The Caymans offer many options for comfortable travel, including full-service resorts and five-star dining. Those on a top-end budget will be shelling out US$300 or more a day, depending on their proclivity for duty-free perfume and chartered boats. Moderate costs can run at least US$200 a day or more. Budget travellers will be able to keep costs under US$100 a day by sharing self-catering accommodations and doing more lounging on the beach than diving. Note that accommodation is much cheaper in the quieter summer months and that organizing your own diving excursions is more expensive than taking the dive packages offered by many hotels and resorts.

The Cayman dollar is permanently fixed at CID0.80 to USD1 and both currencies are widely used. You might want colourful Cayman dollars for market stalls and kiosks, but the US dollars work everywhere else. Most businesses will happily calculate a straight conversion for you. Traveller's checks are widely accepted, as are credit and debit cards. Banks offer the best exchange rates. There are more ATMs than you can count in George Town and you can withdraw cash either in US dollars or Cayman dollars. It's not a bad idea to take the cash you will need to the sister islands, as banking facilities are few and far between.

Many hotels add a service charge of 5-10% to your bill; restaurants usually add 15%. If no service charge is added, a tip of 15% is expected. Bargaining is not a common practice.

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