The Reef Resort - Cayman Islands

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We had a wonderful stay! Visited: February 2009 Posted by happinow We just arrived home from another visit to Grand Cayman. This was our second stay at the Reef Resort. We returned as we were throughly satisfied last year. We found the staff at the Reef to be genuine, warm,and helpful. The site was well maintained and sparkling clean. Also, special dietary needs were well met with ease! We would highly recommend this resort. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a wonderful place to get away from it all. Visited: February 2009 Posted by annefromatlanta The Reef was just the place to get away from it all. Our room was a stone's throw away from the ocean - which was the most beautiful color of blue I have ever seen. The staff was friendly. They were there if we needed them, but also left us alone if that is what we wanted. While I did not have kids with me, it seemed a great place for them with activities and things. Being here Valentine's weekend, the resort seemed busy. However, there never was any issue about feeling crowded. There were always plenty of beach chairs, plenty of space at the pools, etc. If you prefer to cook, stay in the one-bedroom condo. It is well equipped to do that, and the grocery store across the street, while small, had a little bit of everything and was great. As we were leaving after breakfast on our last day here, the server said "Have a safe trip, we will see you next year!". I sure hope he is right. 4 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was peaceful and relaxing. Visited: February 2009 Posted by ann253 This was an excellent accommodation. It had a relaxing atmosphere, and was away from the hustle of George Town. The cost of food in the restaurant was very reasonable compared with other local restaurants and quality of food. The BBQ was excellent. Also, the Snorkel and Stingray City trip was fantastic. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was a nice place. Visited: January 2009 Posted by gundog Our stay at the Reef was absolutley wonderful! We were celebrating our 26th year of marriage. It was our first time to the Caymans, and The Reef was perfect for our stay. Our check-in was easy, our room was wonderful! We had a kitchenette, which was great! We were able to enjoy our breakfast and lunch right off of our balcony which overlooked the beautiful ocean. Also, the Reef was kind enough to give us a free bottle of champagne in our suite! All of the employees were very kind and courteous. We can't wait to come back to the Reef again. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a great place. Visited: January 2009 Posted by waymund The people at The Reef are what makes the resort wonderful. Yea, they are on the quiet east end of the island. They have a beautiful beach, lovely accommodations, and great food and drink, but the people are the best. From our maid to the resort management, everyone seemed friendly and helpful. They seemed concerned if anything went wrong. We had such a good time that we bought a timeshare at The Reef Resort. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? In a word - Paradise! Visited: December 2008 Posted by clb We gave each other a vacation for Christmas, and stumbled upon the Reef. It was the best find we have ever made. We haven't been to Grand Cayman in 15 years, and fell in love with it all over again. The last time we stayed on the west end, and boy how it has changed. The Reef was perfectly situated in peace and tranquility. It was a bit of heaven. The people were wonderful, and the place was perfect for a comfortable laid back week. They had all of the comforts of home and more. Also, waking up to the ocean right out our bedroom window was perfect. We hope to return. 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a magnificent setting for uncrowded, quality relaxation. Visited: December 2008 Posted by venividi87 The Reef Resort delivered what we were looking for - a magnificent setting away from the crowds where we could spend quality time with the family (four of us), even during "high season." We booked an airfare and hotel package, which did not include the All-Inclusive Plan. Thanks to a wonderful grocery store down the street, a beer/liquor shop at the resort, and a full kitchen with plates, utensils, cookware, etc., we enjoyed eating breakfast, most lunches, and a couple of dinners in our spacious one-bedroom suite. We often did so outside on our little deck with table and chairs overlooking the ocean. One of the delightful highlights of our stay, was being able to snorkel directly off the hotel's beach and along an extensive reef encircling the East End. Bring your own gear, or rent it there ($10/day) if you're not on the Plan (otherwise it's free). You can also see many fish at noon feeding time right off the dock. The top highlight of our week was going on the resort's excursion to Stingray City, the one at the sandbar where you can stand up in the water. The staff arrange it for a time when other groups have left, so we had ample time to get up close and personal with the rays. The Reef Resort offers timeshares. However, we did not feel hassled by the sales staff. We chose to attend a brief, very low pressure meeting, and were pretty much left alone after that. Overall, we found the staff to be very accommodating and friendly. We rented a car for the last three days of our stay to drive to Georgetown for a Snuba adventure (very highly recommended if you don't dive), out to a restaurant, and to return to the airport (offsetting a costly taxi ride between the airport and the resort). 