cayman Islands is nothing short of spectacular when you can hop on a catamaran after work, and sail across the North Sound where a beach BBQ awaits. After enjoying a cocktail, or two, from the Catamaran’s cash bar, you arrive at pristine Rum Point Beach. A welcome daiquiri in hand, you marvel at the majestic sunset as you soak your toes in the soft white sand. A BBQ Buffet is set up on the beach with all the Caribbean favorites: grilled fish, jerk pork and jerk chicken, curries, pasta, ribs and all the trimmings. After your meal, its back to the ship where you can laze on the catamaran’s hammocks and do some stargazing before arriving back at Safeheaven. Can you think of a better way to end your week?

Gala Season is 365 days / year

Gala season is actually year round, the Cayman Islands have a strong desire to give back, and throughout the year there are various glittering events, from the intimate to the very grand, that support important causes. Some of the more illustrious are the RCIPS Outstanding Service Awards, Hatitude, Red Cross and the Hospice Big Bash and of course the upcoming 2015 2015 Breast Cancer Gala on October 3^rd.

Sporting Events a plenty

As a very active and healthy living environment, you can count on numerous walks, runs, sea swims and triathlons in the Cayman Islands throughout the year. The Flowers Sea Swim, Cayman Islands Marathon and the CI Triathlon, to name a few, bring the whole community together. Whether you are participating or not, these events are fun to attend, and have become quite the tradition. The next big sporting event is the Cayman Islands marathon on December 6^th 2015, boasted to be an intimate, friendly and well-organized event. A rapidly popular marathon, the course is a Boston Qualifier, and is one of the most picturesque; if you are going to run a grueling 26.2 miles, wouldn’t you want to do it amongst tropical flora, fauna and sea side? Oh, and the course, is flat, sign me up!

http://www.caymanislandsmarathon.com/

Pirates Week

This annual family friendly event runs every year in November. 11 days of music, street dances, games, local food, a float parade, fireworks shows and sporting events. On the first Saturday, a mock pirate invasion makes a surprise landing in George Town harbour with the pirates capturing the Governor! All in good fun, thousands line the streets to watch the show, the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region. As the Cayman Islands National Festival, Pirates Week is the country’s largest festival with 32 different events drawing in some 35 000 people. If there’s one event you shouldn’t miss, it’s this one, savvy?

http://www.piratesweekfestival.com/

For more on all there is to do this fall in the Cayman Islands visit :

Explore Cayman

Cayman New Resident

What’s HOT Cayman

What you need to know, before you rent your new home in your new Caribbean locale

Don’t rent sight unseen

Moving to Grand Cayman from overseas with a tenancy agreement already in hand isn’t unheard of. But, choosing to save a few dollars by signing a long term lease without viewing the property first, is a bit of a gamble. It’s often recommended to spend the first couple of weeks in temporary accommodation whilst looking for a new home. No matter how much research is done online, pictures, even video, don’t tell the whole story on a property. Avoid nasty surprises – broken appliances, filthy conditions, doors hanging off hinges – and wait until you are on-island to sign a lease; but if you can’t, work with a realtor that you can trust, as they will ensure that everything is in working order, such as AC, dishwasher, locks on the doors, etc.

Please! Oh Please! Work with a realtor

In the Cayman Islands, realtors are more than just your property guru. They know the island in and out, and they know the untold stories. For example, if you have asthma or allergies, your realtor will keep you away from complexes that have had mold, moisture or other issues. You can’t get that kind of inside information just by looking at www.ecaytrade.com – the local classifieds.

Williams2 Real Estate has a professional and tech savvy team that will find you the perfect home within your budget. This group of Cayman long-timers, have in depth knowledge of the market, are ethically responsible and are the fastest growing real estate group on the island.

Before moving to Grand Cayman, feel free to contact many of the island’s trusted real estate professionals, they are well versed in helping overseas house hunters. Other recognized real estate firms include:

IRG Cayman

Utopia Realty

Sotheby’s International Realty

Get a mold inspection

Because of the environment, mold prevention should be top of mind when moving to Grand Cayman. Mold can be very dangerous to your health and it’s a good idea to have your new home’s AC system checked to ensure you are breathing clean air, free of mold and other microorganisms.

A mold inspection costs around 300 KYD, well worth the price to protect yourself and your family from major health problems and related expenses. The Cayman Islands Yellow Pages list trusted mold remediation experts such as GrimeX and ECO SMART .

Do you have pets? Do you have kids?

Not at all properties allow pets, and not all properties allow kids. If you have either, make sure you inform your realtor, and ask about the deposit. Many property owners require additional deposits for kids and/or pets.

Location? Living seaside might not be as idyllic as you think

You are moving to Grand Cayman and you can’t imagine NOT living on the water. But living on the water means sea salt eating away at your patio furniture, constantly dirty and sticky windows, salt damage to your car, and not to mention being at the mercy of mother nature. As seaside property is always at a premium, it’s also harder on the budget, so remember, no matter where you live on the island, you are never more than 5 minutes away to the water!

