Travellers' cheques and all major credit cards are accepted in most places. Be aware, however, that some smaller restaurants, hotels and especially bed and breakfasts may not accept credit cards.

Although Grand Cayman has hundreds of licensed banks , only a handful provide customer banking service as most visitors know it. These include Barclays, Scotiabank, Bank of Butterfield, Royal Bank of Canada, Cayman National Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and British American. ATMs accepting Visa and MasterCard linked to the Cirrus system are located at Cayman National Bank and other banks, as well as at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman. There is one bank on each of the sister islands, and money can also be exchanged at your hotel.

Though there are special deals and packages, the Cayman Islands are not a bargain hunters' paradise; prices are fixed and haggling is not the norm here. High-season prices kick in from late November and begin to drop in March.

Though a "tax-free haven", your visit will not be tax-free. There is a US$25 departure tax included in your airline ticket, a 10 percent government tax added to all hotel bills, and many hotels add 10 percent or more as a service fee . When making reservations, be sure to ask if the quoted rate includes these additional charges - some do, some don't.

The most expensive and desirable accommodations are along Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. In high season, ocean-front rooms start upwards of US$200 per night and can skyrocket to more than US$1000 per night for deluxe suites. Despite some of the higher costs, you can still enjoy a stay here on a more moderate budget. Seek out one of the hotels located across the street from Seven Mile Beach, where you may not have a view from your room, but you'll save significantly and be just steps away from the sand.