Located on the south side of Grand Cayman in the Bodden Town area, the Czech Inn Grill is a Canadian hockey lovers’ Caribbean dream come true. The owner grew up in the Czech Republic and has festooned his casual, roadside restaurant with photos, pennants, hockey gloves, jerseys and memorabilia from the likes of Dominik Hasek, Carey Price and other stars.

Just for balance, you’ll also find sombreros, photos of Che Guevara and other non-sports bits hanging from the walls and rafters.

The grill serves up everything from schnitzel to jerk chicken. I didn’t have time for a bite, but a visiting couple from Texas told me the German-style potato salad was outstanding.

On the west side of the island you’ll find a casual, tiki-bar-style place called Macabuca, where you can dine on simple meals such as a nice conch plate with salad and also try good local beers, such as the 1981 Brewing Company’s Tropical IPA.

Folks come from all over the island to watch the amazing sunsets here and next door at The Cracked Conch, which is a bit more upscale.

Less than a kilometer away from this heavenly sunset spot is Grand Cayman’s most photographed village, called Hell (named after a jagged rock formation nearby). Visitors pose next to the Welcome to Hell Gift Shop sign and shop for hell-stamped mementos.

Little Cayman doesn’t get a lot of attention but it’s a small, super laid-back island that’s known as one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean. Reached via a short plane ride from the Grand Cayman Airport, you’ll find a relatively small, flat piece of land with one main road that circles the island and a few tiny strips of asphalt running across it.

The road actually crosses the taxi way that goes from the airport’s landing strip to the teeny-tiny terminal, so you might have to wait for a plane to go by if you’re driving near the airport. But that’s part of the immense charm of this place, which is a great spot to get away from it all or enjoy water sports.

“Most of our visitors come for the diving,” said Mick Maher, general manager at Little Cayman Beach Resort. “In some places the walls (vertical diving walls that are some of the dive spots you can find) start at 55 feet of water. But ours start at 18 feet, which makes them not only easier to reach but also means there’s more natural light.”

Little Cayman Beach Resort has a series of small buildings painted the colour of an orange creamsicle. There’s also a pool and a fun tiki bar.

Down the road a bit at Pirates Point, owner/manager Susan Howard runs a small, homey resort with simple but well-equipped units, a pool, shady hammocks and fresh cookies every afternoon. On Friday nights she has guests over to her nearby home for sushi and Champagne.

“It’s fun,” she said. “It also forces me to make my bed,” she added with a laugh.

While diving is a popular activity, the island also is ideal for cyclists as it’s quite flat and has almost no traffic to speak of. The only town features a couple of small shops and a rental car agency.

Also on Little Cayman is Paradise Villas, a series of 12 private cottages that front a nice beach and feature front porches overlooking the water. The hotel has a restaurant called the Hungry Iguana.

When I was getting ready to leave for a flight back to Grand Cayman, I checked in at the terminal desk and was told I had a half hour before we would board. Noticing that the Hungry Iguana was literally a few metres away, I took a one-minute walk to the resort and ordered up a Red Stripe, which I enjoyed at a patio table overlooking a pretty beach. If there’s a better airport waiting room than that, I haven’t found it.

Where to stay

In addition to the above-mentioned spots on Little Cayman, you can try the Southern Cross Club, which has rainbow-coloured units on a lovely beach. There’s also a nearby, small island you can kayak to. I stopped in and had a simple but good buffet lunch.

The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa is a relatively new resort on a quiet stretch of Seven Mile Beach, with fabulous food, beautiful suites and a stunning swimming pool complex. Nearby, you’ll also find a casual, beachfront bar called Calico Jack’s that’s perfect for an inexpensive night out.

Sunshine Suites is a lovely development with a pool and spacious units for families. It’s a convenient location near shops and restaurants, and is only a block from Seven Mile Beach. It’s great for folks on a budget, and guests can use the facilities at the posh Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa.

To entice Canadian visitors to choose the Cayman Islands as their sun destination this winter, the islands have launched their Fall Only in Cayman campaign which offers savings of up to 45 per cent with various accommodations, restaurant, attractions and airline partners. The campaign ends November 15, 2019.