Fast Facts

Area Codes -- The area code for all of the Cayman Islands is 345.

Business Hours -- Normally, banks are open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 2:30pm and Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2:30 to 4:30pm. Most shops are open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, but hours can vary greatly.

Customs -- For answers to complicated questions on what you can and cannot bring into the Cayman Islands, contact Cayman Islands Customs (tel. 345/949-2473 or www.caymanislandscustoms.com).

What You Can Bring Into the Cayman Islands -- Cayman Islands Customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from the Cayman Islands of firearms of any kind, spear guns, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, live plants, and plant cuttings. Raw fruits and vegetables are also restricted. Visitors age 18 or over are allowed to bring in -- duty-free -- 4 liters of wine or one case of beer; 1 liter of alcohol; and 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.

What You Can Take Home from the Cayman Islands -- If you are thinking of bringing sea turtle products back home, consult the website of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (www.cites.org) first. The Convention strictly prohibits the importation of sea turtle products into the countries which have signed the agreement. The U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are among the 171 countries that adhere to this convention. In addition, U.S. Customs prohibits the transshipment of turtle products through the United States, and any products discovered will be confiscated.

U.S. Citizens: Returning U.S. citizens who have been away for at least 48 hours are allowed to bring back, once every 30 days, US$800 worth of merchandise duty-free. You'll be charged a flat rate of 4% duty on the next US$1,000 worth of purchases. Be sure to have your receipts handy. On mailed gifts, the duty-free limit is US$200. With some exceptions, you cannot bring fresh fruits and vegetables into the United States.

For specifics on what you can bring back, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov (click on "Travel" and then on "Know Before You Go"). Or contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 202/354-1000; www.cbp.gov), and request the pamphlet.

Canadian Citizens: Canada allows its citizens a C$750 exemption, and you're allowed to bring back duty-free one carton of cigarettes, one can of tobacco, 40 imperial ounces of liquor, and 50 cigars if you meet the minimum age requirements set by the province or territory where you enter Canada. In addition, you're allowed to mail gifts to Canada valued at less than C$60 each day, provided they're unsolicited and don't contain alcohol or tobacco (write on the package "Unsolicited gift, under C$60 value"). All valuables should be declared on the Y-38 form before departure from Canada, including serial numbers of valuables you already own, such as expensive foreign cameras. Note: The C$750 exemption can only be used once a year and only after an absence of 7 days. For a clear summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: U.K. citizens have a Customs allowance of 200 cigarettes; 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 2 liters of still table wine; 1 liter of spirits or strong liqueurs (over 22% volume); 2 liters of fortified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; 60 cubic centimeters (ml) of perfume; 250 cubic centimeters (ml) of toilet water; and £145 worth of all other goods, including gifts and souvenirs. People under 17 cannot have the tobacco or alcohol allowance. For more information, contact HM Revenue & Customs at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 02920/501-261), or consult the website at www.hmrc.gov.uk.

Australian Citizens: The duty-free allowance in Australia is A$900 or, for those under 18, A$450. Citizens over age 18 can bring back 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of loose tobacco, and 2.25 liters of alcohol. If you're returning with valuables you already own, such as foreign-made cameras, you should file form B263. A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

New Zealand Citizens: The duty-free allowance for New Zealand is NZ$700. Citizens over 17 can bring back 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco (or a mixture of all three if their combined weight doesn't exceed 250g); plus 4.5 liters of wine and beer, or 1.125 liters of liquor. New Zealand currency does not carry import or export restrictions. Fill out a certificate of export, listing the valuables you are taking out of the country; that way, you can bring them back without paying duty. Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice No. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs Service, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Drugstores -- If you're going to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac, don't depend on local outlets there to have the drugs or medication you need. Stock up before you go. On Grand Cayman the most convenient pharmacies are Fosters Food Fair Pharmacy, the Strand Shopping Centre on West Bay Road, Seven Mile Beach (tel. 345/945-7759), open Monday to Saturday 7am to 10pm; and Cayman Drug, Kirk Freeport Centre, George Town (tel. 345/949-2597), open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8:30am to 4pm.

Electricity -- Electricity on the Cayman Islands is 110-volt AC (60 cycles), so U.S. and Canadian appliances will not need adapters or transformers, but appliances from Europe, Australia, or New Zealand will require adapters and transformers.

Embassies & Consulates -- No nations maintain an embassy or consulate in the Cayman Islands.

Emergencies -- On Grand Cayman dial tel. 555 for an ambulance; tel. 345/949-0241 for an Air Ambulance from Island Air; and tel. 911 for police, fire, or medical emergencies.

Etiquette & Customs -- You should pay attention to dress codes in the Cayman Islands, as it still remains a "proper" British crown colony, and its residents are often conservative in dress and manners. Avoid wearing bathing suits or scanty beachwear outside a beach area or cruise ship. Cover up in public areas, especially when walking and sightseeing on the streets of George Town. There are no nude beaches, and public nudity, including topless bathing, is strictly prohibited by law. Visitors will want to wear smart casual tropical resort wear at most restaurants. When attending church, "Sunday dress" is appropriate -- that is, no shorts and T-shirts. Men don't have to wear ties, however. Avoid profanity in public -- it is extremely frowned upon.

