Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman

Margaritaville Beach Resort’s open-air lobby is a casual entry point with a reception space, large bar, and coffee shop. The wood-paneled ceiling, teak furniture, and potted plants give the space a relaxed Caribbean feel that emanates across the property. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with welcome margaritas, which seems like an appropriate gesture given the hotel’s name. Fans of Jimmy Buffett will notice his signature Adirondack chairs across the property, along with trademark bars, License to Chill and It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. There’s also a gift shop that sells Margaritaville paraphernalia. But anyone who’s apprehensive about the hotel looking like the inside of a Margaritaville restaurant needn’t worry. Aside from Jimmy Buffet tunes playing around the pool, the atmosphere isn’t overly hokey. And while themed resorts certainly aren’t for everyone, Margaritaville attracts all kinds of travelers, from families with young kids, to couples, to friend groups looking to have a good time. The hotel is also one of the most value-oriented resorts on pricey Grand Cayman. 

Margaritaville Beach Resort is located on West Bay Road -- Grand Cayman’s main touristic thoroughfare. It’s a beachfront property that offers direct access to Seven Mile Beach, but the stretch of sand in front of the hotel isn’t particularly nice. Much of the sandy area is actually man-made, and slopes in the direction of rough, rocky waters. A section of the water is made swimmable by a man-made rock barrier, but it’s not the prettiest. Rocky outcroppings on either end of the beach also make long strolls on the sand impossible. Margaritaville is within walking distance of local shops, bars, and restaurants, so a rental car isn’t necessary, unless you’re planning to explore different parts of the island. Taxis are also widely available. Owen Roberts International Airport is a 12-minute drive away. 

Widely known as a hub for international banking, Grand Cayman is a prosperous Caribbean island with a diverse population. Expatriates from North America, Europe, and Asia flavor the island with mixed cultural traditions, though many Caymanians, and even a few tourists, lament that the island lacks a strong sense of identity. While many aspects of Grand Cayman resemble Floridian suburbia -- think colorful houses, outdoor shopping plazas, waterfront restaurants -- Caymanians are doing what they can to reclaim cultural identity. Travelers looking for more than just a beach vacation are encouraged to visit the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, or Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. 

Rooms at Margaritaville feel modern and fresh, with a charming amount of Caribbean flair. Light wood-like floors and furniture are complimented by sky-blue walls and crisp white linens. Whimsical artwork adds visual interest, and signature Margaritaville accents, like the wayward palm tree and the spinning compass rose, are etched into the furniture. Wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electronic safes, and Keurig coffeemakers are convenient in-room perks, though closet and storage space is minimal. Bathrooms are standard three-piece affairs, with shower/tub combos or walk-in showers and single sinks. All rooms have private outdoor terraces with bright blue Adirondack chairs . Most units have views of the property’s pools, though some offer ocean vistas. 

There are only two room types at Margaritaville: King Rooms and Double Rooms. The hotel offers several interconnecting options for families or groups traveling together. Besides king or double, rooms are categorized by view type, which ranges from standard view (typically overlooks the parking lot), to garden view, to pool view, to partial ocean view. 

The main attractions at Margaritaville are its pools. The resort’s three pools cater to different guests, as there are two for families (with a waterslide reportedly being built in the future) and one for adults only. The largest of the three is considered the main pool. It features a swim-up bar, a separate hot tub, rock formations and waterfalls, and a shallow wading area for kids. It’s surrounded by tons of lounge chairs and several umbrellas. Adjacent to the main pool is the resort’s “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere” bar, which serves casual bar food and tropical drinks throughout the day. 

Beyond the main pool, the resort’s mostly man-made beach slopes towards the water. The hotel is located in front of a rocky section of Seven Mile Beach that isn’t particularly ideal for swimming or strolling. Rocky terrain isolates the area from the rest of Seven Mile Beach, and a man-made stone barrier sections off a part of the water that’s safe for swimming. Lounge chairs and umbrellas line the man-made sandy section, but the beach doesn’t feel as nice as others nearby. 

Eating House 1503 is Margaritaville’s signature restaurant. The space is decidedly more sophisticated than the rest of the property, and attracts many non-hotel guests at dinner time. Eating House 1503 is a Roy Yamaguchi restaurant, and features an eclectic Hawaiian-Japanese-Caribbean fusion menu. Margaritaville also has a casual pizzeria, a grab-and-go deli, and a lobby coffee shop, along with its two signature bars, It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere and License to Chill. Happy hour is available every day, while live music is provided most nights. Daytime activities such as yoga or water aerobics are provided a few times per week.

Additional on-site amenities include a small kids' club and a gift shop that sells Margaritaville gear and vacation essentials. The hotel doesn’t currently have a spa, fitness center, or meeting space, but plans to add these features in the future. Plus, in-room massages can currently be arranged. A daily resort fee covers Wi-Fi, beach towels and chairs, daily bottled water, and rentable bicycles that guests can use around the island.