Reef Resort

Amazing time away from the crowds. Nice beaches and great food and drink.

We had a two bedroom suite on the beach. It was fabulous. Clean and big and comfortable. The staff were so kind and helpful. The food was so delicious and I researched nearby restaurants to go out one night but, we never did! It was so good we stayed on the resort. The beach was a bit of a let down but we swam out to the sand bar and it was clear and beautiful. Rocks going in to the water were a little dangerous but we brought water shoes and it was ok. We are already planning our next visit. We loved everything about The Reef.

The Reef Beach Resort East end Grand Cayman Pros Everything was very clean including the room and common areas. The silverware didn’t even have water spots. The food was excellent and often beautiful. The themed dinners were excellent. (We didn’t care for the seafood buffet, but I think that was an oddity because other reviews consistently praise it.) Even though it was expensive, breakfast was good at the buffet and also off the menu. All the staff seemed genuine, friendly, capable and attentive. I’d name names but I would forget someone. We really enjoyed the people. The views are breathtaking from almost everywhere on the property. There are plenty of lounge chairs available. There are scattered umbrellas, but we were able to get enough shade from palm trees. The pools were refreshing and we enjoyed massages in the spa. The bed was comfortable, the shower plenty large and we enjoyed our balcony. The resort is in a quiet area with a small grocery store, liquor store and gift shop across the street. We spoke with many people who come every year and some who have timeshares and really enjoy being at the Reef Beach Resort. We did borrow snorkel gear and I was able to try a quick snorkel at the resort prior to snorkeling off a boat later in the week. We also enjoyed watching Kareoke, playing a little bingo and playing our own games in the lobby. Cons The beach was not what I expected. It’s fine, soft and beautiful until you get to close to the water. It’s hard to explain, but it’s slanted or eroded and it is not walkable. There is seaweed, but that didn’t bother me much. You cannot take long walks on this beach. One day we walked about three quarters of a mile down the road and cut through to a beach where you could relax, walk a little and sit at the water's edge. Transportation is difficult from this location. Taxis are very expensive and the public transportation isn’t well established. We did not want to rent a car. We would have enjoyed a table in the room or on the balcony big / tall enough to play simple games. I think the biggest problem I had was with the all inclusive aspect of this trip. I had trouble reconciling my expectations of the all inclusive with tipping expectations and showing appreciation for those who were working for us. I would much rather pay a flat gratuity fee upfront ( similar to cruise ships). I could tip above that at the end if I wanted. Also, I would like it better if I didn’t need to constantly have a purse on me in case I wanted lunch or a glass of wine that I needed to tip for. This was stressful to me the whole week several times a day. I knew food was more expensive, but it’s very expensive. The all inclusive was costing more than I would have spent without the all inclusive, especially since there is a grocery store and liquor store across the street. I struggled with having already paid for wonderful food and yet it would be less expensive to go across the street and buy groceries ( we did not give in to that ). I think I’d rather pay more upfront and have gratuities included. At least one person we spoke to said they have groceries delivered. We spoke with multiple concierge staff and I believe some are more genuine than others. All were friendly and we did get some help with booking experiences. I think one concierge is a little overbearing and possibly out to help himself over helping patrons. A different concierge corrected a problem we had with a booking and booked it in a more appropriate and less costly way. Conclusion I really enjoyed our stay starting with the great people, clean facility and wonderful food and drink. I really was sad that our visit was over. If I came again, I would not do the all inclusive unless they change the structure. I would eat in their facilities a few times, because it is excellent, but too costly for 3 meals a day. I am not someone who wants to rent a car in a foreign country, so I would also hope there would be a reliable shuttle service at least a couple times a week to visit the other end of the island.