Shopping

For high-end clothing or accessories, fashion lovers need no longer travel abroad as there are stores offering a wide selection of upscale items, especially in the swim and resort wear ranges. Fashionistas who prefer a bargain should not be disheartened, as more shops have recently opened that offer great choices at relatively low prices.

Seasonal sales, such as Black Friday and Camana Bay’s Sidewalk Sales also happen on-Island, so make sure to keep an eye out! There are a number of shopping centres in Grand Cayman, each offering an extensive variety of options to choose from.

In the central George Town area, many of the stores are aimed at tourists, specifically those coming off the cruise ships. Shops and shopping centres in this area, such as Bayshore Mall and Island Plaza, sell jewellery, fashion, artwork, souvenirs and beauty products.

Along the Seven Mile Beach strip you will mainly find clothing stores, especially those selling swim and resort wear, salons and a few stores selling books, stationery and craft supplies. The majority of the furniture stores are located within or near Industrial Park, and the major homeware stores are located in the vicinity of Eastern Avenue and Industrial Park, but there are a couple scattered in Camana Bay and along West Bay Road.

High-end shops line the aesthetically pleasing sidewalks of Camana Bay selling everything from clothing and books to kitchen supplies and shoes. On West Bay Road there are a range of shops, restaurants and cafés in The Grove and its new sister development next door, The Grove Too. Shoppers can browse clothing and homewares and if you are living or staying locally, there is a handy grocery store that offers the essentials you may need.

The new Harbour Walk development at Grand Harbour houses a variety of retail and dining options to cater to all budgets as well as beauty salons, a gym, and healthcare providers. New stores will be opening in the future so be sure to keep an eye out for them.

In Savannah, the Countryside Shopping Centre houses a Foster’s supermarket, an A. L. Thompson’s and other shops from healthcare to salons.

New shopping plaza developments include Jacques Scott Marketplace and 61 West Apartments located in West Bay and City Plaza on Crewe Road, which feature a range of retail, wellness and dining options.

While the prices of some goods are more expensive than in the US, there is often a very valid reason for this. Every item sold in Cayman has to be imported either by air or sea; then, Customs charge duty on (most) items at 20% (to retailers) or 22% (to the general public). This duty is calculated based on the value of the goods, the shipping costs, as well as the insurance charged. The items are then displayed in stores that pay higher electricity bills than the US and some also have to pay work permit fees.

Also note that many online retailers may not ship to Cayman and if they do, shipping costs will be high, therefore it is a good idea to consider using a freight forwarder who will provide you with an address in the US and will then forward the package to Cayman.

Please keep in mind that some items cannot be imported into Cayman due to certain laws. For example, all items that depict the cannabis plant are prohibited from entering the Island. However, de-hulled hemp seeds can be bought at Kirk Market because they do not depict cannabis leaf imagery.

See the Shipping to Cayman page for other considerations and companies that offer freight forwarding.