For business attire, concessions are made for the local climate. Open collars, white trousers, knit shirts, and blazers are, to an increasing degree, appropriate for business meetings. Punctuality is appreciated, even if the temptation exists for a more relaxed observation of "island time." Don't be surprised if some of the meeting planners suggest a fishing or snorkeling trip on a private boat.

Hospitals -- On Grand Cayman George Town Hospital (tel. 345/949-8600) lies south of George Town on Hospital Road (south of Smith Rd.).

Internet Access -- Most large resorts and hotels have Internet access. You can also access the Internet at Café del Sol/Team Café, located on Seven Mile Beach at the Marquee Cinema Shopping Centre on Lawrence Blvd. (tel. 345/946-2233; www.cafedelsol.ky).

Language -- English is the official language of the islands.

Liquor Laws -- The legal drinking age is 18. Beer, wine, and liquor are sold at most grocery and convenience stores Monday to Saturday. It is legal to have an open container on the beach.

Lost & Found -- Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen, and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994. American Express cardholders and traveler's-check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309 or 636/722-7111. For other credit cards, call the toll-free number directory at tel. 800/555-1212.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- Most mail takes from 2 to 7 days, if airmailed, to reach points between the Cayman Islands and the U.S. mainland. The Cayman Islands don't use postal or zip codes. The main post office in George Town lies at Edward Street and Cardinal Avenue (tel. 345/949-2474), between the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

A postcard to the United States costs CI20¢ (US25¢/10p). An airmail letter to the U.S. costs CI75¢ (US95¢/45p) per half-ounce. Rates to Europe are CI80¢ (US$1/50p) for a half-ounce for an airmail letter.

Newspapers & Magazines -- Published daily, the Caymanian Compass is the most popular newspaper on Grand Cayman. The Friday edition is especially helpful because it lists current and upcoming events. Rival papers include New Caymanian, published every Friday, and Cayman Net News, published Tuesday and Thursday. Available at most hotels, What's Hot is a free monthly magazine geared to visitors. Copies of The Miami Herald and the International Herald Tribune are available at the big resorts and at most major newsstands in George Town.

Passports -- Allow plenty of time before your trip to apply for a passport; processing normally takes 3 weeks but can take longer during busy periods (especially spring). And keep in mind that if you need a passport in a hurry, you'll pay a higher processing fee. Passports must be valid for six months after your intended date of departure from the Cayman Islands.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525), or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-yr. passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency, or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of the United States: Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

Police -- Call tel. 911 if you need the police.

Radio -- Radio stations in the Cayman Islands mostly play hip music that's popular in Florida. Radio Z99 (99 FM) plays Caribbean, pop, easy listening, and light rock 'n' roll. Vibe FM (98.5) plays reggae, island/Caribbean, and soul music. Country Rooster (101 FM) plays U.S.-style country-western music.

Restrooms -- Public restrooms are found along Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Public facilities can be found at most beaches, though they are few and far between and often unpleasant. Visitors usually use the facilities of the resorts, although you should technically be a guest or customer (you can always just purchase a soft drink or a bottle of water).

Smoking -- Smoking is not regulated as carefully in the Cayman Islands as it is in certain cities of the U.S. However, most hotels, at least the big ones, set aside some rooms for nonsmokers. Restaurants often lack sections set aside for nonsmokers. When being shown to a table, inform the captain or waiter that you want a table as far away from the smoke as possible.

Taxes -- A government tourist tax of 10% is added to your hotel bill. A departure tax of CI$20 (US$25/£12) is collected when you leave the Caymans, and this tax is included in your plane fare. There is no tax on goods and services.

Telephone -- Telephone, fax, and telex are offered by Cable & Wireless (tel. 345/949-7800) at Anderson Square in George Town.

Television -- The four local television stations are privately run. Most islanders tune in to CITN, with its 24-hour transmission of Caribbean news, international events, and entertainment. An affiliate, CTS, is aimed at tourists, and repeatedly runs an unhelpful 45-minute newsreel of puffed-up promotional material on attractions. The other two channels, CCT and CATN/TV-30, broadcast religious programs. The larger resorts have satellite or cable TV, offering a wide range of channels.

Time Zone -- U.S. Eastern Standard Time is in effect year-round; daylight saving time is not observed.

Tipping -- Hotels also often add a 10% service charge to your bill. Taxi drivers expect a 10% to 15% tip.

Useful Phone Numbers -- U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisory: tel. 202/647-5225 (manned 24 hr.); U.S. Passport Agency: tel. 202/647-0518; U.S. Centers for Disease Control International Traveler's Hotline: tel. 404/332-4559.

Water -- The water in the Cayman Islands is, for the most part, safe to drink. Two desalination plants on Grand Cayman supply good-quality purified tap water to the entire West End, including Seven Mile Beach. If you can determine that you're drinking desalinated water, then it's safe to drink. Just ask. Cayman Brac's desalination plant also supplies purified water to residents, but Little Cayman establishments have their own water systems. If your hotel on Little Cayman relies on rainwater collected in cisterns, it's best to drink only bottled water. When checking into hotels, ask about the water source. Regardless of how fresh the water might appear, never take a drink from a river, spring, or stream.