9 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The Reef is a great, peaceful place to stay. Visited: December 2008 Posted by dfp We just returned from The Reef: my mother, two teenage children, my husband and me. What a great trip! Every one of us found something to enjoy about this resort and beautiful Grand Cayman Island. I booked The Reef based on it being far from the crowded Seven Mile Beach areas, and because I had not seen a bad review of it. It was everything I had hoped for. A rental car is necessary to go to Rum Point and a day trip to Georgetown for shopping and snorkeling. We chose the Simply All Inclusive plan, so our meals and drinks were included. I was very pleased with this choice, as the food was good. It was also great fun to have the bartenders mix up island specialties without worrying about the price per drink! Breakfast was not the best, and we found ourselves getting muffins and juice from the store across the street. Otherwise, the All Inclusive was a fun and stress-free way to vacation. The staff at The Reef was wonderful. Jake Morgan, the concierge, was the best; and Harry, the bartender, introduced us to the Reef our first night in true style! The rooms were clean, and the pool and beach were perfect. I wish I was still there! 9 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was an outstanding value. Visited: December 2008 Posted by jere I just recently completed an eight-night stay at The Reef Resort. It was my first trip to the Caymans, and I was flying blind when booking a hotel. I had no idea what I was booking myself into, and was honestly a little worried about the location of the resort; as it was located on the "quiet" east end of the island. I'm a believer now. It was a fantastic property! All the units were beach front, right on the beach, with a great view. This is a timeshare resort, but it is the most pleasant timeshare that I've ever stayed at. Some timeshares will try to put a hard-sell on you to buy into their resort; not The Reef. (I didn't buy, but I dearly wanted to do so. Darn global economy recession.) The staff was great, especially the concierge staff. I've never met a group of people who were so genuinely happy with their jobs. They were extremely friendly and helpful. The Reef has partnered with a nearby dive shop to offer packages and specials on various above and below water activities. I highly recommend the Sting Ray City snorkel trip. The rum punch they brew up for the trip back is fantastic. I'm going back in 2009, and if the economic outlook in the world has improved, I'll be returning as an owner. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Here, you'll have perfect peace at the beach. Visited: December 2008 Posted by dcbeachcomber It's not the Ritz Carlton, and I wouldn't want it to be. It's quiet, low-key, uncrowded, and perfectly situated on a lovely beach at the East End of Grand Cayman. Take a couple great books, kick back and relax. If you're looking for the swinging singles scene, this isn't for you. But it is for me (and my friends). This is our second time to stay here, and we're already planning another trip back. Special tips - Get a room with a kitchen, so you can have breakfast and another meal without spending a fortune. There's a little grocery store just across the street, and you can get anything you need there. For dining out - try Portofino (very close), the Lighthouse restaurant, Kaibo Beach Yacht Club, and the restaurant at Rum Point. Also, Over the Edge - a local place on the north shore - was pretty fun. You don't want to drive all the way to Seven Mile Beach to have a good meal. Also, the Morritt's property next door had surprisingly good food in the main dining room. Both the Reef Resort and Morritt's have a good, simple bar menu, too. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a quiet and relaxing vacation. Visited: December 2008 Posted by beachcomber We just returned from a week-long stay at the Reef. It had a nice location on the east end away (approx. 45-minutes drive) from the hustle and bustle of the Seven Mile Beach area. There were not a lot of restaurant choices on this end, but enough. Also, there was a small grocery right across the street in a small strip area with a bakery and gift shop. The accommodations were more than adequate, and were very clean and nice. The resort people were very nice, and everyone made our stay enjoyable. I would suggest this for those who want to get away and not be in crowds and traffic. This was a great place to just relax away the day, or visit some of the fun points of interest in the nearby area. It's also a great location for divers and beach lovers. The water was clear and inviting, and while there were a lot of rocky coral areas, there was plenty of sand to enjoy. If you want a lot of people and that is your thing, I would not suggest this area. Just stay on Seven Mile Beach. Grand Cayman is a great place, and the locals are so nice. Go and enjoy! 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was spacious and nice. Visited: September 2008 Posted by rebel1040 The resort was located on the east end of the island, away from the busy end of the island. There was a market just across the street where you can find food and supplies for your room. The rooms opened up direct to the beach, and had a great view. Ocean Frontiers was the in-house dive group, and they did a great job. Restaurants were available with a bit of a drive. I recommend a rental car to get around - especially since cab fare from the airport is pretty steep. The beach was a beautiful white sand that was raked often to remove any trash. The staff was courteous and friendly. The only negative was that the daily maid service was only for fresh towels and trash. The beds were made once during our week. