The West Coast Now Has a Direct Nonstop to the Caribbean

The new nonstop puts the Caribbean within easy reach for West Coasters.
Split image showing rush hour at sunset in Los Angeles on the left and a single umbrella on a Cayman Island beach on the right
(Photo: Envato/SeanPavone/irachard)

From the West Coast, the Caribbean feels really far away, a glittering-but-distant gem of a beach destination that takes multiple flights (and often an overnight) to reach. And that can be a real deterrent for West Coast travelers who are six hours from Hawaii and a stone’s throw from Mexico

But with Cayman Airways’ new direct nonstop flights between LAX and Grand Cayman, there’s new math on the time it takes to get to the Caribbean from the West Coast. Math that puts the flight time about the same as Hawaii. 

Cayman Airways introduced a new fleet of 737-8s in 2018 and offers both economy and business class seats on the new route, which debuted in November 2022. The introductory fares were $399 and its most recent sale offered round-trip flights for around $400, which puts its price on par with flights to Hawaii and Mexico. Cayman Airways flights between LA and Grand Cayman include a meal and either the airline’s Seven Fathoms Rum Punch or non-alcoholic fruit punch. 

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For now, the flight operates once weekly (LAX to GCM on Sundays and GCM to LAX on Saturdays) throughout the year. If demand supports it, the airline hopes to expand service. 

Why Fly to Grand Cayman

Beyond the ease of the flight and the sheer fact of it being suddenly a lot easier to get to the Caribbean from the West Coast, there’s plenty to recommend Grand Cayman (and the other islands of the Cayman Islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) as a Caribbean vacation destination

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The Cayman Islands are beautiful and safe, with exceptional beaches, gorgeous and warm Caribbean waters, and famous diving (the islands boasts 365 dive sites between them). Grand Cayman is known for its culinary scene, and it also has a nice mix of low-key and quirky attractions, including an extensive and fun-but-not-scary-or-technical cave tour and a roadside stop called Hell.

Where to Stay on Grand Cayman

The bulk of resorts on Grand Cayman stretch along beautiful Seven Mile Beach. Great family-friendly properties include:

  • Westin Grand Cayman: The Westin Grand Cayman is a beachfront property that feels modern and not too big. There are plenty of daily activities, and during holidays there are special events for kids. Bonus: There’s a Redsail Sports on the property that offers sailing trips plus jet ski, stand-up paddle board, and other rentals. Reviewers love the friendly hotel staff and pools.
  • Kimpton Seafire: The Kimpton Seafire is a beautiful property of pools, lush gardens, and beachfront open-air restaurants. For families, there are family-friendly rooms, a kids camp, and a water park. Tripadvisor users rate the resort 5 out of 5
  • Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach: This affordable, adorable, and well-reviewed resort has less in the way of immediate beach access but has plenty of family-friendly offerings and a kid- and adult-friendly destination restaurant. There’s also daily free hot breakfast and one- and two-bedroom suites so families can stretch out and enjoy. 

Grand Cayman has no all-inclusive resorts for the simple reason that because it’s safe and easy to get around, there’s really no reason to need to stay in one place while you’re visiting. 

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Christine Sarkis is a traveling parent and longtime travel writer and editor. The former executive editor for TripAdvisor travel magazine SmarterTravel.com, Sarkis has spent nearly two decades finding and sharing the best places to go with an audience of enthusiastic travelers. Her stories have appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her expert advice has been quoted in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her stories have been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008, and she is working on a travel memoir.

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