Fully Furnished – but you might want to rethink that “used” mattress

One of the many perks of moving to Grand Cayman is that you can pack light as most homes are rented, even sold, fully furnished. The only item that you might not want is the mattress. Depending on what you are used to, most rentals have cheaper, spring mattresses, and for many, these are not comfortable.

So when viewing properties, test out those mattresses, and if they feel even moderately uncomfortable, negotiate with the landlord, if they won’t spring for a new one, then seriously consider investing in a good night sleep – worth every penny.

Neighbors – who do you want to live with?

Moving to Grand Cayman affords you the luxury of choosing from many types of waterfront and inland living properties. There are complexes best suited for executives, families, or sharers for example, and each have something to offer. Depending on your lifestyle, you might want to live near the hustle and bustle of Seven Mile Beach with all its late nights and beach side bars. Perhaps you want to live in a quiet community, no loud music or noisy children to disturb your Sunday morning slumber. Or, if you have kids, you might be looking for a family friendly complex with pool, gardens, jungle gym and plenty of other children for playmates. Either way, your realtor will know which complex, and in which neighborhood, will suit your lifestyle best.

Looking for a new home is both exciting and stressful, even without adding on the complexity of house hunting in a new country! Before moving to Grand Cayman, do your research, be clear on what you want, and get help from professionals. A great realtor will lead you through the process, inform you of other related costs and be your guide should you encounter any problems. Alternatively, talk to your recruiter, your new employer and future colleagues, as they have surely been through it before and will have plenty of advice to offer.

Check out the Cayman New Resident Website for more information on rental properties before moving to Grand Cayman.

Click here to find out more about Living in the Cayman Islands.

When you move to a new country, it goes without saying that you embark on a new way of life. However, when that move is to a rock in the Caribbean, it takes the “new way of life” to a whole new level.

Living in the Cayman Islands is idyllic; the beach, the sun, the warm waters, and of course the kindest people you will ever meet, but here are some observations that you wouldn’t expect:

1. Courtesy Driving: Driving on the left is a challenge, roundabouts can get your heart racing, and potholes are abysses, but the biggest adjustment? Courtesy. Caymanians actually stop to let you pass and even turn left, they also slow down to let you enter a lane! Most drivers actually grasp the concept of “sharing the road”, they are not rushing to get through the yellow light, and they respect school zones. So leave your big city road aggression at home, because in Cayman, civility rules.

2. Some like it Ccccold: Although we live in a warm climate, don’t be surprised to see co-workers in blazers, sweaters, and even pashminas. Most offices, shops and restaurants are kept very cool, so take long sleeves to work, because that AC blasting overhead will make you want to sit in your hot car at the end of the day.

3. Foodapalooza: the food scene in the Cayman Islands is at par with some of the world’s largest metropolises. World class chefs, top bar staff and excellent service, means that there is always a great place to eat out. Cayman Cookout, a yearly event, is considered to be the Caribbean’s “premier epicurean event”, a weekend celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Caribbean. World famous chefs, sommeliers and spirit blenders produce themed tastings, demonstrations, tours and dinners.

4. Social Butterfly: Be warned, your social life will explode. There is always a boat trip to go on, a sports event to attend, a BBQ on the beach, or a Sunday brunch to enjoy. The expat life brings people together, and living in a tropical paradise makes us all feel like we live on a permanent holiday. So be sure to stay social, but you don’t have to say “yes” to everything.

5. Free parking: Having moved here from a large city, we were used to paying for parking everywhere we went, from the grocery store, parks, malls, to even the hospital. This amounted to a near $200/ month expenditure! Here on Grand Cayman, there is free parking everywhere, the bank, downtown street parking, shopping plazas, even hotels! Now all we have to do is decide what to do with that extra $200…

6. Don’t worry, work happy! Although the work environment is more casual here, there is a high level of accountability and professionalism. It is also a very welcoming and collaborative scene. This extends to everyday life as well, Caymanians are always willing to offer assistance of any kind, even if they have just met you. Cayman Kind, is a true way of life.

“For those who inhabit our islands, Caymankind is a way of presenting yourself to the work that is at all times courteous, compassionate and caring.
From smiles to experiences worthwhile, the Cayman Islands has something to make your day brighter than it already was – that’s Caymankind.” https://www.caymanislands.ky/aboutcayman/caymankind.aspx

Tips from a Cayman Islands Expat

Moving is stressful, no matter the location, but when you are moving abroad, to an island in the Caribbean, how do you prepare? Where do you start?

Affinity is moving offices this weekend, and although our new location is just down the road, there’s much to prepare, purge, and of course pack!

With that in mind, I thought of the many expats who pack up and move their lives to relocate to the beautiful Cayman Islands to start a new job. As a newbie on Grand Cayman, I wanted to share some of my tips on how my family and I made the move from Vancouver to George Town.

Make a list? NO! Make many lists!

I painted one of our kitchen walls with chalkboard paint and updated my list daily. This made it very visual, and my husband was also in the loop every step of the way. The best part was crossing off items; with every check, we were closer to the goal. Our son Bond loved participating too!