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? the Reef is real "paradise found". Visited: April 2008 Posted by gatorman Our stay at The Reef was a breathtaking adventure to say the least. The staff at The Reef could have been hand picked by my wife and me. They were super efficient, and arranged all requests with precision. Our condo was always immaculate and fresh. The food fantastic, and the clear turquoise water was surely made in Heaven. We will return again this year and hopefully many years to come. 6 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We loved The Reef! Visited: April 2008 Posted by jnjntx My husband and I recently returned from our visit to The Reef. We were the first all-inclusive guests, and were pleasantly surprised. The drinks were excellent, and the food was great! We enjoyed watching The Barefoot Man, also. The staff was great, also. They knew us by name almost immediately. Our room was spacious and always clean. We look forward to our next trip to The Reef. 4 users found this review helpful. 3 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We love our yearly vacation at the Reef. Visited: March 2008 Posted by jbm2 We will be staying at the Reef this coming weekend for seven days. It is our yearly vacation - which we love. All the members of the staff are friendly, and always extend the island hospitality. Our kids start asking two months before we go: "How much longer 'til Cayman!?" 4 users found this review helpful. 4 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is one great place. Visited: February 2008 Posted by cfd130 We just returned from five wonderful days at the Reef. We arrived at the airport on time, and rented a car from Andy's. It's probably a good idea to reserve a car ahead. There were a couple of people beside us who didn't, and there were no cars to be had. We stopped at Fosters for groceries, and we were off. We also went to Hurley's grocery a couple of days later - and both were great stores. We had rented a deluxe studio, but were upgraded to a one-bedroom for some reason. No one ever said why. What a wonderful suite! Although, we didn't see the deluxe studio. I think now I would pay the extra for the one-bedroom. You get a full kitchen, which we loved. We made all of our meals and ate on our balcony overlooking the ocean. We only ate out once-on our half day trip to Georgetown. We went snorkeling every day right in front. It was awesome. There were no crowded beaches, and there was always an open beach chair and plenty of shade if you wanted. Like a lot of reviews indicated before, I don't think this is a place for someone who wants to be entertained all the time. It is a place to go sit on the beach, relax, walk on the beach or take your rented car for a ride and explore the many beach spots around. Although there were a few night time activities, and I think Morritts has some night things going on as well. You can rent kayaks, wave runners and other things at Morritts. The resort and suite were spotless. All in all, it was a perfect vacation getaway. 15 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was heaven on earth! Visited: February 2008 Posted by jbooger My family and I just returned from a week stay at The Reef. With three small kids, it isn't always easy to find a good blend of relaxation (for us), fun activities (for them), a great beach and sun, and plenty of room. The Reef offered all of that and more. Our room was wonderful with an incredible unobstructed view to the sea. When our infant is older, we will have to move into a two-bedroom suite. But for now, the one-bedroom offered plenty of room. We sat on the beach every day while the kids played in the sand or the pool for hours. We also ventured to Rum Point a few times just for a change of pace - and that was lovely as well. By the end of the day, we were usually exhausted so we ate almost every evening at the bar. The food was very good - especially the Mahi! Yes, it was somewhat expensive, but so was the rest of the island so you have to plan for that in advance. Fosters and Hurleys were good places to go for basic breakfast and lunch items so you can afford to splurge for dinner and drinks. We thought this vacation was perfect, and we will definitely be coming back next year. In fact, we are seriously considering the investment option so we can come back every year! 11 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? I enjoyed Cayman happiness at The Reef Resort. Visited: January 2008 Posted by detailedauto If you truly want to get away, this is the place. Here you get all the amenities and none of the "busyness". It is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. It is everything an island vacation should be. 6 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was fan - fun - tastic! Visited: November 2007 Posted by w9cgi The staff was outstanding - every single one. The accommodation is a steal at such a bargain price. There was no hassle to buy condo - they asked only once. The food, beverages, etc. were all top notch (thanks Val). Even the boss, Lawrence, was a down to earth nice guy. Thanks folks! I'm on my way again in October of 2008. 2 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? I spent a joyful week at the Reef. Visited: November 2007 Posted by britrink I came to the Caymans for my son's wedding, and had the most wonderful week at the Reef. The resort exceeded my expectations. The one-bedroom suite was spotless, and beautifully decorated with every convenience. The beach was amazing - to step out onto the patio right on the beach each morning was heaven. I could have stayed forever. The staff was friendly staff, and the resort was beautiful. I don't often visit the same place twice, but the Reef will be my exception. I will definitely be back! 10 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?