Cayman Islands or Cardiff – Which is Better?

The Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – are three small islands in the Caribbean, lying between Cuba and Jamaica. Grand Cayman is the largest island. It is the most commercial, and despite being a British Overseas Territory it feels more like America with the big SUVs and shopping centres.

Looks horrible doesn’t it? But is it better than Wales?

Famed worldwide as a tax haven its five-star hotels and Seven Mile Beach are frequented by the wealthy from across the world. This is no quiet Caribbean paradise; the island is crowded, but there is plenty to see and do and beyond George Town and Seven Mile Beach you can find places that are more relaxed. Tourists to Grand Cayman can visit Hell, not the abode of Lucifer but a town so named because of its proximity to some sinister black rock formations. For those wishing to mark their visit the town has its own post office, painted bright red where a resident devil will sell you souvenirs accompanied by witticisms. Pedro’s Castle St. James Historic Site is one of the oldest buildings on Grand Cayman. A plantation house that dates from the 18th century, it has Caribbean-style furnishings from the same period and grounds containing pineapple and banana plants.

The rather aptly named Hell. Looks a bit like Mordor

Life on the smaller islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac is lived at a slower pace. If you are looking for peace and quiet then Cayman Brac is ideal. The island has only one hotel and most of the locals do not work in the tourism industry. As a result life continues much as it always has done. The island boasts the most varied landscapes of any of the islands. The National Trust Parrot Reserve is home to the island’s emerald green parrots, an endangered species. The main settlements of the island are on the western and northern ends whilst the beaches and resorts line the southern tip. A lighthouse is located at Northeast Point and the other site of historic interest is the Frenchman’s Fort.

Life on the smaller islands is a bit slower. This is the taxi service

Little Cayman is perhaps the most beautiful of the islands. There are said to be more iguanas than people on the island so if you want tranquillity this is the island to head for. It is also the best spot for diving. Little Cayman may be small, but it is famous for the quality of its diving with the Bloody Bay Marine Park offering the best wall diving in the world. In its beautiful turquoise waters tourists can swim with tropical fish, dolphins and sting rays.

More Iguanas than people? Cool!

The Cayman Islands stage a number of events throughout the year. The Queen’s Birthday Parade is a colourful parade that takes place on Grand Cayman in June. The Cayman Arts Festival, 2nd – 18th April, sees cultural events, including jazz concerts, art exhibitions and educational workshops taking place across all the islands. Other events include the Jazz Festival which takes place in December, Pirate’s Week National Festival in November and Tek Week (August – September) which features diving on Cayman’s walls and allows amateur divers to dive with internationally renowned diving experts.

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and is home to the Welsh Assembly and the Millennium Stadium.

The waterfront area has recently been developed into an attractive area with shops and restaurants. There are several beaches that are close to Cardiff. Southerndown Beach is largely unspoilt, its ice-cream stand being its only concession to modern commercialism. The blue-flag, sandy beach lies between two high headlands which create steep waves that are suitable for surfing. There is a visitors’ centre and children can go fossil hunting. The beach has been used as a location for a number of television series including Doctor Who. Barry Island on the other hand is Wales’ answer to Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The pleasure park has something for all ages with amusement arcades and over 50 attractions and rides including Pirate Ship, Log Flume and Viper Ride. The Barry Island Railway Heritage Centre takes visitors back to the Age of Steam with restored locomotives and rolling stock and exhibitions of memorabilia.

A night out in Cardiff, like Stephen Fry – classy and tragic

Wales boasts some of the best castles in the UK and Cardiff Castle is located right in the centre of the city. The site of Cardiff Castle has a very long history, stretching back to the time of the Romans. Perhaps the most extraordinary chapter in its history was its conversion by the eccentric architect Burges into a gothic fantasy at the behest of the 3rd Marquis of Bute. As a result Cardiff Castle has rich murals, stained glass, marble, fairytale towers and rooms whose themes range from Mediterranean gardens to Arabian fantasies. Caerphilly Castle is just a ten-minute drive from Cardiff and it is the second largest castle in the UK. The castle is well-preserved and has replica siege engines, moats, towers, a banqueting hall and a leaning tower.

Wales’ castle – lovely

Wales is renowned for its rugby teams and the Millennium Stadium regularly plays host to major sporting events. The Welsh National rugby team play all their home fixtures at the stadium during the Six Nations Championship. For visitors who are more interested in taking part in sport, activities in the area include para-gliding, mountain biking, horse riding and rock climbing. Whilst at Cardiff Bay, visitors can try canoeing, sailing or powerboat activities. Half an hour’s drive will take you to the Brecon Beacons, one of the three National Parks of Wales. The park covers a wide area that includes castles, traditional market towns, canals and diverse scenery ranging from steep valleys to rolling countryside to mountains. The park also has stunning waterfalls and caves.

The Welsh Rugby team is now a bit good

Cardiff has a number of art galleries including the National Museum Cardiff that boasts in its collection Impressionist paintings by Renoir, Monet and Cezanne. Bequeathed to the museum by two wealthy Welsh sisters the collection is one of the largest outside of Paris. Cardiff is also home to a number of restaurants, clubs, bars and theatres including the Wales Millennium Centre which stages modern dance, ballet, international opera and musical productions. St. David’s Hall plays host to the Welsh Proms as well as international singers, comedians, plays and musicals. Cardiff stages a number of events throughout the year including the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in June. The contestants are judged by a panel of internationally renowned figures from the world of opera and previous winners have included Lisa Gasteen and Dimitri Hvorostovsky. The Cardiff Summer Festival has a variety of mainly free events including open-air theatre, MAS carnival and a classic car rally. The Cardiff Mardi Gras is a large street party held in September.

Not really Brazil, is it?

So which is better, there’s only one way to find out……….fight!

The answer might at first appear obvious, but Cardiff should not be dismissed out of hand. The Cayman Islands are beautiful and if you are seeking guaranteed sunshine and tropical beaches or are a keen diver then they clearly win out over Cardiff. However, holidaying in the Cayman Islands is not cheap. Flights to the Cayman Islands are expensive ranging from £480 to £880 per person. Package deals to the Cayman Islands can be found on Expedia ranging in price from £834 per person to £1,400 and upwards. Actual prices depend on the UK airport you fly out from and the time of year. Cardiff on the other hand is much cheaper. If you buy your coach or train tickets in advance you can travel to Cardiff for as little as £25.00 (coach) or £31.00 (train), depending on where you are in the UK.

If you live in the UK, it’s cheaper to go to Cardiff..dur

Accommodation is cheaper in Cardiff, hotel rooms range in price from £32.00 per night up to £154.00 per night. Alternatively there is self-catering and bed and breakfast accommodation or if you are on a really tight budget there are caravan and camping sites near Cardiff. For the environmentally conscious the Cayman Islands are a difficult choice as it does involve flying, the most damaging mode of transport for the climate.

Hotels are also cheaper in Cardiff

Flying to the Cayman Islands from London would generate around 2.54 tonnes of CO2. Cardiff can be reached by the more environmentally friendly transport options of rail or coach. Travelling from Edinburgh to Cardiff by rail would generate around 0.08 tonnes of CO2. Culturally Cardiff has much to offer with its rich heritage and vibrant nightlife and the surrounding countryside is great for walking or outdoor sports. Wales has a long history of success in rugby and rugby enthusiasts could combine a holiday with a sporting event. If the weather is good the whole family can have an enjoyable holiday in Cardiff and the surrounding area.

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