What to Ship

We chose to ship family heirlooms, artwork, clothing, and other items we simply didn’t have the heart to sell. Having said that, if I were to do it all over again, I would have sold the lot.

By the time we bought heavy duty boxes, wrapping materials, took the many days to sort and pack, paid for pick up, delivery and insurance, we ended up spending a small fortune on a pallet of “stuff”. However, it is nice to have some familiar things, to make our rental feel more like home.

What to Sell

We sold our condo, car and all of our furniture, knowing that all those items could be easily bought here. Plus the fact, most rentals come fully furnished, right down to the cutlery.

For the other “nicknacks” that we didnt’ have time to sell, we held a going away bazaar in our empty condo, and invited all of our friends and family to take whatever they wanted, sporting equipment, small appliances, picture frames, toys, etc.

The party was a hit, and by the end of the day, everything was gone but the contents of the fridge.

It was a great way to say goodbye, and show our appreciation for those wonderful friendships.

What to Store

This decision depends on what you decide to sell or not. If you own your home and opt to rent it, perhaps you want to put your furniture and keepsakes in storage.

Storage is also useful for tax documents and other items that you don’t need in your new location – like perhaps that snow blower, or winter sporting equipment.

What to Cancel

This is a tricky one depending on your length of stay. My family committed to a long term relocation and as such we had to cancel everything including our Canadian resident status for tax purposes (which doesn’t affect our citizenship). Employees do not incur income tax in the Cayman Islands; however, prior to our departure we researched the tax implications of moving to the Cayman Islands within Canada.

We cancelled magazine subscriptions, all credit cards but one, as we needed it for the first few weeks; cable, phone and internet services. If you want to take your cell phone with you (GSM mobiles work in the Cayman Islands), make your final payments and have your provider unlock it. Cancel your home and car insurance and all other services you will no longer need, like that gym membership.

What to take on the Plane

Depending on your carrier, it might be cheaper to pay for additional bags instead of using a shipping company. We checked 17 bags, weighing about 1000 lbs, for just over $2200. Bargain!

Shipping to Cayman is not as straightforward as you might think, this requires a lot of planning, and be sure to pay for insurance, there’s nothing worse than planning and packing for weeks only to find that your cargo is damaged or in pieces. Contact IMP Shipping for more information, they were a great help to us.

Organize important Documents

This process was the most tedious of all, but OH so liberating! It took days to sort, shred and scan 10 years of tax documents and mostly useless paperwork. It was an interesting experience as I took us back in time, revisiting our 10 years in Vancouver and our previous expat life in Dubai.

Documents you must carry with you

Before you travel, make sure that you have evidence of any professional memberships, and copies of your employment contract, university/college degree and immigration documentation.

References and copies of your bank statements from your bank and any records with credit companies. This will make it easier to open a bank account in the Cayman Islands.

Also, get a letter from your auto insurance carrier stating your no claim record (if applicable), as this will help with securing a better rate with an on island auto insurance provider.

Bring along your driver’s license. You will be able to drive with it for the first few weeks, after which you will have to take a driver’s test to get your Cayman driver’s license.

Documents that you must keep, such as tax history, house title, and other.

Decide whether you will take these documents with you or whether you will put them in storage. We chose to take it all with us, but instead of shipping boxes of paperwork, we made digital copies of everything and stored it all on an external hard drive.

We kept originals of the most important documents (birth certificates, marriage license) and shredded the rest.

Moving abroad is both exciting and nerve racking, so being organized and having useful information at hand is essential. Take a peak at the links below for more on moving and living in the Cayman Islands. Also, take advantage of your connections, Affinity was a wealth of information, giving us advice on where to live, where to buy a car, and even which days are best to buy groceries (Monday and Tuesday, because that’s when the ships come in).

Wishing you all the best in your new adventure!

The Letko Family

Useful Sites

Cayman Resident www.caymannewresident.com
Ecay Online www.ecayonline.com
Cayman Islands Government www.gov.ky
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism www.caymanislands.ky
Explore CAyman www.explorecayman.com

CayFilm 2015 start tomorrow! Cayman International Film Festival

This week marks the start of CayFilm Cayman International Film Festival 2015. From June 18-20th, 200 films from over 50 countries will be showcased along with panel discussions, and workshops on acting, photography, music and more (events schedule here). The event will kick off Thursday night at Camana Bay with the Caribbean premiere of “Serena”, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (click on the image to view the trailer).

CayFilm is a celebration of the Cayman Islands as a world-class filming destination, as well as a place to visit and do business, but also a facilitator for Caymanians and residents who aspire to careers in film. In support of this goal, CayFilm has developed Cayman Media Academy, which will offer classes and qualifications to students hoping to direct their education towards film related studies.

Our Cayman International Film Festival hopes to elicit appreciation for the art of film making through inspirational education and unique entertainment experiences.

Happy viewing!

To find out more about this spectacular inaugural event visit http://www.cayfilm.com

You can also get all the latest updates from their Facebook Fan page https://www.facebook.com/cayfilm

Tag: Cayman Islands