Digital Detox In Little Cayman

After one wildly busy year and once the Christmas festivities were officially over, Stefan and I planned a much-needed digital detox weekend away in Little Cayman and it was arguably one of our best weekends of 2019!

Many of us are lucky enough to enjoy island living on the regular and yet even with all the beauty around us, it’s easy to fill your time glued to your phone, answering emails or on a Netflix binge…which frankly could be done from anywhere in the world!

With both of us running our own businesses, and with mine centered around social media specifically, it’s safe to say we are addicted to our phones. And we’d noticed it was starting to create a void of real connection between us. *Cue a weekend away to unwind, reconnect and relax in paradise {another kind of paradise}.

Where better to go than Little Cayman for thee most effortless travel, beautiful scenery and slower pace of life?!

Here’s everything you need to know to have the best weekend away. If it’s not already, Little Cayman needs to be on your 2020 bucket list {again and again}.

This blog is written in partnership with our fabulous hosts, Paradise Villas.

“Offline is the new luxury”

Getting There

When planning a long weekend away, it can be a little tricky to find the perfect flights that don’t eat into precious vacation days but give you enough time to really enjoy a new place.

Little Cayman flights couldn’t be easier. With a grand flying time of 35 minutes, you’ll love the journey in your own private jet {aka the Cayman Airways Twin Otter} staring out the window as you tour over East End and the most beautiful waters leading up to Little Cayman.

Our perfect long weekend direct flights left first thing Friday morning at 7:05 AM and returned on Sunday at 3:45 PM. There are flights 4 x a day, with some going via Cayman Brac.

Of course, I got us there for 5:45 AM, being the eager traveler that I am but for those of you more laissez-faire, the cut off is 30 minutes before the flight {although don’t blame me if you’re late!}. Even though you’re traveling within the Cayman Islands, you do still need your passport and regular airport rules apply…except when it comes to packing.

What To Pack

Packing for Little Cayman is a unique experience…mainly because it almost always involves a cooler! Although there are some cute restaurants and a well-stocked shop and Jacques Scott liquor store, it is a good idea to bring what you can and it’s so great that you’re able to.

Baggage allowance when flying on the Twin Otter is 55 lbs per person {eg the combined weight of up to 2 pieces} and only one 15 lb carry-on, any excess will be charged US$0.50 per pound. The same carry on rules applies when it comes to liquids as you do have to go through security. You can find the Cayman Airways baggage policy here.

When it comes to food, the main thing to remember is that you need to bring any food items in a sealed cooler {don’t forget duct tape or bungee cords to seal it shut}. I’ve since learnt you’re technically not meant to bring anything flammable {eg olive oil or butter} but we were fine bringing a small stick of butter and no one asked.

Here’s what I’d suggest packing and below is a picture of all the yummy goods we took with us for the weekend:

• Sunglasses, a sunhat, sunblock and aftersun,

• Mask, snorkel, and fins {if you have},

• A good book, notebook, and something to play music,

• A camera or go pro,

• Floaty dresses, sarong or sundress,

• Any meds you might need,

• Bug spray {more for sandflies than mosquitoes}

• Boxed Dinners and sides,

• Some fruit to balance out the indulgences,

• Any sweet treats {note, the leftover mince pies from Christmas},

• Champagne or your tipple(s) of choice.

Our Stay At Paradise Villas

Stefan and I were looking for a quiet getaway with enough luxuries to feel comfortable but a simple enough set up to totally relax and feel grounded after a busy year and festive season.

Our own private villa at Paradise Villas was just that.

Paradise Villas comprises of 12 free standing villas located on a private beach, with its own pool and Hungry Iguana bar and restaurant all located directly opposite the airport.

{Note directly opposite the airport doesn’t have any negatives when it comes to Little Cayman as the runaway and planes are so small. In fact it added some excitement to be able to watch the Twin Otter plane land and take off so beautifully and it meant we strolled to get onto the flight home only 15 minutes before takeoff!}

Each one bedroom semi-detached villa is kitted out like a studio apartment: super comfy king bed, air-conditioning, fans, TV, wardrobe, rain shower, kitchenette with dining table, sleeper sofa and coffee table, all with its own covered patio, hammock and lounge chairs. It was the perfect amount of space for two people for a week and would be a great set up for couples or families wanting a little more space but feeling like they’re near by to each other.

Living in a studio apartment for the weekend, with minimal luggage and no phones was a great reminder that we really can thrive with less. This authentic island life encourages you to get out and explore, and we loved every second of it spent snorkelling, lobstering, diving, boating and more.

Hire A Scooter

Little Cayman is approximately 11 square miles of untouched beaches, secluded tracks to nowhere, and wetlands full of nature. It’s by far the closest thing we have to untouched Caribbean living and it gives me an insight into what life must have been like for my parents moving to Grand Cayman in 1976 with only one hotel on Seven Mile Beach!

Anyways, back to the tropical oasis that is Little Cayman. Although the island is small, there is a lot to see and this is best done by scooter. We booked a scooter with Scooten Scooters and I can’t recommend them enough. The entire process was so effortless and made for the perfect way to explore the island. Scooter Bruce {as he’s known island-wide} dropped a scooter off to our villa for our first morning and we just left it at the villa for pick up before our flight {with keys always left in the ignition in LC}.

In the past we’d only ever used peddle power to get around Little Cayman. With a scooter we were able to explore so many hidden gems and really felt at home zipping around with no agenda. Of course Stefan now wants to get one!

Time To Explore

There are so many hidden gems just waiting to be explored so grab your sunnies, slap on some sunscreen and hop on your scooter - you won’t be disappointed:

Lounge at Point of Sand beach - the most picturesque beach in all of the Cayman Islands I’d say! Perfect for a picnic or a swim. Epic views of Cayman Brac.

Go Diving with Little Cayman Divers - We loved our two-tank dive on world-renown Bloody Bay Wall with this great group of experienced divers. Highly recommend them!

Fish for tuna {with the sharks} - Stefan was lucky enough to head out fishing with friends off the West coast and caught many tunas that were taken straight off the line by sharks! A pretty cool experience….despite the poor results!

Kayak out to Owen’s Island - Rent a kayak from Southern Cross Club {or better yet bump into the Coleman family and go on Darren’s boat} to explore this magical uninhabited island next to an island.

Visit the Little Cayman Museum - We didn’t get our act together but I wish we had popped into the museum to learn more about Little Cayman’s history. Closed on Sundays.

Cycle to the Lighthouse - we cycled the quick 15 mins cycle from Paradise Villas, past the airport runway, to the West End Lighthouse with a bottle of champagne to watch an epic sunset. Amazing views - don’t forget bug spray for the sandflies though!

Snooze in a hammock - Each of the beach resorts are laden with hammocks and it’s safe to say it’s considered a Little Cayman essential

Snorkel at CCMI - If diving isn’t your thing, why not visit the Central Caribbean Marine Institute and head out for a snorkel where the amazing drop off is only feet from the shoreline.